“For us, this was an act of war and for the Elvasi nobility, a show of strength. She’s shown them she heard their whisperings and was willing to do something, both with her military might and her political schemes.”
“The fact of the matter is, this wasn’t entirely personal,” Alchan finished. “And while she might have some personal motivation, Shadra will always be more concerned with her own power than anything else. We can be killed, but if she loses power, she can die, obviously not something she wants.”
“What does that mean for us?” Nevyn asked, frowning down at his plate of food. “If we strike back, we escalate it. If we don’t, we’re vulnerable, and we’ve lost too much. We can’t let her…”
“She’s backed us into a corner and into a fight we will eventually lose,” Alchan agreed softly. “But we’re going to fight our damn hardest before we die, is that clear? I don’t care what we have to do, I’ll see every Andinna dead on a battlefield before I see what’s left of our people put in chains and enslaved. That’s what all of you need to realize. This is no longer a fight for survival.”
“Then what is it?” Mave asked. “A battle to the death?”
“Yes.” Mave didn’t mince words, so neither did he.
She looked up, her eyes cold and hard. He’d never felt a dying need to lower his gaze for hers, and today was no different. Instead, he respected her. For all his annoyance rescuing her—his brother’s obsession—and the bad feelings he had about it, he was glad to have her in the room. She looked at death without fear, only resolve.
“I’m good at those,” she reminded him.
“I’ve heard,” he smirked. “And now that everyone in this room understands, we need to discuss our first move. Rainev, there’s a map of Olost on the table. Grab it.”
Rainev moved fast. Bryn grabbed the map and held it out, so the young male didn’t have to climb over anyone. When Alchan had it in his hands, he pushed his brother aside and unrolled it on the floor.
“Leshaun, any word from anyone?” He wanted to know what his spymaster knew. Leshaun had never been trained for the role, it just evolved over the centuries. The male was old enough to have friends in the Empire from before the war, and his mastery at blood magic made him proficient at many techniques a king would kill for in a spymaster.
“Sen is already moving with his crew. He’ll beat us to Blackstone and be ready if we need him. He’s taking the road because it’s faster than taking his ship from Namar.” Leshaun pulled out a small notebook and flipped through several pages. “I’m still waiting on four others to get back to me.”
“Blackstone? Why Blackstone?” Matesh asked.
“That’s the easiest port to leave from Olost. It’s on the northern coast and doesn’t have Namar’s problem with storms,” Alchan explained, pointing it out for everyone. “While Elvasi hunters will use everywhere if they can get away with it, Blackstone is the only post an admiral will want his ships. Safety, size, and economically, it’s the best bet. We’re gambling.”
“I contacted the Hornbuckles in Blackstone, but I haven’t heard back,” Leshaun added. “Until we do, there’s no confirmation. Unless their silence is a sign. They are famous to certain people in the Empire. When the Elvasi made port, they may have been taken for their activities helping us over the centuries.”
“I hope not,” Luykas mumbled. “We can’t lose our best allies.”
Our best allies, another dying race—he didn’t voice that, but it threaded insecurity in his heart he didn’t want. How were two dying races supposed to defend themselves from the Empire? They had worked well for a thousand years, but that was without truly threatening Shadra. Now the conflict was changed. She wasn’t going to stop until every Andinna was dead or enslaved. She didn’t have an option, and that left him with no options.
“Here’s what we need. I want every able-bodied single male to be armored and armed. They’re coming, they don’t get a choice. Males with families can choose to join unless they have children who would be left orphans.”
“Should we ask for males from the other villages?” Luykas asked, leaning over the map as well.
“We don’t have time for that. It could take them weeks to fly and travel through the mountains to us. The Elvasi would be back in the Empire before we made it to Blackstone. If that happens and we aren’t right behind them, they could sell off our people, and we would never find all of them.”
“What’s our time? It’s been two nights since the attack, and we’re going on a third,” Kian reminded them from his spot near the door.
“I think we can spend four days cleaning up and getting supplies together. This is going to be a large force and needs the right preparations. We’ll move faster than the Elvasi, though. They’re going to be slow with their caravan. Plus, we need to make sure everyone left behind knows what they need to do. This village is done for. We can’t come back here. They can’t stay here. They have to move to different villages, and I have to make sure that’s happening before we leave.”
“And every minute we waste on that, Senri is further away—”
“This is why you aren’t in charge. I said no attitude, Kian,” Alchan snarled back at him. “I’m not just your commander. I’m your Skies damned King. Now’s the time to remember that.”
This was why he didn’t get too close or tried not to. He had to think of the whole. He had to think about how this would change everything for their people. He couldn’t rush off without thinking about everyone. He’d made that mistake already, foolishly thinking they could save Matesh and Rainev without incurring too much wrath from Shadra. He hadn’t really considered everything, and now, it had blown up in the faces of his people in a devastating way.
“I think Varon, Zayden, Leshaun, Brynec, and Matesh can help the villagers. Leshaun, if anything comes up, please bring it to us as fast as you can.” Alchan was grateful his brother stepped in because all he wanted to do was take Kian outside and knock him around. “Nevyn, I want you with Kian. Get all the males for the mission and have them start camping outside. Look for gear and get them ready. Send the rest to Brynec and Mat to help the effort to move everyone out of here.”
