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Alahna looked decidedly tired when it was finally time to retire, and I hoped she would be better in the morning.
Unfortunately, it turned out that her pregnancy wasn't as easy on her as Damaris's had been, and the next day, we were informed that when we left for the Vandall lands, Brogan would stay behind to support his mate, who had been told to stay in bed for the rest of her pregnancy.
I visited her a few times during the next days before we had to leave. Alahna had been nothing but good to me since Uthar captured me, and I had given her a lot of grief during the first weeks here in Grymburg, resenting having been a prisoner. In her patient, gentle way, she had opened my eyes to the truth that the humans on Thyre had not been mistreated, and that, instead, it had been my people who had misled me and many others.
Now it was my turn to try to lighten up her days, understanding how hard it was for somebody like her to be confined to bed. Her pet grover, Furbo, ensured she didn't have many dull moments, but still, the worry for her baby weighed heavily on her. I was glad Brogan decided to stay back for her and the baby's sake. I feared the worry over him would have made Alahna miscarry.
Everybody saw that this decision wasn't easy for Brogan, who, like the other warlords, lived for a good fight, but I admired him for staying by his wife's side. And if I hadn't already been convinced that I had done the right thing, this right here would have been the catalyst. Alahna was as cherished in the world of Thyre as any true-blooded Thyre.
I advised the war party that the longer we waited, the higher the chances of the Terran Forces exhausting what remained of their batteries. Not having to contend with Humvees, choppers, and fighters would be to our advantage.
So it was nearly a month later before we set sail once again for the Vandall lands. This time, the ship Kendryx and I sailed on was much larger but, unfortunately, didn't give us the privacy we had enjoyed on our first journey.
There would be no lying naked on the deck and fucking each other to our heart's content, but I was okay with it, because the air was thickening with anticipation, and even though I dreaded fighting my fellow humans again, it was hard not to get caught up in the excitement. Kendryx said a warrior's blood was running through my veins, and I agreed with him. The years in the Terran Forces had taught me many things, and now I was glad I had chosen that path, because I would use the training they had given me against them.
Each warlord and King Uthar traveled on a separate ship for security reasons. Should a storm surprise us and take a ship down, there would be others to lead the army.
Gryck, too, had stayed back with Brogan on Thyre. Kendryx had told me about the civil war that had ravaged the land right before the human's arrival on Vandall land. It had been finished, but the khazar was still needed to keep the peace and assure the Thyres that all was well.
Just like Brogan, he hadn't been happy to stay behind, but he was the khazar of Thyre and did what was best for his people.
Once a day, all the warlords, Uthar, and me, would meet on one of the ships to discuss strategy. I was used to men paying attention to me when I spoke, but here, with these warlords, it felt different. I knew they accepted and respected me because of my expertise with the humans' strategies and weapons, even Uthar, but for some reason, it felt strange. Not only because I still felt somewhat uneasy telling the Thyres and Vandalls all our secrets, even though this was the best way to save as many humans as possible. No, there was just something about these alpha males that rattled my self-confidence, making me consider my thoughts before I spoke.
The journey seemed to go by much faster than the first time Kendryx and I had traveled to the Vandall lands, and all too soon our large fleet laid anchor, undiscovered by drones and unhindered by choppers or fighters.
I was sure the Terran Confederation, or what was left of it, was aware that we were here, but that they weren't lying in wait for us was telling of how deeply Kendryx and I had handicapped their forces.
And yes, by then, I was thinking of it asusandthem. I told myself to be careful not to get consumed by anger for the Terran Confederation and lump them together with the soldiers who, just like I had been, were still being duped.
Thorodoth and his men waited for us by the shore, where he greeted his father respectfully but guardedly. He seemed much more jovial when his eyes landed on Kendryx and me. He pulled me into a bearhug that made Kendryx tense before the two men embraced, clapping each other on the back with fists as the men here seemed to do in every species.
Kendryx introduced the other warlords, Vandor and the new ones, Crygor who took Fionbyr's place at Slotenburg, and Fygor who now ruled Acklymburg in Brogan's stead.
"Have you had any contact with the Terran Confederation?" Kendryx asked Thorodoth as we finished the introductions.
"We haven't had any run-ins with them. They've been busy fortifying their FOB," Thorodoth told us.
"How about drones? Choppers?" I wanted to know.
"There was some activity during the first weeks, but nothing in the last two," Thorodoth responded.
As usual, I felt conflicted about his words. On the one hand, I was glad the Terran Confederation ran out of energy. On the other, I put myself in the place of the people who had been my comrades for so many years and wondered how I would see myself through their eyes.
"Don't put this responsibility on your shoulders," Rae, who came with Thorodoth, said, reading my mind. "It had to be done."
Of all the people here, Rae understood me the best since she, too, had abandoned the Terran Confederation in favor of the indigenous species on Thyre.
Kendryx put his arm around me, supporting me in his usual quiet way, which I thankfully accepted by leaning into him.
SixofThorodoth'swarriorsinterrupted our meeting as they marched three bound humans into our midst.
"Caught them spying on us," one of the warriors informed Thorodoth.
The three soldiers, all men, glared at us defiantly, but when their eyes fell on Chrissy and Rae, their defiance turned to hatred.
"Traitors," the tallest spat.
Chrissy stiffened beside me, and I moved to hit the man over the head, but she stopped me.
