Chapter 23
The Pack began anxiously waiting for Allahandra’s war council to arrive; as she called it. She had instantly walked around to her throne, which was the head of the circular table, and sat properly. She began tapping her perfect nails against the top of the table. It held a steady beat to it, she was anything but calm. Her eyes darted around the empty seats and on the motionless double doors. Allahandra’s expression was tense and expressionless at the same time. She was also breathing deeply and slowly, preparing herself for what was about to proceed.
Another battle was upon them.
Shade, Lily, Marlin and Alex all stood in the back corner. They remained as silent and motionless as they could because of the looming threat. They couldn’t say anything that would erase the tense atmosphere that continued thickening without anyone else to have arrived. Royal City was in a war situation.
Through the walls the group could hear orders being shouted and carried out.
“Has the queen arrived!?” A deep familiar voice shouted beyond the double doors. The other guard beyond the door exclaimed “Aye, Sir!”
General Rakkian came bursting through the double doors while being shadowed by Captain Maiot and Gyro. The general looked calm and composed and even his voice matched. “Your Majesty, is it true? Have we finally been challenged after such a long respite?”
Allahandra seemed to instantly relax once she saw her top general. Her expression turned calm and she stopped beating the table. Even her tone matched his. Lily, Marlin and Alex smiled secretly to each other in conformation of what they just witnessed between the queen and her general. “The authentication code I delivered secretly was, without a doubt, the real thing. Take your seat until everyone is convened, ya.”
He took his seat by her side and his two subordinates stood directly at his back. Another round of silence dominated the chamber.
Everyone waited in subdued silence for about another hour as the other generals and commanders entered the room. Many were sweating and panting from running. Soon all but seven seats in the room remained vacant. The other forty were taken. Each high ranking official had one or two other subordinates standing silently behind their superior. There were whispers from the officials while they waited, but there wasn’t a single shout once they entered the room. Finally Commander Yort entered the room along with someone Alex didn’t recognize.
“Now that all local heads have gathered, we can begin.” Allahandra stated and also calling the war meeting to order. “As each of you have probably figured out, we will be under attack within ten days at the earliest, if what the scout reported is correct. I have ordered all available personnel to aid with the lockdown and preparation of our home. As each of you are all well aware, it has been some time since we have been under attack. I’m going to open the floor to the second in command for General Takka of the Specialists division. What information have your people gathered about the current enemy situation?”
An older woman cleared her throat and brought out her item. It seemed to be a scroll, but it was metallic looking. She unrolled it only three seats wide. The other two officials who sat beside her held the ends down. “From what I’ve been piecing together, it seems like most of the intruders are over ninety percent of the weapons class and half of those all carry some form of siege item. There are also many long and mid-range support troops, but minimal close range combatants. The leader of this siege is unknown, but from what we can tell he or she is both ruthless and intelligent. Luckily we have only sustained minor injuries from the patrol along our border, none have been killed gratefully. They are traveling slowly and also sticking together so their mobile defenses are high.”
“That is good news, they won’t be able to move nearly as fast then, even moving through the open plains.” Allahandra then calmly scanned her group. “Does anyone have any solutions to halt the threat?”
Many hands raised, but something didn’t seem to add up. Alex listened to their solutions while also contemplating himself, his jaw began clenching to focus on what was wrong with this situation. He then began biting his thumbnail as he sought for a reasonable and logical reason behind this attack. It didn’t add up, the approaching threat was too conspicuous. The officers continued reasoning their solutions and the explanations droned on for over an hour.
“Alex, what are you thinking about?” Allahandra asked during the middle of one of her officer’s solutions. He looked up to see her dark eyes watching him intently. “You have been standing there deep in thought this whole time and I want to know what you have come up with.”
Every person turned in their chairs to look at him in the corner of the room; standing with the rest of his pack. Shade had sat, but watched only his brother. Lily and Mark also were watching him in the same way. There wasn’t any way to be disrespectful and ignore the queen, especially since she ordered him to speak in a polite manner. He took his chewed nail away from his teeth and walked forward. There was an empty seat, the one he’s used practically every day so he walked behind it, laid the staff on the back of the seat and planted his hands onto either side of the chair’s back.