“Mave and Rainev, you’re both staying with us,” Alchan finished. “Mave, I know you want to help, but after the fight earlier today, I want you to stay with us.”
“But—”
“You’ve done enough,” he said before she could finish whatever desperate, guilt-ridden thought she was trying to voice. “You’ve done enough for now.”
Thankfully, no one questioned his statement.
“Fall out,” he ordered. “We have work to do.”
21
Mave
Four days flew by. Mave spent every moment of them beside Alchan, Luykas, and Rain unless she was sleeping on the floor with Mat and Bryn, which wasn’t often or satisfying. They went to sleep late, woke up early, and had no time to take any comfort in each other.
Dozens and dozens of villagers had to be helped to leave. Males had to be organized and armed. She could only watch as she followed Alchan around like Luykas and Rain. She had a lot of respect for him, though. He was obviously uncomfortable each time someone asked him what to do, but his answers were always well thought out, intelligent, and ready at a moment’s notice. He directed everyone to their places, leading what was left of their village and planning their mission all at the same moments. Everything he had the Andinna do, they did for a reason. He was so good, all of those not joining the mission were gone by the end of day three. Day four was for their mission and the first night anyone saw Alchan sleep.
“He’s a good king,” she whispered to Mat as they laid down. “You were right.”
“Did you ever doubt me?” he murmured against her hair. Bryn was already asleep, having pulled an all-nighter the previous night. She gently put one of her legs over one of his, craving the physical contact, her other leg tangling with Mat’s.
“No. Maybe,” she answered. “How’s Kia
n?”
“Only talks to Nevyn and—”
“Go to sleep,” Nevyn growled. “Varon can hear you. Actually, so can the rest of us.”
“Sorry,” he called out. “Sleep. Right.” He kissed her forehead and was out in moments.
“You too, Mave!” Nevyn said, just a bit nicer.
She didn’t get much sleep, as normal. When Alchan walked out and started cooking breakfast, Rain jumped up to help. She laid awake, staring at the ceiling as they worked around each other until Alchan growled.
“Rainev, please. Let me have my kitchen.”
“You’re cooking for the entire Company. I thought—”
“I know. Just go sit down. Mave, get up and keep him company. I see you over there.”
“Someone is angry this morning,” she mumbled, pushing herself up. “Let him help. He’s helpful.”
“He’s under my feet.”
“Don’t be mean to my little brother, Alchan. I don’t care who or what you are, I’ll kill you.”
He smirked. “You’ll try.”
“Mave…” Rain grabbed her and pulled her to Alchan’s large dining table. Sitting together, he smiled, showing her a bit of the bright young male she knew him to be. “I’m his nemari. He’s allowed to talk to me as he pleases.”
She looked over her shoulder and growled at Alchan, who sighed.
“I’m not that much of an asshole, you little bitch,” he said, sounding more exasperated than angry, making the insult fall flat. “I’ve had a nemari before. There’s always a period when they try to be super helpful. I like cooking alone.”
“I’m going to be watching you,” she told him. It was an empty threat. Rain had spent the entire winter working for their commander and had no complaints as if it was one of the best experiences of his life. This seemed like an extension of that, and in reality, she was happy for Rain. He was a skilled, competent warrior who strived to get better. He’d been like that in the pits, taking everything she had tried to teach him. From what Mat explained, this just opened more doors for him and his future.
If he has a future.
She couldn’t keep whatever good mood she had as she turned back to Rain, that thought weighing on her. Alchan was fairly clear this was probably going to lead to their deaths, one way or another. They were undermanned, unprepared, and in for the long haul. Even if this mission was a success, they were going to have the full force Shadra could muster coming at them for the rest of their lives—there would be no more peaceful winters.
“Mave, I’ve had a few single females ask to join,” Alchan admitted. “I sent them away, but they brought up a good point I wanted to discuss with you before we leave.”
“Why did you send them away? We need more swords.” She leaned back in her seat, looking over her shoulder to see him as he flipped bacon.
“Because we need females alive to have a chance at seeing the next generation born,” he answered. “Our generation was the last that would ever be born before slavery. Let’s not make Rain’s generation the last to fly the skies.”
She nodded, agreeing with the sentiment. Generations for the Andinna were slippery things, but she and Alchan were only separated by eight hundred years. She didn’t consider herself born before slavery, but rather the first of the slaves, but that was a conversation not worth having.
“What did you want to discuss then?” For the last four days, she had been silent at his side, only helping out where he let her. Everywhere they turned, another male tested her, and she nearly fought back until the royal brothers and Rain stepped in. She hated it, but Alchan had a point keeping her away from the rest of them. Tensions had been too high.
“The females, when we rescue them, are going to need to fight to escape with us. It’s more than that. We’ll probably be pursued relentlessly. I want you working with them, hopefully with Senri, to make sure they can defend themselves.”
