by Cheree Alsop
He smiled at that, surprise in his eyes. “I’m hardly alone. There are thousands of troops out there.”
I nodded. “Exactly. I’ll be fine, especially adding another thousand Duskies to the battle. You don’t have to worry.”
His eyes narrowed when he realized I had trapped him with his own answer, then he sighed. “Fine; you’re right. Let’s finish this war.”
Commander Jashen clapped twice and a map was unfurled on the table. “Nexa, Commander Thursten was busy last night. He’s had the Duskies gather at the market square in order to listen to you.” He glanced at the King. “He’s not one to wait around when a plan is presented.”
King Adexo nodded with a rueful smile. “A valuable asset, when not a hasty one. In this instance it proves timely. Commander, please escort the Duskies to the gathering court so they can be addressed.”
The Commander’s eyebrows lifted and I realized inviting the Duskies onto the castle grounds was something they had never done before. My respect for the King rose higher. Commander Jashen nodded. “As you wish, my King.” He turned back to me. “This will be up to you, Nexa. The Duskies have never fought before; they don’t trust us more than just as business relations, and they have never followed a single leader. The odds are stacked against you, so if you don’t come out on top, don’t be too hard on yourself.”
King Adexo met his Commander's gaze frankly. “Is this how you inspire confidence?”
Commander Jashen shrugged. “I just don’t want her expectations to be too high. These people are difficult in the best of times.”
I bristled at the comment, then saw the poorly concealed humor on Axon’s face. I fought back a laugh when I realized the Commander’s tactic was just a ruse to provoke me into trying my hardest to prove him wrong. I vowed to do just that.
There wasn’t time to talk to Axon after the meeting. I was taken immediately into an armory and given a curved sword, a round shield, a silver helmet with leather that hung down over my ears and the back of my neck, and leather armor with a silver breastplate emblazoned in gold with the rising sun of Lumini. I twirled the sword slowly and my heart ached at the memory of Dathien handing me a similar sword in the desert. With everything that had happened, I hadn’t even had a chance to properly mourn the Luminos who were killed on the ship.
Dathien with his steady pace and unfailing strength as he carried me across the desert, Staden and Jatha's steady hands as they tended to our wounds, Marken, Rasa, and Dyloth’s fierce courage against the Sathen; they were the first friends I had ever had. They had risked their lives to save mine and I, theirs. I kept telling myself in the back of my mind that they were still here, fighting in the battle beside Axon like they had done in the desert. I couldn’t accept that they were gone.
I shook my head and gripped the sword tighter. I would fight for them and save their families. It was the least I could do.
Commander Jashen met me at the entrance to the armory. “Does your armor meet your needs, Commander?”
I frowned at the title, and was tempted to ask for a spear instead of the sword, but I slid it into the ring on my belt and nodded. “Yes, thank you.” I followed him up several sets of stairs and down a curved hallway to a set of double doors that were opened to reveal Axon and King Adexo standing on a balcony in full battle attire; the murmur of hundreds of people down below in the courtyard sounded like the drone of angry bees. I hesitated, then took off my armor and set it near the doors, leaving only the curved sword in the metal ring from Dathien. Commander Jashen gave me a curious look. “A little too flashy if I’m supposed to ask them to trust me,” I explained, my heart thundering in my chest.
Commander Jashen nodded. “Good call.”
He motioned toward the doors. I paused a moment and took a calming breath to collect myself, then stepped onto the balcony next to Axon and King Adexo. My heart stopped at the sight of Duskies filling every available space in the gathering square and flowing past the gates into the street beyond. Though Commander Jashen said the Duskies had never fought, he had either forgotten the need for weapons, or knew that since they supplied the soldiers there would be plenty of weapons available. Metal glittered from every corner, swords, spears, knives, and battle axes were held by Duskie men and women, some barely older than children.
