“Everest’s sick?” Jenny asked me as we walked through the portal and into town.
“Yeah, but I don’t think it’s just a bug,” I told her quietly, glancing over my shoulder just as the portal closed behind Aiden and Preston. “It’s something to do with her powers and that necklace. I swear it’s affecting her.”
“I’ve never known another Descendant, but I’ve never heard of their powers weakening them like this.” Jenny blew out a frustrated breath. “Not to sound insensitive, but we need her.”
I nodded in agreement. Everest was our ace. We had witches and warlocks, sure, but a Descendant’s powers would be able to stand against the others Radnak already had under his control. And whenever the final battle of this war came, I’d feel better knowing she fought at my side, protecting all of us just like the witches had protected the other dragon clans in the first war. That and having Everest calmed me, kept me focused when the rest of the world seemed more than ready to spin out of control.
“She’ll pull through,” Jenny assured me, nudging my arm. “That girl is strong.”
“Yeah, yeah she is. Sometimes I worry she thinks she’s invincible. She’s been too damned lucky.”
We met the three clan leaders in the building that had once been the town hall. Their armies had moved into the rest of the buildings or set up tents in the streets to accommodate them all. It should’ve lifted my spirits to see so many gathered, ready to finally take a real fight to Radnak, but my thoughts were back with Everest, watching her shiver on that cot, too weak to even stand.
“Slade,” Charlette greeted me warmly. “Good to see you again this morning.”
“And does everyone feel that way?” I asked, walking with her toward the large table set up in the center of the hall. Quinto barely acknowledged me, but Orella stood to shake my hand, a warm smile on her face.
“Most of us do,” she told me, shooting a glare toward Quinto. “He’ll come around.”
“He can hear you,” Quinto muttered, tapping his fingers loudly on the table. “You’re late.”
“Everest has fallen ill, I had to see to her,” I explained.
“What’s wrong with the poor girl?” Charlette asked worriedly as we found our seats.
“Overuse of powers she’s not used to having yet,” I said, praying that was all it was. “You’ve settled into the town well?”
They nodded, and we dug right into our first order of business.
“Has the prisoner given up any information yet?” Orella asked.
I tucked my hands out of sight and was about to answer, but Preston cleared his throat from behind me.
“If I may?”
I bobbed my head for him to go on.
“He’s told us about the defenses at the encampment, and I’ve dispatched scouts to check the information. He’s given up no information on Radnak’s overall plan, though, but it’s only been one night.”
I’d wondered if they got any more out of Nikolai after I unleashed my fury on him. I reminded myself to thank Preston and Tank later.
“It’s a start,” Orella stated, “however, I feel there is an even more pressing matter.”
“Such as?” I asked.
“The Council. They’ll have been informed already of our armies amassing in one location, and it won’t be long before they summon us,” she said. “I suggest we don’t give them that chance, and instead, we go to them.”
I felt the unease behind me. The last time we saw the Council, they’d been more than happy to execute me without any questions being asked. If I showed up a second time with more Shadowguards, they would consider it an attack.
“How do you plan on doing that?” I finally asked. “We’re not exactly on good terms.”
“They’ve sat in their own dimension for too long,” Charlette said with a shake of her head. “They’re disconnected from the world, and as such, it’s time they come back to reality. I think we should invite them here.”
“Here?” I repeated alarmed. “You want to bring them where I have a few hundred Shadowguard refugees hiding out in a mountain a few miles away?”
“They need never know about that base unless you tell them.” She gave me another one of her grandmotherly smiles that did nothing to make me feel better. “Besides, they might think they are above us, but in the end, they do answer to the clans and the covens who gave them this power.”
“Are you suggesting we overthrow the Council?” Quinto grabbed the table so hard it cracked under the pressure. “That’s treason.”
“Worse than the treason they’ve committed against the clans?” Charlette challenged.
“What treason? They haven’t done anything.”
“That’s exactly the point,” Charlette snapped, jumping to her feet. “They kept the truth from us. I have no doubt whatsoever in my mind that they knew the Black Diamonds were still around, as well as the Blood Moon Priests, but decided to let the problem take care of itself. Well, it hasn’t, and now there is a war right on our doorstep.”
Quinto was on his feet next, glowering at her. “So what do you suggest we do? Execute them one by one?”
“No, we will ask them to step down.”
“And if they refuse?”
I was curious to know what her next move would be, too, and was surprised to hear her say, “Then we either throw them in a cell… or yes, we kill them, so they can cause no more harm to this already complicated and dangerous situation.”