His tone was calm and quizzical as he addressed every person in the room with honesty. “If I say anything that seems disrespectful please forgive my ignorance for I mean no ill will. For those of you who do not know me, I’m Alex.” He thought it would be a good start to introduce himself to everyone again, though most he remembered from their greetings in the hall.
Scattered thoughts came together in a linear way after he shook his head. “Bear with me, I have never seen nor been in a war so I don’t understand what you have learned through experience. On the other hand I have been in fights and survived where there was almost no hope. When I first entered this city I saw your walls and they are the strongest and thickest I’ve seen in the whole of my life. Plus from my rough estimate we outnumber the intruders ten to one and that only includes the current weapons class soldiers.
“Their assault just doesn’t make sense whatsoever to me.”
“What makes you think this?” General Rakkian asked neutrally.
“I cannot make a solid hypothesis without more knowledge. Can I have you help me to fill in the blanks?”
“What do you have in mind?” The general crossed his item covered arms.
“Can you tell me of every single attack this city has withstood, within in the past ten years? Also include which direction they came from, their standing numbers, strategies that both of our sides deployed, what their specific targets were, any breaches passed the wall, how many wounded and killed on each of our ends. I could keep going, but you can understand what I’m getting at.”
The general’s dark eyes narrowed and then he laughed. “Boy, that much information would take half the night and we need that time to mount our defenses, ya.”
“The defenses can wait.” That same sensation of authority began radiating from him again and everyone silenced. “If my uneasiness is correct then every solution I’ve listened to from each of you will be completely fruitless and will result in more causalities to our cause. For now, everyone is safe and secure inside the city. If it takes us all night, so be it. If my hunch is wrong you can take whatever appropriate actions against me that you deem fit.” Alex then shifted his eyes to everyone who was in the circle and some gasped as he continued harnessing this odd sensation he was feeling. “It might end the night faster, if all of you helped Rakkian. You know, fill in any details he might have missed.”
When he relaxed, and the sensation vanished, the queen said “He is right. And since he is new, he needs to know what has happened in the city’s past. Go ahead general, we do have time like he says.”
He sighed reluctantly after studying Allahandra’s unwavering expression.
Alex sat down in his chair as the general began recounting the first battle from ten years ago. Everyone seemed to relax and become entranced by how eloquent and precise his accounts were. Lily and Marlin were asked by the queen to sit in the
available seats and the others who stood were allowed to sit where they wished. There wasn’t time to translate so much information to Shade so he went back to their room to read a new book. Shade was more a creature of action rather than strategy and what was being discussed bored him to no ends.
It took almost forty minutes for the first battle to end in his stories. During that time Allahandra asked one of the subordinates to inform the kitchen staff that they would need food brought up. It was going to be a long day. When she was off to deliver the message, Rakkian continued with the next battle happening exactly five months later.
Some of the officials politely interrupted to add to the events in the general’s narration, he welcomed the additions they gave for it gave him time to rest his voice. Everyone focused to recount the details with as much clarity they could, but Alex played each and every event over inside his head while sifting through the pertinent information. There was much to learn, but it was manageable to comprehend and visualize the accounts.
They ate together and others recounted events so Rakkian could get a break.
Around midnight, everyone was weary from all the accounts spoken, but they finished off with the very last assault to the city.
They had to light all of the oil lamps in the war room and it helped cast a comfortable and calming radiance in the confined area. The green walls took on a black look. Some of the seconds in command were excused to see to the troop’s progress of the lockdown and safety of the citizens. Gyro told Captain Maiot he would see to the instructions before he left the general’s side.
Alex had listened to everything and his earlier suspicions were correct. He quickly listed every relevant question and detail presented to him. There was an inconsistency in their judgments and the past shone light to the present. He had the answer that they all would have missed. If he wasn’t here he wondered who would have thought this scenario up…
He smiled and Allahandra spoke loud enough to bring everyone’s attention back with an excited tone. “What is it, Alex? Did you gain an insight?”