It was the expressions on their faces that caught my attention the most. I didn’t see any trepidation or fear, just expectancy and excitement at being able to finally defend themselves. They no longer had to wonder if the next day would bring about the destruction of their families and homes without the chance to do something about it. Hope and smiles were exchanged between husbands and wives who looked anxious to fight side by side. Brothers and sisters twirled swords and looked more experienced with the weapons than I had expected. The atmosphere was one of enthusiasm, and the roar of the courtyard rushed with an intimidating thunder to our balcony.
King Adexo looked back at me and gave a reassuring smile. I swallowed and stepped up between him and his son. Several Duskies looked up at me and their eyes widened. They whispered to their neighbors and I watched as word spread like ripples in a pond. When the news reached every corner, the Duskies fell silent as a whole and I felt every eye in the courtyard turn to me. My heart clenched. I glanced at King Adexo, wondering what he would say, and my breath caught in my throat when I found him watching me with an expectant expression.
I had never addressed a crowd in my life. I didn’t know what to say, how to begin, or even if I was loud enough for my voice to reach those below. I tried several times to speak, but my throat was dry and the words wouldn’t come. The audience below glanced at each other, and I could almost hear them asking why a mute Duskie was standing up with their King and Prince.
Commander Jashen stepped onto the balcony beside me and held up his hands. The murmur that had risen with my failed attempts grew quiet. “Citizens of Lumini, I am grateful you have gathered here to fight for your country. It is fitting that the Duskie who rallied for your opportunity to join us in battle is now your Commander, and I have been given the honor of introducing her.”
I glanced at Axon and he gave an amused smile. I turned back with a rise of trepidation to where Commander Jashen continued, “Duskie Commander Nexa has journeyed to us from Firen Caves where she fought hordes of Sathen on a daily basis, trained beside hardened warriors with countless weapons, and served her days protecting the Luminos, Nathos, and Duskies within the Caves.” Voices rose below as the gathered Duskies whispered to their companions.
Commander Jashen’s voice lifted and he leaned against the balcony, clearing enjoying himself. “Duskie Commander Nexa traveled the harsh desert sands, protecting Prince Axon and his guards by herself at night when the Nathos in their party were killed. She slew numerous Sathen taking on grievous injuries without concern to herself as she protected our Prince with her life.” The murmur rose to an excited buzz below us.
I raised an eyebrow at the King to ask whether the Luminos Commander should be allowed to continue, but he merely nodded with a satisfied smile. I sighed and listened as Commander Jashen continued, “Duskie Commander Nexa is a stalwart warrior, a trustworthy soldier, and a Duskie in whom I would entrust my own life.”
I stared at him and a silence of astonishment met his words from below. I opened my mouth, then closed it again. Commander Jashen swept his arm back to indicate me and pull me forward at the same time. “I give you your Commander, worthy of the title, worthy of your trust, and ready to lead the Duskies into battle!”
A roar met his words. I looked down at the Duskies and saw that the woman in the marketplace had been right. They wanted to fight. I felt almost bad for the Lysus. They had no idea what was coming. I took a breath and tried to think above the pounding of my heart. The expectancy in the eyes of the Duskies below sent a small shard fear through my chest that I wouldn't be able to meet their expectations. I fought back the urge to leave the balcony and run away. “I am Nexa from Firen Caves,” I said. Wh
ispers arose, but quieted quickly. The chink of metal on metal was soon the only sound in the courtyard.
The Duskies before me were ready to fight for their families and for each other to defend their homes, all things that I had never had. I didn't belong in Lumini, I didn't have a family, and I had no one to fight for. Hopelessness welled in my chest, but then Dathien's voice came to my mind and I saw the certainty in his eyes when we walked through the Lysus castle. “You’re one of us now, Nexa. Don’t forget it. No one can tell you that you don’t belong.”
I fought back a pang of loss at his death and lifted my chin. I would make Dathien proud. “Despite Commander Jashen’s very generous introduction, you may wonder what right I have to stand before you.” A small spattering of laughter arose, then quieted as they waited for me to continue. Inspiration clutched at my heart and I smiled. “The right I have comes from being a Duskie, from belonging to a race created solely from love that defies boundaries. The love of my parents and yours went beyond the limits of culture and color; we are here because love exceeded social standards and tradition. Duskies are a race born of pure love, and as such we are a loving people. We love our city, we love our trades and crafts, and most of all, we love our friends and family members and will do whatever we must to protect them.” Duskies around the courtyard nodded and several shouted in affirmation.
