59. CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
From the top of the watchtower, Alena studied the battle below. “This fighting is senseless.”
Her torso was wrapped in chain mail, a gift from Damona, and a woollen cloak fell around her shoulders. For anyone else, it was difficult to make sense of the fighting in the valley with only the moonlight and a few dozen torches, but her Gifted eyes could see it all.
Arms crossed, Leukos leaned against the wooden handrail in tense silence. Lug and Dax stood at his side.
“The warriors aren’t gaining any ground,” Leukos observed. “The Rasennan soldiers are too well organised, and their Gifted are working together to protect the gates.”
Dax spat on the ground. “Damn the Black Helmets and that demon, Dalmatius.”
“Our spies told us Dalmatius was injured.” Lug’s mouth stayed firmly pinched as another explosion of fire rippled through the Western warriors, followed by faint screams and shouts.
Leukos’ voice grew cold. “The Undefeated didn’t earn his reputation by using tricks and illusions.”
When Lug had explained the druids’ plan of creating illusions of the dead to torment and kill the Rasennans, the Megarian’s face had darkened like a brewing storm.
“Whether they’re illusions or not, the dead aren’t weapons to be used in battle,” he’d said. “That is the coward’s way.”
Now, with the Western horns sounding the call of retreat, it was clear the plan had failed.
Leukos’ expression hardened, his jaw tightening. “Whatever your druids planned, it didn’t weaken the enemy. They’re fighting with more courage than your father ever anticipated.”
“My brother and I should have led the men, but the druids insisted on Atrixtos.” Dax clenched the handrail, his knuckles white. “Clearly, they read the signs wrong. The White Mare does not favour him.”
“Come, Dax.” Lug placed a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “All is not lost. Volcos and his army are on their way. For now, let us meet Father at the gates.”
They left down the watchtower’s ladder, and Alena found herself alone with Leukos. He was dressed like a warrior, in a dark tunic beneath a chest piece made of burnished bronze scales and leather. Since their kiss and the druids’ threat, he’d rarely strayed far from her side, yet Brennus’ plan of attack had left little time for a heartfelt talk between them. Much like Katell, Leukos didn’t readily disclose his emotions, leaving Alena with an aching desire to hear him confirm that their kiss meant as much to him as it did to her.
Yet even now his attention was on the Westerners’ retreat, his shoulders tense. He never once glanced her way.
At last, Alena asked, “Is there anything we can do?”
“Brennus is wasting his men’s lives by underestimating the Rasennans. His hatred for them blinds him.” He pushed off the handrail and headed towards the ladder. “Let’s hope Volcos is a better tactician, otherwise I fear the Western tribes may be doomed.”
Alena nodded, diverting her gaze back to the burning valley to conceal her face. Her emotions had chosen the most inconvenient time to resurface, yet she couldn’t quell the disappointment churning in her gut.
Below, the masked Rasennan Praefect was fighting like a lion. Westerners retreated up the hill in haste, but the Rasennan soldiers gave chase. The steep path, lined with thicket bushes and dotted with rocks, was treacherous in the dark.
Something caught Alena’s eye below the hillfort’s gates. Shadows moved in the cluster of trees.
“Leukos!”
Soldiers with the legions’ rounded helmets and sloped neck guards hid by the path, their blades glinting in the moonlight.
“What is it?” Leukos strode over and cursed. “They must be from the First or Third Legions. We need to go!”
He jumped down the watchtower’s ladder and then helped Alena. When her feet touched the ground, a hand snatched her arm, and she started.
Nik stood to one side, half-hidden in darkness, his shoulders tight.
“Nik, what are you doing here? I thought you were relaying messages for Brennus.”
“He sent me to find Leukos.” He took one look at their faces and frowned. “Why? What happened?”
“There’s no time.” Leukos’ gaze darted about the hillfort, but Lug, Dax, and every other warrior were out of sight. “The Rasennans are planning to ambush the retreat. I need to get to the gates. Can you take Alena back to the hut?”
Alena’s disappointment grew sharper, biting into her heart. Did he really expect her not to fight?
“Leukos, wait! I’m coming with you.” She grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks. “I can help.”