“That I have, Allahandra.” The commanders, generals and the others all looked strangely between the exchange. They all wondered what he found, which they themselves did not. His grey gaze swept across the room before he began. “First off I would like to thank each of you for your patience and accounts. It seems that the past was more enlightening than I originally planned. Almost all of the pieces are fitting together, but I have gained enough information to know that each of your previous solutions would most likely have proven futile.”
“How so, Alex?” Allahandra asked calmly while everyone else seemed uncomfortable, hearing that their thoughts and solutions were wrong.
“From all of the accounts mentioned today I’ve noticed certain patterns. From ten years ago you have been attacked thirteen times, on a large scale, and had only a single breach to the outer walls during all of those the attacks. That breach happened seven years ago. Normally you are attacked every ten months, on average. Now the last attack this city withstood was about a year and a half ago, just after you took the mantle of Freelan’s leader as well as queen. That is a huge inconsistency compared to the previous assaults you’ve survived.
“The only breach that occurred was to the western wall and they were quickly dealt with. Unfortunately there were many who lost their lives, especially on our end. It was the only time our numbers were cut so great inside the city.
“They have attacked the northern wall only once before, but their numbers were almost double what they are now and they had more close combat types for when they break through. Yet they didn’t even put a dent in the perimeter in that attack, let alone have any success on that side. That is why I was having an uneasy feeling. Their attack didn’t make sense.”
General Rakkian sat forward. “I’m not sure I follow. What is it that doesn’t make sense? They’ll attack and we’ll stop them.”
Alex smiled and shook his head. “That’s just it. You are so caught up in the fight that you cannot see that they are just a flashy diversion.” The room became even more silent. It wasn’t difficult to speak clearly to Allahandra so his gaze remained on her. “I know you probably have your spies all around the lands and probably have some who have infiltrated Ra’van.” Her calm eyes said she did and that made it even easier to talk. “Since there are those who have items that seek liars, like Commander Yort, it has kept the city relatively secure, but I can guarantee that there are already Royal Guard inside the city this very moment.”
“How can you be so sure? We have a handful of other truth seekers, who like myself, can sift out the spies.” All attentions shifted to the mace wielding Commander Yort. His tone bordered on suspicion as he looked only at the queen’s newest vassal.
“I’m going back to the breach infiltration seven years ago.” A few intelligent commanders caught on because recognition flashed in their expressions. “The king isn’t a fool or else you would have won this fight by now. And I know when we were breached, that was when there were multiple infiltrators.” Alex then shifted his words to help others understand. “If I personally breached the walls and knew it was going to be a suicide mission, I would do anything to survive. But the brainwashed men who blindly follow Runkamon see it as a willing sacrifice. So if I was him and wanted to destroy the city he loathes, I would order any persons who breached the city to become a double agent. They could easily change into a dead man’s clothes and pretend to fight against his own comrades or feign an injury and be taken to our healers. During the turmoil and confusion of the fight, it would be all too easy to disguise myself amongst my enemy.
“After things ended and settled, I would do my best to gain the highest rank or gain the most wealth to accomplish the tasks I was issued, without raising suspicion, over a number of years would be the best option. My reputation and consistency would ease the guard’s attention and suspicion so I could smuggle information outside the city gates, without so much as a wave to everyone who saw and knew me. They see their orders to bring down a system such as Alluan’s as a sacrifice to their king and the people, no matter how many lives are taken or ruined. Seven years is plenty of time to make everyone believe I’m a brother and friend, rather than a long term spy.”
“What do you think their plan actually is? What will be the purpose of sending nine thousand soldiers for only a diversion?” Allahandra asked while leaning forward, lacing her fingers together atop the table.
