AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Why not?”
“There are only a few of the creatures left. Unlike when you arrived, they were nowhere to be found when he approached us.”
Frustration clawed at me, and Telean let out a bitter laugh. “He dosed himself with hinianseed. And you didn’t test for it, because you were desperate.”
“Hinianseed?” I asked.
“An herb,” Telean said, keeping her eyes on Tymriel. “One that repels the Drakoryx. Because your cousin knew if he were to encounter one of them, he would be found wanting.”
“At the time, we didn’t know Nelayra had survived,” Tymriel rasped. He turned to me. “Zathrian had already traveled to us before we knew of your existence. Once we learned of you, he returned, insisting he was the better choice. You’re young. You didn’t want the crown. Didn’t feel worthy of it. Your cousin…he was very persuasive. He has been preparing for this since before you were born, and it is easy for him to paint you as young, inexperienced, and weak.”
I nodded, bitterness flooding my mouth. “It changes nothing,” I said when I could speak again. “I’m not giving up the hourglass. If the other elders want it, you can tell them to come take it from me.”
Amusement danced across his face, and he shook his head at me. “You are very much like your grandmother.”
The memory of her tripped through my mind. Ysara had shown me the hybrid queen’s final moments before she died. My grandmother had been fighting to the end, and her power had been both incredible and horrifying as she’d aged those who came for her before she was finally overrun. She was the one responsible for the blighting of the Cursed City.
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I said.
The quirk of Tymriel’s mouth told me he might not have meant it as such.
“Do we have an army?” I asked.
“We do.” Tymriel’s face had turned a gray color, and I braced myself for his next words. “Zathrian has taken control of them.”
I closed my eyes. Next to me, Lorian let out a soft snarl. For the first time, I was glad Demos wasn’t here. The thought of fighting our own people… This news would devastate him.
“How many?” Telean asked.
“Twenty thousand.”
Twenty thousand hybrids that my cousin would no doubt turn on us at the worst possible time. Likely, at the end of this war, when we were attempting to recover.
“I…may have someone who can help with that. I will have to convince him to override the other elders.”
I was so tired of the elders. I’d tried to be patient, but all they had done was hinder our ability to fight this war. Why hadn’t they found any other allies?
“What is to the west of the hybrid kingdom? Was there no one to help our people through all these years of suffering?”
Tymriel shook his head, his expression mournful. “All that lies to our west is a continent of ice. Our people could never get close to it. And they tried again and again after your grandmother was killed. Huge, hidden icebergs capsized many of our ships—no matter how much magic we used. And the water was too cold, even for the sea serpents. There are many rumors about the creatures that make that continent their home, and…it is likely in all of our best interests that those creatures stay where they are.”
I wrestled my mind back to our plans. “Regner is moving his regiments south. He’s going to attempt to take down the fae ward. And at some point, he will attack the hybrid camp. He won’t be content until all of us are dead, Tymriel.”
His brow dropped in a dark scowl. “What is it you’re asking?”
I wasn’t asking, but I kept my voice even. “We need to start evacuating. It’s going to be a long, dangerous journey. But we need to begin moving the young, old, weak, and sick back to our kingdom.”
Tymriel’s eyes lit up, and he suddenly appeared years younger. “This is what I have always dreamed of but could never achieve. It will be dangerous. We will need powerful, experienced hybrids to guard them.” His mouth twisted. “There’s a reason this hasn’t been done before. If Regner learns of those plans, his soldiers will be waiting.”
“Which is why you need to convince the elders to send anyone capable of wielding a sword. We need them stationed along the Asric Pass. This won’t be like last time, when our people fled in the snow, unprepared and terrified. We’ll get them out within weeks, when the temperatures have dropped enough to become tolerable for walking long distances. And we have guides, healers, soldiers—all to keep them safe. As soon as they get through the pass, they can use the tunnel and get to Lyrinore. Once they’re in the hybrid kingdom, they’ll be safe.”
“Who will lead them home?”
“I will,” Telean said.
I turned to face her. She stuck out her chin. “I am old and tired. Who better to set the pace for the weakest among us?”
“You’re not weak.”
