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The first assault came at dawn. Aein looked over at Finn as he gripped the battlement. His face twisted and contorted as the shift began to come. He did not want to go.
"If I could just stay a little longer," he grunted.
"Queen Gisla shall be here," said Aein, resting her hand on his shoulder. He at once gripped her fingers and for a moment, it seemed as if his human form was strong enough to stay. But then he let go and the shift was complete.
The fog still hung over the army. It had not touched the ground yet, but it was only a matter of time.
Though Lord Arnkell's stronghold was small and compact, at least it was defensible. Queen Gisla's castle? Aein looked out from the wall on the rings of castle curtains, the walls that ran through the city. As each part of the city fell, they would have to retreat. There were not enough soldiers. There were not enough men and women left to hold their positions. Too many had been killed in the attack the past autumn. It was decided all of the men and women in the town who could be conscripted into Queen Gisla's army were being given armor and weapons. It was decided they should at least be allowed to put up a fight as Lord Arnkell's army tore through the city. Leaving them cowering in the dark, hoping for the best as an invasion came through was no way to live and it was no way to die.
But these untrained soldiers would run the first opportunity they had, and that might make it more dangerous than without them. To believe a section would be guarded and then find out it had been abandoned... Aein sighed, hoping Finn and Queen Gisla knew what they were doing.
Queen Gisla strode out on to the wall. She was dressed from head to foot in her black armor, the same armor she had worn on her wedding day when she and Lord Arnkell first performed the marriage battle. Who knew that she would have to reenact that battle with Lord Arnkell for the same prize — the Haidra Kingdom.
Queen Gisla saw Aein and Finn and joined them. "Brief me," she said.
"They attack the south gate," said Aein. "And they are still protected by the fog." She motioned to the rolling billow of white that was spreading across the fields like spilled milk. Queen Gisla shivered.
"Why did they not attack at night?" mused Queen Gisla.
"Fear is a powerful weapon," said Lars as he walked up to join them. He nodded to both Aein and Queen Gisla. "I have spoken with the other soldiers about the fog, my queen."
Queen Gisla seemed taken aback. "When? You were to stay in your chambers until sunrise."
Aein and Lars exchanged glances. Finn sat on his haunches as if not wanting to miss what was about to happen.
"I had to tell the werewolves about the cure," Aein confessed.
A storm of anger crept across Queen Gisla's face. "You dared to defy my direct orders?" she challenged.
Aein tried to stop her. "It is the fog. Lars survived it longer than any of us. If we waited and Lord Arnkell attacked last night or even this morning, all would have been lost. We needed Lars."
"Your majesty, I have been speaking with every soldier on the wall all night," said Lars. His eyes had the dark rings to prove it. "Finn took one side, I took the other, and Aein has been trying to keep the calm among the new recruits."
Queen Gisla clenched her jaw. "I gave you an order, which you defied."
Finn came over, placing his head under her hand and leaning his head against her leg, staring up at her with pleading for forgiveness.
"Don't look at me like that," she said.
"It had to come out one way or another," Aein spurt out.
"It had to come out? What had to come out?" Queen Gisla tapped her finger on the stone wall. "Ah, so not only did Lars leave his quarters against my command, you felt the need to tell our army that he stood in human form because we have the berries, as opposed to our decision to tell them he mastered the shift?"
In the harsh light of day, Aein suddenly doubted what seemed to make so much sense the night before. She wished she had Lars's words. They had been so persuasive. But he did not step forward to defend their actions. He left Aein to answer as best she could.
"We should give them a choice," said Aein. "We should let them choose whether they want to face death as a werewolf or human. They deserve that dignity."
"No," said Queen Gisla correcting her. "They have been drafted into this army and my rule is the only one that counts." She stepped forward. Her movements were still and deadly. "The damage is done, but don't think for a moment I will forget this. Now that you have undermined me, you may present the werewolves with these two choices: They can learn to shift as Finn has learned to control the shift after the war. Or they can fight for me and when the war is won, they will each have the berries they desire."
Aein's cheeks burned with embarrassment. Queen Gisla turned away from her and exhaled in frustration.
