“Are they still out there?”
“The Warden came through and slaughtered them all. The Emperor let their cries for mercy die unheard.”
Of course Cameron did, because he didn’t care. He was too spineless to dare risking bringing those refugees to safety even if it meant we gained more fighters from it. He didn’t want to chance sending in his soldiers even though we needed to take gambles to win this war. No one could get in and out of our shield, but we could still send and receive messages through radio waves. Cameron could’ve sent our allies to help, and chose not to.
Abigail bit her lip. “I fear for the future of our people, and for all supernatural kind. Cameron is no Emperor. He’s merely a pawn for his own whims. A true ruler needs to rise to defend us. Otherwise, our freedom is lost.”
It was so unlike her to criticize the monarchy in any way, but we were dying out here. This world kept taking and taking, and it didn’t know when to stop.
It wouldn’t. Not unless I made it.
If Hemlock was in my situation, she wouldn’t give in and she wouldn’t give up, so I couldn’t either. Fae were known for their strong wills, so I had to find one of my own. I had to get up from this floor and stop this crying bullshit. Feeling my emotions wasn’t helping right now, because there was too much of it. I could sob for years still be unable to fathom the level of agony I’d endured. When you got to a place where there was so much trauma it overwhelmed you, there wasn’t anything to do but put it aside for a time and keep going. Grieving wouldn’t bring my sorrow to an end, because if I started now, I wouldn’t be able to quit.
But I could do something about it. I wasn’t someone who sat around when there was shit to be done. I took action, even if it was the wrong thing to do, or made the problem worse. I’d been in the city for the past month, helping to repair the things I’d ruined and giving hope back to the people I’d harmed, but that wasn’t enough. I had to get my ass in gear, because with Cameron leading the way, we were basically done unless someone else stepped up. Once the Elven Gate was open and the gods came to help, we’d have to get our army ready and mount an attack against the Warden right away. If we gave him any leeway, he’d find a way to gain the advantage, and we couldn’t allow that to happen. Someone needed to order our soldiers into battle against Doctor Taurus— a leader who wouldn’t stand down until he and The Mission were wiped from the face of the earth.
Charlie was too broken, and— if I was completely honest— too untrustworthy to take the helm, and Cameron would be too cowardly to summon his army once we needed those soldiers. The Elvish court was in chaos, and none of my friends had the capability to pull themselves together enough to lead.
That meant this was up to me.
I wiped my nose. “You’re right, Abigail. Everyone’s right.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve been hiding in the shadows for too long.” I gestured for her to help me up. Abigail struggled to lift me into my wheelchair before taking a seat in her own. I rolled out of the suite and called, “Eldin!”
My guard was standing vigil not too far from the door. “Yes, princess?”
“I want you to gather the best of the best when it comes to Ilamanthe’s military. Women only,” I told her. “I know there are female Elves within Cameron’s army who aren’t happy with what he’s doing. Offer them a different position, working for me.”
“You aren’t thinking of starting another insurrection, are you, princess?” Eldin’s voice was wary.
I shook my head. “Far from it. Everything I’m doing here is perfectly legal, and it’s needed. Trust me.”
Eldin nodded, then turned on her heel to follow my orders.
Abigail appeared perplexed. “What’s our next move?”
I placed Hemlock’s book on my desk, then headed back in the direction of the courtyard. “Now we kick some ass.”
Midnight fell, and I gathered my allies in the secrecy of night. The Ladies’ Court had a gymnasium. It was typically reserved for sports games like tennis, basketball or other activities, but I was converting it into our training ground.
Hundreds of guards, all female, stood within the gymnasium in perfect rows, grasping weapons and standing at attention. I observed them one by one, studying their keen eyes and strong bodies. They appeared an immovable force, ready to stand against anything— and they would at my command.
“Do you really believe the Emperor is going to let you get away with this?” Abigail asked. Dozens of women had come to answer Eldin’s call of service. It was a clear sign of how many were dissatisfied with Cameron’s rule.
“As per Elvish law, the princess has the right to form her own private military force if she so wishes, so long as that force serves the interests of the crown,” I replied. “I’d say keeping Ilamanthe alive serves the crown’s interests pretty damn well. Cameron can’t do a damn thing about this.”
Abigail smiled. “You have been studying Elvish law. I am very impressed.”
“If I’m going to run this empire, I need to know the rules.”
Abigail nodded. “Indeed, though I can’t say telling Cameron about this would be wise. He’d make a big spectacle of it and accuse you baselessly of treason. He’d use bureaucracy to slow us down, and only get in our way.”
“That’s why we’re not going to say anything, and let him find out about it on his own time.” I hardly figured he’d notice. He was too busy getting drunk on wine and gossiping at parties to realize the princess had formed her own secret army right under his nose.
I moved in front of the women, raising my voice. “I am seeking soldiers who are interested in becoming my personal fighting force, a battalion invested in fighting for the objectives of the princess. This will be an exclusive, elite, all-female fighting force, sworn to the will of the princess. If anyone doesn’t wish to put her life at risk, leave now. There is no shame in turning away from that which isn’t your destiny. But if you are willing to offer yourself and your strength to defend Ilamanthe, to preserve the resistance against The Mission and all it stands for, then join me.”
Not one woman left the room. “Very well. From now on, you shall be called the Firebirds. You no longer take orders from the Emperor or his military commanders, but from me. I will provide uniforms for each single one of you. The royal tailors and blacksmiths are working on developing an armored gear set as we speak.”