He mimicked her movement and evened his tone. “You noticed the battalion coming because they’ve stayed together, moving slowly and they haven’t killed anyone yet. They know they’ll be wiped out eventually, but they are being ostentatious in their movements. They are showing you their large broadsword in their right hand, but you cannot see the dagger in their left because you’re only worried about the giant blade. Whoever the spy inside the city is, knows everything about it, by now. I’m certain of the fact. There would only be one logical solution to such a flashy diversion. They want to take out high priority targets while you’re looking away.”
Her tone was even as she asked “Since your short stay, what targets would you take out if you were the spy.”
Alex grabbed his staff and laid it flat on the table. Everyone needed to see his weapon was where they could see it. It would ease their minds. “The main targets I would aim for would be you, Allahandra; mainly. For the other targets I’d aim for would be Niranene and her healers and the top officials in this room. It would cause disarray and chaos to the lower ranks that need guidance to save the city. It would create a power vacuum and the result would be complete anarchy.” Marlin’s jaw muscles began clenching at the thought of someone harming Niranene or the other innocent people.
“If that is the case,” Allahandra began issuing orders. “then all healers should be spread throughout the city and have one guard assigned to them at all times. We cannot have them clustered together so they could be easily dispatched, if Alex’s worries become pro
ven. They cannot be contained and localized by the healing center. As for Niranene…”
“I’ll protect her, right Alex?” Marlin stated which surprised everyone except for Lily and Alex. Alex nodded in conformation to let him do it.
Allahandra could see that Marlin would do anything to protect the head healer. “Since your leader has given permission I’ll allow it. Alright she will be in your hands until this crisis is at an end and I’d also wish to request Lily to aid you as well, Marlin. Will that be alright, Lily?” Lily’s shocked eyes sought Alex’s and then the queen’s.
With his approving smile Lily reluctantly said “I will not allow any harm to come to her.”
“As for the generals, keep five guards with you at all times and I’ll keep a minimum of twelve guards with me… Alex, what are you going to do?”
There were just a handful of things he was good at, but he did have an idea of how to use his skills effectively for his liege lord. “There is still more information we will need from this enemy force and I know how to get it.” Alex shifted his gaze to a grey bearded man with a thick neck. “Commander, you once told me you are the head of the stealth force.”
“That I am.” His deep and gravelly voice drawled. “What might you possibly need from me, young man?”
“Do you have any subordinates who have items that can disguise a large object or make it completely invisible to enemy eyes?” He asked while grasping the staff and bringing it back to his side.
“I have a small contingent who specialize specifically in that, but it depends on the size of the object that needs to be obstructed.”
“Can any of them hide an object like Shade? Along with themselves?”
The man’s closed his eyes and was silent for a moment. He opened them and said “I do, but they are twins who each have a cloak that can mimic a natural background; like a boulder, tree or high grass. What do you have in mind?”
He explained his plan to the gathered and the commander listened to every syllable uttered. The commander said they would be here as soon as they could.
For the next half hour Allahandra gave directives and finally closed the meeting with “We all have work to do. Get going and be safe.”
Everyone stood and left the room besides Allahandra, Lily, Marlin and Alex. “Alex, I hope you have a swift and safe journey. Take this and do not lose it. That is the seal for only those I trust completely. If you come across anyone reluctant to listen to your orders as my vassal, just show them this and they will instantly obey your command or else they will be punished.” The queen handed over a golden medallion from a pocket in her dress, with her crest engraved on it, as she began leaving for her room. “I’ll knock on your door and point for Shade to come out here.” And she disappeared behind the door to retrieve the younger brother.
Marlin and Lily looked worriedly at Alex and he said “Don’t worry too much about me. I’ll be back in two or three days at the latest.”
“Good luck, my friend. I need to get started on protecting Niranene. We’ll meet up later, Lily. I’ll explain the situation to her.” Marlin clasped their wrists quickly before walking out the door.
Lily and Alex were alone and the lamplight gave her an almost pained look. He could see she didn’t really want to go or leave his side. “Alex, I want you to promise me one thing. If you do something stupid and get yourself killed, please come back so I can kick you myself.” She half smiled.
