Whisper Of The Free

Chapter 31 I Don't Dance

Olivette

"Hell no!" Chet bellowed at Ravi's words, "Sending us alone is a death sentence!" Sergeant Moores rested in his chair at the dining table that was being used as a disgustion table at this time.

"You wouldn't be alone, you both would have each other." Ravi stated frustration etched into his chiseled face, "The others will be on the lookout at a safe distance as will I and Moores." Chet placed both of his hands on the table and stood swiftly, his chair screeching as he did so, "So this is why we began the stealth train? For you to send us right into the heart of the enemy?" Chets' voice rose with each word yet Ravi looked unfazed beside the furrowing of his brows, "It is an order of the King."

"That is enough Chet." Moores ordered finally sitting up from his chair and entering the conversation. Chet looked over at Sergeant exasperated, "No! He means to send us to play dress up with wizards! We won't have our armor which has saved each of our asses more than once now! And the only one who will have their weapons in there is Olivette!"

I stand and look across the table at Chet, a simmering glare settling into my eyes , "Enough." Chets chest heaved and he glared at me before lounging in his chair.

I looked at everyone, Eve and Elio's faces showed worry, Tarian's showed conflict, and Caydens showed indifference. "We would not be given this task if it was not thought that we would be capable. If Ravi, Leader of the Storm Walkers, believes we are capable of such a mission then we shouldn't disrespect his wisdom and faith in us."

I gazed at everyone as I spoke before they returned to Ravi whose face was now relaxed and even showed the slightest hint of a smile. "Ravi knows the layout of the wizard world, we will not be helpless due to ignorance. The ball is not for a month. A month for us to learn everything we need for this expedition."

Moores nodded his head, "Well said Olivette." I sat back down and our head turned to Sergeant. "We will leave in ten to get some lay of the land. Until then you all will be training and taking classes with Ravi on the wizard world. Especially you two since you both will be at the ball." Sergeant looked at Chet and I. I gave Moores a determined nod and Chet gave him a roll of the eyes.

Ravi stood and walked to a large roll of paper and unraveled it across the table, Sergeant securing it on his side with two paper weights as Ravi did the same. We all gazed at the paper, a map of our continent. I traced the lines that were drawn on the wizard world side separating it into five sections all stemming from a singular dot.

"I drew from memory from the maps my comrades created on our travels as the Storm Walkers." Ravi stated and placed a finger north of Chester Village on the red line that signified our separate worlds. "We will enter here and will travel to the capital." Our eyes trailed his finger as he traced it to the dot where all the lines stemmed from.

"You should know that the wizard word is split into five sections, or realms as they call them." He pointed to the one we'd be entering, "The realm we will be entering is called Priyca. It inhabits most magical creatures." He paused for a moment, "Many of which are dangerous or hostile, do not be fooled by appearances."

His finger moved to the one below Priyca. "This is Dreuton. It is known for dragons and is the aerial fleet for the wizard's version of the military." His finger dragged to the next one and the largest one it seemed. "This one is Socrax." Ravi's face contorted and his nose scrunched and brows knitted. "Avoid entering this realm. They are barbaric. And filled with goblins and trolls."

He spoke from experience it seemed and I looked up at him and away from the map. He opened his mouth to speak but no noise escaped and a look of anger and disappointment flashed in his eyes. Just as fast as that look came it went and he continued. "Briales. They are the naval fleet, filled with merfolk and sirens." He didn't care to elaborate before placing his finger on the final realm. "This is Cespal. They have a large elf community. The people are rather charming but don't be fooled, they are not on our side."

Moores studied the map before pointing to Cespal, "We should head to Cespal. It will be far easier to disguise as elves rather than fairies." Ravi nods, "Agreed."

Tarian looked up from the map and at Ravi, "When Chet and Olivette are at the ball how will they communicate with them if all goes wrong?" Tarians voice held no defiance and was stern, serious even. Elio was the next to chip in, "Perhaps a flare of sorts?" "But how will Chet or I conceal such an item? I already will be concealing my daggers." I reasoned.

We looked to Ravi who's eyes were closed and it seemed he was deep in thought. His eyes open light beaming from his eyes with an idea, "The capital, it is said to have geysers that are redirected underground." I queried a brow, "and how exactly does this help us?" The light behind his eyes darkened to his normal expression of indifference, "It is highly possible that there are redirected geysers under the Wizard King's castle, where the masquerade ball is being held. If we can find where exactly the geysers are being redirected we can use that to our advantage."

I thought for a moment but Eve was the next to speak, "but there underground, how will that be possible? We don't even know how far underground they are." I must've been dreaming because Ravi smirked, "We need to find where they are first but if they are being redirected and if it is by magic there is bound to be a weak spot, probably right where the geyser is being redirected underground."

"But this is all based on a rumor that could very well be proven untrue and when it is, it will be too late." Cayden spoke in a cold voice. I sighed, "I will bring a flare and conceal it along with my daggers. If there are redirected geysers under the capital then we can use them as a deterrent if need be." Chet spoke next, "I agree if we are going I'd rather have a flare than rely on a hunch."

"Then it's settled Olivette will carry a flare." Moores spoke up, "I believe that is all we should discuss for right now. Too much information at one time will lead to more problems in the long run." Ravi nodded, "Fine you take the others to train I will teach Chet and Olivette to dance." Moores nodded and rallied the others while Chet and I remained seated.

I graze the sheathed blades at my thighs to comfort the scarred memory of Caspian, in that clearing with his violin, my eyes darting and meeting his as I twirl and frolic around him. I blinked and the memory was gone and I looked up at Ravi who was now standing beside me. "I don't dance." He held out a hand to me, "Wizard dances are different from ours. They are more loose and you often don't need a partner, however, I will be teaching you both a partner dance in case." I frown, "I don't dance." I took his hand and stood. He looked down at me with a glare demanding obedience, "I do not care."