Chapter 21

D awn, Zander, and I stayed in the library throughout the afternoon, planning. I left three times to check on Stryker, but his condition was the same. Even though it killed me to be away from him, I knew my time was better spent strategizing with his brother and Dawn on how to save his kingdom.

Thankfully, Dawn and Zander had come prepared. They’d left half of their army in their lands on high alert. The last thing they wanted was for the rebels to try to take over while they were off helping Stryker and the Eastern Kingdom. But they’d quietly sent the other half into the Eastern Kingdom the same day they themselves departed. Their troops were now camping south of the Jewel Spring Mountains, awaiting their command only a little less than a day’s ride from us, but hidden so that the rebels didn’t know they were close.

We decided it was best to make the rebels believe that we were unaware of their plans, and therefore unprepared. We hoped that would make them sloppy when they finally made their move. We also decided to send coded messages to Stryker’s brothers Zane and Adrien, asking for help. Zander wasn’t sure if they’d be able to send any troops, both brothers had their own inter-kingdom issues to deal with, but if Stryker ever needed his brothers, it was now.

Eventually, we did call in Stryker’s captains and explain what we knew. We kept the knowledge to a small group of people though, concerned that our plans would make it back to the rebels and ruin everything. I had ensured there were no traitors in Stryker’s army with my truth-telling power, but Zander explained how devious and tricky the rebels could be and cautioned me to only reveal knowledge to the most trusted of Stryker’s men. It was a warning I was going to heed, so before we let anyone know what was going on, I used my magic to ferret out if they were still trustworthy or had been recently bribed to turn on Stryker in his weakened state.

At the end of the very long day Zander asked if he could see Stryker before he and Dawn turned in. I led both of them to Stryker’s room and saw real anguish in Zander’s eyes when he spotted his brother, lying defenseless and unconscious in bed. He immediately went to Stryker, clasped his hand and began talking to him.

I didn’t know if Stryker could hear and understand what we said to him in his current condition, but I hoped he could. Zander told his brother he was sorry for not helping him in the past and asked for forgiveness. He told Stryker he loved him, and that he was so glad that Stryker had found his mate. My eyes welled up a little at that point and I left the room to give Zander privacy.

* * *

I was shaken awake by Dawn. I sat up, bleary eyed with my heart pounding in my chest.

“There has been an attack at the front gates. Zander is locking down the castle,” she said.

Those words had me jumping from my bed and throwing on my boots and a thick dressing gown. “Was anyone hurt?”

Dawn nodded sadly. “It appears that one of the rebels got inside the castle. Zander took care of him, but not before he killed two guards. We think he was going to bring back word about the defenses of the fortress and number of guards, things like that.”

“Which means the rebels are close by?” I asked her.

“We think so,” Dawn confirmed. “Sunup is in an hour. Let’s have an early breakfast and adjust the plan. War is at our doorstep.”

Ten minutes later I was pacing the dining room as Zander and Dawn ate.

“You need to keep up your strength, Aribella,” Zander said. “If a battle breaks out. I don’t know the next time we’ll be able to eat.”

I waved him off. “I don’t care about food. I want these bastards out of Stryker’s kingdom,” I growled.

Dawn grinned. “Princess of Fall Court, I always thought you were the shy and meek one. I’m glad to be proved wrong.”

I sent her a half smile, but my mind was racing. “What if we sent out scouts to try to find their camp and report back how many troops they have?” I asked.

“Already done.” Zander smiled.

“We should send a new raven to Zane and Adrien, ask for them to send troops.”

Zander’s face fell a little. “I did, but they still haven’t responded to the first raven and Stryker has not been the kindest to them over the years.”

“He’s their brother!” I shouted.

Zander just nodded. “And it’s complicated. If this battle wasn’t as imminent I’d risk contacting them telepathically. But it could put me down for an entire day, and we can’t afford that right now.”

I groaned, feeling flustered that there wasn’t more I could do. “How big is Stryker’s army? Is everyone ready? Should we call for volunteers?”

Zander placed his fork down and stood, walking over to stand before me. “You are doing a great job, Aribella. But we’ve done all we can. I’ve sent word for my men to move closer in the event of an attack. Stryker’s army is stationed and ready to fight. All we can do is wait.”