“No matter what it takes I’ll always come back for you. Plus I want to see you in that dress again.”
She smiled slightly brighter and then punched his shoulder a little bit harder than was necessary. “I’ll see you soon and we’ll see about that gown some other time. I’d better catch up to Marlin before he gets too carried away protecting his little crush.”
As she left the room, Shade entered. He opened his wide mouth and yawned. “Is the meeting over already?” He asked while being half asleep.
“We have work to do, Shade. Follow me and I’ll tell you what happened and what we are going to do.”
By the time they made it to the castle entrance Alex had finished half of what went on inside the council meeting. They waited together in the darkness of the night while everyone was running in and out of the castle. They continued waiting for the others to arrive, but Alex had finished all of the explanations. Shade had some comments and his brother answered what he could and also listened to Shade’s simple, but effective ideas. When he heard of the upcoming plan Shade became excited to do his part.
An hour went by and then two women walked towards them. They were twins in their early forties and looked exactly alike. Both had cropped brown hair and light blue eyes. They each carried a rolled up cloth strapped to their back, but it was their items. Then when they began speaking they spoke together in a way that only twins could. They spoke simultaneously and even finished the other’s sentence. It was as if they were truly one mind with two bodies.
“Are you, Alex?” “Our commander sent us because you require our services and skills.” “What must be accomplished?” “What will be our tasks?”
They kept asking questions until he finally spoke. “Before anything, may I ask your names?”
They smiled simultaneously. The woman on the left said “No one calls us by our names.” Then the right one said “We are simply referred to as The Twins.” “Even our husbands call us such.”
Hesitantly he accepted that fact and said “I need to see if your items will keep Shade protected if needed.”
One sister unfurled her item and it was truly large, as large as the bed sheets in the room Allahandra gave them. She easily casted her item over Shade’s form and still had plenty of cloth to touch the ground, in a flared, spreading pattern. It was fascinating to watch as the item seemed to solidify into a unique shape. Soon there was a large boulder in the place where Shade once stood. The sisters caught his approving expression and explained. “Once the object is covered I choose an appropriate camouflage.” “When the shape is finished, it will not move from any outside forces.” “Neither wind nor contact from people can budge it.” “Our item is both defensive and a specialty.” “No one has ever been capable of distinguishing the difference between our cloaks and real natural objects.”
To test the theory he pushed against the fake rock and it felt too real. The grains had the appropriate coarse feel and coolness of the night would chill rocks to this extent. Alex then spoke to the rock cloak. “Shade, What is it like in there?”
“A little disorientating, your image is all warped. I’m glad I’ve got a strong stomach.” He admitted from inside the covering.
He turned to the ladies and addressed them. “Your skills will be invaluable to the success of this mission.” They grinned simultaneously.
The sister that used her item, touched it and it became malleable. She easily pulled it off of Shade’s body. He shook his head side to side and then grinned at Alex. He didn’t like being disoriented, but liked experiencing new things. The sister wrapped her item back up and tied it against her back once again.
Alex then began explaining the plan to the women and they were for it.
“Alright, up you go.” He said and their blue eyes bulged. “Oh that’s right, I forgot to mention it, but all of us are going to travel via Shadow Fang. I’ll help the two of you up.” They spent a few minutes discussing alternatives because they were reluctant to do it, but they had their orders to follow his command.
Finally he laced his fingers together and crouched down to gain a solid balance. Each woman put their right foot in his hands and he lifted them one at a time onto Shade’s back. They learned quickly where to sit on Shade and how to use their legs to maintain their balance.
“Alex, we need to get going.” Shade said looking towards the inner wall. He took his sibling’s advice and pulled the staff from his belt and walked by his side. The wall guards nodded and opened the gate to the castle.
Once outside the inner walls, they noticed t
hat there were many people still awake at this hour. It wasn’t panic in the people’s expressions, it was more like a focused rush of everyone securing the city for the approaching threat.
