“I wasn’t keen to tell them we needed bodies for a last-ditch hope,” Finlay replied sourly. “I was praying you’d be able to convince them.”
“Like hell!” I yelled. “You want these people to trust us again? We’re the reason they’re in this mess!”
“We need those troops to distract Droga and his army while we face Gabby,” Ethan said. “This plan won’t work any other way.”
I ground my teeth. “And how do you want us to convince them?”
“You’ll have to rally them,” Finlay insisted. “They might be bitter that you failed to protect them in years past, but trust me, they hate Droga more. Even the people who despise us share a common enemy with you. Talk to them. Give them hope that Malovia can be a better place.”
I said nothing. I’d just gotten my faith back in myself. I wasn’t sure I could convince everyone else that I was fit to lead again.
“Iknowyou can inspire them, my queen,” Towman said faithfully. “I would go to the death for you and my country. I’m certain other fae will do the same.”
I didn’t share his optimism, but it wasn’t like we had any other options. “All right. We’ll talk to them,” I said.
Finlay rolled up the map. “We have to launch an attack before he has the opportunity to prepare his army for an inward invasion. I’ll make an announcement to gather everyone together. You two work on your speech.”
Finlay marched out of the tent, and Towman followed. I wasn’t sure what I was going to say to these people to convince them to fight for us.
“How are we going to do this, Ethan?” I asked as I turned to him.
“We’ll do it together,” he said as he grasped my hand. “The people will follow us if we believe they will.”
He was reminding me I had to keep the faith, as I’d encouraged him to do in Eiragrad. If I truly believed what we were doing was right, and I did, I’d have to prove my own words.
“Where are the babies?” I asked. I’d worried about them since we’d gotten here.
“I can take you to them.” Ethan led me to a tent that wasn’t so far away from ours. When I entered, a smile edged upon my face.
Arthur was lying on his stomach on the floor of the tent. Kazim and Kalina lay near his head, which he bobbed as he sung Irish sea shanties to them. Both babies giggled as Arthur’s voice welled over them, and he smiled. Tygrys flew above the babies, sprinkling fairy dust on them from above.
Arthur looked up as I entered. He gave a watery frown and said, “Wish I could greet you under better circumstances.”
I sat on the floor. Arthur pushed himself upward, and I gave him a hug, tight as I could.
I felt awful for my brother. I’d loved my grandparents, but he’d been raised by them. I couldn’t imagine that type of loss.
Ethan left without another word, giving us some space. My throat became raw and tight as I gasped, “I miss them so much.”
“I miss them, too. But they died the way they wanted to, as a fae should,” Arthur said in a shaky tone. “We have to respect their wishes.”
“Are you taking the twins?”
Arthur shook his head. “No. I’m staying here. I won’t be a coward and run when my country and my queen are in danger. I’m with you, sis, till the very end.”
“What’s going to happen to them?”
“Mum’s taking them out of the country, and to the United States,” Arthur said. “It’s the best place for them.”
I guess she’d never sold our home in Detroit, because she’d always feared she’d have to go back. At least the twins would be safe there. But if we lost the war, they could never return to Malovia.
The thought of losing both of them forever cut me up inside, deeper than the pain of losing my grandparents.
There was a rustling noise outside the tent, and Finlay cried out, “Arthur! I need you out here!”
“I’m coming, ye dumb shite,” Arthur grumbled. He got to his feet and said, “Can you—?”
“I’ll be here for a moment. Go,” I said.
