Warrior of the Moon

39

Tarin was pleased to see that it was not just Jesmaine and Aymon gathered in the command tent, but some of the Realm's most prominent lords - and ladies - who must have accepted the help of the water nymphs Serena sent out to bring them here in time.

The armies were sprawled out across the last stretch of ground that was not poisoned by whatever horrors his mother had unleashed on the land of the Mesa. They could see the crushed mountains in the distance, but he knew that they would first have to get through the traps Celestine had lain down, and then the mass of warriors he knew would do all they could to protect their Mistress and the ultimate prize they believed that she had.

Tarin strode up to the table they were all standing around. Iefyr offered him a grin, as if they were meeting under pleasant circumstances. Elektra reached out to clasp his hand, and he knew it was in gratitude, though none of what had happened was his doing. Lord Huelin was there and winked at Tarin as if they shared a secret; what the lord believed it to be, Tarin was unsure. Perhaps that Tarin had snuck Iliss out of his keeping? He could only hope that Holly was kept under more secure guard. She was a problem he wanted to deal with later.

Also present were Lord Gerwin of Elvestone, Lady Hellen of Pearlbourne, and a girl he did not recognize, though she seemed too young and ill at ease here in the command tent to be a lady he had not met. Perhaps she was somebody's daughter he had lost track of, or a warrior one of the lords or ladies had wanted to stand in on the meeting. Whoever she was, she was watching him intently, her vibrant green hair wild and her eyes wide.

When he met the heavy stare of Lord Kellum of Mooncrest, the icy blue eyes hit him like a punch to the gut, though they were not cold as they looked at him. It was the eyes themselves that struck Tarin, the color that was so similar to Kellum's cousin: Triana, whom had moved from her home city of Mooncrest to Azure upon being offered the king's hand in marriage.

Kellum's family would have been too far away to make it to Triana's funeral that had been thrown together in such haste, but they would be expected to attend the ceremony in her memory Tarin would help Serena to put together once all this was over. He was not sure how such a ceremony would happen when all the royal's riches had been stolen or destroyed, and the castle itself half in rubble, but he would do his best to honor his late queen for her family; even if she hardly knew them anymore.

"Lord Tarin," Iefyr greeted, dipping his head in respectful welcome. His words brought Tarin back to the present. "I'm sure I'm not the only one relieved to see that the general of the armies has joined them. This battle will instill much less fear in the hearts of your men once they see you."

Tarin curled his hands into fists. He wished he had not been given this task. To be sent to his men only to have to leave again to go back to his queen's side... Iefyr was right, it would inhibit morale amongst the warriors, make them worse fighters.

"I was sent to make sure all is in place for our victory," he said smoothly, looking down at the table that indicated the placements of all the forces. A cloud of black guarding the Mesa, then various colors holding the line to stop them from marching right into the Realm; the Fae, the tree nymphs, the water nymphs, the royal armies, and the city armies all represented by different colored figures.

"We are awaiting most of our forces still," said Arastellia, the lady of Kraedia. Her eyes flickered below her golden war helmet. "Who knew the water nymphs had so many useful talents?"

Tarin just nodded, not wanting to get sucked into talking about the nymphs right now for fear of giving something away his queen would not want. "And our estimated number once they arrive?"

"Two hundred and ten thousand, but not all warriors," Iefyr warned. "Many of these men rode here at the queen's call because they believed her to be dead. This is a last-ditch effort for them to preserve their kingdom before this Mistress takes it all for herself."