Their agreement boosted my confidence and I raised my voice, “The soldiers from Lysus have come to take away what we love, and we have a chance to defend ourselves. In order to destroy this city, they will have to go through us. We will not let them attack our homes or kill our loved ones. Together, we will hit the Lysus where they are weakest because they underestimate us. They don't believe that the Luminos and Nathos trust us because they think of us as inferior.”
I raised my sword. “But we are not inferior, and we will use their presumptions against them! We will take this fight to their very core. We will chase them back to their ships and not give way until they have no choice but to flee back to Lysus and lick their wounds, afraid to ever attack Lumini again because the Duskies are armed and ready to defend our beloved city once more!”
The crowd roared in reply; the cry was so loud I took a step backward and tripped, but Axon caught me. I righted myself with a self-deprecating smile and heard answering chuckles from those closest to me. I stepped back to the balcony railing. “We are not slaves, we are not servants, and we are not inferior. This is our city, and we fight not as Duskies fighting beside Nathos and Luminos, but as one people, fighting for one city and one love. Are you with me?” The thundering yell that rose in reply dwarfed the one before.
I grinned and lifted my sword again. “Let’s show them what Duskies can do!”
From the corner of my eye I saw King Adexo give his son an approving look, a light of astonishment in his eyes. I grinned and followed Commander Jashen back through the hallway, pausing only long enough to put on my armor before I met the crowd of Duskies waiting eagerly in the courtyard.
Chapter 21
King Adexo, Axon, and Commander Jashen led the Luminos to battle while I organized the Duskies and prepared our battle strategy. I met with the ten Duskies I had chosen to lead battalions in the war room King Adexo had left for our use. “We leave just before dusk and attack the Lysus Luminos as they return to their ships. When night sets, the few Duskies that came with the Lysus will be unable to bring the Nathos to shore because we’ll be waiting for them. We have to hit hard and fast before they have a chance to retaliate. If we do enough damage, there won’t be enough Luminos left to retaliate tomorrow.”
“What if the Nathos manage to land?” Pyth, the Duskie who had led me through the marketplace yesterday, asked.
“We stay and fight beside our Nathos warriors. Though we might not have experience, strength in numbers should give us an edge,” I replied. The Duskies around the table nodded in acceptance of my plan and I felt the first glimmer of confidence in my ability to lead them.
We went back to the courtyard where Duskies waited anxiously for the sun to set. I waited until just before sundown, then took the reins of a pale gray horse with a black mane and tail that was brought out to me from the royal stables. The horse wore armor that covered its face and flanks, and was dressed in battle robes of gold and green. I swung onto the horse, remembering to use the left stirrup, and she barely sidestepped before waiting patiently for me to lead her. I felt a surge of gratitude that they had given me a horse I could control instead of the wild war steeds I had seen ridden to the docks.
The sound of battle met us a lot closer than it had been the day before. Duskies surged through alleys to the left and right of me, meeting the small skirmishes with a dozen swords and helping Lumini defeat its foes. The Duskies fought with great skill, handling their weapons with an ease I knew would make the Commanders in the King's battle room uncomfortable. If they guessed their Duskies were so skilled, I imagined they would assign the weapons-making to a different race.
I continued with most of my Duskie army to the docks where the heart of the battle was being fought. We entered the clearing and I stared at the mess of bodies, blood, and combatants that filled every inch of space. The sun had lowered below the horizon and exhaustion showed on the faces of the Luminos around us. I searched the battleground and saw Axon and his father fighting side by side on their white war horses along the warehouses that made the far wall of the docks. Lysus soldiers swarmed everywhere, so many more than I had thought possible. The Duskies stood to either side of my horse and I saw fear in their eyes at the realization of what they were undertaking.
