Chapter 2

GOLL

The wind rattled the door and windows as the snowstorm howled outside. We sat around Ogalvet's dining table where I'd been studying the map of my father's troop movements. The hearth burned brightly, heating the room despite the blizzard sitting over Silvantis.

Soryn pointed his finger to the map. "They're gathering here on the south side of Belladum."

"How many?" I asked, referring to the allies we'd collected in the city closest to Silvantis.

Pullo crossed his arms. "Three hundred. Maybe four."

"That's not many," said Ogalvet, setting two bowls of hog stew onto the table.

"It's enough to take the palace," I assured them. "With the hundred we have here."

It had been more difficult to gather allies so close to the castle. We had to be cautious. Many here feared my father's punishment should they be caught for treason. That fear overrode their hatred for him. I knew that their fear would only help me in the end. When my father was dead, I'd instantly gain their allegiance.

"And what of his entire army?" asked Soryn, scowling at the map.

"Goll only needs to take the palace. The rest will fall in line," said Dalya, still wearing her priestess cloak, the hood over her delicate, curved horns.

"She's the seer," said Pullo with a shrug. "She should know."

Soryn grunted. "Pardon my skepticism, my lady. But I don't fucking trust seers. I trust the facts. And those are that Xakiel has a force of one thousand protecting the castle of N?kt Mir. And an army of tens of thousands scattered at the southern border making its way across Lumeria. As it stands, it will still be two to one in taking the castle. And all of that depends on having a plan for a surprise attack to kill the bastard." He turned his red-eyed gaze on me. "Which we still don't have. Let's not forget the hundreds of wights beneath the castle, and why are you fucking smiling?"

I chuckled. "Because the pieces are falling into place, Soryn. I appreciate your candor and your skepticism. It keeps me grounded. But we have what we need."

I'd planted my own soldiers within his army who'd been spreading discontent for this long war that kept them from their families and homes. Not to mention those who'd died in battle, burned in pyres on foreign soil. I only needed the right moment to kill my father. I was certain I could turn the tide in my favor. And then I would need to end this war swiftly.

"He's right, though," said Dalya. "You need a perfect plan to take Xakiel by surprise. Or you won't get to him."

"His wights," I acknowledged.

If my father felt any threat to his life, he'd summon his army of wights to protect him. But if I killed him by surprise, then his wights would die with him, giving us the upper hand to take the castle and the throne. And those who weren't so loyal to my father would fall to their knees and pledge fealty to me.

"Look, our primary goal is—"

The door opened with a flurry of snow followed by a small, cloaked figure who pushed it shut. The hood fell back, and Hava sneezed.

"Hava?" I ushered her toward a stool beside the fire. Her black, leathery wings shivered where they protruded through her cloak. "Why have you come?"

Hava was my mole within N?kt Mir. We met only rarely in Silvantis to keep suspicion low.

But she'd left on a night like this. Even with her ability to fly—granted by her half-blood gift on her father's side—it would've been a treacherous trip in this blizzard.

She smiled even while her pointed teeth were chattering. "I bring news. Big news."

"Here, sweetheart," said Ogalvet, handing her a steaming bowl of stew.

"I am not hungry, Ogalvet."

"It'll warm your hands. Set it on your lap, keep your palms around the bowl."

"So smart, you are." She beamed a smile at him.

"What news?" I asked, now leaning my shoulder against the mantel.

Pullo, Soryn, and Dalya had also corralled closer.

"I know where the king's elite guard went."

"Where?" I snapped.

We knew they'd been sent on a covert mission. My own scouts had lost track of them near Hellamir, a light fae town on the Bluevale River.

"They went far into Lumeria, into Issos itself, to capture a prisoner."

My entire body went rigid. I knew before I asked, "Who did they go to capture?"

"Princess Una, King Connall's daughter."

"And did they?" asked Dalya earnestly.

"Yes," said Hava, her excitement dampened now by pity. "They will use her to force her father to surrender."

No one said a word for a long moment, realizing my father had done the impossible. This may very well bring about the end of the war and bring Northgall into power.

Soryn who broke the silence first. "It would've taken immense stealth to go into Issos and capture the princess."

"It did," added Hava, no longer shivering. "They killed a farmer and his family outside the city on a hill with a perfect view of the comings and goings of the palace. When they saw a large royal guard following a carriage leaving Valla Lokkyr, they followed, expecting it to be her, or possibly someone important who might help them get to her. The guard and carriage went all the way near the outside of the city."

"It was her, wasn't it?" I asked.

Hava nodded. "She was bringing a healing orb to a sick boy, a villager."

"Why would she risk her neck so stupidly?" asked Soryn.

No one bothered to answer. The princess had been foolish once before. Seems the outcome was the same. She'd become a prisoner of N?kt Mir for a second time. However, this time, my father had orchestrated it, knowing the power a prisoner of her importance might have on the war.

"They're holding her in the dungeon, I presume." I turned my attention to the fire, trying to stop the erratic buzzing in my blood at this news.

"Not the dungeon."

"Where are they keeping her?" asked Dalya.

"Under guard and lock and key. In the concubine quarters."

"What?" I asked on a hushed breath. A white-hot stirring of my magick burned in my veins.

Soryn stood next to me, crossing his arms. "Are you telling us that King Xakiel has made the virgin Princess of Issos his new whore?"

"Not yet." Hava stood and handed the untouched bowl of stew back to Ogalvet and faced me. "The king has been meeting with his warriors near the front. He'd planned to join them on their push toward Issos, but he halted orders to move forward and returned to Northgall when he heard news that his secret mission had worked."

"She's just a child," I grated through my teeth.

Hava frowned. "She is a woman grown."

When I'd taken her from the dungeon of N?kt Mir, she'd been only a slip of a female youth.

"Has he arrived yet back at N?kt Mir?" I asked, my magick humming for action.

"Word is he's expected tonight. He plans to have Princess Una presented at his court to him tomorrow morning."

"Poor princess," murmured Dalya behind me. "She must be terrified."

"That's not all," added Hava. "It's said that he plans to cut off her wings and send them back to her father with his first demand for surrender." She pulled her hood back over her head and small horns, adding quietly, "Then he'll do other things…and cut off other parts."

"No need to say anymore," growled Soryn. "We know exactly what Xakiel is capable of."

"How do you know all this?" asked Pullo.

Hava lifted her pointed chin higher. "I'm a good spy."

Dalya quickly added, "And now we know that he plans to use the princess to finally gain the kingdom of Lumeria under his rule."

"No," I said so coolly while my body burned, my magick smoldering hotter. "Tomorrow morning, we're going into N?kt Mir and take her first. Then we will use her to gain the allegiance of both Northgall and Lumeria."

All eyes swiveled to me in silence.

"It's time for me to take my throne."