“No.” Leukos caught her shoulders, pushed her back against Nik, and then lifted his gaze over her head. “Take her back to the hut and keep her safe. If the Rasennans storm the gates, be ready to escape.”
Nik’s strong grip locked around Alena’s arms, but she took no notice. Her throat thickened. He was treating her as if she were a mere inconvenience, and it took everything she had to hold herself together.
Still, her voice wavered. “Leukos…”
His gaze snapped to hers at once, and his expression softened. “I know you want to come, but if anything were to happen to you, I would wring Brennus’ neck myself, the alliance be damned!” He slipped a hand around the nape of her neck, lowering his head to hers. “I need you to stay safe, Alena. I’ll be back soon, but I need you to promise me you’ll stay safe.”
His eyes glowed with an intense smoulder as if he would shield her from the world.
Her heart lifted, and she found herself unable to break his gaze. “Fine, I promise.”
He brushed her cheek with his fingers, leaving behind the whisper of a promise that he’d return to her soon, and then he left, rushing to the gates. Horns and shouts blasted in the distance, jolting Nik, who’d been oddly quiet during the exchange. He seemed exhausted from the battle.
They left, navigating through the deserted hillfort in silence. The first rays of the sun appeared on the horizon, painting the purple sky with violent strokes of pink and red. Engrossed in her thoughts, interrupted by the faint sounds of battle from the gates, Alena took no notice of her surroundings until Nik led her down a tight cobbled alleyway flanked by stone walls.
Thick shadows hid the path ahead. “Nik?”
He stopped, keeping his back to her. “Why did you come here, daughter of Andrasta?” Her skin chilled at the forbidding voice. “What are you planning?”
Something was wrong.
When the wind picked up through the alleyway, it brought an unfamiliar scent with it.
Alena’s heart twisted in her throat. “Who are you?”
Nik turned around, a dagger in one hand. His dark blond hair and face faded into weathered skin, greying hair, and accusing eyes.
A druid.
She whirled back and froze. Two younger druids stood at the corner of the alleyway, dressed in belted robes. They didn’t seem like warriors, but the fierce determination etched into their faces still made them dangerous.
Alena unsheathed her short sword, her mind racing. Even with her training, three against one wasn’t a fight she could win. Threads of magic came alive inside her chest, and she sucked in a breath. Sensing her distress, the wolves called to her, and her magic answered in turn. Yet, none of them were close enough to reach her in time.
She was alone.
“Drop your weapon,” Fake Nik said.
All three druids circled her, two of them holding curved daggers. Alena kept her distance until her back hit the rough-hewn stone wall.
“Why are you doing this?” If she couldn’t fight them, perhaps she could try to reason with them. “Am I not Andrasta’s daughter? The queen who was chosen by the White Mare?”
“Andrasta’s bloodline cannot live. You’re a threat to our lands.” One of the younger druids sneered at her, his neck adorned with carved wooden symbols. “The White Mare will reward us for our actions.”
“Don’t come any closer.” She held them at sword’s length, panic filtering through her voice. “Don’t make me hurt you.”
Fake Nik cursed under his breath. “Cut her throat before she gives us away.”
When the other two took another step, Alena pushed off the stone wall, lunging for the youngest, the sneering blond. Her blade nicked his leg and he hissed, wheeling around to stab her, but she parried his attack. She deflected his dagger twice, then found herself encircled again.
Her attention flitted between her three opponents, and her heart pounded harder. Death seemed inevitable, and her thoughts turned to Katell.
If she failed now, who would save her sister?
Gathering her strength, she aimed for the blond again. His strikes were clumsy. Blocking a stab to her neck, she gave him no time to recover and plunged her sword straight through his gut.
He gasped, eyes bulging as dark blood soaked his robes. She jerked back, bile rising in her throat.
The other two druids lunged, but a blur of leather and steel swept between them. One druid fell to the ground, his chest cut open.
Nik, the real one, stopped before her, and she almost cried with relief. “Nik!”
The tip of his blood-covered blade pointed at the older druid’s neck. He raised his sword, but she grabbed his arm. “Wait, we need him.”
More footsteps thundered down the alleyway, and Alcaros arrived, followed by two of his men. “Alena!”
He took in the two deceased druids, then directed his blade towards the older man. “Fool! You dare to threaten Andrasta’s daughter?”
