would only help him fit in more with their group when it was time for him to be a warrior in his own right.
Alchan nodded his approval, and Emerian left the war room in a hurry.
“Alchan, I wanted to mention this on the way back but never had the chance,” Bryn began, taking advantage of the silence. “I want to go find Mat and Zayden.”
Alchan looked over at them, but passed over Bryn and landed on Mave. He tilted his head, a silent question.
“I’m okay with it,” she answered. “I need them home.”
“I’ll allow it. You can leave whenever you’re ready,” Alchan said softly. “But you have two weeks, Bryn. If you can’t find them in two weeks, you turn around and come straight back. I know it’ll be hard, but you built the entire scouting system.”
“Aye, I did, but as Luykas said, it might be compromised now. I can have them sneak the intel to ya in the village while I’m away. Ya just won’t have me organizin’ it for ya.”
“Compromised intel?” a noble said with a gasp. “What does that mean for us?”
“It means we need to be more careful. We’re not slowing down. Don’t think that, but we have to tread carefully with the types of missions we send out,” Luykas explained. “Now, Alchan, I know you probably still need me, but I can’t function if I don’t get some sleep soon.”
“Go,” Alchan ordered. “Mave, Bryn…you, too. Rain, check-in with Lady Lilliana, then go to sleep. Once I get these people working to help our returned warriors, I’ll follow you.”
They broke up, all heading their own directions. Bryn took Mave’s hand and brought it up to his lips.
“I’m leavin’ tomorrow at dawn,” he told her. “I’ll bring ‘em home.”
“I know,” she whispered.
They were too tired to eat a real meal. Emerian checked in, telling them he’d made sure Trevan and Dave got to the war room.
“Do you need anything?” Emerian asked as she slumped in her favorite chair.
“For you to slow down for a minute,” she said, sighing. “We have a spare bedroom. Go sleep. That way Trevan and Dave don’t accidentally wake you when they get home for the night. Actually, sit down and have a bite to eat first. You can’t run yourself into the ground. A warrior’s body needs to be taken care of.”
“Oh…um…okay.” Emerian sat down at their table. Mave glanced between him and Luykas, taking in their similarities and differences. She couldn’t help but compare the two, both gorgeous. Her tired mind liked having him there at her table, where she could keep an eye on him. He’s growing more every day. Still a bit awkward and green but growing.
She watched his eyes droop closed as he ate. A slight sway at one point told her he had been working through his exhaustion, and it had caught up to him.
“Good night,” she told him as she stood. “All of you make sure you get some sleep.”
The males grunted.
She made her way into her room alone. Stripping down, she sighed. Her home had been so empty recently. Mat and Zayden were gone, and she had no idea why they were late getting back home. Bryn was about to leave. Luykas was going to be so busy.
My brother lost an arm. He nearly died.
From here, the war was only going to get harder. That was the one thing no one really wanted to say all day. They covered it by making it sound like a necessary change of plans, but the fact of the matter was simple—the war was going to get harder. Their best strategy that used the might of the Andinna was easily seen through by Shadra. Now, they had to use their tricks, not knowing if those would be effective enough.
Mave felt a rush of despair at their situation and stopped it, retreating to a place that always protected her from her more destructive feelings. She couldn’t get overloaded by feelings. She needed to rest and be ready for the next day. She had to be strong. So, with firm walls around her heart, she laid down, focused only on what needed to happen next.
Survival. Victory.
It was as if she was in the pits again, going to sleep in that empty room.
She closed her eyes and was asleep in only a handful of heartbeats.
23
Luykas
Luykas cooked breakfast. Even as exhausted as he had been the night before, he still couldn’t bring himself to get even a little extra sleep. He was awake