The General and the Princess

Chapter 41 || Kiva

 Kiva and her posse thundered into Lavri, awakening the village with cries that called the Resistance to arms. The watchmen stationed around the periphery of Lavri raised the alarm and men, women and children streamed out of their treehouses to prepare for battle. In just a few moments, panic segued to emergency preparation as every member of the Resistance gathered their weapons and ran to their stations. Raul took Trysti to the infirmary and Riyel and Kiva urged their horses to Inver's tent in the center of the village. Inver was emerging from his tent and pulling chain mail over his head as they rode up. Kiva leapt from her horse even before it halted and ran to him, followed closely by Riyel.

"Inver!" Kiva yelled over the ruckus around her, trying to catch his attention.

At her voice, Inver swiveled to her, looking confused at her appearance. "Kiva? You're back?"

Kiva nodded, breathless. "We saw them as we were riding back, and we came as soon as we could. Hundreds, maybe thousands of Vinrys's soldiers on the way here in a surprise attack. We spread the alarm, but I'm afraid it's too late. They're coming, Inver."

Inver took her words in and reacted immediately. "Of course. Karys, run ahead and see where they are. Olys, bring the rest of the members of the council who can be summoned immediately."

Within only a few minutes, ten or so of the council stood before Inver in a semicircle, including Raul and Tal. Emergency procedures had already sent the Lavrians to their places, and they were as ready as they could be. Displaying a map of the Resistance, Inver began to assign each general to an area of the battle, but before Kiva received her assignment, Karys, the young woodsman, ran back to the council.

"Inver! They're coming!"

Karys fell into the group, panting heavily and bent double with exertion as Inver queried, "What? What did you see?"

"They're only a few minutes away, and they're many. They're nearly in range of the archers."

"Go and tell the archers to begin. The rest of you, hold the front. By the stars, hold the front. We can't lose this battle or we'll be decimated."

Inver ran a hand through his dark blonde hair, wrinkles forming between his eyes. He was right; this was the first time Vinrys's men had come so far into their land, and if they succeeded, the entire Resistance would be wiped off the face of the earth. The council members nodded and went off to their places. Kiva prepared to return to her archers, but Riyel's hand on her arm stopped her.

"You need to stay here."

"I belong with the archers, you know that."

"By the time you get there, your job will nearly be done. You need to stay here and strengthen the front line. The worst of this will be here in our streets. Stay here. Stay with me."

Riyel's green eyes plead with her, and she could not say no. If this was the Lavri Resistance's last stand, she wanted to spend it with him.

"I'll stay. You're right. I need to be in the thick of this war. If anyone is willing to die defending this place, it's me."

Riyel's frown was grim. "You won't die--I won't let you--but you will fight, as will I. On the right side this time."

A roar suddenly shook the entire Resistance and Kiva realized Vinrys's troops had been spotted. The Resistance surged forward, their long withheld anger thrilled by finally facing their enemy. Riyel, desperate to be at the front of the battle as both a leader and a fighter, grabbed Kiva's hand and pulled her behind him. He wound through the throngs until they were at the very front of the line that had formed before their homes.