The druid’s face remained indifferent, even when faced with so many swords pointed at him. “The gods have warned us about her. She’s not what she seems. She’s a demon. A demon with enough power to threaten all our lives. She cannot live.”
Nik pressed his blade to the druid’s throat, but Alcaros steadied his arm. “Andrasta had two daughters. How can you be sure the gods speak of Alena?”
The druid’s unyielding stare shifted to her. “We cannot.”
“This is madness,” Nik growled.
Alcaros’ grip on him tightened. “The gods must be mistaken, or the signs are wrong.”
The druid’s lined face did not waver. “The gods are never mistaken. Today, I have failed, but others will not.”
He wrenched back, dodging Nik’s blade, but neither Alcaros nor his men hesitated as they struck him down.
Trembling, Alena staggered back against the uneven stone wall, her legs collapsing beneath her. She’d almost died. She’d almost died because the druids believed Katell or her to be a demon.
Was that what the Omega was? Or had they meant Katell?
The idea that either of them held enough power to scare the gods seemed ludicrous, yet three druids were now dead for their beliefs.
And she had killed one of them.
She had killed—
“Alena.” Nik dropped to his haunches and grabbed her shoulders. “It’s all right. You’re safe now.”
Blood splattered his armour from a deep gash in his shoulder. When she met his bright blue eyes, she berated herself for being so easily fooled. From his mannerisms to his words, the fake Nik hadn’t looked anything like him.
“I—I’m fine.” She wasn’t, but she refused to fall apart while the Rasennans were at their gates. “How did you find me?”
He helped her to her feet, yanked her short sword from the dead druid, and wiped off the blood. “When I saw Leukos arrive at the gates without you, I knew something was wrong. Alcaros noticed, too, and one of his men tracked you here.”
“My men will take care of this mess.” Alcaros’ massive frame towered above her. “You’re pale. Come, we should get you back to your lodging.”
“No, you need to head back,” Alena said, glancing between them. “The Rasennans were planning to ambush the retreat.”
“We know,” Alcaros led them back down the alleyway to the main street. “Don’t worry, the Green Mountains warriors can handle it. They—”
Shouts of warning rang out from the palisade, followed by the low moans of the Western horns.
Alcaros stopped in his tracks. “They’re calling for help at the gates.”
Warriors spilled out of a courtyard, weapons drawn, and sprinted towards the sounds of battle.
Alena’s heart seized. “What’s going on? Did the Rasennans breach the gates?”
“That’s impossible.” Alcaros’ voice was strained. His eyes darted between Alena and his men.
“Go!” Nik barked. “I’ll get Alena to safety. Go, help them!”
Alcaros squeezed her shoulder and motioned to his men in the alley. They rushed in the direction of the gates, joining the other reinforcements.
“Come on, let’s go!”
Nik took off, and Alena followed, the first rays of sun warming her skin. They kept on running all the way to the wooden hut. Hurrying through the small space, Nik grabbed a linen bag and stuffed a loaf of bread inside, along with the rest of the dried meat and apples.
“Pack your things, Red. We need to move.”
Alena stared at him, catching her breath. “What, you mean leave? No, we can’t just leave everyone behind!”
If the legions were attacking the hillfort, they needed to join the fight. They couldn’t flee like cowards, leaving Brennus, Alcaros, and everyone else to fend for themselves.
“What about all the people still here?” she asked. “There are families and children!”
“The druids will evacuate them.” Nik continued to gather their belongings as he spoke. “Brennus explained that all the hillforts in the Western Lands are connected by magic. Something to do with the temples. The druids can evacuate everyone.”
She recalled Lug’s mention of temple portals during their initial meeting, and under different circumstances, she would have jumped at the chance to discover more about them. But her curiosity would have to wait.
“Whoever’s left must be headed to the temple right now. If the Undefeated is at the gates, then the hillfort is doomed.”
Alena snatched a healing salve and bandages from her supplies. “At least let me patch your arm up before your wound gets worse.”
After a moment’s hesitation, he nodded and sat on a stool. The sound of his fingers tapping on the wooden table accompanied her as she worked. When she finished wrapping his arm, the terrible Western horns blasted through the hillfort again.
