Page 63 of Conflicted Fate
Standing next to Kiel, I looked out across the field that had been taken over by our ad hoc army. The shifters began streaming into our meeting point within days of Clive and Andi heading out. At first, it was in small groups. Five here, ten there, maybe twenty. By the third day, they were arriving in the hundreds. Ordinary people from all walks of life who had simply, as Kiel said, “had enough.”
Many were members of the rebellion, informants and sympathizers who were done helping from the shadows. Others were active members of our resistance movement. But most were simply citizens who had heard about Arcadia and the other things the Alphas had done and were over it. They were ready to stand up to tyranny and evil because they saw the tipping point. They could see what was on the other side, and they didn’t want to be a part of it.
Hundreds had become thousands. The field teemed with people, spread out over the huge farm field. Crops had been trampled flat, but that really wasn’t our worry. A little less food wouldn’t matter at all if Lycaonus succeeded.
Yet, despite the best efforts, a week had passed, then ten days, and the stream had become a trickle. More arrived every day, but time was no longer on our side. The supplies people had come with were running low. We had to go before it was too late. So, the next morning, we were going to head out. It was a two-day march to Nycitum, past Lycaon, and into the mountainous terrain of the northern empire.
But despite all those who’d come, even including a rather large number of unhappy Wulfhere who had joined the cause, we were going to be outnumbered by the Wulfhere at Lycaonus’ command.
“No, probably not,” Kiel conceded, keeping his voice low so it wouldn’t carry. “But that no longer matters.”
“I know,” I said. “We have to try. Not doing so would be worse.”
He nodded. We were in agreement there. Even if we didn’t like it.
“What’s the plan, then?” I asked.
“The plan?” he waved at the assembled army. “The plan is the same as before. I’m going to go out there and give the best damn speech I can to these brave souls. Then we’re going to go out and do our best to win anyway. Because if we don’t, Lycaonus will bring war to the entire world. The free tribes east of the mountains will fall first, but he’ll march at the head of an army of Wulfhere, and he won’t stop until everyone submits to him. The entire world will fall before that sword.”
I wanted to ask what made Kiel so surewecould stop him if others couldn’t. But I didn’t. It wasn’t the time to stir doubts.
“I’ll be with you,” I said, taking his hand and squeezing it. “From here until the end, wherever and whenever that may be.”
He gripped back. “Thank you. That means more than you know.”
We stood on the slight hilltop, watching all those below. Kiel had been right. The firing of Arcadia had turned the populace against Lycaonus. If there had been more time for the outrage to stir through the empire, I was sure we could have raised an army three or four times as big if not more. But that was the problem. Time wasshort, and many people wouldn’t hastily commit to our cause.
“Any word?” Kiel asked, breaking the comfortable silence that had fallen between us.
“From Clive?” I shook my head. “He should be on his way back from Pallas anytime now. He knows the plan, though. He’ll catch up with us on the march if he’s not in time.”
“No,” Kiel said. “From her. From Fate. Has she responded to you yet?”
I bit back a grimace.
“No,” I said bluntly. “Just like the last time and the time before that. Nothing.”
Kiel sighed.
“It’s not like that means much,” I pointed out, trying to maintain a positive attitude. “She rarely responds to me. Even when she was inside me.”
“We need her help, Jada. It all hinges on that. This”—he waved his hand—“this is inspiring and a great sight. But if you boil it down, it’s adistraction. They can’t defeat Lycaonus. Only we can do that. You and I with Fate.”
“I’m trying,” I said a bit too harshly. “She’s always told me that if I want her help or power or whatever to ‘make it so.’”
“Can’t you do that?”
I shook my head. “Not now. My need isn’t great enough. I’ve only ever done it in do-or-die situations. When everything is on the line. Those are the only times I’ve been able to use her power. And that was when I had it within me. Now? I don’t know. We’re still connected, somehow, but I haven’t heard anything from her. We may just have to wait until we’re in the thick of it.”
“That doesn’t sound very confident,” Kiel grunted.
“I know.” I shrugged. “But it’s all I’ve got.”
“Weneedher.”
“I know,” I snapped at him, tired of the constant pushing. “Trust me, I’m well aware of how much pressure is resting on my shoulders, Kiel, but it’s not like she’s a bartender at an inn. I can’t just summon up a goddess with a whistle or the snap of my fingers, okay? She’s been there when I needed her most, but never before.”
“How will we know she’ll be there this time?” he asked.
