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A rc stood motionless as Kyril lowered Vahly onto the ground.

With Nix at her side, she stood on her own, her golden hair glowing under the rising sun, her cheeks flushed, wiry muscles moving beneath her sleeves, her oaken sword exuding power and gripped in her trembling and reddened hand.

Water slicked from her skin and clothing, casting silver droplets onto the tall grasses and Kyril’s pelt, and Nix stayed back, no doubt being cautious as Vahly was most likely touched by spelled salt water since she’d been dealing with the Sea Queen’s treachery.

She looked every inch a goddess, and he wanted to simply stare at her for eternity.

So as not to look a fool, he forced himself to walk over to her, then knelt. His throat felt tight. He truly had feared the worst. But she was here. Alive. Powerful. “My queen,” he whispered, his gaze on her bare feet.

Her cool fingers raised his chin, and she grinned at him though her eyes were pinched with some worry or some pain. “Rise, my king.” She eyed his lips, opened her mouth to say something, but then she closed the distance between them and kissed him fully.

Her lips tasted of the sea; her skin hummed with magic. His body warmed to hers, and he raised air magic to whip a wind around them and dry the ocean from her clothing and hair as they held one another. His body grew rather more insistent, and this was not the time, so he stepped back.

“If you need to tell the story, I will listen. But honestly, I’d rather not. I’d prefer to forget your time away and focus on the attack I see building in your gaze.”

She grinned like a wolf and set a hand on Kyril, who walked up beside Nix. “Agreed. But first, can you heal my hand?”

When she released the sword to Nix and flipped her palm up, Arc’s stomach dropped. Blisters covered the surface, painful welts that spoke of her trials under the sea.

He immediately summoned healing inside him and sent it coursing into her hand. He pressed a gentle kiss to her wrist. “My love. I’m so sorry. You amaze me again and again.”

She tousled his hair with her unmarred hand. “Enough sweet talk. We have work to do.” Her girlish grin and the flush on her neck softened her teasing. Arc could tell she was as devoted to and interested in him as he was her.

The four strode quietly to where all the dragons and the three elves had gathered. The Jades remained in their dragon form, while most of the Call Breakers and Lapis had morphed into their smaller forms. Wings shuffled in the autumn wind, and the scent of ripe acorns touched Arc’s nose.

Vahly sheathed her sword and walked a path back and forth in front of the quiet crowd while Arc spun air magic to help her voice carry to those standing at the back.

“We will attack in a staggered circular formation.”

Amona, in her human form, lifted her chin. “I request the Lapis go in first. The Jades did enough of that for us during the pre-flood years.”

Eux’s eyebrows lifted, then she nodded at Amona.

“Lapis, you’ll become the first curve of the circle, the line that will come at the sea folk head-on.

The Jades will complete the circle by coming in from the back in a way similar to what we attempted at the undersea Blackwater well.

Mistress Nix, your Call Breakers will dive from above the circle while General Lilia’s rebels attack from the bottom of the sea.

King Arcturus,” her eyes were bright as they gazed at him, and he prayed to the Source he wouldn’t disappoint her, “your elves will ride Lapis dragons and combine their air magic with the dragonfire to fight as they see fit. You, my king, will ride with me and Kyril,” she said, “so we can increase the capability of the earth gryphons and the sword, combining your air magic with the dragons’ magic and mine.

Mistress Nix, please accompany us as well. ”

“You couldn’t pry me off your side if you tried,” Nix whispered from the front row.

Vahly gave her a look. “Good. Now, my small force will round up the sea folk so we can form the circle around the vast majority of Astraea’s forces.

Once they are contained and we have them cowering, I will seek out Astraea and give her one last chance to give up her blood for the sword, for the peace. ”

“What happens when she refuses or if she is killed in the battle?” Eux asked.

“We will do our best, but that is all we can do, Matriarch Eux. If our plans sour, we’ll make a new one.”

Arc grinned. She was not a usual sort of leader, his Vahly. She didn’t put on airs, pretending to be someone she was not. Honesty and courage were her two shining attributes in this new role of hers, and she used them perfectly.

He cleared his throat and stepped forward, hands clasped. “How do we ensure that we don’t injure General Lilia and her rebels?”

“Ah. Right. I discussed that with her while I was under. The rebels will hold blue-dyed spears. Only attack those who hold red coral spears.”

The dragons whispered among themselves, surely reluctant to withhold fire on any sea folk.

Vahly was talking with Amona and didn’t seem to notice the growing trouble.

Arc raised his hands to gain the crowd’s attention.

“The rebel sea folk are key in our strategy. As you know, they saved us from a sea beast early in our quest to find the sword. And they are the only reason Queen Vahly is here now to fight for us. As Elven King, I swore an oath to them as well.” His stomach fluttered with the thought of breaking such a promise.

He would never be able to live with himself if he didn’t do his best here to protect those sea folk brave enough to fight against their own kynd.

“I will uphold my oath. I ask that you find it in your hearts to forgive those rebels their past transgressions and work with them to seek out a new way for us all to live.”

He turned to see Vahly watching him with shining eyes. “That is,” he said, “as long as my queen agrees.”

“I do agree. Wholeheartedly. Anyone I see attacking a blue spear fighter or even being careless with your fire around a rebel, that one will answer to me when this is through.”

The crowd bowed their heads, and Vahly swallowed.

Arc came closer, then put a hand on her elbow. The curse’s inconsistent pain flashed through him, and he inhaled sharply. She glanced at him, but he schooled his features so she’d never know he was still suffering.

He just had to fight through the battle. Then they could focus on a possible solution. It would be fine. He’d been through worse than this, and she didn’t need more to worry about.

“I’m fine,” he said, forcing his words to come out smoothly, evenly.

Her gaze touched his forehead, his eyes, his throat. “All right. If you say so.” She turned to the crowd. “Ready yourselves for battle. We leave when the daylight will do the most damage to the sea folk’s eyesight. We leave when the sun is at its zenith.”

Arc trembled as he fought another wave of the crown’s curse. He would overcome this. Now was no time to die.