Brotherhood

Chapter 30

Never in her life had Amy ever seen a war, but she had definitely read about them. She had read about dozens and dozens of wars, but never in her life had she considered the possibility of becoming face to face with one. All around her stood brave soldiers and brave werewolves, and she suddenly felt so insignificant. Here she was in the midst of something that was so much larger than herself, but she still needed to do all she could to protect her people. These soldiers needed to go home to their families once this was over.

"Ameline!" the king barked. "Take my horse and ride back home. I will not see you on the battlefield. You will not die here if I have anything to do with it. I want to see you live past twenty."

Amy grimaced. Her name day was tomorrow, and usually her family would celebrate it by doing something small, but war felt like no celebration to her. Her name day would be one of mourning.

"I'm not leaving," Amy replied stubbornly. "You know that I'm good with a bow. I'll keep my distance, only jumping in when I have to. Please, Father."

The drums sounded again and the king pulled his helmet over his face to protect his head. "Very well, Ameline. But you stay in the back. If they break through our borders, you take my horse and make a run for it. As long as you are still alive, there will always be an heir."

He didn't wait any longer before marching out to battle with his soldiers, Amy taking the rear. Even though she couldn't be near the front with Geric and the other wolves, she watched as he looked back every now and again almost as if to make sure that she was still there.

After twenty long minutes of marching, Minnings' army finally came into view across the large field, and even from this distance, Amy could see the shock and the fear on their soldiers' faces at seeing the wolves at the front of the line. They hadn't expected to be fighting against wolves, that much was clear.

A scowl formed on Amy's face as she watched an all too familiar figure on a grey horse riding back and forth in front of his line of soldiers, making a show of commanding his army. Charles looked much more formidable in his armor and with his weapons than he had at their castle just a couple weeks ago. But Charles brought this war on himself, and hopefully today, they'd finish it.

Surprisingly, some of Minnings' soldiers dropped their weapons and fled in fear, but the others looked enraged. In a rush of anticipated adrenaline, both armies rushed forward in a series of shouts and war cries, and before she knew it, the roar of metal clashing against metal deafened her ears.

Blood pulsed in Amy's ears as she jumped back, fear filling every inch of her as the reality set in. This was a war. People we're going to die here.

"Geric," Amy whispered fearfully as she frantically looked around her, trying to find the furry heap she called her beloved. Her heart leapt into her throat as she spotted him amidst the throng of warring soldiers. Three of Minnings' soldiers surrounded him, trying to push him into a dangerous corner. He easily took two of them out but would be too slow to get the third.

Without even thinking, Amy cocked her bow and let her arrow fly, the arrow striking the enemy's neck. Geric glanced over at her and gave her a grateful nod before rushing to the aid of another wolf.

Amy watched in fearful fascination as the wolves took down soldier after soldier with ease, almost as if batting a fly, but that opened up a path for the Colmar soldiers to break through the enemy lines.

Realizing that she hardly had a good vantage point from where she stood, Amy glanced around her before she spotted a tree, and without hesitation, she began to climb.