by J. A. Comley
“It would be faster if we flew,” Lua said as Starla took a step into the darkness.
Lua gestured at the air near Starla's hip, her yellow swirls glowing briefly. Starla felt the air beside her turn solid.
Starla lay flat on the wind disc Lua had created, holding tight to its edge. Heny was lying beside her, hidden beneath her mantle.
As the disc lifted into the air, the Guardians took up defensive positions around it. Rya and Fey flanked it, Lua flew above it, and Gaby below. Lua brought up the rear, flying without a disc.
As the wind whipped at the mantle, Starla looked into the deep darkness. For the second time, she found herself being carried into Kyron's stronghold, but this time there was fire, not fear, burning in her heart.
Chapter 19
Battle Plans
It was eleven in the evening and the Hall of Justice was still buzzing. It had been entirely transformed. The stands moved out, tables moved in. Maps lay across most of these. Swords, bows, spears and all kinds of weaponry lined the walls. All the blacksmiths in the city had worked in shifts throughout the previous night and day.
Commander D'Ordeley sat at the table nearest the four throne-like high chairs resting only one step higher than the floor, her brush with death all but forgotten. The thrones were the only things left of the old Hall set up. She was bent over a detailed map of the Royal City and the surrounding few kilometres, her remaining Captains with her. They were trying to decide if Kyron would bring his troops in a direct line to the city's northern gate or if she had the numbers to surround them.
Naleiya had filled the position of High Lady as well as she could. She had locked her pain away and pushed her brother's death to the far corner of her mind. She had to prepare the Order, get them ready for the upcoming battle. But his staff remained at her side, a reminder of what they were fighting for. She had just sent another message off to Mistress Ezira. She had been stunned to learn that her brother, as High Lord, had been keeping up this communication on behalf of the King. This time, she was very much hoping for a reply longer than a thank you.
Many of the wealthier families in the Royal City had come here at some point in the last day, offering arms, men, and anything else. A spokesperson from the refugee camp had come too, claiming that all able-bodied men and woman were willing to fight.
Now, they were all out in the fields training, refugees, citizens and noblemen, all together taking a crash course in hand-to-hand combat.
Naleiya sighed. Much good may it do them. Then she scolded herself.
They all knew that swords, arrows and spears were no good against Kyron. Being able to do something, anything, was all they asked for.
She glanced over to the far left corner of the big Hall. Markis, Shaneulia and three of their eldest children were working over an assortment of glass tubes, vials and bulb-shaped beakers. Little flames flickered here and there.
“To give us the edge in battle. To erase some fears,” Markis had promised when he strode in at one in the morning, arms filled with his alchemical ingredients.
She smiled. Perhaps he would create something amazing. It wouldn't be the first time. It was he who had saved so many when those binding poisons had appeared amidst the populace. He and Larkel. Even Starla had been saved this way.
Starla. Naleiya felt her heart twist again. She had discovered that the amulet her brother had seen had a unique magical signature. The Baron had succeeded in taking a fifth of the Order with him to Kyron's side. She had ordered all remaining Makhi to search Rainbow Wood mentally for that signature. None had been found. Though she hated herself for it, she had called off the search, reluctantly believing Starla to have shared her brother's fate. The only hope left was that the amulet would not be able to be bent to Kyron's will.
A low zing and bang could be heard through the open doors. The handful of Inagium that were with the army were out on the grass using training techniques to strengthen their shield-selves. Most of Galatia's Inagium refused to join, in protest at being kept in the dark about Queen Astria's fate.
Her wife was listening to a soldier's report: a headcount of the citizenry. She tried to shut him out, not wanting to know what else Kyron had stolen from them. She fingered the new navy-blue border of her robes. She was High Lady now, the leader of all Makhi, the most powerful left to them. Sighing, she turned to listen to the report, too.
