Love & War

Elliot

Take the map to the room of the stag. How does she know about the war room? Who told her about Z? Is she not still upset about the square?

I return to the kitchen with the map in my hand. Illiana is now standing beside Obsidian smiling. It looks so natural. Obsidian clears his throat.

“Mister Elliot?” He cocks his head to the side. Illiana turns her head toward me.

“Obsidian, I could really use your help while Elliot goes to his meeting. What do you say?”

She smiles at him. He looks at me almost like he is asking for permission. I nod and he grabs Illiana’s hand.

“What do you need help with?” He smiles at her.

“Well, first I need you to help me move all of those empty crates behind the piano over there. I’m going to use them as storage for the baby.”

“Babies,” Obsidian corrects her.

Theos. Twins. Healers are never wrong about things like this and he is so confident about it.

“Will you be returning tonight?” Illiana turns towards me while fidgeting with her shirt.

“Yes. I will be back as quickly as I can be. I promise.” I kiss her cheek then put my hand on Obsidian’s shoulder. “You’re the man of the house when I’m not home, understand? Keep my wife safe for me. Can you do that?”

Obsidian mimics the salute the guards gave me earlier. It takes every ounce of willpower in my body not to laugh. I turn to the door and put on my boots.

“Be safe.” Illiana murmurs. It is so low I almost don’t hear her.

Is she worried about me? Why am I happy about that? Love is strange.

I look up at her and smile. Her cheeks have a red tint to them.

I swear by the gods I would do anything for this woman. Anything she would ask of me.

I finish lacing up my boots and stand up straight. I look back at Illiana and Obsidian one more time before I walk out of the front door. I stare down at the map in my hand. The little marks peppering the border were closer into elven territory than I thought.

How long have the glitter shits been stealing our land inch by inch?

I glare at the map and whistle for Lucinda. In seconds, she is by my side. I place my hand on her nose and sigh.

“Let’s go to the palace girl,” I say as I climb on.

We get to the palace at record speed. It takes less than five minutes on what is usually a fifteen-minute ride. I dismount at the gate. That redhead is still on duty.

I should probably learn this guy’s name eventually.

“Your highness.” He bows.

“Will you watch Lucinda for a while?” I nod at him.

“It would be my honor, Sir!”

He takes her reigns and leads her to the side. I nod again in appreciation and look up at the palace. I can still hear Jessilyn wailing faintly.

Thump.

What would I feel if it had been Illiana?

Thump.

It could be her next time.

Thump.

There won’t be a next time if I can help it. The pounding of my heart keeps pace with each step I take up the spiral stairs. Finally, when I reach the door, Jessilyn is sitting there popped up against it. Her eyes are puffy and her skin blotchy from crying.

This is my fault. Jess is heartbroken. Zander is probably being tortured for information if he isn’t already dead. Fuck. This is my fault.

I walk up to Jess and help her to her feet.

“Jess, we need to meet with father in the room of the stag. Now. We’re going to get Zander back. I swear it.”

Jessilyn takes a shaky breath and nods. She doesn’t look up at me. I open the door for her and she walks in ahead of me.

I clear my throat. “Is father still in his study?”

“Yes,” Jess responds quietly. She sounds distant.

“I have new intel on the glitter shit kingdom. A back way in and a map of all of their known outposts to be specific.” I look down at the map again.

“Where did you get that kind of information? Those people aren’t exactly the sharing type, brother.” Jess snaps her head toward me.

“Illiana.”

Jessilyn wordlessly leads the way to Father’s study. The look on her face tells me she is completely lost in thought. The door to Father’s study is already open. Father has his forehead resting in the palms of his hands on his desk. I clear my throat and father looks up at me.

“Ah, El. I was just about to send for you. This was found attached to the gate by a crystal arrow. I’m sure you can guess from whom,” Father says pushing a piece of paper to the edge of his desk.

I walk over to it and pick it up.

Your precious elf is alive. For now. Though I would love to see what a one-armed elf looks like. Returning the favor in a sense, but I digress. If you return my healer asset to me in one week’s time at the neutral ground, I will return your elf alive. If you refuse, well, I will still return him. Piece by piece.

Think about my offer.

Prince Trey Ashwinder

That pompous, spineless winged worm! I should have killed that pathetic scum rather than merely cutting off his arm. Theos! He dares to send such threats to me! By the gods, I swear his death will be by my hand.

“I’m assuming you know what he means by healer asset, son?” Father raises an eyebrow.

Of course, I know. Obsidian.

“Then why not give it to him?”

“The healer asset is a mere child. His name is Obsidian and he is under my protection. He will not be sent to that lizard.” I narrow my eyes and square my shoulders.