Shade and Alex increased their pace into a swift trot as they rounded the wall while sticking to the road. They took multiple turns to go north. There weren’t any direct paths to Allahandra’s castle from any of the four main gates. Once they rounded the backside of the castle, they eventually found the main road leading north. There were more warriors on this road, but they moved out of their way as the four hurried past them. It then took close to an hour, at a steady jog, to reach the northern wall and get access to the main gate.
The wall was shimmering in an orange color from all the torches carried by everyone fortifying the wall. There were little less than a thousand battle hardened warriors lining the northern wall; from what could be seen. On the ground were two lines of men barring anyone from entering or exiting the closed door, without a proper reason or coming inside for safety.
Many men turned to them and one said “Halt!” Shade and Alex stopped as the man walked up to them. “I’m sorry, but no one is to leave through the gate without explicit authorization.” His eyes hung warily on Shade.
Alex dug in his pocket and pulled out the medallion Allahandra recently gave him. “This is my authorization. Open the gates immediately.”
The man leaned in to see what the boy held and then he balked once he recognized the royal seal on the medallion. He turned around and shouted “OPEN THE GATE!”
The men were hesitant until Alex showed them the new medallion. Already being in the queen’s service had its advantages. Soon the gate opened and it seemed reluctant to rise until more men turned the wheel. The guards parted as Shade and Alex quickly ran under it, once there was enough room to escape.
This side of the city also held a down drawbridge that allowed them to cross the moat. There were eight men guarding the outside gate and they put a fist to their heart as the four ran past. Once they hit the stone road Alex crammed himself on Shade’s back. He didn’t even hint that the combined weight was a hindrance. He moved onto the grassy bank and began streaking north at an incredible pace.
All of the farms had been picked clean, some piles of farmed vegetation had been smoldering after being lit and no one was out here.
The Twins were quiet and Alex had to reassure them that Shade wouldn’t allow anything to happen to them. They were used to riding horses, not monstrous Shadow Fang’s. Shade ran uninhibited as he blazed a trail directly north, across the clearing and raced through the woods that surrounded the city.
When daylight struck they were gifted with a northern breeze. Shade took advantage of it by using his great sense of smell. When there were any humans close by, he would give them a wide berth. They only stopped once to drink from a clean stream and eat some ripe berries that the sisters thought far ahead enough to bring. They gladly shared what they had. By the end of the racing day they found the front line of Allahandra’s troop when the forest thinned into another grassy plain. Their forces were still slowly falling back, keeping an eye on the enemy from the distance.
Alluan sentries spotted Shade’s swift approach and allowed them through their lines without much of a hindrance.
Two hundred were in the small group of soldiers. There was only a single tent and the rest of everyone made cooking fires out in the open. That medallion was highly useful to get passed the guards and invaluable to expediting his orders. Alex and the others were then escorted to the central tent.
They were quickly introduced to an older woman who was truly intimidating. She was the commander with menacing gauntlets over her hands and forearm. They entered her makeshift command tent, but Shade could only stick his head through the cloth opening. “So what is to be my orders, Master Alex?”
“Allahandra has ordered each member of this contingent back to the city immediately to bolster the city’s front line. And be sure that all of your men are accounted for and are who they say they are. The queen and her most loyal aids are checking all of the old records to see who survived the war from seven years ago. Check your men for spies and then make haste. And before we go I request that you please share some rations with Shade and the rest of us if it won’t be too much trouble.”
She nodded and began checking her men before departing, after bringing the four of them a proper meal. The twins remounted after eating and Alex ran at Shade’s side through the night. The commander said the enemy was close.
Three hours later they found what they were both looking for and dreaded. Off in the far distance waited the infiltrators glowing camp. They had to tread lightly from here on in.
Neither Shade nor Alex made a single sound as they approached the localized orange horizon. It was still close to midnight and the clouds aided their approach because the moon couldn’t aid their ability in being spotted. Shade and Alex began veering their course to the left side of the Royal Guard who were trying to harm good and decent people. The report was right about them sticking close together because even with the enormous numbers they only stayed together on three or four acres at most. No one could enter or leave the enemy camp without being spotted.
