Page 23 of The Rowan's Stone
Arden:I heard about the rebellion. Text me when you get a chance. I want to know you’re okay.
Daire: I’m good. Tired. I saw Vargas and Callyx today. They told me to tell you hello.
Arden: They’re both there? This must be a pretty large rebellion. Vargas hasn’t left Solandis alone since the last attack at our home. How is it going?
Daire: The group is organized and powerful, and they refuse to negotiate, which tells me they aren’t interested in concessions, only winning. We’re frustrated because the leader hasn’t shown themselves yet, which means we’re blindly making moves. But more infuriating than that is they seem to know our every move.
Arden: A mole?
Daire: Maybe. I think so, but Lucifer doesn’t.
Arden: How’s your father?
Daire: He’s strategizing in another tent with Alain, Solange’s father. They both seem pretty relaxed, but they’ve been in many battles with each other.
Arden: Get some sleep. Text me tomorrow and let me know you’re okay.
Daire: I will. Goodnight, Arden.
My heart beatwhen I was texting with her. She eases the darkness inside of me, making me feel lighter and a little less weary. The tent door flaps back, and I jump to my feet, sword in hand.
Bright blue eyes widen in surprise, and my father chuckles. “Good to see you’re still alert. We’ve got a long battle in front of us, but Alain and I have been working on a plan. We think you should take a contingent and maneuver behind the enemy. Then, when they engage us in battle, we can sandwich them between us, forcing them to surrender instead of fight. We’ll map out the details, but that’s the gist of it. When can you be ready to leave?”
Frowning, I consider the plan. “It would force us to cut our army in two, leaving you vulnerable which I’m sure would be noticed by the spies watching us.”
“We thought about those challenges. We want you to leave the tents standing and fires burning. Place dummies throughout the camp to fool them. Have your soldiers sneak out a few at a time and regroup away from camp,” he explains. “Alain and I used this tactic in another battle, and it worked brilliantly.”
“All the more reason not to use it again,” I argue. “What did Vargas and Callyx say about the plan?”
“I decided to tell you first so you could mobilize quickly,” he replies angrily. Taking a deep breath, he explains his reasoning to me. “I want to try and save as many demons as possible. This is the best way to end the battle and achieve that goal. Other tactics are going to cause too many casualties, on their side and ours.” He shoves his platinum blond hair back in frustration.
I look at my father and realize he still sees me as his young son and not the grown, experienced man I am, but now is not the time to address it. “Okay. I’ll gather the men and head out. We’ll call once we’re in place. Should take us two days.”
He clasps my arm against his and draws me in for a strong pat on the back. In surprise, I pat him on the back in return. Given he’s not usually demonstrative, it’s a sign he’s worried. “Thanks. We’ll get ready on our end and meet in the middle. I’ll tell Alain.” He strides toward the opening but stops to glance over his shoulder. “Be careful, Daire.” And then he’s gone.
Taking a deep breath, I slowly exhale. I know my father’s seen a hell of a lot more battles than I, but something doesn’t feel right. This tactic could work, but with new troops, not by splitting our current force in half. Before I gather the men, I decide to take to the sky to think.
Slipping into the shadows, I work my way to the forest beside the camp and pause to release my wings. Very few people know I have wings. My mother and Danica knew, but they’re long gone. My father and the cadre are the only ones with the knowledge now. My father didn’t want anyone to know I’d inherited any angel traits, because demons would have made my life hell. At first, I felt my secret alienated me from the other Underworld children, but I learned to cherish it because it’s the one thing my father and I share.
They unfurl, the large, silky black wings barely discernible against the dark night, unless you knew where to find them. In sync, they beat restlessly, and I smile. Anticipating the rush of air and the feeling of freedom, I take off, shooting straight up. I go high, even farther than usual, to avoid the eagle eyes of the two camps. My wings catch on the air and I dip and whirl like a kid, but given how sounds carry in the night, I don’t dare laugh. It’s on the second dip when I see him—Alain’s servant, traversing the forest alone. It’s curious enough that I decide to follow.
He makes his way to the edge of the forest, where another man steps out, tall and commanding. He listens attentively before smiling and clapping Alain’s servant on the back, who then turns and takes off in the direction of the camp, while the man fades back into the shadows. Puzzled, I look around for him, but I don’t see him anywhere. He used the shadows to travel. The only other person I know that moves that way is Callyx.
I carefully fly to the side of the forest and descend. Heading back to the camp, I decide to check Callyx’s tent. A few doors down from mine, it sits alone in the absence of light, menacing in its appearance.
“Callyx,” I call out. The flap moves, and he appears at the door.
“Daire,” he returns stiffly.
I’m guessing he’s still a little pissed I held Arden’s hand when I was dating Solange. Refraining from rolling my eyes, I gesture to the inside of his tent. “Can we talk? Privately?”
Without a word, he steps back, and with a wave of his hand, shadows fill the walls inside the tent, cutting off the sounds of the night. “Nobody can hear us now.”
I question him on his whereabouts during the last hour. He narrows his eyes in anger but explains he hasn’t left his tent recently.
“Why? What’s going on, Daire?” he seethes.
“Can you prove it?” I ask firmly.
