Page 81 of Brutal Fae King
She nods at me sternly. Looking at her, I’m reminded of something very important.
“One last thing,” I say. “We need to start evacuating the human villages and getting the humans somewhere safe and warm.”
There’s a pause from everyone. Even Ebelor.
“It’s been made aware to me what a dire state the human villages are in,” I announce to them all. “My mother banished the humans there a long time ago through fear of their loyalty to the tyrant that came before her, and the humans have worn that yoke ever since. The humans who live in those villages now were likely not even born when that piece of history happened, and yet they’re suffering endless winter and pestilence.” I stab a finger into the table with athunk.
“That’s from where Dralis is sourcing his army, I’m sure—from the desperate in the human villages.”
I can’t help but glance at Ebelor before I sigh. She’s looking at me silently, but those large green eyes have so much gratefulness in them.
“And who can blame them?” I mutter. “When they are forced to live as they do? No wonder they glom onto a leader who promises them a better life?”
I clear my throat and straighten up.
“By protecting the humans, we will deprive Dralis of his army recruits,” I announce. “Start with Thawallow and move out from there. Move humans to the safer of our settlements outside of Eyston. Is that understood?”
“Yes, Sire!”
The meeting devolves into numbers and details, and as I discuss them with the war counselors, I can feel Ebelor looking at me lovingly.
Chapter 25 - Ebelor
I hold my sword for a moment. There’s a bead of sweat rolling down my face, and I wipe it with my sleeve. I’m glad to be in something less overbearing than those large queenly dresses—this thinner leather armor I’m wearing is so much more comfortable to move in. I’ve never worn trousers before, but I can see why warriors do so.
I suck in a deep breath through my nose, and then I practice the drill again—a thrust, then a pretend parry, moving into a slice. The tip of my blade clips the dummy, leaving a long streak in the burlap.
“Good,” Vicmar purrs approvingly. “Remember: it’s all in the wrist, not the arms. But you’re getting smoother. You’re making incredible progress.”
I smirk. I pull the rapier back and hold it at the ready. This time, when I perform the drill again, I try to put a little more into the wrists.
“No, no, don’t force it,” Vicmar says. “Relax. Let it come naturally.”
I laugh exhaustedly.
“Nothingabout this is natural, Vicmar!” I protest.
“No, I think you took to the rapier quite well,” he says. “I’m growing more confident by the second that if you were caught alone, you could defend yourself.”
I smile.
“Thank you,” I reply. “I don’t know, though… I worry I might drop the sword or make some other stupid mistake if I had to fight with a sword.”
“Don’t worry,” Vicmar says, coming closer. “This is just in case you are caught alone again. If Dralis tries to sneak in and take you back again, you will be able to hold your own. But—” He puts a hand on the backs of my shoulders. “—I will do everything in my power to keep you safe. Anyone who threatens you will face my blade.”
My chest has a warm glow in it. My cheeks were burning with exertion, but now they’re on fire.
I don’t think even my parents have ever shown such protectiveness over me. Even before they died, I’ve been out in the world, working on farms, mostly. That meant that usually, my parents were on one task and I was on another. No one ever stood by my side protectively…
I lower my face with a smile.
“Thank you,” I murmur.
Vicmar nods at me.
“I’ve also been studying the teleportation spell,” he says. “So we can teleport our own army in like Dralis did with his.”
“How’s that going?”
