Page 130 of Frozen Hearts and Death Magic

Archers were positioned on top of the wall, and some swordsmen on the ground, in case they broke through the gate or came in by other means. Yes, they had wooden swords and shields.

Fel looked at the sky. He could feel the threat of violence, like clouds before rain. And he dreaded what was coming and the lives that would be lost.

His father’s words came to him. No pity on the battlefield. Put your kindness and compassion aside, or you’ll fail. But what kind of person could strip away their compassion as if it was a coat? And once gone, would it ever come back?

The deaths of the assassins still haunted him, the heavy weight of taking lives. And if he took even more lives tonight, wouldn’t that change him forever? And yet, it would be even worse if cowardice prevented him from protecting his people. And then, he could also die tonight.

He regretted not having said more to Leah, having pretended to be indifferent to her. If things had been different, he would have kissed her goodbye, would have promised to come back to her, would know that a part of his heart would never harden, would keep her in his thoughts in the heat of battle. And if he survived, he would go home to her, wherever it was, the happiest man of all. He still loved her, and never had the chance to say so, had never told her that if she wanted, he could forgive her note, her wedding, everything, that he would love her forever if she stayed.

“You’re thinking about your necromancer princess,” a voice startled him. Arry’s voice.

“Why do you think so?”

“You make a face.” His friend blinked fast and looked like an idiot staring at the sky. That was obviously a terrible attempt at an imitation.

“Hmm.” Odd how his friend knew him, and he hadn’t even told him everything. He’d certainly never tell him that she’d been in his bedroom, that they’d almost… This was no time for these thoughts. “Where were you? I thought you had decided to sleep through the battle.”

Arry snorted. “Where? Making sure all metal was being put in the vault. I can’t believe you truly expected my father to take your orders seriously.”

“I asked him to.”

“I don’t think he understands what ironbringing can do, or even believes they will have magic wielders in their midst. I don’t think he’s even sure they’re going to attack.”

“What does he think they’re doing?”

Arry rolled his eyes. “Intimidating negotiations.”

Fel chuckled. “I never took him for such an optimistic. Let’s hope he’s right.”

“We know he isn’t.” His expression was serious, tense, then he had a thin smile. “But it will be a pleasure to stand by your side.”

Fel stiffened. This wasn’t exactly what he wanted. “True. But if I ask you to retreat, retreat. I’d rather you back and safe than by my side and dead.”

“If we have to retreat, you’re not going to stay and die like a fool, are you?”

“Die like a hero. I will if I have to.”

“Oh, stop it. We’ll squash them. We have the advantage of our walls—”

“And our strong iron gate. Sure.” Fel wanted to strangle his past self for not noticing it earlier. But he had never thought it would come to this.

“Whatever. Don’t die. I want to see you stealing a princess from Ironhold.”

“She’s mine. I won’t be stealing.” Odd how the words came out, and how they felt like the truth. It was also a decision, and perhaps Arry was right that it made him eager to win, eager to survive, eager to put a dent on Ironhold’s power.

“Now that’s the pompous Umbraar prince I know.”

Fel smiled, but then got serious again. “We better focus. Do me a favor and run through the perimeter making sure everyone’s well positioned, and that nobody is wearing any metal, not even rings, chains, nothing.”

Arry glanced at Fel’s hands. “What about…”

“I can control them. But I can’t control all the metal in the fort.”

His friend nodded and ran. They were barely prepared—and Ironhold’s forces should be upon them any minute now.

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