Fires of War (War and Deceit #4) - Erin O'Kane Page 0,54
is tearing people away from their loved ones before their time,” I counter, my frustration making my voice rise. I’ve never spoken to the speaker like this before, but I don’t understand where these views are coming from.
Arching a single dark eyebrow, the speaker nods his head in agreement. “People die in war, it is true, but that has been happening for centuries. It is part of our nature to want more, to take what we can’t have,” he explains in a calm voice. “Think of all the lives you will be saving from the queen’s tyranny in the long run,” he reasons, gesturing to me, and I know he’s won the argument. This is what I keep coming back to. A few lives are going to have to be lost to save many. “Could you really carry on with your life knowing what she is doing to the land, to the elves? Do you think she will stop at just the elves?”
No, he’s right. My guilt would never let me live if I knew I could do something and I chose not to. Besides, once the queen has finished breaking the elves, she will turn to the humans next. Her hatred for them knows no bounds, so if she can kill and turn her own people into forsaken, then I have no doubt she will annihilate the humans.
“No. She must be stopped,” I agree with a nod. Glancing down at my goddess mark, I reach for the bonds in my chest, feeling my mates instinctively respond, sending me waves of strength. “If I have to be the one to stop her, then so be it.” Even if it destroys me to do so.
“Oomph.” The blow to my stomach beats the air from my lungs, knocking me to the ground in one swift move. Groaning, I lie on the hard ground and take a few seconds to catch my breath. The hit didn’t hurt, but the blow to my pride smarts, especially seeing as this isn’t the first time Eldrin’s knocked me onto my ass this morning.
A shadow falls over me, and I soon see him looking down at me, his expression a cross between amusement and frustration, like he can’t quite decide whether to enjoy throwing me around a bit or be annoyed at my lack of concentration.
“You’re distracted today,” he remarks, holding out his hand in a peace offering to help me to my feet. Staring at his hand with suspicion for a few moments, I blow out a breath of frustration and interlace my fingers with his, pushing up to my feet with his assistance.
Things have been a bit odd between us over the last couple of days, ever since I accidently made the plants attack him and then had the heart-to-heart with the speaker around the fire. He’s still Eldrin, but when it’s just the two of us, he’s been much…nicer? I’m not sure if that’s even how to describe it, but at least he’s not openly hostile towards me anymore. I find him looking at me when he thinks I’m not watching, and I’m not quite sure what to make of it.
“It’s an important day,” I reply with a slight shrug of my shoulders, letting go of his hand as I take a step back, brushing down my training clothes.
We’re back in the valley, training down in the long grasses by the icy river that races past us. It’s been several days, but I’ve still not wanted to train in the grove, just in case I accidently call on nature again. Images of Eldrin’s face as the thorns pierced his skin still haunt my dreams. The early morning sun has just fully risen above the top of the mountains, shining down into the valley and warming my skin. Closing my eyes, I bask in this temporary moment of calm, knowing it’s all going to disappear soon.
Today, we are moving to the foothills of the mountains. We will be making camp in the forest there, someplace where both the tribes and the wood elves can function. Most of the wood elves had stayed behind in the forest, unable to make the journey into the mountains to come find me.
The discussions amongst the tribespeople had been long and arduous. Many didn’t want to leave the mountains, and in the end, I had to point out that we will probably have to leave for the final battle anyway, so we may as well do this on our terms.