Fates Folly

Chapter 9 The Hero's war

  It took near a month to clear the roads and tunnels under the mountains; the chirine had made a nest deep in the caverns. While they could not completely remove them, they were able to prevent them from becoming more of a problem by blocking off certain tunnels. In the process, two eggs were found; Thormar suggested that he and Mira take one each and raise the young as a living symbol of their treaty. Mira didn't know when hers would hatch, but she hoped it could be trained.

  The attacks on the outer villages were still happening, but Vane has been able to prevent the Acorian soldiers from setting fires. It seemed that war was an inevitability. Mira lost count of the number of hours she spent in the council room with Alistar strategizing defence for alarger attack. She had received letters from both Lysanthir and Róisín telling her that they had tried to appeal to Acorian's King, Oswald, hoping to make him see reason and stop. He refused. Mira was not surprised; she had never met her former King, but she had heard rumours that he was a bull-headed man. Not even his Queen could change his mind. Thankfully, no one proclaiming to be the Hero had been seen among the other soldiers.

  Solinus and Diomedes refused to leave Mira's side if she was going anywhere outside of the castle. To them, it didn't matter if the Hero had not announced themselves; it was possible they had used the attacks as a cover to get past Vane and his men. Mira was touched by their concern; she also couldn't help but hope that it went deeper than her just being their leader. She felt guilty for thinking such things when her people were in danger, but the way they had danced with her and spoken to her on the solstice had stuck with her. But Mira would do nothing about it; war was encroaching ever closer, and she would not be selfish. Her feelings could wait.

  "These attacks are happening more frequently," Mira said one evening. She and Alistar had been in the council room all day; servants had brought them food and drink. Mira barely touched any of it.

 "I would recommend sending more men versed in magic suited to combat,"Alistar suggested. "Perhaps request assistance from our allies." Mira agreed that sending more men was probably best, but she hesitated when it came to requesting aid from Vevell or Estidel. Róisín had sent an update to their trade contract a week ago, transforming it into a long-standing treaty. Mira signed it and sent the original back to Estidel, keeping a copy for herself. She and Alistar debated asking for aid for an hour; they only tabled the discussion when Diomedes and Solinus came to find her.

  "My Lady, I understand that what is happening is causing you to stress, but you must be sure to care for yourself," Solinus said. He and Diomedes were escorting her to her chambers. Mira knew the stress was taking atoll on her, but she worried more for those who could not defend themselves than she did for herself.

 "I will try," Mira said. She would not promise if she wasn't sure she could keep it.

 "That is all we ask, my Lady," Diomedes said as he and Solinus opened her doors for her. She looked at them both as she entered; she worried that she may have to send them to fight in the coming war. She knew that they were trained to fight and lead men in battle, but her selfish feelings made her want to keep them close.

  The next few days were more of the same: more field reports from Vane detailing more attacks. The Acorian soldiers were able to gain some ground, but thankfully the remaining villages were evacuated. Mira was forced to concede that asking for aid from Estidel and Vevell was the right thing to do and so sent messages to both Róisín and Lysanthir. Both agreed to send their own soldiers to help protect her people, who were travelling away from the western border and closer to the castle. Soon Alistar suggested that he join Vane and strategize from the front. Mira agreed that the time for defensive strategies had past and he would be more valuable providing battle strategy. Mira prayed that he and Vane would return.