I deflated, sinking in on myself. Wait until we were attacked? It was a horrible option, but seemed like the only one. “What if we went out to meet them, fought before they even got here.”

Zander nodded. “Once my spy gets back with numbers and their location, we will consider that option.”

He was right, we’d done and tried everything and I needed to just sit here and wait for more information.

I picked at my food and anxiously cast glances out the window for the next few hours until two men entered the dining room. A man dressed in all black, but covered in dirt, with a black gauze scarf wrapped over most of his face, entered with a guard. The man unwrapped the scarf from his face and puffs of dust flew into the air around him.

“Samuel. What have you learned?” Zander asked. This must be his spy.

I stood as well as Dawn and we waited on bated breath for him to speak.

Samuel bowed slightly to all of us and then fixed Zander with a troublesome gaze. “My lord, it’s worse than we thought. They have over ten thousand men. An uncountable amount.”

Dizziness washed over me. Ten thousand? Did he say ten thousand?

Zander didn’t saying anything back so I looked over at him to find that he was utterly speechless.

“How many men do we have here in Easteria?” I asked.

Zander swallowed hard. “Two thousand.”

“And how many did you bring that are waiting to help?” I hoped it was another two thousand.

Zander appeared ashamed. “Five hundred. I took heavy losses with the sickness ravaging my land. And we’re still replenishing the troops after reclaiming my kingdom.”

No.

“If ten thousand fae attack this city, what will happen?” I asked frankly.

Zander peered at Dawn and then me. “We will be defeated. They will scale the walls and take the city and the castle. I will be killed and you two will be …” He drifted off and I used my imagination.

“How did they get ten thousand!” Dawn spoke for the first time. She looked to her husband. “There weren’t that many when you drove them out of our kingdom.”

“A lot of them looked like Midlanders,” the spy said.

Zander nodded. “They’ve long been in need of a ruler. Thank you, Samuel. Stay nearby in case I need you again.”

Samuel inclined his head in obedience, and then he and the guard left.

“We aren’t going to let this happen, right?” I asked Zander.

His gaze flicked to his wife and then to her belly for half a second. “You should take Aribella and flee to the north.”

Dawn shook her head. “I have powerful magic. I can help.”

“Me too,” I interjected.

Again Zander looked at her belly. “Dawn,” he pressed. “I think it’s best for your health ,” he emphasized the word. “And safety, if you flee.”

I gasped, my gaze snapping to Dawn. “You’re pregnant!”

She gave me a sheepish grin. “Barely. I just missed my monthly bleed a few weeks ago. It’s too early to—”

I crashed into her, hugging her tightly. “I’m so happy for you. Amid all this craziness. This is wonderful news.” When I pulled back, Zander was beaming, they both were.

“We don’t want to seem too happy about things while our people are suffering so please keep this private,” Dawn asked, and Zander stepped over and rubbed her stomach.

“Of course,” I told her. “And I agree, you should flee to the north. Both of you. There is no reason to stay if this war cannot be fought.”

Zander frowned. “And if we did. What about you?”

“I will stay with Stryker.”

“You could both come,” Zander offered. “I can still have my men fight to give the castle a chance.”

I shook my head. “Stryker would never leave his people. And I won’t leave him.”

Dawn pursed her lips. “We’re not going. We can at least try to fight.”

“Ten thousand, Dawn. That’s a lot of soldiers. You need to go. I’ll give you the Shadow Heart and you can figure out a way to get word to Isolde so that she knows not to kill Adrien or Zane.”

Dawn shook her head, but Zander pleaded with her. “You have our child in your belly. Would you really risk its life for something that’s futile?”

Dawn, strong unflappable Dawn, began to softly weep then. It was a horrible choice, to feel like she was leaving me and all of these people to die, but I knew she had to think of her future and that of her unborn child.

“Go. Our people still need you,” I told her, thinking of Faerie.

How much time had passed? I’d lost track while Stryker had been ill. Had it been a month already? If it had, I’d already lost my ability to return home. Not that I cared; I’d never have been able to do what it took to create a portal back to my world. To carve Stryker or any of his brothers’ hearts from their body with my faestone dagger. That hadn’t been an option for weeks now. I was staying here so best not to dwell on that any longer.