Father throws his hands up. “Ah. I see. What do you suppose we do then? Do you have a better idea?”

I look down at the map in my hand and smirk.

Thank you, Illiana.

“As a matter of fact, I do! Shall we head to the room of the stag?”

Father nods.

Instead of a full-scale invasion that would have mass casualties, we can slowly overtake their command posts around the neutral zone. Then when we meet and set them up for an ambush.

Yeah! That might work!

Father stands and walks around the side of his desk. He walks by me and to the door. I turn silently and follow behind him. Jessilyn narrows her eyes and does the same.

I’m sorry, Jess.

We walk out into the dimly lit hallway. The lanterns that line the length of the hallway have all burned to embers. Father makes his way to the last door on the left with the stag insignia engraved on it and pushes it open. The room of the stag.

The room has been moved around since last I have been here. The long oak table engraved with the kingdoms of Fyoria stands proudly in the center of the room with eight chairs surrounding it. Behind the table on the wall hangs a tapestry of Theos in his armor. The war room.

“Now, son. What information do you have?” My father asks as he eases himself down into one of the chairs at the table.

“My wife has given us the locations of the rapska outposts, as well as an entry point. I believe we can plan around this to rescue Zander.” I say as I spread out the map on the table before both my Father and Jessilyn.

Jessilyn examines the map for a moment and frowns.

“That would be a good plan, brother, but there is one problem. The Azizi migration patterns interfere with the entry point. As well as a creeper den. It isn’t feasible.” Jess frowns.

I stare at the map for a moment and groan.

“So what do you suggest, daughter?” Father spins the map to face him.

Jessilyn pauses for a moment then smiles wickedly. “I say we meet them as they ask. We can even trade the toadstool.” Jess grins.

I feel my heart lurch. “Absolutely not! Obsidian is not to go anywhere near that lizard!” I protest.

Jess turns on her heel to look at me. “I never said it would be Obsidian, now did I?”

I raise an eyebrow.

“Father. Brother. Think about it. The children of this kingdom begin training at four years old for basic survival skills and proficient weapon skills. My son, Garret, is advanced. He took down a brier beast all on his own not long ago. I am confident he could easily deal with that lizard should it come to that. What if we dress Garret up as Obsidian and make the trade-off. Once Zander is back to safety, we recall Garret and open fire. We can take out the fae troops in the surrounding outposts and replace them with our archers. A full-frontal assault.” Jessilyn points to the two outposts adjacent to the neutral territory.

I raise my eyebrow. “You are confident that if you trade your son for your spouse, he would be okay? He would be able to return unharmed?” I ask skeptically.

I haven’t been able to sit in on the children’s training in years because of the patrols and raises I’ve had to lead.

Jessilyn nods. “Test him. Test Garret and see. You could better train him in close combat before the meeting. I am confident this will work.” Jessilyn looks me in the eye.

I sigh and look at my father. Father shrugs and looks at Jess.

“If you’re entirely positive Garret can handle this, I will support your decision. However, we need to ask Garret if he would be willing to participate first. I will not force the child to do anything he is uncomfortable with, or something is not yet ready for.”

“I understand.” Jessilyn nods and looks at me again. “Will you train him?”

“Of course I will. I will not send my nephew like a lamb to the slaughter. Have him at the barracks at sunrise. Training will begin tomorrow.”

Jessilyn’s eyes light up and she nods. “He will be there.”

Father moves the map to the side and stares at the engraving of the kingdoms on the table.

“Why did it have to come to this, Bartholomew. It could have been avoided,” he mumbles under his breath.

I turn to look at him. “Pardon?”

“Nothing son. Nothing at all.” He waves his hand at me dismissively.

“I need to call a meeting as soon as possible to relay the plan to our troops. I will have everyone at the barracks tomorrow morning. That way I will only have to go over the plan one time rather than three or four. I need to get the word out. May I be excused?” I look at Father.

He nods at me. I turn and look at Jessilyn before I leave the room. She is leaning over the table still studying the map with her eyes narrowed.

“I will see you tomorrow at sunrise, sister. As our best archer, you will have to be there as well.”

Jessilyn stands up straight and smiles at me. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world, brother.”

I nod at her and walk out of the war room. I swear we will get you back, Zander. I got you into this mess and I will bring you home. No matter the cost.

I make my way back down to the gates and over to the red-headed guard.

“I need a favor.” I look him in the eye.

He bows. “Anything, your highness.”

“Spread the word to every able-bodied warrior and archer. There is a war meeting at the barracks tomorrow at sunrise. Do not be late.”

“Understood.” He bows again.

For the first time in weeks, I feel like I can finally breathe again.