Page 249 of The Lands Defying
I nod. “ It is in the center of it. No rogure can get past the barrier around it, and it is guarded at all times.” I look to the dead. “We will help bury your dead, and then we can bring you to Eridian.”
“How are you any better than those in power now?” she asks, as a young boy moves toward her, tears streaking down his face.
“Those in power want exactly that. Power. And they know they are losing it over the people of Vrohkaria. We,” I say, looking back at Darius who gives a nod encouragingly. “We just want peace.”
“How can we believe you,” she says on a deep sigh, pulling the young boy closer to her.
I look around at all the village people gathered here, and after tense silence, I remove my cloak.
“Rhea…”Darius’s voice is full of weariness.
“It’s okay,”I reassure him.“They need to see.”
I lift Darius’s t-shirt that I have on beneath off next, leaving me in my bra, which has Darius growling at those looking.
“Ignore my Vihnarn,” I chuckle, shaking my head at him.
“What are you doing?” the old female asks.
“Showing you why you can believe me.” And then I remove my glamor and show them some of my scars. Gasps ring out, shocked noises and murmurs follow, and Darius moves closer to me, forever the protector as the woman’s eyes take in my scarred body.
“Who did that to you?” she asks quietly as the boy clings to her.
“Those in power, who wanted my power,” I whisper, holding a hand out and creating a soft ball of light. I float it over to the young boy, and I wait patiently as he reaches out a hand and touches it.
The smile that lights up his face was worth the eyes on my body.
“I want to restore the lands to what they once were,” I tell her. “Before power-hungry males decided to slowly destroy it with their greed and laws.” Darius picks up my cloak and wraps it around me, pulling me close as he nuzzles the side of my head.
“Why not go and kill the Highers now, rid us of their tyranny?”
“We are not strong enough on our own.” I eye the people. “Those who can need to fight, need to help take them down. Charles is more powerful than we know, and he is controlling the rogures that have been plaguing the lands, He is the cause of it all.”
A female comes forward, hand to her mouth. “Are you saying that one of those hounds that killed my baby is controlled by the Lord Higher?”
“I am,” I say gently, and her knees give out. A male rushes to her side as giant sobs wrack her body, and I swallow over the lump in my throat. “We need to all save ourselves. No one else will do it for us.”
“And you are not mad?” a male asks, stepping toward me as Darius lets off a warning growl.
“No,” Darius says, pulling me closer. “But if you come any closer to my Vihnarn, I can show you howmadI can be.”
“Darius,” I hiss. “This isn’t helping.”
He growls. “He doesn’t get that close to you.”
I’m about to tear him a new asshole when the male actually laughs. “I got it,” he says, taking a step back. “Can you keep my family safe?” He nods to the side where a female and a smallchild stand, covered in dirt and I spot blood at the bottom of her dress.
Gods these children should not be forced to live like this. To see the bloodshed they have.
“We can,” Darius tells him.
“That’s all I need. Get them to safety and I will fight.”
“William,” the female gasps, but he shakes his head.
“I will fight.”
“Me too,” someone else says, walking toward us.
