Page 117 of Slaying the Shadow Prince
‘I’ll always defend you,’ Drue said stubbornly.
‘And I love you for that.’
The words sent a thrill through her.
‘But it highlights some issues we might face, if we live through this…’ he pointed out.
Drue closed the gap between them and kissed him soundly. ‘One battle at a time, Warsword.’
He smiled against her lips. ‘I’m yours to command, Wildfire.’
Together, they rode out of the camp at the head of the army.
And when dawn came, they would be ready.
30
Talemir
They rode through the night, preparing pyres along the coast as they went, ready to be lit upon the signal, ready to guide the wraiths right to them.
Talemir and Drue led the company, the mood taut with anticipation, fear and uncertainty. Talemir knew the forces would follow Drue and Adrienne to whatever end, but the fact that he, the half-wraith, had claimed a role of leadership, didn’t sit well with them. Still, they tolerated him, knowing their chances were slim to none without him.
The lack of acceptance from the Naarvians niggled at the back of Talemir’s mind, and he knew that there would be no place for him among them, or at Thezmarr, when the conflict was over. But he had Drue by his side, and as she had said:one battle at a time.
Drue and Wilder strategised as they rode, devising traps they could lay for the wraiths to incapacitate them while the Warswords dealt with the reapers. Wilder remained surprisingly quiet about the fact that she had a Naarvian steel blade sheathed at her back.
Talemir listened to them, realising just how much the Naarvians had adapted since the fall of their kingdom, how resourceful they’d become. It was little wonder when Drue was one of the people in charge. Pride swelled in his chest at the thought.
The hours passed quickly, and soon they came upon the field of sun orchids. The first rays of dawn bled into the sky, illuminating the sea of golden blooms before them.
Drue brought her horse to a stop alongside Talemir’s and he heard a quiet gasp escape her.
‘Fendran!’ she called to her father.
The forge master came forward, his expression similarly pained as he looked upon the flowers.
Drue’s mouth was set in a hard line and Talemir recognised her determination. As much as she would have loved to admire the flowers that reminded her of her mother and brother, there was important work to be done.
She turned to her father. ‘Harvest a hundred or so blooms and grind them down into a paste as best you can. You’ll find the rest of the ingredients and instructions on this list.’ She held out a piece of parchment and a small jar from her pocket. ‘This is what’s left of my own supplies.’
Fendran took them both, nodding.
‘Heat the blades and douse them in the extract,’ she explained. ‘We have no forge, but fire will do. That’s how I’ve re-treated my cuff these past few months. Coat as many weapons as you can.’
The blacksmith asked no questions. He set off to do his daughter’s bidding, and Talemir had to admire his faith.
‘What else?’ Talemir asked her, stomach fluttering in anticipation.
‘Wilder and I will make sure the traps are coated with it as well.’
Nearby, Wilder shot into action, leaving Talemir feeling useless.
‘Your part will come soon enough,’ Drue told him, reaching across to pat his arm before leaping down from her mare.
He gave a stiff nod and went to find Gus and Baledor.
When he returned from briefing them about lighting the signal fires, Talemir found that a path had been carved into the sea of orchids, and a clearing created in the centre of the field, designed to draw the monsters right into the heart of that which weakened them. He just needed to make sure he didn’t touch the flowers as well.
