Page 71 of Forged in Fading

Alvara continued to train others and toil away in the forge every second she could keep her eyes open. With her and Sithuren’s late nights, they had produced an acceptable number of spears, blades, and the like, fueled in part by metal Pyry had convinced the blacksmith he worked with to contribute to their cause.

Meanwhile, more and more elves and demi-elves fled for the other kingdoms and the human realm, leaving the streets devoid of activity that didn’t involve preparing for war. No younglings skipping about and arguing over whose turn it was with a toy. No elderly elves hobbling arm in arm under the light of the lampposts.

Lilja was the only exception. She and Sylvi still lingered, a topic that choked the life out of the morning combat trainings whenever Boden found the time to join. Even elves Alvara had only seen a handful of times sent her imploring looks to free them from the same conversation had day in and day out.

Boden dropped his training staff to his side. “It isn’t safe. If you have no desire to head to the human realm, I won’t force you. But you will not stay here.”

Alvara smacked him in the chest with hers. “Less talking, more training.”

He glared at her, while Lilja waved her own staff in his face. “We’re not leaving you, Boden. Not again. I know you think I’m not capable⁠—”

“Weapon down, please. I don’t want to have to call a healer because you stabbed your brother in the eye,” Alvara said as she adjusted another elf’s grip on his weapon. Lilja tucked her staff behind her back but kept her gaze trained on Boden.

He lowered his head. “Of course I know you’re capable, Lilja. That’s exactly what scares me the most. The king himself may be coming, and if he knows you and Mother are here, Elamara knows what he might do to you.”

Alvara searched the crowd for Aurilena’s golden eyes, but the female only shrugged. They needed Kat. She had a talent for handling these kinds of moments with ease, but she had been patrolling constantly in the past few days for any sign of the Elan forces.

“They could stay at Havur’s,” Alvara said, raising her eyebrows at Aurilena, who nodded. “That way they’re out of the city, far from the fighting, but not gone.”

Boden thudded the staff against his thigh and grimaced. “It’s not ideal, but it’ll have to do. But Lilja, don’t even think about approaching the city until I come find you.”

Lilja examined her training staff with an excessive amount of interest.

“Lilja,” he repeated with the reprimanding tone of a father.

“Yes, yes, I promise.” The wink she gave Alvara tied a tight knot in her stomach that wouldn’t come undone until the battle had passed.

If they all made it out alive.

Chapter Twenty-Six

The night before the battle crept up like a predator hunting for its next meal. Kat had arrived in a flurry of feathers late that morning, squawking in her shifter form until Boden reminded her that they couldn’t speak bird. She shifted and began again, her words so fast they were barely intelligible.

King Einar’s forces would arrive the next morning.

Even he wouldn’t risk wasting Valonian soldiers’ magic and illusions on hiding his numbers or position. He no doubt knew they were watching and wanted to fill them with dread. Alvara expected to feel that fear, but instead sweet relief washed over her, loosening the tension that had been building within her for months.

The time had come.

Within days, they would know the fate of Ilmanir, Malva, and the elven realm. They would fight with every shred of strength they possessed. Alvara would have the opportunity to stop the king who had destroyed her and her family so thoroughly.

She was ready.

After tossing and turning and only succeeding in twisting the sheets around herself, Alvara swung her legs off the bed and slid her feet onto the frigid floorboards.

She dressed herself with her newly acquired leather armor and slipped out of her room into the somewhat sleeping city. Some elves had already lined themselves by the entrance, preparing for the onslaught on their doorstep. Not the ideal way to begin the first day of the year.

A slow thaw to the frost on the roofs and trees signaled the beginning of nyr, but the residential quarter of the city lay dark and still. Most of the residents had left for safer areas and extinguished the usual flickering flames on their porches. Snuffed out, like so many lives would be in the morning. Alvara had never taken a life, but the time was drawing near whether she wanted to admit it or not.

A dark form sat against one of the trees in the training grounds.

Boden lifted his head. “The kitchen was closed.”

“I would hope so. I don’t even want to be awake right now.”

“And yet, here you are.”

Alvara chose a tree next to his and leaned against the rough bark. “I couldn’t sleep. I didn’t know where else to go.”