Page 50 of Eluvonia
“Declan, over there.” I nod toward the child.
He hesitates for a moment, his eyes flicking to me. “You got this?”
I smirk, gesturing to the street around us. “Go. I can handle it.”
Declan strides toward the child, crouching low to meet their tear-filled gaze. I turn back to the scene in front of me, stepping over debris and broken bodies to help a guard drag another injured Dragon toward the gates.
“Secure the perimeter,” I bark at the guards standing nearby. “And move the dead to the western square. We’ll need to identify them later.”
The guards nod, their faces pale as they follow my orders.
The hours blur together as we work, sweat mixing with soot on my skin. The gates are repaired, guards stationed and ready for another attack. But the unease in my gut doesn’t fade.
Once the wounded are tended to and the dead are accounted for, Declan and I find ourselves sitting in the dimly lit inn at the center of town. A map sprawled across the table between us, its edges frayed from years of use. The flickering candlelight dances over the intricate markings.
I trace a finger along the border of Bronwyth, where the massive forest begins. The Forest spans two territories, stretching from Brimvarr into Eryndralen. It’s a wild, untamed expanse that has swallowed armies whole.
“They could be anywhere,” Declan mutters, leaning back in his chair and scrubbing a hand down his face.
I grunt in agreement, tapping the map with a clawed finger. “No wonder they’ve been able to hide such a massive army. Know the forest well enough, and you can disappear in it for decades. Hell, maybe even centuries.”
Before Declan can respond, a Fae slave approaches our table. He carries two tankards of mead, placing them down carefully. Instead of leaving, he lingers, wringing his hands together nervously.
“May I say something, sirs?” he asks in a timid voice.
Declan and I both turn to him, brows raised.
“What is it?” I ask, my tone sharp.
The Fae flinches slightly but steadies himself. “Are you looking for the Fae who was with you yesterday?”
Declan leans forward, his expression cautious but curious. “We are. Why?”
“I’ve never seen Dragons care about Fae before,” the male says softly, his voice laced with uncertainty. “But… I might be able to help. If you’re interested?”
I narrow my eyes, studying him. “How can you help?”
The Fae wrings his hands tighter, glancing around as ifafraid someone might overhear. “I overheard some of the slaves talking a few weeks ago. Before they disappeared from their masters’ homes. They said the rebellion had reached out and that they were supposed to meet at a rendezvous point in Eryndralen.”
Declan straightens, his eyes lighting up. “Do you know where in Eryndralen?”
The Fae shakes his head, sighing. “No. Just that it’s deep in the forest. I don’t know how much help that is, but… it’s all I’ve got.”
He turns to leave, but Declan grabs his wrist lightly, stopping him.
“Thank you,” Declan says, a genuine smile spreading across his face. “That actually helps a lot.”
The Fae blinks in surprise, as if he’s never heard gratitude before. A small, tentative smile creeps onto his lips before he nods and hurries away.
I smirk, shaking my head. “Well, that was unexpected. But he’s right—it does help.”
I grab a quill and begin marking the map, crossing out the sections of the forest within Brimvarr. “That narrows it down. My father’s forces have already scouted the eastern and southern expanses after reports of Fae attacks near the villages.”
Declan leans over the map, grinning. “That leaves the northern and western expanses.”
Declan stands abruptly, “I’ll recruit a few guards here and send scouts to survey the area. We’ll find them.”
I nod in agreement, “tell them to be careful, Dec. If the Fae got an army large enough to attack here, there’s no telling what else they’ve got hidden in that forest.”
