The Siren's Song (Feysand son x Rowaelin daughter) ✔️

Chapter 21

Author's note: The red line on the picture is the movement of the Stone Army and the green cross is the High Lord camp (it's quite hard to see). Also it is two days after Starfall, around lunch time.

Disclaimer: Anything you recognise I do not own.

Shadows sucked into the centre of the room and Azriel stepped out of the swirling mass.

"They intel was wrong, the army is half a day away." Everyone froze. 

"Mor take Cassian to the Illyrian camps and winnow as many as you can to the Dawn Court. Feyre you go with her. I'll go to the Hewn City. Az, you spread the word to the other High Lords. Casteel, Lyria, go straight to the Dawn Court and assess the situation." Rhys said calmly. Mor grabbed Cassian's hand and disappeared. Feyre disappeared and so did Rhys. Azriel nodded at the two and shadows swept to him, when they disappeared he was gone. 

"Lyria?" Casteel held out his hand and Lyria took it. It had been so awkward the morning after Starfall and Casteel was making a point not to talk to her, or even mention anything, much to Cassian and Mor's disappointment. Lyria was pissed off to say the least. There was a flash and suddenly they were in the middle of a camp, people rushing around frantically. In the distance there was a beating of drums, signalling the approaching army. 

Casteel took off walking straight away and headed in the direction of the largest tent. Lyria ran after him. He held the flaps open for her and she ducked inside. 

Eris, Tarquin and Thesan were already there and they looked up as they walked in. Spread across the table was a map of the area and there were several red counters near the mountains and facing them were a few blue counters.

"Rhysand?"

"Coming." Casteel answered Thesan who nodded.

"How many do they have on average?" Casteel said looking at the counters.

"100,000 give or take."

"How many troops do we have so far?"

"30,000 but hopefully more when Kallias, Tamlin, Helion and Rhys arrive. We have sent word to them." Tarquin said.

"Azriel is spreading word too." Lyria added. Helion and Rhys entered the tent. 

"Where is Kallias and Tamlin?" 

"We've sent word, but they have yet to respond." The flaps opened again and Cassian, Mor and Feyre walked in. 

"Half of the Illyrian army is here, the other is preparing. Around 6,000 men." Cassian told Rhys who winced.

"Add that to the army from the Hewn City, 10,000. We have 16,000 so far." 

"Add that to the 30,000 from us. Shit." Eris swore.

"How many do they have?" Rhys asked.

"100,000." 

"I've brought 10,000. It was the most I could raise within the time frame." Helion said.

"56,000." Mor sucked a breath in through her teeth. 

"What's our strategy?" Thesan and Lyria noticed he directed his attention to Cassian. The Illyrian must have been a great General. Cassian leaned on the table and scanned the counters.

"Ideally we wouldn't fight them on a large plain, but they are moving too fast. We'll split into three blocks. Illyrians on the outer blocks, 3,000 each, to prevent them from encircling us. I'll be in the left block and Rhys you go in the right block to command them. We'll do the shift manoeuvre." Rhys nodded.