"I have an invading army on the march and mutinous foot soldiers creating issues in my ranks. If I did not need you so much, I would hang you for treason," said Queen Gisla. Her shoulders collapsed and Aein realized her decision to break Queen Gisla's command made it that much more difficult for her. Yes, they had faced life and death horrors in the swamp, but Queen Gisla had been left to carry the burden of a kingdom that was bent on assassination and overthrow. Long ago, Finn said Queen Gisla's father felt the weight of every life he put in danger and was lost. Aein realized Queen Gisla was cut from the same cloth. Queen Gisla gathered her strength and stood up straight, that moment of vulnerability gone. "As it is, I do need you. So try your best to convince me I'm not making a mistake."
"Yes, your majesty," both Aein and Lars replied.
"Because maybe you're right," she said.
Finn whined in protest, but before another word could be spoken, the castle shook to its foundations. They fog rolled close to the wall and then parted.
"They have a siege engine," breathed Queen Gisla.
Two wooden towers rolled towards the wall. Inside, the soldiers would be able to climb up the stairs and pour into the city. Behind them were catapults. They began showering the walls with rocks and boulders.
"We must set the towers on fire," said Queen Gisla. She shouted out to one of the guards. "Set it on fire!" She turned to Finn. Though she gave the impression of strength and confidence, there was strain of fear that quaked in her voice. Aein realized that King Haidra had commanded the last war. Queen Gisla had overseen the few attacks on the castle but nothing like this. For all her bravery, she was rightfully panicking at the sight of thousands of soldiers. "How am I to command these men without you here in human form?" Queen Gisla asked Finn, quietly. "I should get you to eat those damned berries now so that I have you here when I need you."
"We are here," said Lars, touching Queen Gisla's arm. She recoiled from him but he did not stop. "We have been through a war already," he said. "We, Aein and I, fought for Lord Arnkell and we know what his tactics will be. We have faced him in the swamp. We know how to help you if you would stop relying on Finn to solve this problem for you. There are others here able to do his work when he cannot."
"No," said Queen Gisla, watching the advancing army. "No, you were right. We need to put an end to this and unite my people by removing this bewitchment. We need to bring an end to this dark time. Go fetch the berries."
A low growl rumbled in Finn's throat.
Queen Gisla looked at him like she was more irritated than anything else. "I need my general beside me. I know you have some notion that the shift aids you, but I need your mind to help guide my forces." She pointed at the engine as it rolled closer. "How am I to fight that?"
With a gentle uncurling, Finn stood and became a man. "I can stand beside you as a human, my queen, while the sun is up and fight like a wolf just as readily."
She slammed her fist on to the stone wall. "Damn you, Finn. I can't do this!"
"Oh gods..." interrupted Aein.
"What is it?" Queen Gisla peered in the direction Aein was staring.
Like a rising tide, the fog broke over the wall and rolled across the city, smothering the buildings and streets in white. It was coming closer and closer to where they were standing.
"We must go and help those who have not faced the fog before," said Lars, backing away from the queen. "And we must go now."
She nodded. Though the queen knew from the stories what the fog could do, she did not understand the depths of its threat. Finn planted himself by her side, pressing his furry body against her leg as if to defend her.
"The war is starting," said Aein. "I must join the archers."
It was at that moment the first tendrils of the fog touched them. Queen Gisla let out a frightened gasp. "What is that noise?"
"It is just the fog, your majesty," said Aein gently but firmly, remembering the first time the fog had touched her. "It plays tricks on the mind. It will make you relive the worst moments of your life."
"Father?" Queen Gisla gasped, turning around.
"He is not there, your majesty," said Aein.
Queen Gisla looked at her, her eyes wide and wild. "But I can hear him. I can see him."
"The fog will lead you right off the wall, your majesty. It will make you jump to your death," said Aein. "You must go inside. You must lock your doors and stay safe."
It was at that moment Queen Gisla showed why she was the commander of this land. She drew herself to her full height and said, "I do not flee and hide while my people face this thing. Go with me, Aein. Let us give strength to those who fight and let them know that the fog shall not defeat them."
She turned and began walking down the wall, with Aein and Finn in tow. Aein looked over at Finn and caught his eye.
"I understand why you followed her for so long," said Aein.