“Okay,” Dawn whimpered. “Okay.” This time she was resigned.

It was decided Dawn and Zander would flee to the north and send another round of ravens to their brothers for help. Dawn would try to find a way to speak to Isolde so that we could save Adrien or Zane from being harmed by her.

I went to my room and got the Shadow Heart, giving it to her. Zander helped her get into a carriage and I pulled him aside. “Can I evacuate the people?”

He shook his head. “Mass movement like that would tip off the rebels and if they attacked you out in the open, it would be a blood bath. Their quarrel is not with the people. They will likely let them live. They need slaves and tax payers.” A grim assessment with a sliver of light.

“Thank you.” I reached out and grasped his forearms. “For everything.”

He nodded. “I would stay if it were up to me, but Dawn would never allow it,” he said.

I smiled, thinking of their love for each other and not wanting to be parted. “As she shouldn’t. You belong together.”

He frowned. “Last chance to come with. I can bring Stryker and my healers will tend to him around the clock.”

I shook my head. “I don’t know your brother as well as you do, but I know he would never leave his people without a leader.”

Zander smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “You’re right. He would go down with the ship.”

And that’s what I would do. Stryker and I would do it together.

Dawn peeked her head eagerly out of the carriage and I stepped over to her.

“It doesn’t feel right to leave,” she said.

I nodded. “It never will. But you must.” I gave her a hug and she held me for longer than would be considered normal.

“Tell me you won’t hate me for this, tell me you forgive me for being selfish,” she whispered in my ear.

I laughed. “Oh Dawn, there is nothing to forgive. This isn’t selfish, you have to think of your unborn child and the people of Faerie.”

She nodded, determined.

Zander slipped into the carriage and then they left before nightfall. They were going to leave before the castle doors were locked and reinforced. Dawn said they would take a path that was lesser known and avoid the giant army, bypassing them completely.

Once I lost sight of their carriage I sighed in relief. Knowing that she had the Shadow Heart and would try to somehow speak with the Winter princess brought me relief. I’d done all I could for my people, and now it was again up to the Summer champion to help them.

I informed the household staff that a ten-thousand-troop army was coming to attack the city and then relieved them to go home and be with their families. I told them not to fear, that the men taking over the city were not likely to hurt them but that it would be unsafe to flee as they could be found on the road.

I then called in the heads of Stryker’s army. All through the night we formulated our defensive plans and then sent them out to get the troops in position. It was going to be morning soon and the men finally left so I made some tea. I wouldn’t be sleeping at all, not even a wink. After drinking a cup, I poured a second and slipped into Stryker’s room. The healers and physicians had been dismissed to be with their families as well, so it was just us. I set the tea down on the windowsill near the bed and slipped into the covers next to him, resting my head onto his shoulder. The soft thumping of his heart against my cheek brought me comfort.

“I dreamed up my future husband when I was seven years old,” I told him, praying he could hear me. “He’d have blond hair, be super nice, and know how to make chocolate cake.” I laughed at the seven-year-old’s version of my Prince Charming. “But instead I got you.”

I propped up on my elbow and stared at his strikingly handsome features. I ran a finger down his cheek scar, and then over his lips. “The darker version of my handsome dream man. I wonder if you know how to make chocolate cake?” I asked him.

But his silence was heartbreaking.

“Answer me,” I begged, trying to keep the tears from welling in my eyes.

“Wake up, Stryker.” I shook him a little, feeling desperate. But the rise and fall of his chest did not change, nor did his eyes open.

There was a knock at the doorway. I glanced up to see one of Stryker’s captains.

“The rebel soldiers’ lanterns can be seen on the horizon. We think they mean to attack at first light. It’s time,” he said.

I nodded, wiping my eyes and then planting a chaste kiss on Stryker’s cheek. “I will do you proud, my love,” I told him and then stood from the bed.

My tea had cooled and so I chugged it and then followed the captain to war.

If Stryker could not lead his people, then I would. If nothing else then as a penance for not being able to save my own. My blood would run in rivers down these streets before I let one rebel soldier cross this threshold.