In the center of the camp stood a blood red cloth tent like the one they were in but a few hours ago. Several large catapults, trebuchets and ballistae could be seen within the camp, but they were all large items rather than creations.
They slowed even more as they continued making their stealthy approach. They stopped as they became as close as they could deem safe. Not a single noise could be made out on the plain, being this close, just incase someone could hear over the boisterous military. Alex helped the sisters down to the ground and they were both feeling the pressure of being so close to an army with only Shade and Alex backing them up for safety. The brothers promised that they would do anything it took to keep them alive.
Since Alex’s plan completely revolved around Shade’s innate ability, he began working while the other three set up a safe zone. Shade dove into his shadow and quickly entered the army camp, without raising a single alarm or eyebrow. During the night was the most effective because shadows constantly moved and flickered from firelight and he wouldn’t be easily noticed. Shade’s job was to gather information on the enemy numbers, what items they had with them and who this mysterious leader was. The Twins and Alex’s job was to make a safe zone and he was also the Twin’s protection.
The first priority for Alex was to keep an eye out as the women unfurled their items and set them up. Since they were only on open grasslands, they used small boulders for camouflage. They looked exactly like the other stones they’ve come across. They weren’t tall, but they were wide, weather beaten and small shards of rock were chipped around the main stones.
They gestured with hand motions, to limit any sounds. One sister lifted her item up and allowed Alex to slide under the cloak. She followed soon after and tucked the end into the soil. They then had to be completely silent until Shade reported back or something went wrong and they needed to take shelter under the cloth item.
Shade was right, it was disorienting inside the item. You could see outside, but it was like looking into a warped mirror. The Royal Guard’s fires and torches seemed to take on a winding S shape. Alex couldn’t stand it any longer so his eyes instinctively closed to cease straining and relax a coming headache. Since he couldn’t see straight his hearing was his best bet to detect any approaching intruders. It was easy to hear outside the item. The noises couldn’t be clearly identified, but it really was the chatter of several thousand, mainly male, voices.
The only comfort they had from the long ride was from the cool ground pulling their body heat away, but it didn’t freeze them.
Shade didn’t return until midmorning and the item was already sweltering under the constant barrage of the sun. Alex was beginning to worry about him because the Royal Guard had already picked up and began slowly moving south an hour ago. Shade walke
d right by the camouflaged base the Twins set up. But his voice was both irritated and tense. “Come on out, the coast is clear of all eyes.”
“He says it’s safe.” Alex told the women, who simultaneously and gratefully said “Finally.”
They both pulled their items from overhead and the outside air was much cooler than where they were hiding. Sunlight hurt the eyes, for a short amount of time until they adjusted. When his eyes focused he looked up at Shade.
Shade stood with his nose pointing where the intruders were heading. Eyes slit to glare into the distance. All of the hair on the back of his neck stood up on end and his lips were pulled back, revealing all of his dagger-like teeth. His muscles were quivering tightly because something was wrong. He wanted to kill something, but held himself back.
Alex stood up instantly and asked carefully “Shade, why are you so riled?”
He growled towards the distance and then composed his features as best he could manage. His voice was straining like he wanted to scream or fight. “Alex, I was able to get a glimpse of their plans and you were right. They are being a diversion, but…” He growled again, deep in his chest. “They are being led by your cousin, Rakkel.”
Heart and body froze inside Alex like he was dipped in the iciest of waters. It couldn’t be, it couldn’t? Why would he do such a thing… and then Alex remembered Takka saying that his cousin was given special orders to proceed to Ra’van. These orders he was given were for his cousin to attack his new family. Shade seemed to read Alex’s expression as he answered his unspoken worry. “I’ll never forget his scent or that snide face. I’d never make a sick joke like that. It really is him. He is our enemy yet again.”
“Shade, we will need to report this to the queen, immediately.”