“For our families,” I shouted down to them, “For our homes.” I turned, stood in the stirrups, and yelled, “For Lumini!” The Duskies took up the cry and shouted so loud that Axon and King Adexo turned at our entrance. Lysus soldiers saw us and their eyes widened. I kicked the horse forward and we charged into the fray.
I leaned from my horse and cut down two soldiers on the right and then two on the left who surged with the Lysus army to stop us. I reined back as I had seen Commander Jashen do and my horse rose onto her back feet and kicked out with her front, her hooves catching two more soldiers in the chest. I sliced in an arch and cut down three more soldiers before the horse settled back on the ground.
The Duskies around me followed my example and attacked the soldiers in my wake. Axes and swords blocked and then the Duskies lunged forward to stab their knives into the unprotected places under armpits and where the neck and shoulder armor met.
I rode forward, cutting down the soldiers I could reach and watching my deadly army take down those I missed. The Duskies who followed me numbered less than the Lysus we faced, but the Lysus Lumini were at the end of their sunstrength and put up only a weak fight as they attempted to flee back to their ships. I felt a faint surge of guilt for attacking the Luminos as they weakened, but I had only to remember their ruse at Lysus with their attempt to hit Lumini by surprise, and the shock and fear in Axon’s eyes when he realized what was happening, for anger to fill my limbs and my attacks to renew with fierce fervor.
Several boats of Lysus soldiers leaving from the docks to the ships turned and landed again to defend their comrades. They surged out weary but angry at our attack, and they swarmed against a group of Duskies fighting near the water. My horse was strong and brave and she obeyed when I galloped her toward them, her head low and chest barreling Lysus soldiers out of the way. A small fleet of Duskies followed close behind and cut down the fallen soldiers where they lay so that they couldn't trap us between the two groups.
I glanced back once and saw Pyth at their head. He ducked under the sweeping sword of his attacker, then spun and, holding the curve of his sword close to his body, used it to slice through the stomach of the soldier and then brought it back around to cut his throat. The soldier collapsed lifeless to the ground. Pyth saw me watching and gave a bloody salute, his eyes tired but the grip on his sword unfaltering. He motioned to his group and they contin
ued after me.
I was almost to the docks, intent on reaching the boats to keep more Lysus soldiers from landing, when the soldiers in front of me parted to reveal a huge Luminos even bigger than Dathien. He gave me a toothy grin and swung a massive axe. My horse let out a shrieking whinny at the sight, but her headlong progress was too fast for me to stop her in time. She rose up on her back hooves, but the axe caught her in the side with such force that she was thrown off-balance and landed hard with my leg pinned underneath her.
I struggled, but the horse didn't move. A massive boot stepped onto the horse's side and the giant Luminos leered down at me. I tried to reach my sword to defend myself, but the blade had slipped out of my hand when I fell and now lay several feet away. A Lysus soldier grinned at me and stepped on it; several other soldiers in red and gold laughed and closed in to watch their comrade end my life.
I glared up at the giant Luminos, defiance and anger rising to the surface as my last weapons. “You will regret the day you set sail for Lumini,” I said. I pushed against the horse, but the animal didn't move.
The Luminos let out an ugly laugh. “You will regret the day you lifted a sword, little Duskie,” he said; his foul breath washed over me potent enough to make my eyes sting with tears. He lifted his axe and I kept my gaze locked on his despite the cold fear that ran through me at the thought of the blade slicing into my neck. He grinned again at my challenge and began to sweep the axe down in a death blow; then his eyes widened and a gurgling gasp escaped him. His free hand clutched at the handle of a knife that had suddenly blossomed from the front of his throat, while the axe fell from his other hand and sunk blade-first into the ground barely inches from my head.
I looked up to see Pyth jump over the fallen horse and finish the giant Luminos with a slice across his stomach that exposed his internal organs and then when he doubled over, Pyth sunk his sword deep into the Lysus soldier's back. The Duskies who followed him fought against the other soldiers around me, pushing them back so that Pyth could pull me free.