The weight of her words fell over the entire room, and it was so quiet, I realized I wasn’t the only one holding my breath. I was more than ready to take drastic action, but to hear another clan leader say those words let me know I wasn’t the only one fed up with how our post-war world had been handled. Post-war for them only. My clan had only ever known this war for the past almost eight hundred years. No one existed now who remembered a time before.
“You can’t be serious?” Quinto finally whispered, his eyes dancing wildly around as if the Council would suddenly drop out of the sky.
“I am deadly serious,” Charlette said firmly. “Orella? Slade?”
“Hey, I’m all for it,” I said quickly.
Orella hesitated, but then she stood. “If they leave us no other option, then I will do what must be done. But, we will need more to tell them, or show them. Charlette, Slade, would either of you be open to having your memories examined?”
Charlette agreed immediately, but I wasn’t so sure. “What would they look for?”
“The proof they need to satisfy them. Though I feel Charlette may be right about several of the Council members knowing about this war, I refuse to believe all of them went along with it. If they ask for proof, your memories would be the best thing for them to see.”
Was there anything in my mind I didn’t want them to see? Most of what I could remember revolved around fighting, death, pain… and Everest. They would see every sweet moment I had with her. I needed to run it by her, but if they wanted an answer now, then I would give it to them.
“If that’s what it takes, then yeah I’ll do it. But, we do have someone at our base right now who might be a voice of reason for at least one member of the Council. Jared Winchester—the Third—is currently my guest.”
Three sets of surprised eyes turned to me, then Charlette grinned. “You’ll ask him to be here then, once we get them to agree to come.”
“I will do that, definitely,” I said. Jared needed to make up with his father anyway in case we all died. He’d forgive me, probably. “How do you plan on doing that? Getting them here?”
“Leave that to me. I’ll get them here. It might take a few days.”
“A few days would be good.” Orella pointed to the map before us on the table. “We need to hear back from the scouts and plan our attack, if they’re even still there.”
“You think they would’ve moved?” I asked, standing so I could see the layout of the land better.
Everest sending the coordinates to Davis had given us a major advantage, unless of course, they moved camp. If they hadn’t, then we had access to several portals that would take us not only to the Fell Gates, but Radnak’s stronghold, as well as the other dimensions he controlled and held my people captive in.
“There’s a chance, but I don’t know Radnak very well. What do you think?”
They watched me as I ran my finger over the location of the camp then spread out further to the surrounding area. They were within striking distance of several more of our outposts, as well as the school Everest had attended, two others in the region, and from what I could remember of our list of high-priority targets, close to a good number of hybrids they’d wanted wiped out.
“No, no he’s too close to his enemies to pull back now. He won’t think we’re bold enough to attack there.”
“Even after he’s seen our armies?” Orella questioned.
“Radnak thinks very little of your armies, trust me,” I mused quietly. “And I hate to say it, but his is massive, combined with Black Diamonds who can breathe fire and ice, as well as Shadowguards who have no choice, but to fight.”
“They have a choice,” Quinto spat.
“You think they do? Tell me, Quinto, if a dragon had a knife to the throat of your children, your wife, and told you the only way to save them was to fight, what would you do? Huh, tell me.”
Orella’s face darkened with sadness and Charlette hung her head, but I only kept my glare on Quinto, watching his Adam’s apple bob up and down nervously as he fumbled for an answer. He finally sighed, sinking back into his seat.
“I would fight,” he whispered.
“I’m sorry, what was that?”
“I said I would fight,” he yelled.
“Yeah, you would. That’s what my clan has been doing for hundreds of years. You fight, or you watch as your family is tortured and then murdered before your eyes.” I bit back my own pain and sadness, standing as tall as I could in that room. “If we can free their families, they’ll join me, no questions asked, but while Radnak threatens their kin, he controls them.”
After our first encounter with Quinto, I sensed he would be the one to give me the most trouble, and he would refuse to go along with any plan we came up with. Now as I stared at him, he seemed almost defeated. Slowly, he got out of his chair and walked around the table toward me.
He held out his hand to me, and I took it.
“I believe I owe you an apology,” he confessed. “And that I was wrong about this entire situation and for that, you have my deepest sympathies.”
“I appreciate that, but right now I don’t want your sympathy. I need your army ready to fight again, and they have to understand there won’t be any mercy. There’ll be no retreating from any fight,” I said sincerely. “If we attack Radnak, we have to hit him hard every time, or we’ll lose our advantage.”
“You still think he’ll be surprised if we show up to fight?”