One hundred citizens were missing, not many of any great importance, strategically speaking. No weapon masters, blacksmiths or harknine trainers. Ten wealthier merchants and their families had gone, their retainers with them. And, of course, the Baron's fiancée, and Yilia and Deled of the noble houses. Naleiya growled under her breath. So many spies. Kyron had been watching and planning for a long time. Her thoughts went to Makhi Argor Ditte. Her brother had mistrusted him, and he had certainly seemed friends with the Baron, but all the evidence found had implicated his twin, Relan, who had fled. Redkin's notes into potential traitors in the order had cleared Argor. Since everything had spiralled, he had remained calm and was still here and proving very helpful and organised. Naleiya had chosen to trust Redkin's notes and she had pushed the suspicion aside. Ditte was the Order's best Makhi in stafflore.
He was proving this, now, going over every Makhi's initiation staff and checking for anomalies that could be exploited by the enemy. Later, he would be testing the younger Makhi to see if any were yet ready to learn how to make their own, unique staff, increasing their magical ability. Though she knew what her brother would say, Naleiya was thankful to Ditte. Besides, without the King's command, she could not ask for a Verelios Beam just on a suspicion her brother once voiced.
The King himself was safe in a magically reinforced bunker beneath the hall, still weak from his heart attack. Shaneulia had made him a remedy of her people to boost strength and Markis had made some kind of potion that must be administered every half-hour.
She glanced up to the four throne-like high chairs. Young Prince Niden sat in one, his eyes focusing on nothing, thoughts never stopping. Queen Zerina sat beside him, her face grim as she watched the Galatians prepare for a war her own people had lost.
A glittering wind suddenly blurred Naleiya's view of the two royals as it swirled into existence. One second, the space before the high chairs was empty, the next, Inagium Queen Astria stood before her grandson, the glittering wind dying around her.
Absolute shock held everyone still and silent, preventing the chaos that would have otherwise ensued. No-one appeared to be breathing, as if afraid that any movement, no matter how small, would dispel the evidence of their eyes.
It was sometime in that moment that seemed to last a lifetime that the King stepped gingerly through the concealed door from the underground bunker.
“Astria?”
His weak voice carried easily over the utter silence of the Hall.
The Queen turned, a smile lighting up her face as she hurried to him. He drew her into a tight embrace.
“Forgive my absence, Eldos, my love. Kyron's wounds are long in healing,” Astria whispered in his ear.
His eyes moved over her neck. “I thought I had lost you,” he murmured, tears in his eyes. “But you have returned to us.” His voice grew stronger with every word.
With that, the spell was broken. The hall erupted into cheers and two pages were summoned and sent out to spread the happy news to the training Inagium and those in the military hall.
Joy mingled with disbelief as everyone's cheering turned into conversation. She hugged her brother's staff to her chest, knowing how happy this news would have made him. The Order would also be better if he was around. Although he was feared and hated, none doubted his power. They would believe in their chances of victory. She would have to pull herself together and do better. For Larkel.
“Grandmother! You're alive! You are safe!” Niden shouted, bounding off the chair and joining his family.
The conversations in the hall died down to a muted murmur, everyone turning back to
what they had been doing, to give the royal family some semblance of privacy. Her lips turned up in a wry smile. Though everyone else had turned away, she noted that they weren't really doing anything. Everyone seemed to be waiting with baited breath for what the Queen had to say.
“Zerina? Naleiya? Medara? Markis? Shaneulia?” Astria called, locking eyes with each person in turn. “Please come and join us.”
They all moved swiftly, bowing to their Queen (Zerina giving a polite nod to her fellow monarch), expressing joy at her safe return. Naleiya cast a spell around them to prevent the people in the hall being able to listen in. She didn't like having to divide her focus between the anti-eavesdropping shield and the Queen, but sensitive information may be spoken here.
Astria wasted no time. In a hurried whisper she briefly explained what had happened to her and began to explain Starla's true origins.
“I have another sister?” Niden said, leaning heavily against the wall, sadness in his eyes for his fallen sisters conflicting with the joy of discovering one that was lost.
