They all converge on each other, and I rush to get in the middle of it all. I get that they’re mad and hate each other on fundamental levels, but this bash each other’s heads in mentality isn’t going to get us anywhere, especially if I’m going to have to suffer the aftereffects of their fighting too. Right now we really need to put a stop to Lazza and whatever he has planned next.
“Enough!” I scream. My voice cracking like a teenage boy’s.
I shove my hands out to keep massive angry shifter bodies from sandwiching me. As soon as my palm touches Treno’s chest, he recoils. Hurt sucker punches me right in the stomach. I try to shrug it off so I can get a hold of this messed up situation, but the steady ache in my chest makes it hard.
“She’s your mate!” Ryn snaps at Treno, surprisingly not liking what just happened any more than I do.
“Just stop! All of you. Please!” I yell, but my voice is rough and scratchy, and the bite in my tone sounds more like an aggravated nibble. Fuck, I’m tired. “Zeph, where are the Hidden now? Would Loa have told Lazza where to find them?” I ask, trying to get him to focus on something else other than his desire to rip apart Treno or Ryn, depending on who has looked at him wrong in the last five minutes.
“No, Loa was spotted sneaking off, and it alerted us that something wasn’t right. We moved everyone soon after. They’re safe for now, but it’s a large group to keep hidden for long, and I’m sure Lazza will have scouts out looking for them.”
I nod and turn to Treno. “Do you know what Lazza will do next?” Treno’s clashing eyes move from Zeph to me. I’m not sure if he’s going to answer. I can see the battle in his gaze. Maybe he doesn’t know where his loyalties lie when it comes to his brother, but I know he’s still loyal to his people...to the Avowed.
“He’s not going to fight this battle on his own, Treno. Lazza will send people to their deaths to win, and he’ll do it whether they want to fight or not. I know you don’t want that,” Ryn tells him.
I watch the battle in his face, hoping he can see the truth in what’s being said. But I’m not sure if he can look past his anger and do what’s best for the people he swore to lead.
He shakes his head, and I can’t tell if it’s an admonishment to me or to himself. “He’ll amass an army, and then he’ll search every square inch of land until he finds the Vow traitors and destroys them.”
He runs his hands through his long white hair, but they get stuck on the tangles and matted pieces strewn throughout his normally smooth locks. I’m tempted to reach up and help him comb out the mess, but that’s a stupid thought. He hates me.
“It’ll take time for him to organize his army and to find our people,” Ryn reassures, and Zeph nods lost in thought.
“I think the Ouphe might be our best bet. I mean, if any of you have a better plan, feel free to voice it…” I look at each of them, giving them time to suggest some alternative option, but no one speaks up. “How far is it from here to the Quietus Mountains?” I ask when it’s clear no other ideas are readily available.
Ryn looks at me and then away in thought. “If we could fly, maybe a couple of days, but until we get far enough away from Kestrel City for flying to be safe, we’ll have to walk. Maybe a week? Maybe eight days? It’s hard to say for sure.”
Eight days, can we get there and convince the Ouphe to fight with us before Lazza finds where the Hidden are hiding? I feel like fucking Atlas with the weight of this world on my shoulders. What if I’m wrong? What if Ryn and Zeph are right, and I’m an idiot to trust the Ouphe? What if it bites us in the ass?
I go back and forth in my mind, debating the pros and cons, but the thing I keep coming back to is what else can we do? What other options do we have? We need to try something, because if it comes down to a head-to-head battle, Lazza has the numbers. Even if by some miracle the Hidden can pull off a victory, how much will both sides lose before that happens?
If I can break the Vow though. If I can undo it, then Lazza can’t force anyone to do anything, and what reason would the Hidden have to fight their own people anymore? If I can find the language and figure out how to use it, I could help stop this war.
I take a deep breath and accept the responsibility of the task. It settles like a planet on my chest, and I know I’m going to have to get stronger and prepare a hell of a lot harder in order to successfully carry such a heavy burden.
“So that settles it then. When do we leave?”
They’re all completely silent as they walk away from me and move back into their respective corners. Zeph disappears back into his shadows, but not before he grabs two sticks of meat from the fire. Ryn returns to his seat by the flames and tears into his own dinner. Treno watches all of it from his corner, I’m sure not failing to notice that there’s no more food cooking over the fire
