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“What do you mean?” I reply, trying to see if he came to the same conclusion as me.
“We both know they don’t do things like this for fun. It’s always for revenge, ransom, or to prove a point. I don’t recall King Leopold speaking with Umbra’s liaison recently. So, again, what’s the catch?” Nathaniel asks, proving why he’s my right-hand man.
He asks questions when events don’t line up, and we share the need to find answers.
I grasp his shoulder, giving it a light squeeze.
“That, my friend, is what we need to figure out. Until then, let’s investigate as we normally would. King Leopold said to hold off for now, but I think we need to get ahead of this before Umbra makes another move,” I reply as we continue to watch over Lux.
In the week that follows the theft, I work hard to train my men to be better prepared for anything. We won’t be caught off guard again. I force them through grueling hand-to-hand combat drills until I’m satisfied with the results.
As we near the end of training, King Leopold appears on the field with the general by his side. I step toward them, giving my father a questioning look, but he only motions for me to get my men into formation.
I call for the guards to get in line to receive news from our king, and they quickly assemble. My heart hammers in my chest as I stand at attention, waiting to hear what King Leopold has to tell us.
The king steps before his royal guard, giving us all an assessing look. His indigo-blue formal attire from court accentuating his dark-blue eyes.
“King Asher is refusing to answer our letters. I’m sure you have noticed the unease this is causing among the villagers,” he begins, his voice commanding the space.
Word of the theft swept quickly through the village. The fear of an attack is causing borderline hysteria among the people, requiring more guards in the village to keep the peace.
“It’s because of this I have decided to send a unit of guards to Umbra to retrieve the stolen amulet. The first group will leave in three days. I suggest you prepare,” King Leopold says and turns to walk back into Brightwick.
My stomach twists as if I have been punched.
This is their bright idea?Sending men to their deaths?
The murmuring grows as the words sink in among my men.
I chase after King Leopold and my father, hoping I can talk some sense into them.
“General, may I have a word?” I shout, but he doesn’t stop. “Arthur, I need to speak with you, now,” I demand.
At the sound of his name, my father spins around, anger emanating from him. He hates it when I call him anything other than his titles, but I knew it would get his attention.
King Leopold continues toward the castle as I stop in front of my father.
“There must be another way. We can’t send our men to be slaughtered by those monsters,” I plead, hoping he will listen to reason.
“There isn’t. We must strike before they attempt another attack,” he replies and turns away.
I grab his arm, stopping him from walking away.
“Then shouldn’t we keep them here? We shouldn’t be sending our kingdom’s protection to die for a worthless object,” I say through gritted teeth.
He stares at my hand with disgust, and I pull back.
“You’re not here to ask questions, boy. You are to listen to your divinus and follow his orders,” he sneers, stepping closer to me.
I don’t back down.
“Now prepare your men to leave, and may Astra watch over us all,” he grumbles before turning and heading into Brightwick.
I stand at the edge of the training yard for long moments, trying to gather my thoughts. My men are going to die and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.
