Lionel’s gaze wandered to me, his eyes conflicted yet soft. “Ethalyn?”
I stiffened as all heads turned towards me.
Shit.
How had I ended up here? I wasn’t a talker, or strategist, or a person comfortable being in command at all really.
“Based on our last report, a larger group of demons have been spotted close to Darkshire, the abandoned village just past the southern border. Either they’re preparing an attack, or they’re increasing their border patrols.”
“And what doyouwant of us?” Amestele asked, her voice careful, almost sweet, but as I watched her I knew she was one of the most dangerous people in the room.
“We need to keep them off our lands, while we rebuild our forces,” I began with a deep breath. “The Ashen Corps are filled with people with potential, however they lack strength after years of famine.”
Izera clicked her tongue annoyed, as if I had spilled top secret information.
“Having said that, the lands controlled by the Ashen Corps are rich in quartz, which we’ll need in our fight against the demons.”
“Food in exchange for quartz,” Amestele tasted the words, looking over at Izera who glared back. “It seems like a fair deal for both sides, don’t you think?”
“So we’d lose our only advantage?” Izera muttered. “What have you lost during these years of war? A few dozen people? We have starved and lost hundreds to fend off the fiendsyoubrought here.”
“But your people would live, perhaps even thrive from now on,” Amestele cut back. “Isn’t that of importance? Or do you intend to follow in Jarkas’ footsteps and play dumb by killing half of mankind only to realise that the demons remain?”
“That depends,” Izera bit out. “Are you going to enforce something to stop mages from creating more demons? Or perhaps you’re already corrupt and want to join hands with the enemy?”
“I’d rather die than be leashed,” Amestele said calmly. “But the demons are our priority, they must be stopped. After we deal with them, we’ll have the luxury of planning how to stop them from returning for good.”
Izera froze in her chair, then eventually she nodded slightly. Those were the words no one dared to utter. In the Ashen Corps survival was priority, but under such strained conditions, they could not afford to think of every human, only those with strength enough to give something back.
“This report… istrustworthy?” Izera glanced at me, and she didn’t have to add anything to relay the message she wanted:
who had given me this information?
“I was the one who received the report,” Lionel interrupted, trying to ease the tension again. It wasn’t the whole truth, but he had technically been the one to receive the letter, I guess.
But Izera’s eyes never left mine, it wasn’t the answer she was looking for.
“Yes,” I said through my teeth. “It is.”
Silence settled over the room, neither she nor I willing to back down, as we glared at each other.
“Right,” Ashley coughed. “Perhaps we should take another look, to give everyone some peace of mind.”
I gave her a glance, I knew she meant well… I just wished she would vouch for him with me. But knowing Ashley, it wasn’t personal; she was just bored of the politics.
“How about our squad head out first, and the remaining soldiers can meet us at the border with one day delay?” I suggested, shifting in my chair.
“And if it’s an ambush, a trick to gather us all and end us?” Izera cocked her brow at me.
I slammed my fist into the table as I rose to my feet. “Then I guess you all will have to start getting along, because I will not be here to hold you back from each other’s throats anymore.”
A faint smile appeared on Amestele’s lips, as if enjoying my brutal honesty at the very least.
“You’re the only Aetherion in your squad though?” Amestele asked, glancing over at me, and the insinuation felt like a blade.
It was the truth, but what they weren’t aware of, was our recent loss… Nathaniel’s sister Mey. She had been a water mage, without knowing it until shortly before her death, when she bravely shielded her brother with her own body.
I glanced over at Nate, he had placed both his hands at the table’s edge, fingers digging into the wood as if it was the only thing keeping him upright.
