Page 167 of Season Warriors & Wolves

“Thank you,” Snow offered, tying the small token to her belt. “No one has ever made me something like this. Not for my protection, at least.”

“Macaria said you might need it,” the young Crafter revealed, and everyone went silent once again. “She taught me herself how to make it.”

I leaned back. “What did she say?”

Penelope went beet red when she glanced at Snow’s sneer. “Uhm…uh…not sure, but she mentioned something about Isjord and Islines.”

Snow stopped chewing and carefully glanced at me. “I don’t know what she is talking about.”

“There you are, Penelope,” Visha said, gliding inside the room and reaching Snow to hand her a folded piece of paper. “News from Moregan.”

My wife quickly read the note and rolled her eyes up to her witch. “What does Elias say?”

“Fernfoss has welcomed around a thousand Isjordians this morning alone. He personally checked on them one by one after the Eldritch command was done. Not many have been as lucky though.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Silas sank three ships of Isjordians leaving for Solaryan last night and turned the rest of those that tried to flee.”

“Turned?”

Visha’s mouth quivered a little. “Into khamir beasts. Morgan said they forced the potion down their throats. And there were not just odd thousands. But tens of thousands were seen trying to flee winter lands from all corners. Silas is using this to his advantage.”

“Father is losing it,” Eren murmured, grabbing the paper to read for himself. “How…how is his court allowing this?”

“Silas is past the point where he needs a court,” Alaric grumbled, throwing his cutlery on the table and standing. “You kids will need to start preparing. Need to start gathering allies, it has been delayed more than it should have. The war is here.”

Snow looked around and then blinked up at her guardian. “Tis not.”

“Kid, this is not my first time. We are losing time.”

“The war you speak of was not one of survival. When you had a chance to escape, many chose not to fight, but this has no chance of escaping. Everyone will fight. And until all my ducks are in a line and fucking quacking, there is no war. Just a simple threat,” my wife said, dabbing a handkerchief to the corner of her lips. “Sit down and finish your meal.”

Moriko drank a whole goblet of water in one go and blew a heavy breath, turning to her wife. “My ahana, rationalise with her, I am exhausted.”

Snow sneered. “If I was as old as you, I’d be exhausted, too.”

Nia chuckled and her lover shot her a betrayed look. “You think I'm old?”

“I think you are beautiful,” Nia said, staring up at her. “But your joints do creak.”

“They do indeed,” Moriko agreed curtly. “So do me a favour and walk me out to the terrace.”

Nia tilted her head to the side. “Exercise will do you good.”

Like this was all my fault, Moriko pinned her accusatory look on me. Why did she always think it was my fault “I bid you all goodbye.”

“And we bid you goodbye, too,” my wife mocked in a curt voice, making everyone on the table besides Alaric chuckle under their breath.

Nia shook her head and turned to me. “Can this hostility be categorised as a war risk since they are both queens?”

Moriko stood, finally giving up on her silent fight with my wife. “Perhaps you will accompany me, Kilian.”

I stood as well, kissing Snow’s head. “Actually, yes. I’d like to go over a few details about the east wall.”

My wife gaped at me, looking betrayed. “If you must.”

Moriko’s expression was cold and bored when she asked, “Is this the secret to a happy marriage? Begrudging behaviour?”