I nodded as I glanced around the room. “I do. He underestimates the clans and how much they care for each other. Thinks they’ve spent too many years divided.”
“Well then,” Charlette said, staring intently down at the map, “we’ll just have to prove him wrong.”
“Care to share how you’re going to get the Council here?” Orella asked.
“Oh you know me, dear,” Charlette said in a tone that could only mean she was thinking up trouble, “I have to do everything in style.”
A clock chimed the hour, and I yawned, stretching my arms over my head. “It’s that late already?”
We hadn’t left the town hall since arriving that morning and had been busy laying out our plan of attack on the encampment as well as what to do about the Council.
Benji hadn’t come to fetch me concerning Everest, meaning good news. Hopefully.
“I say we call it a night,” Charlette announced. “We all need our rest.”
“And a few days to prepare for this first invasion.”
“After we take care of the Council,” Orella reminded Quinto. “The longer we wait to deal with them, the worse it’ll be.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll send word tonight and cross your fingers the bastards don’t take forever to reply.” Charlette bade us all goodnight and exited with her guard of six in tow behind.
Orella and Quinto were next to leave, and I was alone except for Jenny and Preston.
“It’s really happening,” I told them quietly. “We’re finally getting a chance to fight back.”
“And it’s all thanks to you and your crazy antics.” Preston messed up my hair, and I shoved him until we were wrestling around as Jenny rolled her eyes.
“Children, behave or no dinner.”
Preston pouted.
I shoved him one more time, grinning as he almost tripped over his own feet. “I’ve been thinking though, it wasn’t me that caused all this to happen.”
“No? So you didn’t decide to meet the Council and then decide to show your true colors?” Preston gave me another playful shove until Jenny cleared her throat and glowered at us both. “Then what did it?”
“Everest, actually,” I said. “Her and that no backing down attitude. She got me to remember what fighting for a cause looked like… and she hadn’t even known before what she was getting herself into.”
“Speaking of Everest, you should probably go check on her.”
“You two coming?” I asked Jenny as I made for the door.
“No, I want to go over a few more scenarios of attack, take notes, you know how I am.”
“Always overly prepared,” Preston sighed. “Save me some chow, would you?”
I waved a hand over my head as I exited the hall, jogging toward the portal we had that would take me back to the mountain base. The two dragons by it bowed their heads at my approach, and I patted them both on the shoulder.
“Things are going to change for the better,” I promised them, and they smiled. “Promise.”
I stepped through the portal into the base and made straight for Everest’s cot.
Benji, damned loyal kid, was sound asleep on the cot beside hers.
Amelie was reading a book, sitting in a chair close by. She spotted me and put a finger to her lips letting me know Everest was sleeping, but she didn’t look too worried.
“How is she?” I whispered as I approached.
I planted a kiss on Everest’s forehead, and she sighed, but her eyes stayed close. Her skin wasn’t as flushed as before, though it was warmer than normal.
“Just been sleeping, fever’s gone down a bit,” Amelie told me quietly. “Mahlia’s going to try and give her another dose in an hour or so. How was the meeting?”
“No one tried to kill anyone else,” I remarked. “But I do need to see Jared. Where is he?”
“In the mess hall, why?”
“Nothing bad, but I do think it’s time he talked to his father.” I gave Everest’s hand a squeeze and said I’d be back to relieve Amelie of the night shift, after I told Jared the probably not so exciting news.
The mess was filled, and it was nice to see people laughing and talking, smiling, instead of sulking quietly in corners and clinging to each other like this was their last night alive.
I spotted Tank sitting with Davis, Jared, and a few others. When I approached, Tank scooted down the bench for me to sit.
“You’re here to tell us good news I hope?” he asked.
“Yeah, I am. And thanks for getting that information out of Nikolai.”
Tank saluted me with his fork. “You just have to have the right touch, though your method of beating the living shit out of ‘em first works, too.”
“We’re going to need him to talk more,” I warned.
“Don’t you worry about it. I’ll get him to talk.”
I filled them in briefly with the second part of our plan, saving any mention of the Council until I had no choice. “Jared, I do have some news for you.”
“For me?” He set his roll down, looking confused. “About what?”
“Your father. He and the rest of the Council are being invited here so the clan leaders can confront them about hiding the truth,” I explained as our table fell silent. “Is there any chance you would be willing to speak with him? Help convince him that joining our cause is the right choice?”
He shoved his tray aside, his jaw clenched in anger. “He won’t listen, not to me.”
“Are you sure?”
