RETURN

8

"We can complete the return home without rest today," Clem's voice carried into the hall. "The winds are at our tail which means we can save our energy for actual flight. It will be arduous, but it can be done."

Aria exited her room to find her parents' door open, the pair gathered with Hyla and Clem, who looked at her upon finishing his thought. "Good morning, Princess."

Aria gave him a small smile in return, suddenly glad she had packed away the apple from the breakfast tray that was delivered to her room this morning if they weren't going to be able to take a break on the journey back.

As they made their way to the Sanctum entrance, it was early enough that the only seers bustling about the campus were those responsible for seeing the visitors off this morning.

The sun barely peeked over the pink horizon, making the fae squint as they started their flight home. The journey went without issue, but as they neared the Zephyr castle gates, the sight of her home was nearly enough to make her sob.

Aria's petite frame made it that much more difficult for her to keep up with the larger-winged fae, and she'd had to use a lot of wind to keep her going. She nearly collapsed upon landing, her wings vanishing the moment her feet touched the ground. Unlike what many suspected of her, just because she carried the powers of both parents didn't mean her well of power was deeper. But that was something her family planned to keep to themselves. They didn't want to boast about her abilities, but they didn't want her viewed as weak, either. Even her mere existence was political.

Immediately, the castle staff flocked to them, hurrying the entire group through the entrance into the dining hall where they were greeted by steaming bowls of hearty stew and a spread of meats and cheeses. Each of them dug into the food, ravenous from their restless trip.

King Arach was the only one who paused just long enough to order the head staff on duty to retrieve Professor Embris from her chambers. Twilight was nearing and none of them had said a word about Selene's prophecy since leaving the Sanctum grounds.

The group had just finished their meals when the professor entered the room, already in her nightclothes. "You may leave us," King Arach dismissed the staff with a wave of his hand. "There is much for us to discuss, do not allow us to be interrupted."

The servants left the room, each offering a small bow upon their exit. Only the royal family and the two members of the Royal Guard remained seated around the table. With Professor Jil Embris now in attendance, they had the full Royal Assembly and could discuss the impending threat with the woman who arguably had the most insight to offer.

"We were set to convene in the morning, King Zephyr," Jil took her seat at the opposite end of the table from Aria's parents. The wrinkles in her aged, umber skin deepened in confusion. "What is the urgency? "

The professor used to make the trek each year with the rest of the Assembly, but with her age, she had decided not to risk the flight this time. But that age—her tenured experience in military strategy, and longtime service as a royal advisor—also made her one of the only citizens of Allar brave enough to question the king's orders with confidence.

"Your expertise is required and this cannot wait," he advised. Her eyebrows knitted together in concern. While Aria's parents took turns filling in Jil on the dire situation, the woman sat quietly and nodded in understanding.

"This is unlike anything we've experienced on this continent before," she finally responded blearily after a painstaking moment of silence. And she would know, considering she was older than anyone else at the table. "Mallium is a fickle deity," she scoffed, sounding more annoyed than terrified. "I suppose our first concern should be identifying the source of danger."

"We'll begin working with the librarians first thing in the morning to see if our records hold any hint at what we may be facing," Queen Joyen agreed.

Professor Embris continued, staring intently at the table in front of her, her eyes flickering back and forth as if analyzing an invisible military plotting table. "Beyond that, our next step is to align with the shifters and determine our strengths and weaknesses. We need to know what size of troops and level of skills we're working with," she paused. "And what of that Unifier group?"

"What about them?" the king urged.

"Well, I don't imagine they'll take to fighting alongside shifters very well, do you?" she retorted. "And it sounds like we're going to need their help. Mallium was pretty clear about everyone working together, was he not? "

Shit , Aria thought, her teeth clamping onto her lip in worry. She hadn't even considered the Unifiers. They were loyal to the fae and would likely jump at the chance to fight if it meant they got something out of it. But fighting with shifters ? As equals? Not a chance.

"Perhaps they could be persuaded, reasoned with…" Arach suggested, glancing at Joyen to his right. Whether to offer reassurance, or to seek reassurance himself, Aria didn't know.

"Are they a large enough force that losing them would be that much of a disadvantage?" Aria asked the table. She was received with an uncomfortable silence.

"They're growing in numbers," Aria's mother looked down at the table with shame, avoiding the onlooking eyes of the rest of the Royal Assembly. "Much of my former province has joined their movement."

"What do you mean, much ?" Aria asked, her voice breaking.

"The Unifiers… They're now the majority opinion in Erdane. And they're beginning to stretch into our territory as well," Joyen explained, refusing to meet Aria's eyes.