“Senri said they all knew how to use a blade,” she countered. “I don’t think lack of knowledge was the problem.”
“Really?” He leaned on his counter. She turned her chair all the way around to talk to him, her neck beginning to ache.
“Really. I think lack of experience was the issue. You’ve probably seen it before. It doesn’t matter how much someone trains. The first moment a person has to choose between killing to survive or dying…that’s the deciding factor.”
“You think some froze and that got them captured…Don’t say that in front of the males. They won’t appreciate you thinking some of their females weren’t good enough to defend themselves.”
“It’s the truth, but you’re right, and I won’t mention it to the males. I’ll still work with them when we get them back. If lack of experience is the problem, well, it won’t be by the time we’re done.” She didn’t want to sound cold, but the further from the attack they got, the more she looked back with her more detached survivalist side. The fact of the matter was, the young females relied too much on others to protect them and hadn’t mentally prepared themselves for the day they would need to kill an enemy to live.
And that was their failure, no one else’s. The cold side of Mave, the one forged and created in the pits that helped her survive, had a thought she couldn’t voice to anyone ever.
This will be a learning experience they need.
She looked away, guilt eating at her. She was worried. She was scared for them. She knew the horrors of the Empire and what those horrors would do to them. She wanted Senri back. Skies, she wanted Allaina back. She would rather exchange catty remarks with the prissy bitch than let her stay in the Empire. She was too pretty for it. They would do their best to make her life miserable.
“Mave?” Rain whispered. “Where did you go?”
“Nowhere,” she answered, unwilling to explain. “I’m fine.”
“Here.” Alchan dropped a plate of eggs in the middle of the table, then bacon. He awkwardly patted her shoulder. “It’s best not to think about it.”
“Think about it?” She looked up at him, wondering if he had somehow read her mind.
“It’s all I’ve done for four days,” he explained. “Think about what’s going to happen to them before we make it to them. I know the look of a survivor being eaten by guilt and knowledge. It’s best not to think about it.”
“See it a lot?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
“In every Andinna we’ve ever pulled out of the Empire,” he answered, walking away. “It’s my duty to know and understand the threats against my people, no matter how hard or ugly they are. You have your story. Brynec has his. Matesh and Rainev have their own, but I have all of them. Take my advice. It’s best not to think about it.”
She was nodding as Rain put a plate in front of her, filled with eggs and bacon. She was able to put a bite of food in her mouth, even as her stomach flipped. After the first bite, the next few came easier. Eventually, she was eating without trouble. He was right. It was best not to think about it, not when there was nothing that could be done. She had to keep her strength up for what was to come.
Slowly, the rest of the Company woke up. Kian was the only one who didn’t have breakfast with them. He’d avoided her for days, and she didn’t know what to do. She had thought he was her friend. She had thought he and Senri considered her one of their family.
But Senri was gone, and nothing any of them could say completely wiped the blame off her.
“I’m going out for a walk,” she whispered to Matesh as she stood up. He started to stand as well, so she pushed him back into his seat, seeing his plate wasn’t empty. “Eat your breakfast. I’ll be fine.”
“We leave as soon as everyone has eaten, so don’t go too far,” he reminded her. As she walked out, she heard him ask for Bryn. When she was down the front steps, she heard the door behind her open and close. She only knew it was Bryn because she couldn’t hear his footsteps following her.
“I wanted to be alone,” she said softly.
“Pretend I’m not here,�
� he told her. “We both know I’m silent.”
“You’re lucky I love you.”
“I am. The luckiest male in the skies.” There was a touch of humor in that. “Take your walk. I’ll stay out of your way.”
She sighed and held out her tail. He took the invitation and hooked his to hers. Stepping up next to her, their tails continued to wrap around each other.
“I wanted to be alone,” she murmured as he wrapped an arm around her waist. “But this is better.”
“Mat wants to hover. When you stopped him…”
“I’ve noticed.” Every time he got the chance over the last four days, he found his way to her side. “Is there something I need to know?”
“Over the winter, he got a bit paranoid. This just reinforced that bad things happen when you aren’t with him.” Bryn leaned his forehead to hers. “Can you blame him?”
“Bad things happen when I don’t have both of you,” she agreed. “Do you think we can win?”
“I think this is going to be the hardest fight of our lives, and I don’t mean just this mission. When we succeed in this, she’ll have more of a reason to hit us even harder and harder and harder.”
“Until there’s nothing of us left,” she finished for him. “Do you think we can win?”
“I think we’ll fight like we can,” Bryn whispered.
It wasn’t a yes. The Andinna were nothing if not honest with each other.
They walked around the camping males and around the village. Mave wanted to see it all one last time—her perfect home. This was the place she learned to fly, the place she learned to speak the language of her birth, and the place where she learned what it meant to be free. Even when they came back to Olost, this wouldn’t be the place they returned to. There were other villages, other homes for her to live in, but this one was special.
She and Bryn didn’t talk. He kept her comfort in silence, and when she stopped to look over the burned dining hall, his hands massaged her back—a little piece of bliss, his hands working over her stiff and tired muscles.
The Warrior's Assault Page 24