“Trust me, Slade, I’m not the one he cared about in our family, but… if you need me there, I’ll try. No guarantees though.”
“All I ask is you try. Orella has already suggested having mine and Charlette’s memories examined if they need any more convincing.” I shuddered at the notion of having someone poking around inside my head. Seeing my memories and living through everything I had done. The few tender moments I shared with Zara and the many more I’d had with Everest. If only they could feel the fear and pain I held within me, too, then we would have them on our side in a second. But all they could do was witness.
I stayed with the guys for a while longer, enjoying their teasing and joking around with each other, talking about anything other than battle plans and our potential loss of life when we finally attacked the encampment. That place was key to the rest of our plans moving forward. The camp would still be there, I believed that, but Radnak would amp up security, add more soldiers, more Priests. He’d make it as hard as possible for us to take it.
But if we did, if we were successful, we could keep our advantage.
During the meeting, we’d briefly discussed what this ritual was that Radnak was trying to complete, but none of the other leaders heard of trying to steal a soul of another. The only explanation was it would make Radnak stronger somehow. Just how strong was the question.
Eventually, I told the guys I would see them later and went back to check on Everest. I should’ve eaten something, but the thought of food right then made my stomach churn. I’d eat tomorrow once Everest was showing signs of improving.
Amelie was there when I got back, and Mahlia was pulling a vial out of her basket, popping the cork out.
“You don’t want to wake her up?”
“It works faster if she stays asleep,” Mahlia assured me. “Help me open her mouth and tilt her head back.”
I did as she asked and grimaced as she poured the liquid down Everest’s throat. She choked and sputtered but swallowed it down. Her eyes screwed up as if she was in pain and a shudder wracked her body before she was motionless again.
When Mahlia placed her fingers on Everest’s neck checking her pulse, I felt my heart plummet, but then she smiled and kissed her daughter’s cheek.
“She should be fine for the rest of the night. I can stay if you want.”
“No, no I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. Thanks, Amelie, for watching over her.”
“Not a problem. Did you find Jared?”
I laughed bitterly. “Yeah, I did and not sure he was happy about it, but we’ll just have to see how the next week goes. Has he eaten anything today?” I asked, pointing to Benji.
Amelie smiled warmly down at him. “No, hasn’t moved from her side. I’ll take him to get dinner.” Gently she shook Benji’s shoulder until his eyes popped open. She held out her hand for his, and after giving me quick hug, he went with her to get dinner and then probably back to sleep.
“He’s a cute kid,” Mahlia observed. “Just a bit younger than Mason.”
“I wish you could talk to him more.”
“When this is over, we’ll go to him, and he can finally meet his father. But until then, he’s safer where he is, away from this mess.” She squeezed my shoulder and said to come and get her if anything changed.
I scooted the chair closer, so I could hold Everest’s hand, and propped up my feet on my cot.
“You know,” I whispered to her, wondering if she could hear me at all, “you and I have a lot to talk about when you’re up for it. Like what we’re going to do when we can both stop risking our lives for one another.”
I looked around the large room, picturing all these people living peacefully in that town below the mountain.
“One day we’ll get there, and you and I, Everest, you and I are going to be together. That I promise you.” I kissed the back of her hand and sunk lower in my chair, leaning my head back as my eyes closed.
Sleep evaded me most of the night, and at one point I gave up and went to wash my face in the restroom, passing the guards on patrol. Staring at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, I blinked at the strangeness of my face lately. I felt older, looked it, too. This war was aging all of us, but I was going to feel like an old man by the time it was over.
If I survived that long.
I wasn’t sure what made me do it, but I headed downstairs to the cells to see Nikolai again. I didn’t want to talk to him, but I had to see him. The guards at his cell went on alert as soon as they saw me, but I held up my hands.
“Don’t worry, just checking on him,” I assured them, and they relaxed, slightly. “Has he said anything else?”
“Nothing at all. Just sits there against the wall, his eyes closed.”
I peered in through the small window on the door. Both his eyes were bruised and swollen. There was a bump on his head, and his lips were puffy and red. The bottom one was split. I’d done some hefty damage to him earlier. I waited for the remorse to come, but all I felt was sadness that I hadn’t taken the time to finish him off. The second we no longer needed him for information, I’d kill him and be done with it. Bury him with the rest of my tortured memories.
“If he says anything, you let me know,” I told the guards then turned around and headed back upstairs.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood suddenly as a chill shot down my spine, but when I spun around, I was alone on the stairs, the cells two levels down.
Rubbing the spot, I decided I was overtired and went to get some sleep.