Chapter 20

Chapter Twenty

Zenith

Dawn casts a beautiful light from the horizon. Hopefully, this bodes well for the rest of the day. A cloudless lavender sky, the sun peaking over the treetops, multicolored leaves rustling in the canopy, ready to fall.

And Anash in my arms because of course he's refused to stay behind.

Before heading out, we left a detailed message for Rahz and Jindal. Neither of us wants them to worry as they recover. They've more than done their part and deserve to be left in peace.

The journey back to Lord Warner's estate passes quickly. Though Anash can fly on his own, I'm faster, so I carry him. At least, I tell myself that. In truth, I carry him because I like holding him.

I have a plan, but it's risky. I'll need Randal and Isolde on board—Randal to captain the troops and Isolde to convince the rest of my advisors to help. Anash is certain he can sway Nola and Rolan. But if any of the key individuals can't be persuaded to shift their loyalties, we risk Queen Aurielle gaining the upper hand.

We land outside the barn where my army is being housed. Randal stands to the side, and I call out to him, "Captain. A word?"

"There you are." He stops tending to the horse he'd been grooming and joins me. "I was wondering when you'd return. Where've you been?"

"I'm going to find Nola and Rolan," says Anash and takes off.

"Be careful," I say to the back of his head, then turn to Randal. "Let's walk."

We collect Isolde, and the three of us take to the perimeter, where a looping trail around the manor house leads us by a meandering tree line.

I tell them everything. Well, almost everything. I leave out a few bits and bobs of the happenings at the incubus brothel out of sheer decency.

As I relay the information, Randal's face morphs from shock to anger to the thin-lipped, tight-browed determination I've come to know from him. Isolde, however, is better at schooling her expression to neutrality. I don't have a good read on her.

"The heart of the matter is that we're fighting for the good of Luminia," I say. "That's still true. We didn't know it, but we were on the wrong side before. Now we have a chance to fix that mistake. We can protect the bloodlines and keep the world safe for the fae, but we'll do it by working with humans, not against them. They deserve our protection too."

"Radical of you, High General," says Randal.

"Say you're with me." My gut tells me he is, but I don't know about Isolde.

"Of course we're with you," she says. "Right, Captain?"

"Right," he answers. Relief loosens my shoulders. "But it's easy for me. I saw her whip those prisoners to death with my own two eyes. The rest of the army did not. How will we communicate it to them?"

"Leave that to me."

"And what will I be doing?"

"Wait until dusk, then get the army into formation and use the cover of darkness to march them to the open fields halfway between here and Willowood. Have them ready to fight if it comes to it."

He nods. "You can count on me."

I lay my hand on his shoulder. "I know. Thank you. And you, Isolde, I want you to set about informing my advisors, the ones you think will be on our side. Matilda too. Otherwise, use your best judgment."

"Aye, sir. If that's all, I'll go right away."

"Yes, that's all. I shall see you both on the battlefield. May the stars cast their celestial light upon us."

We part, and I head straight away to find Matilda.

Anash

I find Nola and Rolan and sneak them away to the manor's gardens to speak privately.

"What is it?" Nola prods. "What's got you so worked up?"

"Erm, it's a long story. And not one I can tell until we're sure we're alone."

We take a quick perimeter check of the area. All around us are the yellowing plants of last season's abundance, now shriveled and going dormant for the approaching winter. We commandeer a wooden picnic table with sparkling vines carved along the benches, me sitting across from the two of them.

I take a deep breath in through my nose, blow it out my mouth, then fill them in on everything that's happened, speaking sunstrides a minute, antsy to catch them up as fast as possible. There's so much to do and not a lot of time to do it.

They listen in silence, maybe because I'm talking too fast for them to ask questions. Maybe out of respect for my title. Maybe for reasons I can't fathom, but the quiet makes me bonkers.

"I wish I could have told you both sooner, but I couldn't. Not until after I told Zenith." I'm having a hard time judging their thoughts by the looks on their faces, though they seem to be able to communicate with each other without speaking at all. A glance between them says volumes where I'm left to wonder. "What say you?"

"The royal family has been good to us," says Nola cautiously. "I hesitate to betray them."

"But this is not a betrayal of the Lemossin line. This is an improvement of it. Queen Aurielle is leaving nothing but destruction in her wake. But her daughter, Princess Suvi, is ready, willing, and capable of guiding Luminia forward."

Nola looks to Rolan for guidance.

"We understand, but it's a lot to learn all at once," he says. "You've had months to process. We've had no time at all."

"Right. Okay. Yes. That makes sense. I'm sorry."

"What would you ask of us?" Nola asks.

"Zenith and I would like you to remain my guards. He's right. I have no training in combat, and if it comes to battle, I should flee. Of course I can go alone if I must. All I can ask is that if you don't want to be a part of the change, please don't stand in the way of it."

They speak at the same time, "We will remain your guards."

Then Nola. "Regardless of what happens, we've been tasked with keeping you safe."

And Rolan. "And so we shall."

"Whatever happens beyond that, well, it's out of our control, isn't it? We are but two people in a realm of millions."

"I can't blame you for not choosing sides, but thank you. Thank you for watching over me. If it weren't for the two of you, Zenith would have chained me to a tree by now. A very safe tree in a very safe forest, a very safe distance away from anything important."

They chuckle, and in turn, I smile.

We'll be all right, the three of us.

As for the million other residents of Luminia, we're about to find out.