“I wasn’t even planning on stopping. Get on and we’ll pass them within the hour.” Shade became motionless, but anxious worry filled his eyes.
“Ladies, we need to go now. Shade got what we needed and it’s not good.”
Once they were all secure, Shade pumped his powerful legs and shot through the plains. The wind was fierce because of how fast he was running. Shade ran around the intruders so they wouldn’t be spotted, but even if they did, they couldn’t stop Shade’s speed, not when he was like this. Nothing was faster than a Shadow Fang on a mission, especially when angry. He now ran on both. Alex wanted to know what exactly he found, but right now his brother needed focus and to move.
They made it back to the castle just before the sun set on the horizon, without breaking the first time. The guards saw their hurried approach and opened the gates without slowing them. Shade was panting heavily as they made it under the gate. Alex slid off his back, but the twins remained on their perch.
There were many anxious faces at the gate when Shade stopped to allow Alex to speak. “I need all non-vital personnel to find all available commanders and generals. If they are busy doing important work let them be, but if they aren’t tell them to meet me in the queen’s war room immediately. Tell them, Alex has vital information they must hear and they must hear it at once!”
As Shade and Alex ran together, the men followed his orders and fanned out into the city. They rounded many buildings and entered the inner gate of the castle. The Twin’s got off Shade’s back with Alex’s help. They followed Shade and him into the castle, without slowing either down. On the nineteenth floor they were stopped by the guards because they didn’t know the twins. There wasn’t time to waste so Alex said coolly “Alright then.”
He took a deep breath and shouted down the hall “Allahandra! It’s Alex! Tell your guards to allow us passage! I have The Twins with me who will back my report for you!”
The sound of a door echoed off the walls from opening swiftly and it was followed by “Let them through!” Weapons were lowered so they passed the queen’s guards and rounded the corner to see triple the guards standing against the outside wall. They all looked at them with a calm hand on their items. Allahandra’s head was sticking out of the door and expression was calm. “Come inside quickly.”
Inside the war room stood large guards who were posted in each corner. Allahandra quickly accessed their exhausted physical state and told them to sit. She left the room while Shade laid heavily on the cool marble floor while panting, tongue lolling off the side of his jaw. The Twins and Alex sunk in the chairs, grateful to finally be able to stop and rest. Allahandra came back in with her item case. She laid it on the table next to her vassal and opened it without pause. She grabbed a small scalpel and said “This will sting, but it will both cool you off and turn a small portion of your natural body fat into stamina. It will be like getting your second wind back.”
She suddenly stabbed his thigh with the item and it did pinch, but he felt his body cooling rapidly and some strength returning. Alex’s mind felt calmer and sharper after her item took effect. She pulled the scalpel out of his leg and it didn’t have a single drop of his blood on the blade. It was like it never entered his body.
Her scalpel cut the sturdy pants, but the skin didn’t have a cut or a drop of blood from the penetration.
She then jabbed the twins also. He could tell they felt like he did, relieved.
Allahandra then returned the item into the case and asked “I cannot help Shade because of his armor and I doubt he’d consent to being poked in the eye.”
Shade didn’t mind cooling off naturally. He thanked her for offering to help though. He really didn’t want to be stabbed in the eye or in the nose.
“Any better?” She asked and all said their thanks. And she sighed with a pleased smile. “Alright, now tell me what you’ve learned.”
“First Shade needs to rest and I also called another council meeting. More officials are on their way as we speak. It seems like my suspicions were correct about there being a hidden agenda. I will translate what he saw soon enough. He has ran all day without taking a break and needs to relax.” Allahandra nodded and quietly sat in her throne.
All Alex knew was that his cousin was leading the assault and there was going to be justice had. Now how will everyone take knowing that my cousin is the leader of this army? He wondered.
It seemed like his blood was doomed to turn out bad.
Alex’s cousin was insane and he also shared relations to King Runkamon. What could be worse than being related to two mindless murderers?
Untamed Gift (Book One of the Items Trilogy) Page 23
