Page 130 of Of Shadows and Blood

The generals Poe approached now come over to us. The cess and other soldiers who gathered stand around in silence, the crowd’s eyes drilled completely on me.

“Lady Elivienne, do you need medical attention?” This general is middle-aged, vampyr, and hard looking. His beard is thick and frames his face, his uniform highlighting broad shoulders and thick muscles.

“No, sir. I am truly well and fine. But the prince… I believe he is turning against the crown.” Gasps ring out through the crowd. Avonde steps forward and speaks next. “I’ve heard her thoughts. She was attacked by a cairn and fled from Orvynn. Where are our reinforcements?”

A younger general steps forward. “Already on their way. Elivienne, we have missed you.” People murmur around me and I realize my prior status as head of a cess legion gives me rank and notoriety. How can I move forward like this? Parading as a war-honed fighter when I can barely grow a plant with my fingers?

“You all need to listen very closely,” I begin, accepting a blanket around my shoulders. Looking around the crowd, fighters and healers of every age look upon me in fascination. Fires blaze around, intensifying this moment.

The truth hounds.

“My name is Elivienne de Cassas. You all may be familiar with me, possibly more than that if we are being realistic. Over two years ago, I was attacked and nearly killed at a border skirmish. The one that cost the lives of our cess. This attack was premeditated and its target was me.” I take a deep breath before continuing.

“For two years, I have been in a coma. A dream state. Someone cursed me, killed me momentarily, before placing me into a purgatory between life and death. I do not remember my name, your faces, my rank, memories of my life before. Almost ten months ago I awoke knowing my name was Liv. That is all I was left with. But war is here. You know it. I know it. We cannot work together if I must lie about my capabilities.”

People look to each other, some whispering. I continue. “Within me, there is no power. But I can fight and I will stay. Until my curse is released, you all will remain strangers. But this is unimportant, what is important is defending Lux. You –” I gesture to the crowd, spinning around – “you are the only defense against what is coming. The enemy has a monster, maybe more, from the old continent.”

“What is she saying!”

“How can we trust her?”

“Someone verify this!”

People begin shouting. Commotion builds as everyone tries to digest the information I have given them. “This is true! Look at my body, the evidence of a cairn is clear here. Who knows what else Duresden has planned for us?”

The older general steps forward. “Everybody listen!” but the noise grows, some cess break off towards the fort building. “SILENCE!” he screams. The crowd pauses, looking to their leadership. “We are here to do exactly what our lady has told us. Avonde has confirmed her memories. I believe her.” He looks to me, scanning up and down. “We all believe her. To your stations, immediately. General Hayes,” he orders. The younger one steps forward for orders. “Dispatch orders to the eastern and western legions,” he commands. The general affirms and leaves the group. “Avonde?” he calls next. She stops fussing with my healed wounds and looks to him.

“Yes, General Kline?”

“Prepare your healers for massive casualty numbers. Poe will lead the infantry cess in combat.” He nods to Poe who leaves to begin preparing. “Liv,” he now looks to me, placing his hands on my arms. Looking up at him, he looks so familiar, I can’t place it. Cess begin frantically ordering each other around the battlement. “Liv, did Prince Sawyer indicate any immediate movements?”

“No, a man named Killian was there with him and admitted some folly. Sawyer, he had documents on a desk, but I don’t remember seeing anything important. I am in the dark as you are.”

“We will send patrols. You’re inside Lux’s territory but you have a choice, Liv. You may fight or we can send you back to Demis to be with the king. It will be safer there, considering your plight. But, if you can fight, it would be an honor to have you.”

To fight or to stay.

My powers are barely there. But I did not need them to survive Killian or Sawyer or the cairn. Too many times, I have been sheltered, hidden.

“My will is yours to command. How can I help?”

The general smiles, releasing my arms and motions to the stables behind the fort. Calm resolve washes over me. We will fight. We will defend this kingdom.

I will defend it.

“When Lieutenant Poe comes back, we’ll find you armor and weapons. For now, begin with—”

Chapter 36

The flame of life also meets us in death. The Ever, a shifting ideal for those unknowing in the schemes of the Gods.

We barely have a chance to think when the first blast hits the tower. The general shields my body on impact. He slowly peels himself from me before jumping into action. Avonde was in front of me speaking to Serene, and then she was screaming, and then I couldn’t see them in the dust and rubble.

The northern wall being blown to shreds barely afforded me time to shield my face as another blast hits the eastern wall. The building begins to crumble all around me with smoke and dust following it. I don’t know where Avonde went. Her scream felt like it happened hours ago, not seconds.

“Avonde! Serene!” The remnants of the tower begin to settle; luckily I don’t see any bodies. Cess and soldiers alike begin to look through the rubble, screaming names and pulling weapons free for the fight to come. Melee is happening all around me – I need to focus. My magic keeps skittering across my hands, aching to be wielded but nothing will come out. Anger like no other fills my core as I try to will it. Please, just this once, I silently pray to Erees, to Senna, to anyone, but nothing conjures.

I yearn to defend myself.