Chapter 69: Gathering Storm
There's a lot of tension right now, Reika is heavy from that storm weighing upon her. She had sent in her spies, issued her order; now she was left to wait. It was the waiting that was never good for Reika.
A knock at the door startled her from her fog of reflection.
"Come in," she called, her voice solid against turmoil within her.
Kael entered, his face grim, while in his hand was a sealed parchment with edges that had the insignia of royalty on them.
"We have word from our scouts," he said forthwith, dispensing with formalities and handed her the letter. "It's worse than we thought."
With the parchment in her hands, Reika broke the seal as her eyes ran across its contents. The acceleration in the clench of her jaw became her heartbeat.
They have mobilized, she said quietly, with the weight of implication heavy in her voice. The Dawn family is not simply preparing-it is on the move now.
Kael nodded. Their forces have been spotted near the southern borders. Small camps but heavily armed. They position to attack.
Reika set the letter down, her mind racing. And their leadership? Anything to show who's giving the orders for these maneuvers?
Not yet, Kael replied. But we suspect one of their elders is behind this. The Dawn family doesn't do anything without having a strategy involved. They would never enter an open conflict in case they will emerge on top.
Reika's hands knitted into fists at her sides. Then we'll just prove how wrong they are.
Before Kael could utter a word, another knock came at the door. It was Daisy this time, her usually bright disposition muted by the solemnity of the situation.
"Your Majesty," Daisy said, softer than usual. "Alpha Ileus has returned. He's in the war room with news."
Reika nodded, a resolve hardening in her eyes. "Let's not keep him waiting."
Down halls of whispering darkness, Reika followed Daisy, Kael beside her, Daisy leading the way with a weight upon her shoulders heavier than an oncoming storm outside. They entered the war room to find Ileus already in, over the big map table, a really grim look but eyes that sparkled the moment Reika stepped inside.
"Reika," he said, voice firm and soft all at once as the tension racked up. "We got a problem.
Tell me something I don't know," she said dryly, stepping up to the table.
Ileus allowed a slight smile before his finger fell onto part of the map. "This is where the forces of the Dawn family have been spotted-near the southern border, just as Kael's scouts told us. But there's more to this: we've gotten word that they're in league with outside forces."
Reika frowned. "What manner of outside forces?
Rogue wolves," Ileus said, the jollity now gone from his voice. "A mercenary pack. They have been hired to augment the Dawn family's army. Of course, if they are, then it shall be two against one once they do so."
It set Reika's mind furiously piecing together what this could be. An alliance between the House of Dawn and the rogue wolves was a bad raise.
"We need to cut them off," Reika said, an edge to her voice that allowed no room for compromise. "Once the rogues join forces, the balance will tip over. This is not going to go well.
"How do you propose we do that?" Ileus asked, his eyes level with hers.
"We intercept them before they can reach the Dawn family's stronghold," Reika said. "Send our best fighters to the southern border. If we cannot convince the rogues to abandon their alliance, then we make sure they never reach the battlefield."
Ileus nodded, his head moving with slow deliberation. "It's a risk, but it may just work. The rogues are mercenaries-they fight for gold, not loyalty. If we can offer them a better deal, they might change sides."
"And if they do not?" Kae asked, his voice dark.
Reika's eyes flashed. "Then we remind them what happens when they challenge a queen."
There was a beat of silence while the weight of her words settled over the room.
"We shall have to hurry," Ileus said. "The rogues are on the move already, and if we waste much more time they'll reach the Dawn family before we can intercept them."
Reika nodded. "Then it's settled. Kael, assemble a team. I want our fastest, most skilled fighters on this mission."
"Aye, Your Majesty," Kael said with a slight bow and whipped around, almost immediately disappearing from the tent area.
Ileus leaned in toward Reika once he was well out of earshot, his face relaxing. "Reika… are you prepared for this?
She met his gaze, her jaw set. "I have no other choice, Ileus. The Dawn family is going to burn everything to ashes. I won't let them do that."
He laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder, his touch settling. "You are never alone, Reika. Remember that."
Reika gave a weak smile to him. "I know, and for it, I am grateful to you.
Ileus stuttered for a while before stepping back, straightforward business then onwards again. "I'll get the defenses ready here; you've got the rogues covered. Let's make them such that the Dawn family dare not even think about challenging us."
Reika just nodded, her mind already racing with schemes. As Ileus turned to leave the room, she turned back to the map, sharp-eyed.
But even as she was planning, there was this nagging thought planted firmly in the back of her mind. The Dawn family was bold, but it felt so very convenient for them. Riftan in prison, the rogue alliance-it was all too right, almost as if strings were being pulled from behind a screen.
Reika's hand hovered over the map as her eyes narrowed. What are you really planning, Dawn family?
The castle was still; its halls bathed in the soft light of the moon as she left the war room. Waiting for her at the door to her chambers was Daisy, her cheeriness restored.
"Your Majesty," said Daisy with a bright smile, "would you care for a cup of tea before bed?"
Reika hesitated a moment, then nodded. "Yes, Daisy. Thank you."