Aria looked at her mother incredulously, running her hands through her tangled hair, unable to believe her parents—and the rest of the Assembly, for that matter—had managed to keep the severity of the Unifier movement so quiet. Especially from her. Did they not trust her? "Why am I just now hearing about this?"

Arach was the one who spoke. "We've tried to keep their growth as understated as possible. The more the news of their success spreads, the better chance they have at sustaining it. We can't risk losing any more of the kingdom to their thirst for power than we already have."

"Finishing your studies is the most important thing you can do right now," her mother finally looked up. "We didn't want you worrying about something you can't control. "

Before she could object, the professor interjected. "You're one of my best students in military strategy, but there is much you've yet to learn. Be grateful your parents have allowed you to enjoy your youth while you're able. Many are not so lucky."

Aria started to protest that finishing her studies was actually the least important thing right now, but they had a point. She couldn't argue with the fact she was still young, technically politically powerless. She'd never seen real battle, or really any substantial conflict in her life. Everyone else at this table had been there for the battle at the border fifty years ago, the two guards included, though they weren't much older than her at the time. Hyla and Clem's performances there were part of what helped them earn their way to their spots in leadership, and eventually into the Royal Assembly.

Meanwhile, Aria had done nothing of note so far. Nothing to prove her capability. Yet, she still felt belittled by their omissions. The hurt that weighed on her was enough to keep her silent as her thoughts raced.

"We need to figure out who is leading the charge on the Unifier front as soon as possible, and ask for a meeting to discuss our options of moving forward," Professor Embris declared. "They must fight with us or risk death, just the same as everyone else on the continent. It's the most compelling argument we could make. Perhaps the only argument."

The king turned to face Joyen and said flatly, "It's time you write to your mother."

"Arach—" Joyen started to argue.

"She's residing in the center of the largest group of Unifiers," he stated, a strange note in his voice that Aria couldn't quite place. "Perhaps she's heard something we don't know that could help us appeal to them more effectively." His eyes pierced into Joyen's, almost in warning .

The queen nodded with a sigh. "I'll send a messenger guard to her as soon as we adjourn. They can escort her back here in the coming days."

The tension in the exchange was alarming. Aria knew the relationship between the queen and her mother, Vera, had grown unstable in the years after the Joining. Though Aria had been sheltered from much of the discourse, having only met her grandmother a few times at various royal gatherings across the realm, she understood her mother's hesitancy. Vera had never been especially warm or hospitable.

"How did the shifters react to the news?" Professor Embris inquired of the group.

"As you might expect," the king started, remembering the coarse exchange of words. "With anger, frustration. They, too, are concerned about the Unifier movement and want nothing more than to protect their people. Just like us." His hands began to wring. "We've tried to convince them we are not involved, but the optics are not in our favor."

"When the meeting ended, they were… willing to work with us, it seemed." Joyen said. "They appointed General Glacius's son, Luka, as our point of contact while we sort things out. We should be hearing from him soon about their suggested terms."

"That's promising," encouraged the professor, her tense demeanor relaxing just a bit. "Until then, it appears all we can do is wait for the librarians, for Vera, and for the Fulgara boy, yes?" The king and queen nodded simultaneously. "Great, then I'm going to continue my evening in my chambers, lest anything urgent arise before then. And you two—" she gestured to the rulers, "ought to make a statement to the public in the morning. It won't take long for word to spread about the border wall disappearing, and we don't want a panic. Make that your priority. First thing tomorrow. And send for me when we have any developments." Jil rose from her chair with noticeable difficulty and made her way toward the door.

"Clem, please escort the professor back to her room and see to it that one of the guards on duty this evening can leave quickly to fetch my mother from her castle, asking her for an audience in regard to the message from Selene—which she will certainly want to hear," Joyen ordered. Clem rose and took the professor's arm in his.

"Actually," Joyen stopped him, "send two to accompany her. And make sure they're patient. She doesn't fly as well as she used to. I'll send word to the villages along the way to arrange rooms for them should they need to make stops."

"Right away, Your Majesty," Clem bowed before leaving with the professor in tow.

Allar was almost double the size of Denover, and while Erdane was now part of their realm, the flight from the Erdanean capital where her grandmother's estate resided was even further than their flight to the Solstice Sanctum had been. It would likely be a week before Vera made it to the Zephyr castle if her health had diminished as much as Joyen hinted at. Aria admired her mother for being the bigger person and ensuring Vera's comfort, despite their rocky relationship.

"Hyla, please spread the word to the rest of the Guard, even those in training," the king directed. "The border wall will disappear tonight, if it hasn't already, and we need to be prepared. We should stop anyone trying to cross the river—leaving or entering. With the physical barrier gone, we must double our defenses, especially until we've reached an agreement with Denover. When the dragon arrives, he should be escorted to the castle gates where we can meet him. We must keep them at arm's length as much as possible. I don't trust that they won't use this to their advantage somehow. "

Hyla bowed and took her leave, making her way quickly to the Guard's headquarters and leaving Aria alone with her parents.

