Page 124 of A Rising Hope

“Perhaps we shall begin by discussing what our new ally needs in order to guide our army through the tunnels.” Orest’s voice was calm and collected, his cold glare sobering everyone in the room as we all took a seat around the long, oval table.

“All right.” Florian’s brow perked. “Does anyone have a map handy?”

Gideon passed him one of the scrolls from the open trunk near him.

“Let’s start here,” Florian pointed to the inconspicuous fields on the outskirts of the city.

Sentence by sentence, a plan was formed. Questions from Orest, Zora, Xentar, De Villiars, Gideon and I, cut like a chisel, shaping our strategy.

I sat by my husband near the rest of them as we crafted the blueprint for our victory. A way for us to take the city without the devastating battle and carnage.

“It would have to be less than ten people.” Florian pointed to one of the secret entrances to the city. “Otherwise we risk being detected.”

“Ten will be enough,” Zora declared before anyone could argue.

I looked at her, heart heavy. Both of us exchanged understanding nods. This was her battle. This was her fight to win, and I would follow her.

“If the dragons take down those creatures here”—Gideon pointed to a small field by the Royal Castle—“the damage would be minimal.”

“We would have to draw the fighting in the streets further out here.” Zora pointed to two large squares.

“The Artist Hill will be blocked, and they will blow the bridges the moment we are in the city,” Orest added.

“True,” Florian added, furrowing his brows dramatically, as he tapped his finger on his chin, mocking the serious looks on the Destroyers’ faces in the room. I glanced at Aurelia, who paused doodling with her set of hand-made feathered pens, turning at the sound of Florian’s voice.

“Kinderby River is the deepest river, I could try to help but truthfully, I am not sure if my magic would be strong enough to sustain a bridge for long.” Xentar folded his arms, perplexed.

“We will have enough power to siege the river on our end,” Gideon answered with a cryptic look on his face.

“When the chaos erupts, we need to establish a safe zone for all the women and children caught in the crossfire,” Lord De Villiar chipped in.

The discussion went on and on, occasionally getting stuck until someone would offer a solution.

I leaned back in my chair, looking around the room.

Somehow, each person in the room looked different to me now. Perhaps it was my newly attributed divine powers, but for a moment it was as if I could see their souls, their fears, their hopes. All so different, all so extraordinary.

All the people gathered here had come to win a war. To end suffering. To make a difference for a better life.

Not so long ago, I was alone, grieving the loss of the only family I knew, and now I was in a room full of people that I could call family.

Gideon gave me a comforting squeeze on my thigh.

Are you okay?His powerful eyes silently questioned, noticing my withdrawn look.

Yes, I gave him a slight nod.

But I was more than okay. I felt powerful.

Not because of the magic or powers.

But because I was surrounded by the people I loved.

71

FINNLEAH

Three tall riders appeared on the long drawbridge connected to the brick road leading to us. The torches in their hands lit with Destroyer fire. The Thynirite insignia illuminated by the moon on the large flag they rode under.

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