Six Rulers

12

Chapter 12

Olivin

We scheduled a battle.

We scheduled a battle.

It sounds as weird as it felt. Battles were somewhat spontaneous things, popping up at random, spur of the moment violence.

But no. Two days ago, we scheduled a gods-forsaken battle. And I invited people to that battle with this phone call:

O: Hello, dirtball. Go to Brisinger Plain on Wednesday before noon. Bring your troops. This is ending.

At least, that's how I invited Dylos.

I also called Katharine, because her hand was in this screwed-up cookie jar too. She didn't pick up, so I just told her what was going on. (Syric bet me ten bucks she wouldn't show. I took the bet because I love to beat Syric.)

Brisinger Plain was a few miles away from Faerie's Landing. It was an expanse of field that stretched out of the forest for miles in every direction. Just grass and wildflowers as far as the eye could see. At the edges, it gave way to forest. I stood on the edge closest to the city, Syric, Sage, and Clowance next to me. I gazed out over the Plain, breathing in the wild air.

"Do you think he's going to show up?" Syric asked.

"He better." Sage said darkly.

I stayed silent. I wanted to keep calm. Now was not a time to freak out.

"Uh, hey Syric?" Clowance wrinkled her nose. "Why'd you bring Jayra?"
Syric jumped, turning to see what Clowance was talking about. "I didn't bring her. I haven't seen her for two weeks."

"Oh," she shrugged. "Well, she's over by the wyverns."

We started over there, Syric leading us like Regina George leading the Plastics.

"Jayra?" Syric asked, arms crossed.

She shifted to face him. "Your Majesty. What a lovely day this is."

She curtsied, the hem of her long blue tunic crumpling in the dust.

"Where have you been?" my friend asked his advisor.

Jayra ignored his question. "Are Your Majesties ready?"

I eyed Sage, and said, "Yep. We're good."

Like the snake she was, she smiled, red lips curling. "Wonderful. My king will be so pleased."

Syric grabbed one of the knives off my bandolier. In return, the advisor pulled a dagger from the folds of her tunic and brandished it at him.

"My king will be pleased that you are 'prepared.' He wants to have some fun, you see."

Sage and I pulled our swords. I stepped up next to Syric. "You traitorous hag."

"Says the spoiled little-"

"Shut up, Jayra. For once in your life. Shut up." the boy next to me snarled.

Jayra narrowed her eyes at the two of us. "Or what? You'll kill me? Please. You don't have the guts."

Syric took a step forward. "I did not pick you as an advisor. My mother did. You simply came with the position. I was right not to trust you with much. You are a traitor to the crown."

Before she could respond, Syric charged forward, knife at the ready.I drew my sword, ready for action. He went left, I went right. I drove my sword home through Jayra's midsection just as Syric got her shoulder.

Her dagger fell to the forest floor. Blood started to seep from the wounds we'd supplied her. My sword had gone straight through her kidney.

I withdrew my blade. Syric followed suit, letting Jayra sag and crumple to the ground. Her expression was incredulous, as if she couldn't believe that she'd been stabbed.

"You made the wrong decision, Jayra," Syric's voice was even, but that awful calm that gave away the fact that he was furious. He let go of her shoulder.

We knelt next to her, watching her bleed onto the ground.

She wheezed, and coughed out four words. "A'mcactya...portis...martlore...fell..."

Jayra took a few more agonised breaths, then stilled.

"If I cannot reach Heaven, I will raise Hell," Sage whispered. "No..."

"That's the Kaan family motto," I breathed. "Well at least she's out of the picture, and he doesn't know she's dead."

Syric looked at me, his hazel eyes meeting mine. "We have to win, Olivin. We have to."

"I know, Syric," I placed a hand on his shoulder. "We have to give it our all, and let the gods handle the rest. Fight your hardest, man. And if you don't make it out, or if I don't make it out, it's been nice knowing you."

"You too, Liv. You too."

—

The first kill to kick off battle day. 

(I never liked Jayra.)

"Hey, Rosy! Aelyn!" I shouted to my General and Commander. "Gather the troops, I wanna say something."

A few minutes later, the troops were assembled around the Jeep I was standing on.

"Hey, guys. What's up? A few words to motivate you, I guess." I nervously chuckled. "Our Heaven and Hell are different from the Mainland's. There, some of them believe that there is only one god. Here in Allynna, we have the support of an entire pantheon of gods. This army has the protection of Death herself. It is today that I call for her to bless our host and help see us through the battle."

The assembly of Elven and human and shifter soldiers alike let loose a rousing cry that was loud enough to shake the firmament of the isles. I had to admit, it gave me courage to hear the people who were willing to fight for a petty squabble yell like that.

Aelyn and Roslin climbed up on top of the Jeep next to me. I took their hands and raised them, Hunger Games style. The soldiers roared in response.

"Thank you," I said to them. You two are amazing. The help you have given me with this gig is invaluable. You've helped me not blow up the council like four times. Despite being decades older than me, you have stuck by me. I couldn't ask for better officers or friends."

Aelyn nodded, but Roslin tackled me in a hug, almost knocking us off the roof of the Jeep. "I'm gonna be here the whole time, Olivin. Whenever you need me, I'll be there."

"Good. Because I'm counting on you to not let me die out there," I chuckled.