Page 36 of Red Queen

“Rest now, my friend,” Ivan murmurs beside me.

Then he rests his hand firmly on my shoulder, offering solace without words.

I stand, as Nicolai and Marianne tenderly lift his body. They lay him across his horse with a reverence reserved for those who have paid the ultimate price.

Marianne tends to her own wounds with quiet efficiency, her gaze steely as she meets each of our eyes in turn. “We are warriors born from darkness, molded by centuries of strife. We will not be defeated by a mere upstart like Catarina.”

I don’t say a word, because we all know her words are fact. And even if we hadn’t lost Henry, we’d still be in agreement, but now? None of us will stop until she no longer breathes.

That already was my vow, for my fallen Queen, but this has just added unwanted incentive.

I’m aware death is part of battle, but I feel each one. And this one…hurts.

For all of us.

We mount our steeds, the procession back to the stronghold nothing more than a shadowed reflection of our departure. The winter landscape stretches before us, indifferent to the violence it bore witness to, to the blood that now feeds its frozen earth.

“Using Dante’s information could end this war.” Marianne breaks the heavy silence, her voice tinged with both hope and sorrow.

“Execution and surprise,” Ivan replies. “That’ll be our edge.”

The mission—it embodies everything. It demands perfection; the stakes go far beyond the mere machinations of strategy. Lives, countless and invaluable, rest precariously in my hands—not mere pawns to be shuffled and sacrificed on a chessboard,but souls, each with their own stories and dreams, now entrusted to my command.

And Eleanna...she’s the heart in the middle of this rebellion, the inspiration that guides me through the night. Or she will be, once I’m done with her. She has it in her to rule in the right way with the right outlook. Even if she remained in her father’s poisonous dark age, she still is a ruler to be respected.

Unlike Catarina.

But to crack Eleanna open so she can’t ever go back? That’s my goal. Because this battle isn’t solely a quest for dominion; it’s about carving out a future from the desolation, a chance to forge a path that veers away from the relentless carnage that has marked our past. And Eleanna is the one to do it.

“We’ll avenge those we’ve lost today,” I say, my voice low but filled with conviction. “Catarina may think she’ll win this battle, but she underestimates our tenacity.”

Nicolai sits on his horse and sharpens his sword with practiced skill, rage etched on his features. “They’ll regret ever crossing paths with us. We’ll make them pay for every drop of blood spilled today.”

My resolve crystallizes. It’s a fight for a new future. One where our battles and bloodshed give way to peace. This mission’s a dual crusade—a battle for the throne, yes, but also a fight for a life with Eleanna, a life that insinuates not just survival but something profoundly more meaningful. If she changes, if she can see she’s more than what she was molded to be.

We ride toward the stronghold, and I can taste the tension in the air, our steeds picking their way carefully through the snow-covered landscape. The weight of loss hangs heavy upon me, yet it rouses a fire within my soul, a burning desire for retribution and justice.

“We must strike swiftly and decisively. Our enemy won’t expect us to retaliate so soon after our loss,” Ivan says.

Marianne nods, her eyes hard and steely. “We have the element of surprise on our side. We must use it to our advantage and catch Catarina off guard.”

Nicolai tightens his grip on his horse’s reins, his jaw clenched. “I won’t rest until every last one of them pays for what they have done.”

I look at my comrades, each one a pillar of strength in this time of darkness. “Remember Henry’s sacrifice. Let his bravery inspire us to fight with all we have.”

The icy wind howls around us as we approach the stronghold, its imposing walls looming ahead like a proud defender watching over my domain. We dismount our steeds, the crunch of snow beneath our boots echoing in the stillness of the winter night.

“We’ll move under cover of darkness. We can strike hard and fast, leaving no room for hesitation or doubt,” I say, patting my horse.

Marianne nods. “I’ll take out their scouts tomorrow and clear the way for our advance.”

Nicolai grips his sword, his gaze fierce and unwavering. “The front-line assault will be led by me,” he announces. “They’ll feel the weight of our fury when we attack.”

Ivan adjusts his armor with a grim smile. “And I’ll flank their defenses at your command, General, cutting off any chance of escape for Catarina and her forces when we attack.”

Together, we stand poised on the brink of battle. The time for mourning has passed; now is the time for action, for redemption, for vengeance upon those who dared to defy us.

With a nod to one another, we steel ourselves for the unknown, ready to come together as warriors bound by blood and honor.

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