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Back at Wolf Fortress, Calain tucked Zelda into one of the old beds in the upstairs barracks and begged her to rest. It was obvious that Zelda was very close to giving birth, and after recent strenuous events, she would need all the rest she could get. Selene added that Zelda probably needed to eat and went immediately to the kitchen to heat up the stove.
Down in the kitchen, as Zelda slept on the floor above, the four knights gathered, and Calain told them about her meeting with Melvalda in the forest.
“Melvalda seemed determined to take the child,” said Calain unhappily. “Or else take Zelda while she was still large with it. She confessed she could not get past the Wilde Women to take Zelda. I tried to make Zelda stay with them, to no avail. She would have been safer there.”
“I doubt you tried very hard,” said Gweneth with a snort. “It didn’t cross your mind to tell Zelda about Melvalda? Perhaps she would have stayed with the big bear woman then.”
“No,” said Cassandra, looking fondly at Calain where she sat across the table from her. “Zelda loves Calain. Nothing could have made her stay with the Wilde Women. Not even a witch of Raven’s Cross. You fought well, by the way,” she told Calain with a nod.
Calain nodded back.
Gweneth rolled her eyes and kept pacing, pausing occasionally to drink from a wine bottle, yet another one she’d taken from the old larder.
Selene was presiding over the oven fire and her back was to the others as she said, “The problem of Melvalda remains. She is susceptible to the stronger Bane Stones, and I still have a few . . . but Bane Stones do not work here at Wolf Fortress.”
Calain looked up. “Why?”
“Because they would negate the enchantments put on the stronghold,” Selene explained. “The enchantments here are powerful, for the Wolf Knights placed great faith in magick.”
“And look what good it did them,” said Gweneth, pausing in her pacing to darkly shake her head. “They were still forced out as all of Koradara stood by and watched.”
“Stop drinking,” said Cassandra. “It is souring thy mood.”
“My mood is always sour,” said Gweneth with a smile and took another drink.
“It was magick that made us Falcon Knights, Gweneth, in case you have forgotten,” said Selene sternly. “Do not dismiss it so readily.” She sighed, shaking her head as she went back to adding logs to the oven fire.
“Focus, you three. Zelda needs us! The enchantments couldn’t keep Raven’s Cross out,” said Calain unhappily. “Is that what you’re saying, Selene?”
“The enchantments could keep out most witches and all knights,” said Selene, “but a woman of Melvalda’s power? No. And a Bane Stone would only do so much if she was truly determined. Wolf Fortress cannot protect us from her, and I wish I could have foreseen it. When we decided to come here, it was to flee the Rose Guard. We had no idea we would be contending with Raven’s Cross.”
“When you decided we come here,” corrected Gweneth, pointing with the hand that held the wine bottle and taking another bitter swig. She licked her lips as wine dribbled down them, watching Selene darkly. “Do not forget, Selene. This was your plan!”
Selene tensed and spun around. “Would you like to lead us, then, Gweneth? I have yet to hear any bright ideas from you!”
Selene and Gweneth glared heatedly at each other, and Calain thought they would come to blows. She had half a mind to thrash them both herself. Zelda needed their protection, and they were too busy bickering to figure out how to protect her! Her jaw tightened as she watched them.
“Calm yourselves, my sisters,” said Cassandra soothingly, but her voice was just deep and stern enough to make Selene turn back to the oven with an angry breath and Gweneth return to her tipsy pacing. “We are all very tense and very tired with recent events,” said Cassandra. “Whatever happens, one thing is certain: we cannot stay here. It isn’t safe for Zelda and the child.”
Calain glanced across the table at Cassandra, suddenly very glad she was there. Whenever there was an argument, she was usually the one to stop it. Calain had never seen her lose her temper.
“We need a place with protections Melvalda cannot pass,” went on Cassandra thoughtfully. “Or else a hidden place she cannot find.”
“She probably knows all the hidden places,” said Selene. “If I had to guess, she is a very old witch to be so powerful. We were better off searching for enchantments she could not pass.”
“Ironically, Vira’Toss would have been the perfect place to hide Zelda,” pointed out Gweneth with a flat laugh. “No one could set foot there without permission, mortal or immortal. Even the gods scratch their heads on the shore.”
“Hmm,” said Calain thoughtfully. “Are there any schools of magick nearby? Perchance we could take Zelda there.”
Selene shook her head. “There is one,” she said regrettably, “and it is far north of here. The elven island, Menosea. By the time we had reached it, Melvalda would have been upon us. There is also little certainty they would allow us entrance. We are human. And we are fugitives from another land, with enemies on our heels. We are queen-slayers.”
“Then it falls to us to protect her,” said Calain firmly.
“Or,” said a voice, and they all looked up to find Zelda standing in the doorway, “I could ask someone for help.”