He remembered the fun she had been at the Festival. How in love she and Larkel had been. She had seemed like an amazing person. He smiled. My baby sister.
The old King was also smiling, his eyes wet. “Where is she now?” he said, glancing around the hall, as if he had by some chance missed her appearance.
Astria's face fell a little. Quickly, and even quieter than before, she explained what Starla was doing.
“What?” Niden made a strangled noise.
“Please. She wouldn't be dissuaded,” Astria said, “Naleiya, Starla saw your brother. She says he lives and is a prisoner of Kyron's. Her family from Earth are being held captive there, too.”
Naleiya steadied herself with her brother's staff. “Are you sure? Was she sure?” she breathed, not needing an answer. Starla, no, Princess Starla, was out risking her life. She wouldn't be doing that if she wasn't sure that Larkel lived.
“We must help her,” Naleiya said, standing tall, her voice commanding.
“No,” King Eldos said, his voice sad and his face creased with pain. “No. We must prepare the city. Kyron comes, regardless of the outcome of Starla's mission.”
He held up his hand to silence both Naleiya and Niden's objections. The two of them had good reason to want to help, as did he, but their duty lay here, with the city.
“High Commander, how goes your preparation of the city and its defenders?”
“As well as can be expected, my King,” Commander D'Ordeley said, her voice rough with shock. “The Tower Wall has been fortified, the magical breach in the Outer Wall,” she glanced at Naleiya, who managed a nod, “is sealed. Over the next four days all our volunteers will be trained and—”
“I am sorry, Commander,” Queen Astria interrupted her, “we do not have four days. Kyron attacks the day after tomorrow at dusk.”
A collective gasp rang through the Hall. Naleiya cringed. She hadn't realised she had dropped the anti-eavesdropping shield. She berated herself. Even with very little sleep, she had to try harder to maintain her focus.
Panic followed swiftly on the heals of the shock, the people clamouring for the doors.
Naleiya waved her right hand, her own staff appearing in it. With a quick flick, she sealed the doors. A globe of purple light flashed into the air and exploded with a deafening crack.
“Silence! Your Queen speaks,” Naleiya ordered the frozen crowd.
Medara gave her a wink and half-smile, as they, and all the anxious onlookers, turned to face the Queen, who had now retuned to her high chair.
“Thank you, High Lady Naleiya,” Astria said, facing the Hall. “I have been in the Dome of Stars with Mistress Ezira recuperating from an attack by Kyron. I come back to you now with news, not only of Kyron's timetable but of his numbers as well.”
The High Commander nodded to two of her Captains, who hurriedly grabbed a piece of paper and a pen each, waiting hands poised to write down the Queen's next words.
She recounted the numbers that Starla had given her in the Dome of Stars and waited for the horrified murmur at the vastness of the army to die down.
“He intends to begin his march tomorrow and move slowly through our land, taking any more people he finds. We know his spies estimate this to be about another ten thousand civilians to swell his drodemion horde. He has our Registries. He knows exactly what awaits him here.”
“How do you know this, my Queen?” Makhi Ditte asked from the back of the Hall.
“Starla saw it.” A loud chattering interrupted her next words.
“Starla?” Ditte asked above the clamour, sneering. “She is wanted for murder and High Treason!”
“Don't be a fool, Ditte,” snapped Naleiya. “She was cleared of all that when it became clear that the Baron Braxton Malion was behind it all.” She neglected mentioning his brother.
Ditte bowed his head in consent. “Of course, forgive me. How did she see this?”
The hall fell silent once more, all eyes on the Queen.
“Mistress Ezira had in her possession an Orb of Sight, one of Kyron's Dark Orbs.”
“I thought they had all been destroyed,” Prince Niden mused aloud.
“Ezira stole one,” Astria said, preparing to continue her initial thought.