"And what am I to do?" Aria asked, her head high and royal mask in place, despite now knowing how they viewed her. She might be young, but she would prove herself as capable if it was the last thing she did.

"You can meet with the librarians at dawn," her mother replied. "Tell them only what they need to know—that there is a possibility of a godly disturbance on the equinox, and we need to figure out what it is to prepare for it. If they want to know more, reassure them more information will come in time. And swear them to secrecy. We cannot risk the actions of panicked people."

"You have my word," Aria rose and retreated to her room without giving her parents a second look.

By the time she made it to her room on the top floor, her legs strained with the weight of her drained body. Her muscles ached from stiffness. She was desperate to be horizontal in her cloud-like bed after two incredibly trying days in a row. And with the equinox only a few months away, she doubted there would be any day in the near future that wasn't trying.

She climbed into bed, not even bothering to shed her leathers, and fell asleep sprawled atop her sheets.

***

There was no time to discuss the impending threats before the sun rose and the shifters' welcome had worn off at the Solstice Sanctum.

The fae were already long gone by the time they left, likely making up for the extended time it would take them to travel back to the Allarian capital. Luka thanked the gods he didn't have to see them after his unsavory encounter with Aria last night, her piercing green eyes still burning into his mind.

They made their way back to the Legion Academy, which held the official Legion Council strategy room where they would discuss the next course of action. As they landed, Luka noticed Evelyn sitting on the ground against the entrance. His heart skipped at the relief of seeing her unharmed, aside from the pink tinge to her skin from baking in the sun. She must have found something important if she was waiting for their return, sitting there for gods knew how long.

Evelyn picked herself up and approached them as they made their way through the Academy entrance, headed directly for the strategy room. "Council," she started, following quickly behind them in hopes of getting their attention. None of them acknowledged her except for Luka, who greeted her with raised brows.

By the time they made it to the entrance of the room, Evelyn tried again. "Generals, I have important information. I believe it is regarding the Unifier movement."

General Glacius stopped short and turned to face the panther. "What is it?" Shara asked in haste. Her chestnut hair was pulled into a slick bun, sharpening her features even further.

"I found a letter," Evelyn began, holding up a small piece of paper with scribbled writing. Her normally confident, lulling voice held a frantic note. "From Vera Erdane to Queen Joyen. I made a copy of it—"

"Thank you for completing your mission and bringing this to us," General Glacius snatched the note from Evelyn's hands and shooed the panther with a wave. "You may get back to your daily duties while we look it over."

Luka stopped Evelyn before she could turn around, upset with the flippant dismissal of his second in command. "She stays," he said firmly, throwing a look of defiance at his mother. "We need to hear the rest of what she has to say. It may affect our discussion."

Evelyn glanced at him quickly, likely the most thanks he would get from her. Shara eyed them both and conceded. "Fine," she said, ushering all of them into the room hurriedly. "But make it quick."

While not spacious, the room held a lot of items critical to war strategy and the governance of Denover. Maps, books, scrolls, and ledgers covered every surface. With that much information readily available, the Council typically didn't allow anyone but themselves into the strategy room for fear of leaks. Even Academy cleaning staff were forbidden, which was evidenced by the overflowing waste bins and dust on the shelves. Luka had to admit that Shara ran a tight ship. It didn't help that having so many spies of her own made her paranoid about being compromised.

All three generals took their seats and looked to Evelyn, who stood extremely still near the entrance, waiting for her cue to explain. It was the first time in a long time Luka had seen her look nervous.

"Well?" General Falden stared at her fellow panther. "Get on with it."

Evelyn cleared her throat. "The letter was dated the day after the solstice, so it's recent. It wasn't signed, but it came from Vera's letterhead and was addressed to a daughter," Evelyn gathered her thoughts as Shara opened the letter, reading it intently. "She accuses the Allarian queen of not ruling aggressively enough and threatens to take action if they don't pursue the conquering of Denover." Evelyn paused and eyed the generals, tucking a long strand of her black waves behind her ear as the words sank in. Luka turned the information over in his mind, searching Evelyn's worried eyes before she continued. "The letter was hidden under a stack of heavy books despite only being dated a week ago, which tells me they don't want staff finding it. But it wasn't locked away. Plus, it contained quite a bit of wear around the edges, so they've probably labored over the message more than once. Vera's threats obviously carry weight. I think Vera is talking about the Unifiers, maybe even leading them…" she trailed off, not wanting to say anything for certain. The leaders shared concerned looks across the table, but Luka kept his gaze on Evelyn. He was both proud of her for discovering this letter and mortified by the news.

