CHAPTER 9
WARNING: Mentions suicide in this chapter
Everyone helped Abram set up the defenses the crow shifter had constructed. Roger had brought the sacred items with him from the garden near Cub Creek. Using her power as an "All Around" Sprite, GinGin was able to place the garden back home in a hibernating state. Roger used the relics and plant slips to recreate the items they needed to build defenses. Roger had planted the garden as soon as they arrived and the Sprites helped tended and speeding the growth but it still took a while to be able to harvest.
The Jiànzào zhě de jiēqū or "Builder's Block" (Author's Note: Let's take a moment to appreciate that I had to go back to book 2 to find this tidbit of information... okay moment's over, continue on) looked like metallic bamboo and though flexible, it was strong enough to pierce through armor and absorb the impact of cannon fire. Abram used the material to place a wall between them and their enemy. Several short walls with protruding stakes provided hang up points for frontal assaults and cover for their guards.
Abram was concerned for the turtle and lizard shifters. Since they didn't have a choice but to join in this war, he didn't want them to be hurt. A few people proposed a trench but the suggestion was met with opposition. A long gaping hole could pose a problem in terms of battle and in order for the trench to be effective, it would have to be deep. While a trench would stop the turtle shifters, it was unlikely to prevent the lizard shifters from escaping.
Hezekiah Mallory had a gift for using technology to create defenses and if necessary, weapons. He worked closely Lucy, Mido, and Abram to design specialized cages that would be kept underground for a certain amount of time. That way they can trap the heavy creatures underground and retrieve them later. Knowing what was at stake, the witches enchanted the cages to cause the captives to fall asleep.
"We have to rescue the children." Abram said as they gathered in the main tent.
"That is not possible." Alpha Winters said. "The area that they camped in is on 'high ground,' meaning that they can easily see everything around them. The group that is now with us were only able to escape because they had started off with the lie that they were under orders. We know that they were pursued and almost didn't make it. Sneaking in would be extremely difficult and sneaking out is damn near impossible."
"But we can't leave them there." Tracy said.
A stack of papers was dropped on the table and landed in front of Tracy.
"What's this?" Tracy asked Skyler as she looked at the sheet.
"This is a list of the thirty-two covens, forty-one packs, and twenty-seven species that were wiped during Ivory White's last reign."
Tracy stared at the pages in horror.
"We cannot save everyone." Skylar said.
"I cannot accept that." Tracy said.
Tears filled Li's eyes as Gideon's mother thought back to the blood-soaked earth that would still reek for years after.
Flashback...
"I cannot accept that!" A young woman exclaimed as one of the commanders explained that in order to push back the Witch Queen's armies, they would have to abandon a village in the mountains that had been warned and told to evacuate almost a month before.
"Protector." The general said sternly. "Prince Grim will summon more reapers when his energy rechargers we must get all of our men to the west side or the enemy will see that weakness and get around us to the city. We've done all that we can to help those villagers and they have stubbornly insisted upon staying in the way. We must move those men to the now or thousands will be lost."
Grey eyes hardened, the woman frowned, "If you will not send the soldiers back the I will go to them."
"Ruth." Li said gently. "I and Gericho already tried to reason with the villagers. They threw stones at us and demanded that we leave them alone."
"I have to try! I'm the Protector! I cannot allow innocent people to die."
The general scoffed. "You're being ridiculous! They've made their choice and their peace with the Creator. We must help the others!"
"SIR!" A solider ran into the tent. "The enemy is approaching! They have Reapers!"
It was another bloody battle and while Ruth the Protector did manage to save the villagers, the enemy won a vicious victory that day. As the general had predicted, their loses were in the thousands.
Ruth felt the heavy weight of judgement and many lost their faith in the Protector.
End of Flashback...
Li shook off the memory as her Beloved soothingly rubbed her back. She snuggled deeper into Gericho's lap and breathed in his scent.
"Not accepting a reality does not change it. Minimizing the damage is sometimes the only option. If they were to kill all the kids then there are enough young females to save the species." Skylar said looking Tracy dead in the eye as the woman's widened in horror. "Don't look at me like that. I'm trying to save rope. After all, the last war had a Protector too."
Skylar disappeared a twirling puff of purplish grey smoke. Brows furrowed as Tracy tried to comprehend the young girl's message.
"Her name was Ruth." Li said quietly.
Tracy turned and looked at her daughter's future mother-in-law.
"Who?"
Gideon's mother smiled sadly. "The Protector during the last War of Ivory White. She was so vibrant, full of life and love. She was only 15 when the war started and looked as if she had aged twenty years by the time it ended. She had been given that same list while after the war over and a census taken. The next day..." Li trailed off as she began to cry and buried her face in her Beloved's chest.
Tracy had a bad feeling and she needed to know. "What happened?"
"Mom found Ruth's body. She had hung herself in her own home." Gideon said. "They had been really good friends."
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The sun peeked in and out through the clouds. A gentle breeze stirred the tall grass as a lone being sat unseeing in silent contemplation. Tracy stared at nothing in the distance. Her mind felt blank and empty as if frozen.
Jonathan sat down beside her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"I don't feel anything. It's like everything has shut down. My emotions feel empty as if they're in recess and there will be hell to pay when they return."
Jonathan pressed a kiss to her temple and hugged her to his chest. "It's a lot to cope with and you've had a hard way these last few years trying to navigate a world that you never knew existed. Perhaps this withdrawal is a blessing that is allowing you to slowly comprehend the ordeal ahead."
"Skylar is so sure that people will die and part of me still hopes that nothing bad will happen. Why would God allow any of this to happen?" Tracy asked.
"The ways of the Creator are a mystery to the minds of men. I don't concern myself with them. I can't stop the hand of death nor bring life into existence. I pray and that's all I can do while trying to handle this life the best I can." Jonathan sighed and rested his chin on her head. A glimmer of light caught his attention.
An old truck was headed their way followed by a convoy. "Desert Rose Pack is here."
Tracy saw an elderly man driving the old beat-up truck. She remembered Crim from her time at the Rouge Ranch before it was destroyed by Prince Grim and his Reapers. The lead hummer behind him was driven by the Desert Rose Pack's alpha, DeAngelo Wilde or Deo.
"Dameon will be happy to see his half-brother." Tracy said neutrally. Her mind began to wondered if every person she saw would be alive when all this ended. It was completely morbid. What good does the title of Protector do when she couldn't protect everyone? After all the blankness, she felt the depression settle in but there was work to be done and curling up in a corner was a privilege reserved for those who had time.
Standing the couple walked to back to the main tent to greet the newcomers.
YOU ARE READING
Moon Shadows
FantasyThis is the sixth book in, "The Wars of Ivory White" series. The war has began and blood has been shed. Excerpt: Tracy drew a breath and held the witch's cold gaze. She knew that the rules of war would not be agreed upon. "What are your terms?" s...