Page 146 of A Sunwoven Ascent

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He needed to do something. Anything. But Alaric did not know where to begin. He dressed and made his way to his father’s study, surprised to find him still awake behind his desk.

Alaric knocked before entering.

“You have felt something, I gather?” his father asked.

Alaric’s brows rose. “I…” He cleared his throat. “Yes.”

“Your mother told me to wait for you here an hour ago before she retired. Said it was important.” Gaviel leaned back slightly. “So here I am. And here you are.”

His mother had known. Alaric could not help wondering how often this had happened throughout his life while he had been too blind to notice.

“There is something coming for us,” he said. “All of us. And I do not know if there is anything we can do to stop it.”

He lowered himself into the chair across from his father’s desk, careful in case another wave of dizziness struck.

“I am new to this sight,” he continued. “Part of me hopes I am wrong, but I fear that if we do not have enough people to fight, the land we call home will become a graveyard.”

Or worse, a feeding ground for the Noskari. But he would not say that aloud.

“These creatures,” Gaviel said calmly. “They are strong?”

“Incredibly.”

“I have been gathering men and pulling them from their posts. Some from Shaw and Duskwood as well. Good fighters. Well trained with pistols.”

Alaric thought of how little a pistol would matter if it was not already loaded. They would need speed. Blades. Skill he doubted most of them had.

“That will not be enough,” he murmured.

“Lord and Lady Shaw mentioned the covens are preparing as well. We must all remain on high alert.”

His father did not understand the weight of it. How could he? He had never seen a Noskari tear through a man’s chest with a single strike. Alaric had, but he kept that memory to himself.

“I am glad there has been some preparation,” Alaric said carefully. “Please have them ready. I fear…” He stopped, then shook his head. “Just tell them to be ready.”

“That is the plan, son.”

Alaric stood slowly and started toward the door. Then he paused.

“Father?”

Gaviel looked up, brows raised.

“Keep Mother safe. Do not let her beyond these walls.”

Alaric left the study and stepped out into the night. Unsure what else to do, he sat on the stone steps leading to the front path, closed his eyes, and listened again.

“Tell me what to do,” he whispered, placing his head in his hands.

He sat there until the silence became unbearable. Just as he moved to stand, a pulse trembled beneath the stone at his feet, and a faint cry carried on the breeze.

Alaric shot upright.

The men were needed now.

Chapter 58