Caleb rose to his feet, his eyes smoldering like twin flames. “Of course, my brother. There is nothing to forgive. They’re all going to die,” he told them calmly, but Shauna saw the hands he had used so tenderly to plow his fields tighten into fists until his fingernails cut his flesh. “No surrender. They all die. War. War on the Catchers.”
Warriors from all over Shondravar met just outside the village later that night. Caleb stood before them dressed in a black shirt, breeches and a leather strap across his chest and back. There were five daggers of different sizes hanging from a belt slung low on his hips, and two more daggers strapped to his leather-clad thighs. His broadsword rested against his back with the hilt at his neck and tip reaching his knees. Across Caleb’s aqua eyes was a stripe stained black with ashes and charcoal. A black strip of leather around his brow held back his golden hair.
When he spoke, the air resonated with fierce, raw power. No longer was he a man bound by laws or the land. He cut loose the tethers of compassion and filled the night with the mighty roar that belonged only to the king of the Warriors.
“Every city and every village will be searched, from Alare to Avalaria to Culderia. Everywhere! We will hunt down Catchers and after they are questioned, they will die. There will be no surrender.”
His men cheered, waiting for the day when Caleb would declare war on the mortal enemy of his own people. For so long their commander warred, but he also tended the land, which took years of work, leaving the plains virtually unprotected.
“We need more men, Caleb,” Pethar called out, “We number but two hundred.”
“Two hundred and one.” Shauna stepped into the light of the fire, wearing a close-fitting sleeveless tunic, black hose and boots. The black paint slashed across her green eyes was striking against her pale flaxen hair. She met her brother’s gaze and smiled when he nodded.
“Two hundred and one,” he agreed, then he turned to his men again. “Aaron and Pethar, go to Prandar. They will want to avenge their brothers. Our brothers in Londa are being informed as we speak. They should be here soon enough. We will meet you on the plains tomorrow. Go. Ride quickly.” He watched the two men mount and ride off into the darkness. “We leave in one hour,” he told the rest of them, and then strode toward his sister.
“How’s Jonas?”
“Recovering.”
“Does he know you’re coming?”
“I am going to tell him.” She looked away and Caleb touched her arm.
“When?” her brother asked. “Go tell him now.”
“Caleb, I—”
“You don’t have to come,” he told her.
“Yes, I do.”
“Then go tell him. We will wait. Don’t be long.”
Jonas looked up from the bed when Shauna entered the room. She knew he would recognize the manner of her dress and the war paint on her face. She wasn’t surprised that he closed his eyes and cursed under his breath.
“Jonas…”
“Is he ready to leave?”
“Yes, he’s ready.”
“Shauna, I can’t be there with you. I ask you not to go.”
She lifted her fingers to his lips and traced them. “You’re the one who taught me the ways, my love.”
“I didn’t know I would fall in love with you then,” he answered, kissing her fingers.
“He needs me, Jonas. Can you deny him?” she pleaded softly. He said nothing and Shauna knew it was because he understood why she had to go. “I’ll be fine. I was trained well.”
“Shauna…” But she placed her thumb over his lips to quiet him.
“Don’t change who I am, Jonas, please. It almost destroyed us before, and I love you too much to go back to Ermile.”
He smiled and traced a path from her temple to her lips with his fingers. “Marry me, dove. Pastor Joseph travels with Caleb, does he not?”
“He does,” she told him.
“Then the moment I see you again, marry me.”
“Yes,” she answered with no hesitation. “The moment I see you again.”
After she kissed him, he vowed to join them the instant he was able. When she rose to leave, he called her back.
“Ask Pastor Joseph to speak to Caleb about revenge. Ask him to remind our king that fighting for revenge or with hatred in his heart is not the same as keeping the law of the land.”
“Yes, I will ask him.”
“And, my love. God be with you.” His voice was a deep, coarse whisper.