Page 97 of The Source of Storms

El nodded. “Shapeshifting and power are in your blood.”

“Regardless of where it came from, it was effective,” Byrgir said, smiling at me.

“Definitely helpful for getting you out,” Crow agreed.

“And now we’ll face the consequences,” I said.

“They’ll be back for you,” Crow said. “For all of us.”

I did not drop my gaze when his piercing eyes met mine. “Then we will meet them when they come,” I said. “And we will meet them with hell. Fire and ice and all the power this city holds.” The knife-sharp edge in my voice was foreign even to me. The potent rage I had felt in my wolf form welled in my chest again.

“We will,” El echoed, nodding. “The city began to fortify and prepare as soon as the attack ended. We’ve been stockpiling food and supplies, and ordering as much extra as we can. It’s been a struggle to find space for it all, and for everyone else.”

“Everyone who lost their homes?” I asked.

“Them, and the newcomers. We have more fae-touched refugees than ever. The rest of the region isn’t safe for them anymore. They’ve been pushed out of other towns, including Avanis. Not only has practicing the Old Ways now been outlawed, being fae-touched practically has been as well. They’re only allowed in certain parts of the city in Avanis now, and can’t sell their goods at the same markets as regular humans. Many of them are losing their jobs.”

“Entire families have lost their farms and homes in smaller villages,” Byrgir added. “Even Skeioholm.”

“There could be massacres in Avanis and other cities if the fae-touched have nowhere else to go,” Crow said, “so we’re rebuilding Rhyanaes with space and resources for refugees in mind. But we took a heavy hit ourselves. Only have so much we can share.”

“It’s so much worse than I thought.” I shook my head. “How did it get so bad so quickly?”

“King Evander seems to be at the mercy of the High Priestess’s wishes. She’s dripping poison into his ear every night. Telling him it’s a holy cause, that her new god has told her this is the only way to keep humankind safe. That all the fae folk should have gone to the other side of the Veil when thepassages were sealed. So this is the official policy the Crown has adopted. Separation for safety.” Crow’s brow furrowed. “I just don’t understand what she gets out of it. She already has the king’s trust, and his bed. Leading him into a war is a risk of her station.”

“Maybe she wants proof,” I said. “Proof of his allegiance to her. To lead a country into war against its own citizens is a massive sacrifice. And to turn a king against the people he is sworn to protect takes skillful manipulation. He must be completely devoted to his mistress and her desires. She wants proof of his commitment to her, wants to see just how deep in her hooks go.”

Crow’s eyes widened in incredulity. “If it’s proof she wants that way, she’s a fucking mad woman.”

“I know her. I’ve spent too much time with her. Zisorah has a hunger for power like I’ve never known. She wants to be certain that the king is hers. I have no doubt she will drive away the queen very soon. And then the queen’s throne will be hers, and she will bear the king children that will inherit his throne.”

Crow nodded thoughtfully. “And when he has torn apart his own country with war, murdered his own people, who else will be at his side? What other allies will stand by him through this atrocity? It will be only her. You’re right,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “She’s isolating him. Consolidating all his power for herself, under the guise of a holy crusade.”

I nodded as El exhaled a long sigh. “So she’s a power hungry maniac?” she asked, and I nodded again. “Gods below, we are dealing with a monster.”

“Like you said, she asked for a war,” I mused. “And she will know Rhyanaes will shelter fae-touched refugees. She’s driving them here intentionally. She already knows it’s the center of the last of the fae in Elvik. We’re already a target for her. But oncewe hold all of Elvik’s fae and fae-touched, we’ll be the epicenter of her disdain.”

“She’ll wait until her plan works.” Crow picked up my exhausted babbling and continued my line of thinking yet again. “Until this upheaval and hate she’s conjured drives all of her targets here, to Rhyanaes. She’ll let the situation deteriorate, let the massacres start, using the attack we just executed as an excuse, as proof that we’re dangerous. And then she’ll march the entirety of Evander’s army to our doorstep and wipe us all out in one go.”

I nodded again. “Can we send them anywhere else?” I asked. “For their own safety?”

“The refugees? Not unless we can get them across the southern border to Astruiath,” Byrgir said.

“We might actually be able to do that,” El chimed in. “We can’t keep them all safe here against Evander’s entire army, but if she is waiting for fae-touched folk to amass here before she strikes, and if we can get them out without her knowing, then we may be able to avoid the worst of it.”

I could see the plans forming in their minds as the three of them worked over the information.

“We should continue to bring them here,” Crow said, “and then secretly get them out. Let her see an influx of people into the valley, set up shelters like they’re all staying–”

“And then move them out when they arrive,” Byrgir finished. “Guide them to the border, stay off the roads, keep it quiet, and get them into Astruiath.”

“How do we move hundreds of people without King Evander and his whore finding out?” El asked.

“I don’t know. But we will find a way,” Crow said. “We already have the Rangers’ network of trails. Though they’ll need some repairs and improvements before we can reasonably get families through them. Most aren’t fit for carts.”

“Then we get the Rangers repairing them as soon as we can,” El said.

Crow nodded. “We could start tomorrow.”

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