Calliope [Book 2]

King Sloan had found himself in Asmar once more where the war raged on. He looked over his army, deep in battle with the rogue nation. It had been a week since he had sent a raven to In’audis. He left his kingdom, under the watchful eyes of his wife and son, to attend to the battle at hand. He had not heard from the kingdom of Mido’s presence and he started to grow desperate. The only option left was to pull his army back. To surrender and die.

King Sloan pushed his steed into a gallop, leaving the sight of the battle behind and returning to his quarters along the mountain side. They trotted through the camp, stopping just outside his tent where his advisor waited, deep in conversation with one of his messengers. They turned and bowed to their king as he approached them. King Sloan slid off his horse and handed the reins absentmindedly to one of the squires on hand. The boy bowed silently and hurried away with the king’s horse.

The advisor nodded to the messenger, dismissing the man, before turning to his king. “A raven from In’audis arrived last night,” he said. “It seems that Mido had been seen, harboring the witch.”

“How do they know about her?”

“Asmarian spies. They’ve been on the hunt since she killed King Rowan. They tracked her through the southern forest and into In’audis. They warned King Gerard to close the city gates, and that’s when a man and a woman on a white horse galloped through the city, escaping. The witch used magic, opening a chasm in the land, preventing the soldiers from pursuing them further. The kingdom has been on the hunt ever since, but I have heard no reports of anything being found.”

King Sloan nodded slowly as he thought of his options once more. In’audis was a month’s ride away, but Mido was there, and he was obviously aware of the spies on the hunt for Calliope now. They would not be able to stay in In’audis. They would have to move on to the kingdom of Nydirid in the south east, or make their way across the sea to Re’iam. King Sloan could not let Mido get any further away. He would have to swallow his pride and bring Mido back to Librona.

“Find Mido and bring him back here,” King Sloan finally said, his voice stronger than he felt.

“Sir? Mido’s been ba-”

“I said bring him back to me. Now.”

The advisor bowed to his king. “Right away, Your Grace.”

“I want the army to fall back, but hold strong. Don’t let Asmar cross our border. Once Mido gets here, we will pull back.”

The man bowed once more and hurried away to deliver the message.