“Shit.” Nik shot to his feet and ripped the door open.
Heart hammering, Alena followed him out and drew to an abrupt halt.
Nik blinked once before his mouth ticked up. “That’s some damn useful magic, that Gift of yours.”
A half dozen wolves paced around the hut, their attention on her.
“By the Moon, they answered my call.”
The Huntress’ magic thrummed through her like the plucked strings of a lyre, each connected to a wolf. She breathed a sigh of relief, comforted by their presence amid the attack.
Nik weaved through the crowd of wolves and gave a low chuckle. “Thank the Twelve, they’re under your control, Red. I’ll go scout ahead. Finish packing and be ready to leave soon.”
He disappeared in a blur, and Alena stuffed the rest of their belongings and her healing supplies into her leather satchel. A large grey wolf with white paws sat in the doorway, keeping guard.
When she was done, she changed the bandage wrapped around her left hand hiding the Omega Mark, then heaved her satchel across her shoulder.
Pounding war drums and the low rumble of horns rattled through the hut, and her breath caught.
She should have sent the wolves ahead to scout.
She should have gone with Nik.
If something happened to him, or Leukos…
A growl cut through her thoughts, and she grabbed her sword, still spotted with blood.
“Alena!” Nik stood at the gate. With a single silent thought from her, the wolves parted, letting him through.
“Where’s Leukos? What’s going on?”
He pushed past her into the cabin and hoisted the largest bag. “We need to go, now.” He clutched her elbow, leading her out. “The gates are destroyed, and there aren’t enough Westerners to hold back the legions. The druids are already evacuating everyone as we speak, but we’ll have to find another—”
A sudden gust of icy wind blasted through the streets, bringing down the courtyard fence and whipping Alena’s tunic about her legs. She raised her arms, protecting her face, and the ice-cold air pricked her skin like a thousand tiny needles.
An eerie silence descended upon the hillfort. Trembling, Alena opened her eyes and gawked at the glittering frost covering every stone house, cobbled street, and patch of grass, as if a white veil studded with shiny jewels had fallen over the hillfort.
Nik’s expression turned grim. “Always one to show off.”
Out in the distance, towards the main gate, stood a mountain of ice sparkling under the morning sun.
Alena gasped. “What—what is that?”
“That,” Nik answered with a sigh, “is Leukos’ wall of ice. Although I’ve never seen it quite so tall before.”
The shimmering block of ice far surpassed the rows of thatched houses in height and even the wooden palisade.
Words failed her. “How—? What—? Leukos did that?”
Nik readjusted the heavy satchel across his broad shoulders. “Pick your jaw off the floor, Red. The situation must be dire if Leukos is using up all his magic. And with Dalmatius’ fire magic, that ice wall won’t be up for long.”
Alena snapped her mouth shut, although a million questions still brewed inside her head.
“Come on, let’s go!”
“Go?” She blinked at him. “Go where? We can’t just leave Leukos behind!”
He stared back, the lines of his face drawn tight. “Listen, Red. Brennus, Alcaros, and Leukos are doing all they can to delay the Rasennans while the druids evacuate everyone. Honour and the alliance keep Leukos from abandoning Brennus to his fate, but we’re not bound. And I promised to get you out.”
Alena narrowed her eyes. “Are all Megarians as arrogant and irritating as you two? How could you think I would ever leave either one of you behind?”
Nik’s lips thinned. “You’re the Omega, Alena. I still don’t know what that means, but I know damn well I can’t let the Rasennans, much less the Undefeated, get their hands on you.”
She held her ground and pointed her finger at him. “I don’t care what you promised him, and I don’t care about being the Omega. You can go, but I’m not leaving without him, and that’s final.”
Snarls interrupted them. Reacting to Alena’s temper, the wolves inched closer to Nik. He peered at them and huffed a laugh, throwing his arms out. “Fine. At least I can tell Leukos that I tried. So, what do you suggest then?”
The large grey wolf came to Alena’s side, bumping her leg. “The wolves can help. They slipped through the Rasennan lines and got here somehow. Two of them can show you the way. Scout the area and report back.”
His eyebrows rose. “Me? What about you?”
Alena pushed past him, four wolves following in her steps. “I’m going to find Leukos.”