He and Evelyn had shared plenty of conspiratorial conversations about the king and queen likely using the Unifiers as a front for their true motives. But if this letter was really from Vera, and the fae rulers were trying to hide the fact that the queen's mother was leading the radicals, then maybe they weren't actually involved. And maybe their reaction to Acasia's snide comment at the Sanctum was caused by genuine frustration at the accusations.

Maybe.

Even if that was the case, that didn't forgive the rest of the fae's actions throughout history.

"If it's true that the fae are this divided, it will greatly impact our ability to succeed on the equinox," General Brune looked to Luka's mother who remained quiet in contemplation. Evelyn's eyebrows lifted in confusion. Luka realized her ignorance and mouthed I'll fill you in later . She nodded warily. Dariel peered over the table at Shara, still looking for a reaction from the Head General. "How have our operatives not learned she is the one in charge?"

Luka's mother continued analyzing the paper. "She's likely keeping it very close to her chest, using a network of underlings to do her bidding. But I will certainly be contacting our people undercover. We need to confirm as soon as possible."

"I assume the Zephyrs are keeping this to themselves, too, if this is the first we're hearing about it," General Falden said, using an extended claw to pick the rest of her nails clean, somehow seeming indifferent despite her suggestion that followed. "What's to say they don't bow to whatever threat Vera poses and use this opportunity to overpower us? Without the border wall, our most effective defense is the mountain range, and that leaves the Panther Province wide open for attack."

Evelyn's eyes widened and flew to Luka's in panic at the mention of the wall being gone. He shook his head quickly. Later, he mouthed again.

"The Allarian rulers seemed earnest in their intent to work with us," General Glacius began. "Against my better judgment, I think we should give them the benefit of the doubt, especially if what we've learned is true. But we tell them we know about their little family secret," she glanced at Luka with an eyebrow raised. "You will fly to the Zephyr castle tomorrow. Tell them we will fight alongside them in defense of our continent. But we know who is leading their revolution, and we will take action against those who seek to steal our democracy from us if we feel threatened in any way. Either they get their own people back under their control, or we will do it for them," she said with finality.

"I'm honestly surprised you want to give them another chance," Acasia scoffed. "After everything they've done."

"I don't think we have a choice," Shara said firmly. "Mallium has made sure of that. The best we can do is agree to work with them under strict conditions. If we don't, we die."

Luka closed his eyes in frustration, clasping his hands behind his head. He had calmed the group down at the Sanctum, but the more he thought about working with them—especially after his interaction with Aria—the more he dreaded it. But his mother was right. They had their backs to a corner, and by this evening, their only existing defense for half their realm would disappear. They didn't have time to hold grudges, however founded they may be. They needed to make sure the fae upheld their end of the truce, even if it was temporary.

"Fine," Acasia sat up. "But we need to station squads along the river of the Panther Province. My people are the most at risk here, and I refuse to lose any of them to those fucking fae."

No one dared disagree with her.

"I'll gather the captains right now and tell them to send their best," Luka pushed back from the table. "I'll leave for Allar tonight and deliver the message first thing in the morning," he said, motioning for Evelyn to follow.

She clipped quickly behind him, accosting him as soon as the doors closed. "What in the fucking dark realm is going on, Luka?"

"Come here," he grabbed her arm and pulled her around the corner, away from the formality of the strategy room. "We're fucked , that's what's going on." Luka paced, explaining everything they'd learned in the past twenty-four hours. When he finally turned, he found those familiar honeyed eyes hollow, Evelyn's mind far away.

"My gods," she finally mustered, otherwise speechless.

"I wish I would have known about your letter when I was there. I wouldn't have been so easy on the princess during our little chat," Luka ran a coarse hand along the nape of his neck. He could have grilled Aria on something substantial instead of just hurling stereotypical insults to try and rile her.

"Fuck them," Evelyn added quietly, still in disbelief. "Do you want me to go with you tonight? "

"No, I need to do this on my own. They probably won't take kindly to being threatened by two of us. If I'm not back by sundown tomorrow, you know where to find me," he explained, pulling his hair back into a bun.

"Fine, you can be the hero this time. Just don't get yourself killed because you went all alpha, okay?" she teased. He let the hint of a smile creep along one side of his mouth, mostly just to make her feel better. She waved him on. "Go tell the rest of the guards. I'll meet up with our squad and break the news."

"Thanks, Ev. I'm glad you made it back in one piece," Luka said as he turned. "Mostly so I didn't have to give Kam the satisfaction of being promoted to second," he said over his shoulder.

"I'm telling Kam you said that!" Evelyn called after him with a laugh. A pang went through his chest. His squad. His family. If only they knew the gravity of what awaited them.