Page 97 of Forged in Fading

“Now? I just want to take a nap,” Kat moaned.

Alvara pulled her friend to her feet. “I promise you’ll have all the time in the world to sleep later.”

Vigi led the way toward what felt like the hundredth meeting since they had arrived. His tail was a happy blur as they approached the waiting crowd, though he bolted at the first sight of an owl circling the building.

“Pleased to see you back, Kat,” Boden said. “I’ll admit I thought you might stay with the coven just to be rid of us.”

“Pfft. And leave Alvara to suffer alone with all of you? I’m not that cruel.” Kat collapsed into a nearby chair, her arms limp at her sides.

The chief pointed to her, his brow wrinkled. “What news do you have?” Boden translated.

Kat stuck her tongue out between her teeth and began.

“When life returns, the battle will begin,

Only with allies can you win.

The king holds a blade of old,

A power so great the world may fold.

The dark one will forge ahead,

By one you trust will their path be led.”

“I will never understand why they are unable to speak in normal sentences,” Boden said, rubbing his temple after translating the witches’ gibberish into the human tongue. “King Einar will strike when life returns, which has to be in ela. That would be when he’s the most powerful.”

Aurilena stood across from Boden, face solemn. “But the betrayal they mentioned has already happened.”

“Unless the altering of the runes in Ilmanir isn’t what they’re referencing.” Boden grimaced. “We need to stay vigilant.”

“And assume he may strike anytime once ela comes.” Rav spoke from the side of the room, back leaned against the wall and gray eyes trained on Kat’s face. “We’ll need to instate watch rotations throughout the city and stay vigilant.”

The witches also spoke of allies. They had already sent men to speak to the other towns, but that left the selkies and the dwarves. Alvara didn’t know much about the selkies, but from what she had learned from her father’s stories, they would be as likely to help them as they would to let someone destroy their seal skins. That left… “What about visiting the dwarves? The witches said we need alliances, and their weapons could give the humans a great advantage.”

Kat stretched an arm up in the air and flapped her hand up and down. “I just want to warn you all to not take everything they say literally. My grandmother once told me that I would kiss a bird. A bird.”

Rav’s mouth twitched, his eyes lighting with more life than Alvara had seen in weeks.

Boden spoke with the chief in hushed tones and released a sharp exhale. “He refuses. We would require one of their ships, and he has no interest in risking his men for something with little chance of success. The dwarves are known for assisting the gods and few others.”

“But they may be our only chance to learn more about the dagger,” Alvara said. “It’s Helvati’s. It has to be important.”

Boden lowered his voice and leaned in. “I agree, but we have no ships of our own. The chief won’t allow it.”

What was the risk of one ship when it could grant them incredible power? But maintaining the chief’s support was more important. “Then I’d at least like to study the humans’ fighting styles to see what we can learn from them and what we might be able to teach them.” A fusion of magic and steel.

Aurilena lifted her chin. “I’ll work with the demi-elves in their magic, especially the Valonians.” Until now, she had spent most of her time managing small conflicts between the Eskenti and the Silver Blight.

“Once they’re trained,” Alvara said, “the demi-elves willing to fight will need to work with the warriors to provide practice battling wielders. They can’t rely on their past fighting experience alone.”

Her translated words earned what she barely considered a nod from the chief. At least he hadn’t thrown her out of the meeting.

“Kat,” Boden said, “we’ll need you to continue scouting as far as you’re able without risking your safety. We need as much information as possible on the numbers and movements of King Einar’s army.”

Rav pushed off the wall and offered an arm to Kat, who accepted without hesitation. “She needs to rest.”

“Rav, you wouldn’t believe it. My grandmother still won’t accept I’m part human…” Kat’s voice faded as she bounced alongside Rav. The tightness in Boden’s jaw had softened, giving way to something tender as he watched his friends leave.