Chapter Forty #2
I decided it was past time for me to join the meeting, even if only to calm Owen. His glare was still murderous.
Several people startled as I slipped around the corner, no doubt wondering how much of the conversation I had overheard.
“Morning, everyone,” I said with a smile. There was no need to make things any more awkward. I walked to Owen’s side and stretched up to give him a quick kiss. His gaze softened and he pulled me tight to his side.
“General,” I said with a small dip of my head. Hargraves thankfully had the good sense to murmur a polite greeting in return before taking a step back.
I looked around the room. “Sorry I’m late. Where are we with the planning? What’s the strategy?”
Jace leaned forward on his chair and the sound of the front legs hitting the floor echoed in the quiet room.
“Assuming we can convince the professionals here today that this is real, and they can do the same when they reunite with their governments’ officials—” Jace gave everyone a stern look—“each country will handle their response how they see fit. Once this information goes public, we expect global trade to stop as each country saves resources for their own citizens, but a coordinated global response must also be a priority. Those details will be ironed out by the world’s governments. ”
“On a local level,” Owen added, “we expect the portal to open right here in Fortingall at midnight on October 31, on Samhain. We suspect Craos will be drawn to you and the last of the world’s magic in Neamh.
We’d like to set up a base camp outside the town of Fortingall for any militaries who wish to support us. ”
“That all sounds great,” I said, stepping to the table and turning one of the maps toward me. “Now, what about the actual battle? What’s the plan for that?”
Silence followed, and I glanced up to find everyone looking at me.
“What?” I asked, dread curling in my stomach.
“There’s nothing they can do, love.” Owen’s voice was full of sorrow.
“The militaries are here to help citizens evacuate before the battle. Provide search and rescue services. First aid. Supplies. Those sorts of things. But during the actual battle…” Owen’s voice trailed off, and I swallowed hard as on his face I saw something I never thought I would see: hopelessness.
“No one has magic like you,” Shae said. “There’s nothing we can do about Craos. It’s up to you.”
“Me?” I collapsed into a chair. The fate of the world rested solely in my hands?
“You can do it,” Shae encouraged me. “I heard how incredible you were that night by the river.”
I looked around at the people in the room. Some were loved ones. Most were strangers. All, except Owen, expected more than I could give.
“It’s not that I don’t want to fight. I do.
I’m ready to defend our world. And Neamh.
And all of you,” I assured them. “But while I appreciate your confidence in me, I didn’t defeat Craos last time.
It literally killed me to re-imprison him and, as it turns out, I didn’t even manage to seal the portal completely.
I’m not sure I can kill him. I don’t know what else I can do.
Apparently even dying last time wasn’t enough. ”
The last glimmer of hope faded from Shae’s eyes. “So that’s it then. It’s over before it’s even begun.” Jace placed a hand on her slumped shoulder. Everyone looked defeated.
I glanced at Owen. He was watching me carefully, his face a practised mask of neutrality.
I realized several things then: He’d known all along that I would be asked to fight Craos again, that I was the only one who could.
And he knew it wouldn’t end well for either of us, that we’d both die defending this world.
Owen would never leave me to fight alone.
He proved that again and again by following me into Craos’s realm, finding me in the Veil, bringing me back to life, and then helping me heal in so many ways.
He had spent the past few weeks loving me as best he could because he knew they would be our last. If I chose him over the world again, we would die anyway when Craos returned. My heart ached at the agony he must have felt every day.
Tears pricked my eyes, and I stood up and moved toward him. I placed my hands on either side of his face as he trailed the backs of his fingers down my cheek, unshed tears in his eyes. Neither of us spoke. He knew I understood.
I needed to fight for him. For us. I wasn’t giving up.
Last time I’d taken on Craos by myself and it had gone horribly wrong. But this time I wasn’t alone. I had Owen and my friends, plus multiple armies. Would it be enough? Who knew? But we had to try. If this was the end, we would go down fighting.
I turned and looked each person in the eye.
“I promise to fight with everything I have to defeat Craos once and for all. But I need your help and protection. Will you fight with me? I can’t do this alone.
I don’t know if we can win, but we need to at least try.
I’ll need everyone with me during the final battle. ”
General Hargraves stepped forward. “Perhaps, Kira, as the key to winning this battle, you could walk us through a strategy?”
Owen tensed, but I gave his side a squeeze. These officers would be sending soldiers into battle. For me. The least I could do was share my thoughts.
I slowly approached the maps, ignoring the expressions of surprise on the faces around me as I realized too late that Hargraves had been mocking me.
But I was committed now. I shifted the maps around as I studied them.
There was one of Scotland and another of the town of Fortingall as well as a topographical map showing the area’s high and low points.
I could see the churchyard marked where the Yew—Charles, I thought with a small smile—stood.
I bit my lip. What did I know about battle strategy? I’d read a lot of books…seen a lot of movies…
I cleared my throat. “So, I think…” A few people shifted their feet and Hargraves smirked.
A poor start. Pausing, I stood straighter and fixed my face with my best imitation of Charles’s steady gaze.
I didn’t know much about the military, but I thought about how Owen would act, especially in front of a man like Hargraves.
He would project leadership and strength.
And besides, I’d lectured to my fair share of skeptical, sleepy students.
I knew how to project confidence even when I had none.