“Forgive me, my Queen,” Ditte's disdainful voice interrupted her again, “even if an Orb had survived, had been stolen as you say, not all the Guardian Sacrileons live. Without them, you cannot even activate an Orb without Kyron's immediate knowledge. Furthermore, I must remind everyone here that if any hand besides their creators touches an Orb, they may ask only one question of it, risking their life in the process and receiving only one answer. Yet you have much information.”
The King stood tall beside his wife, his eyes hard as Ditte's tone grew more disrespectful. “Starla is our granddaughter,” he announced to the stunned crowd. “She is also a Soreiaphin. A true Soreiaphin.”
“Starla used a shard of the Orb after Ezira had asked her question,” Astria added, smiling at the pride in her husband's voice. “Her abilities must have allowed her access to the Orb's power, even shattered as it was, without coming to harm. It is because of her that we know all of this.
“We must mobilise our troops tonight. We must bring all those left outside into the safety of the City and deprive Kyron of his ten thousand new-made slaves. This was Starla's vision in the Dome of Stars.”
A smug, thoughtful expression came over Ditte's face but was gone a moment later when his eyes met Naleiya's scrutiny.
“Even if all you say is true,” Ditte's tone indicated that he, for one, remained sceptical, “spreading Galatia's remaining forces into Rainbow Wood and along the coasts is ludicrous. Master Kyron's army would bear down on us and find us divided. If some of us somehow made it back to the City before him, he'd be only minutes behind, finding our army disorganized and incomplete.”
“We have a duty to our people,” Prince Niden said, ignoring Ditte's words as Ditte knew he would. “Commander, I expect this to be organised within the—” He stopped as a sound of rushing air was followed by stampeding hooves.
Fear grew in every face and they all shrank back from the sealed doors.
“Be at peace,” Astria said, holding her hands out. “Those are the Aurelian reinforcements Mistress Ezira promised.” More incredulous gazes turned to her. “Naleiya, open the doors.”
Naleiya did as she was commanded, her head reeling as she tried to fit all the new information into places that made sense.
The thundering sound stopped in the green surrounding the Hall of Justice. All those in the Hall rushed to the tall doors to peer out.
The King, Queen and their entourage strode out of the doors, the crowd parting before them, to where the Aurelians were dismounting.
Niden, King Eldos and Commander Medara all made similar sounds of disbelieving wonder as the army came into view.
Astria laughed softly.
Before them, filling the gree
n all the way in either direction, were six hundred Aurelians standing beside or still astride heavy-looking light-blue animals. Each beast was heavily armoured and had six sharp horns running from the top of their wide noses to the crown of their heads. Their five legs, three in front and two at the back, were built for power and speed.
The reason for the men's shock was evident in the gaming gardens and tracks below. Some fifty thousand of the blue beasts stood in ranks, their snow-skinned riders sitting proud. A turquoise banner, with a white cyrion bird at its centre, fluttered in the breeze above their heads. Between the beasts stood warriors, children and elders.
A powerfully-built man stepped forward from the leading six hundred, his beast following. His muscles rippled across his bare chest as he nodded to the King and Queen. The turquoise sash that identified him as General of Aurelia stood in stark contrast to his colourless skin.
His dark forest-green hair swung against his back and was threaded through with colourful beads and silver charms. Three red feathers were braided into his long hair, marking the tribe from which he hailed. His black-rimmed silver eyes glowed softly, the ears atop his head twitched, shifting this way and that, alert to every sound.
Beside him came a tall woman, her skin just as pale, her electric-blue hair shimmering in the sun and her black-rimmed silver eyes missing no detail. The black rims around their irises marked them both as Nightstalkers.
Gasps of wonder followed as the people saw who was before them. These particular Nightstalkers were living legends. Especially the woman.
“Greetings to the King and Queen of Galatia,” she said, her voice formal and deep for a woman. “Greetings to the Queen of Cosmaltia,” she added with another shallow bow. “I am Queen Valana, this is Okano, General of my army, and my husband.” She waved her hand proudly at the assembled Aurelians behind him. “You have called for our aid long before this day. I am sorry we could not come sooner. Mistress Ezira would not open the way.”