Priestess

Chapter 31

Chapter 31

"Ara?" Coen lowered his sword in shock.

Her gaze flitted over him. He was thinner than she remembered, with dark circles under his eyes, but still handsome and charismatic. Coen ran his hand absently through his hair, as if unsure how to proceed.

The unmistakable sound of a sword fight drew her back to the present. The shouts and clangs had increased. That meant more soldiers had joined the fight. Ara exchanged a glance with Coen before bounding down the stairs.

Nearly a dozen soldiers had arrived, with more coming. Jarrer and Bomin were very nearly overwhelmed.

"Cease and Desist!" Coen bellowed from behind her.

Hesitantly, the Nonaean soldiers lowered their weapons.

Coen stared at Jarrer in shock. The sentinel that Ara had thumped weaved his way through, still holding his head where she had introduced him to her hilt. "Sir, should we arrest them?"

With a start, Coen surveyed the utterly dumbfounded soldiers who stood at the double doors. He rounded on Ara. "I believe you owe Folt an apology."

"I'm sorry." And she really meant it.

Bewildered, the guard eventually nodded his forgiveness.

Coen addressed the soldiers, "I appreciate your storming the castle to save me, but as you can see there is no need. Dismissed."

Glancing back many times, the soldiers all slowly filed away.

"Would you join me in the privacy of my quarters?" he said formally.

Ara didn't flinch at the gawking stares as a 'horse' followed the unlikely company up the stairs. She passed through the doors and had an unimpeded view of the room. It was the First's room. She was sure of it. But why was Coen here?

Coen shut the door firmly behind him and then leaned against it, his expression full of disbelief. "Father, I never thought you'd leave your mountain."

Jarrer gestured weakly to Ara. "She is a very convincing woman."

"Apparently." Coen grinned as his eyes roamed over her. "Apparently."

Jarrer surveyed the room. "Might I ask what we are doing in the First's headquarters?"

Coen shrugged. "It suffices to say that this is my office."

Ara gasped. Coen was First of the entire army-arguably the most powerful man in all of Nonae?

"But how?" Bomin asked.

Coen shook his head sadly. "Unbeknownst to me, First Yarsef left specific orders that if he died, I should replace him. His men loved and trusted him. So though others fought it, for two years, this has been my burden."

She didn't understand. The refugees, the thugs in the street. "Coen, if you've been in charge that long, how could you let it come to this?"

His joy fled as it had never been, revealing a haunted, strained expression that seemed to have found permanent residence on his face. She immediately regretted her words. She wanted to reach out, to say she was sorry, but Jarrer was watching.

Pushing away from the door, Coen retrieved a map and spread it across the desk centered in the room. He placed weights on the corners and started pointing to it. "The Kanovian's have taken all the cities west of Ahdlyn.

"Protecting the remaining cities has bound my entire force, leaving the Kanovians and their Hebocks free reign over the rest. Starving refugees are everywhere. I barely have enough supplies for my armies, let alone the populace."