Chapter 85: Gathering Storm

A stir in the south, a silent tension of readiness; Reika stood at the brink of what was going to blossom into an all-scale war. Reika paced a circle at the edge of camp, her mind racing. At any moment, the family of Dawn's envoy was going to arrive, and although they claimed this was so that they might discuss diplomatic matters, Reika knew better than to take such claims on faith. The parchment given by Daisy's brother seemed to have intent to sow chaos in her ranks, but whose credibility was still dubious. Ileus leaned into her, furrows lining his brow. "You are too tense," he said, laying a steadying hand on her shoulder. "They will sense it." Reika turned to him, her wolf bristling just beneath the surface. "They'll sense weakness if I relax. I can't afford to give them that. "They'll scent strength if you don't squeak and whimper," Ileus replied-the word quiet, yet unyielding. "We must take the high ground, Reika. Once you outthought them. Now do so once more." She breathed out hard, nodded despite her reluctance. "You're right. As per bloody usual." Kael arrived, too shortly afterwards. Inscrutability hallowed his eyes. "Word arrived-the envoy was spotted. Under an hour, they will get here." Reika stood taller, steel in her determination. "Summon the council; I want all on board, ready for action." He appeared promptly at o'clock, surrounded by the entourage calculated to make a statement about power; in dark cloaks, a procession moved in block-formation down on the carpeted floor, faces all obscured but that one at the fore-tall and towering over the figures, a razor-fine face, pointed featured with cold smile predatory, which ached so the gums pulled tight at her teeth. "Queen Reika, " the voice was thick fluid swimming with courtesy feigned. She didn't bat an eye; her stare returned. "I'd say the same, but I'd rather not lie." The man's chuckle was low in his throat and without a single hint of merriment in the sound. "Blunt. I like that. My name is Vincent; I represent the family of Dawn." "Then speak," Reika said, crossing her arms. "What does your family want?" Vincent smiled and closed the distance between them. "Peace. A wave of skepticism rolled through Reika's council, but she herself said nothing. "Peace? After months of sabotage and bloodshed? Forgive me if I'm skeptical." "I understand your skepticism," Vincent said smoothly. "But the House of Dawn sees no benefit in prolonging this feud. We are offering a truce—a ceasing of all hostilities." Reika's eyes narrowed. "And what do you expect in return? "Only your cooperation," Vincent returned. "Join with us, and we will ensure prosperity for both our factions. Refuse…" He let the word hang ominously in the air. Ileus moved a step forward, and his tone was ice. "And if we refuse?" Vincent's smile was gone; shining in his eyes was the glitter of steel. "Then you'll face the full might of the family of the Dawn, and your kingdom will fall." An uncomfortable silence hovered as Reika waited for her answer. She darted but for a moment a glance at her council; upon their faces, uneasiness danced patently, looking to her guidance, looking to her strength. "Your threats don't impress me, Vincent," Reika finally said after what felt like an age, her voice slicing cleanly through the silence like so many a blade. "And your offer isn't worth considering. If the Dawn family wants war, then they'll get it." Vincent's face went dark. "You are making a big mistake." "Perhaps," Reika said, her wolf growling low in her throat. "But at least it's mine to make." --- Planning the Defense With the envoy gone, Reika immediately called for an emergency council meeting. The war table was strewn with maps as, around the room, arguments were aired. "We cannot afford to wait for them to strike," snarled Kael, his fists clenched. "We have to bring the fight to them." "And just walk right into a trap?" Ileus shot back. "They want us to react rashly. That is precisely what they're waiting for." Reika leaned over the table and peered onto the map. "We have to outwit them, be ahead of them, even before they can think about it. Daisy sat silent in her corner; speaking after loads of reluctance. "I got my brother to know their next move, and now-if I get out into the street-". "No", Reika said sombrely and silencing in one second. "Much risk; it is your sure life, as suspicion builds in something off. "But-" Daisy attempted to intervene in saying. No, Reika said in a voice joltingly firm, leaving no room for argument. At the flash of hurt in Daisy's eyes, she softened. "I just cannot afford to lose you, Daisy, not again." Thereafter, it would seem, as though the words of Reika just lingered on in the air, before finally Kael spoke. "Then what is the plan, Reika? Reika squared a battle blaze firing in her eyes. "We fortify our borders, strengthen our defenses, and prepare for the worst. In the meantime, we're digging for any shred of intelligence we can find. And if the family of the Dawn wants a war, well. we'll damn well make them wish they never had. It wasn't until much later that night, when Reika retired to her chambers, that the exhaustion finally caught up with her. Weighed down, she sank onto the edge of the bed and let doubts and determination assault her mind. A soft knock on her door dragged her back from her reverie. "Come in," she called. Ileus entered impassive, closing the door behind himself, then moved further in toward her-a comfortable anchor amidst the chaos of her world. "You were amazing today," he said, seating himself beside her. "You stood your ground and showed them exactly what they're up against." Reika managed the ghost of a smile. "It didn't feel like it. Every decision feels like a gamble." "It is," Ileus said, "yet you never are alone in this, Reika. You have me, Kael, and all of the pack at your back. She watched him with shimmery unshed tears in her eyes. "But what if that isn't enough? What if I'm not enough?" He reached out, took her hand in his-very warm, reassuring to the touch. "You more than suffice. Whatever may be coming our way, well, it does so now with us together. Reika nodded, and in that single moment-a very fragile moment indeed-the fire was alive inside her. And beneath the resolve, however, there was still that last thought-a little insidious doubt-nipping, a sound refusing to mute itself when she yielded to the refuge of Ileus's arms.