Page 165 of Lady of Starfire

They were gone in the next blink, and Tava turned to face Callan, Drake, and Azrael. “What do we do?”

“We go forward with our plans,” Drake answered. “We figure out a way to spread out the people. That way, if they discover one camp, it is small and minimizes losses.”

“We cannot have several camps spread out everywhere, Drake,” Tava countered. Callan saw her hand lift, about to reach for her throat, before she crossed her arms instead. “How would we possibly provide food, safety, and other necessities? We can scarcely get provisions to this one camp, let alone more spread across Windonelle.” Drake glared at his sister, but she only added, “You know I am right about this.”

“So you propose keeping everyone together. Then, if they are discovered, they can all die together? You find that to be a better alternative?” he argued.

“Some of these people will not survive a several days’ journey through this forest,” Tava hissed, stepping forward and poking Drake hard in the chest. “Some are sick. Many too frail to travel. The children are already exhausted. If you move the men, you take them away from those who can train them. I have been against this from the beginning.”

Drake blew out a harsh breath, looking at Callan and Azrael. “Any input here?”

“There will be no best solution,” Azrael said, his usually harsh tone having softened just a touch. “These are the hard decisions of rulers. You have watched Scarlett, Sorin—all the Fae Royalty—make these choices these last months. Now it is your turn as the leaders of your people.”

Callan, Drake, and Tava all exchanged glances.

“We have to do what is best for the majority,” Drake said, his face full of pity as he looked at Tava.

“And tell the others what?” Her voice wavered as she spoke. “That they matter, but not quite enough to be saved and protected?”

“Tava, that is not—”

But she was already turning on her heel, striding away in the direction of the camp. Ezra gave them a grim look, and when Drake jerked his chin, the guard followed after her.

Drake sighed, running both his hands through his golden hair.

“This is an adjustment. For all of you,” Azrael said. “Sometimes there is not a good choice. Only two equally bad ones, but a choice must be made nonetheless.”

“I will go talk to her,” Callan said. “In the meantime, see what you two can come up with.”

“If the Wind Court is going to be attacked, I will need to go be of aid there,” Azrael said. “For Ashtine and Talwyn.”

“Understood,” Callan said. “Discuss options, and we will figure out how to move forward.”

He turned to head the way Tava had when Juliette called out to him. Looking back over his shoulder, he found her standing with Arantxa. They had been speaking with their heads close together, murmured whisperings while they’d let Callan and the others debate. Juliette didn’t tend to offer much, and when she did, it was always obscure and hard to decipher. Arantxa was just…formidable. If asked to do something, she would, but mostly she stuck close to Juliette.

“Yes?” he said to Juliette.

“Did you know that in some realms, I would be known as a priestess?”

Callan’s brow furrowed. “No?”

“We are known by many names among the realms. Priestesses. Witches. Sages. Divines.” At that, his brows shot up. She just gave him a small smile. “I thought that may be of interest to you. For future reference.”

Then the Oracle was turning back to Arantxa, resuming whatever discussion they’d been having.

It took him a few minutes to make his way back to the camp, and when he got there, Tava was rummaging through a crate they must have brought with them.

“What are you doing, William?” she called out, not even looking up from the crate.

A boy of around eight or nine years skidded to a halt at being addressed. After a pause, he said, “Nothing, my Lady.”

“Mhmm,” she answered, finally lifting her head to look at him. “You are not on your way to put a small creature in your sister’s bedroll?”

The boy looked down, shifting on his feet. “How do ya know abou’ that?”

Tava gave him a firm smile. “Go release it.”

William trudged to the edge of the clearing and knelt down, opening his hand. A small frog indeed hopped out, escaping into the trees.

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