When All You Have are Embers

XII

Fredrick

Cane paced around the camp. Under tents, and over tree stumps, he climbed. He knew they'd be leaving for Elthin soon. The worst, most nerve wracking part of the journey would be trying to get an army of magic men to the country beside Ethersta without being noticed. Cane had now officially calculated that it was an impossible task. 

"Cane, please stop pacing. You're making everyone nervous." Earn said, watching him walk back and forth. He looked over at her and shrugged.

"I'm not nervous, and I'm not making anyone else nervous. The only thing making me maybe somewhat uneasy, is that we have to sneak over three thousand magical men inside Elthainia's borders without one of their countries noticing something's not quite right." The smoke from the open fire around the camp rose into the sky.

"It'd be a much easier task with everyone's emotions at ease." Earn said.

"No! No, it won't be! It's impossible either way. Magic balance is a tricky thing. That tyrant of a King in Ethersta senses every single magic circuit in his borders all at once. What do you think would happen if it was suddenly thrown off by three thousand?!" Earn and the others were silent as Cane threw his tantrum of worry. "This mission might be possible if we had a first rank Caster with us, but we don't. So..." He was out of breath just from talking the way he was. "Just..." He rubbed the sides of his head. "Just think about this for a minute, and it won't just be my pacing that's making you nervous anymore." 

"You know, for the Commander of Elthin's armies you're rather scared. I get that this is a stressful situation but... Why did her majesty choose you?" Nean asked as he stood up. Cane looked at him, terrified of telling him the truth. He looked behind her to Aisin and he shook his head.

"I didn't ask for the title!" He laughed. "I didn't ask for any of this! I wanted to run away with Igin far away from the troubles of this war!" He shouted.

Earn grunted out of frustration and stood up as well. "There is nowhere to run away to Cane! He is coming for the entire world! He would have found you and Igin in your little lovers cottage! You think he's not going to raid everyone? You think he's not going to look in every nook and cranny of the Dragon islands? Why should you be so special?" She pushed his shoulder. "Why should you-" She pushed him harder. "-get to watch from the side lines? What have you done to earn that?" She waited for his answer.

"I wasn't the special one, Earn!" His voice cracked. "It..." He whimpered. "It was her..." His voice was nothing but a choked up squeak. "She didn't... do anything wrong... I was supposed to protect her..." He covered his mouth with his hand. Earn watched him as months of his stored up sadness poured out in front of her. 

"We can't fight." Nean said, as he stood up. "This war means to divide us. We cannot doubt right now. If there ever was a time to have confidence in ourselves it was now. Yes we have to assume the worst, we always do. But we cannot let it control us." 

"Now is the time to listen!" Fredrick shouted as he stood up onto a table. "We will not be travelling to Elthin." He said. 

"What?!" Earn yelled. Fredrick held up his finger to his mouth. 

"We discussed it and we have all agreed that it is a much too dangerous journey across the border." He paused as everyone sat in silence. "Therefore... we will be taking a much quicker, and safer route." He smiled. 

"What is he talking about?" Nean whispered to Aisin.

"I don't know but if he's thinking what I think he's thinking he's insane." Aisin stood up and marched over to Fredrick. He looked down into Aisin's concerned eyes and smiled.