Page 77 of Lady of Starfire (Lady of Darkness #5)

“Were you there?” Juliette asked cautiously.

The seraph’s grey eyes met hers. “Yes. We both were.”

Juliette’s lips pursed, her gaze lingering on Nuri. “Anything else?”

“They plan to attack the Wind Court. We have been kept out of the Citadel. Alaric wishes to kill any resistance left in the Court.”

“If they knew of those camps, what are the odds they also know of the others? Of this one?” Tava asked.

“The patrols who found the Toreall camps reported to me in the presence of Mikale and Orvyn. There was nothing I could do,” Mordecai said.

“What were Mikale and Orvyn doing in the same place?” Callan asked. Orvyn was the Maraan Lord who was on the Rydeon throne. Idris was acting as the king of Toreall.

“We were discussing moving forces closer to the Fire Court border,” the seraph answered. “There were rumors of the Fire General planning a siege.”

“Shit,” Azrael muttered, and Callan was fairly certain the ground shook the smallest amount.

“Indeed,” Mordecai said. “But with the Wind Fae attempting to aid the Toreall rebels, attention has shifted. Bastien sent word he could handle the Fire General if she showed.”

“I do not know who this Bastien is, but Eliza is the most powerful fire Fae after Sorin. She will win that fight,” Azrael said.

Mordecai shifted, reaching out and pulling Nuri into his side. She pulled her hood up, not looking at any of them. “I have no other information on that front. We must go.”

They were gone in the next blink, and Tava turned to face Callan, Drake, and Azrael. “What do we do?”

“We go forward with our plans,” Drake answered. “We figure out a way to spread out the people. That way, if they discover one camp, it is small and minimizes losses.”

“We cannot have several camps spread out everywhere, Drake,” Tava countered.

Callan saw her hand lift, about to reach for her throat, before she crossed her arms instead.

“How would we possibly provide food, safety, and other necessities? We can scarcely get provisions to this one camp, let alone more spread across Windonelle.” Drake glared at his sister, but she only added, “You know I am right about this.”

“So you propose keeping everyone together. Then, if they are discovered, they can all die together? You find that to be a better alternative?” he argued.

“Some of these people will not survive a several days’ journey through this forest,” Tava hissed, stepping forward and poking Drake hard in the chest. “Some are sick. Many are too frail to travel. The children are already exhausted. If you move the men, you take them away from those who can train them. I have been against this from the beginning.”

Drake blew out a harsh breath, looking at Callan and Azrael. “Any input here?”

“There will be no best solution,” Azrael said, his usually harsh tone having softened just a touch. “These are the hard decisions of rulers. You have watched Scarlett, Sorin—all the Fae Royalty—make these choices these last months. Now it is your turn as the leaders of your people.”

Callan, Drake, and Tava all exchanged glances.

“We have to do what is best for the majority,” Drake said, his face full of pity as he looked at Tava.

“And tell the others what?” Her voice wavered as she spoke. “That they matter, but not quite enough to be saved and protected?”

“Tava, that is not—”

But she was already turning on her heel, striding away in the direction of the camp. Ezra gave them a grim look, and when Drake jerked his chin, the guard followed after her.

Drake sighed, running both his hands through his golden hair.

“This is an adjustment. For all of you,” Azrael said. “Sometimes there is not a good choice. Only two equally bad ones, but a choice must be made nonetheless.”

“I will go talk to her,” Callan said. “In the meantime, see what you two can come up with.”

“If the Wind Court is going to be attacked, I will need to go be of aid there,” Azrael said. “For Ashtine and Talwyn.”

“Understood,” Callan said. “Discuss options, and we will figure out how to move forward.”

He turned to head the way Tava had when Juliette called out to him.

Looking back over his shoulder, he found her standing with Arantxa.

They had been speaking with their heads close together, murmured whisperings while they’d let Callan and the others debate.

Juliette didn’t tend to offer much, and when she did, it was always obscure and hard to decipher.

Arantxa was just …formidable. If asked to do something, she would, but mostly she stuck close to Juliette.

“Yes?” he said to Juliette.

“Did you know that in some realms, I would be known as a priestess?”

Callan’s brow furrowed. “No?”

“We are known by many names among the realms. Priestesses. Witches. Sages. Divines.” At that, his brows shot up. She just gave him a small smile. “I thought that may be of interest to you. For future reference.”

Then the Oracle was turning back to Arantxa, resuming whatever discussion they’d been having.

It took him a few minutes to make his way back to the camp, and when he got there, Tava was rummaging through a crate they must have brought with them.

“What are you doing, William?” she called out, not even looking up from the crate.

A boy of around eight or nine years skidded to a halt at being addressed. After a pause, he said, “Nothing, my Lady.”

“Mhmm,” she answered, finally lifting her head to look at him. “You are not on your way to put a small creature in your sister’s bedroll?”

The boy looked down, shifting on his feet. “How do ya know abou’ that?”

Tava gave him a firm smile. “Go release it.”

William trudged to the edge of the clearing and knelt down, opening his hand. A small frog indeed hopped out, escaping into the trees.

“Apologies, Lady Tyndell,” he mumbled.

“Come here.”

Dragging his feet, the boy made his way back to her. She had pulled something from the crate and was now crouched down before him. “Can I entrust you with a very special mission?”

At that, William perked up. He lifted his head, brown eyes brightening some, and he nodded eagerly. She held up a sack. “Can I trust you to make sure that all the children get a fair share of what is in here?”

“Is that …candy?” William whispered, his eyes going wide.

Tava’s smile grew. “It is, and I believe I can trust you to ensure all the children receive some, right?”

“Oh, yes, my Lady,” he said, eyes fixed on the bag.

“And I can also trust you will stop putting frogs in your sister’s bedroll?”

“Yes, Lady,” he murmured, cheeks going pink.

“Good boy,” she said, standing and scuffling his brown hair.

She held out the bag, and the child took it eagerly. “I swear to be fair about it, Lady Tava.”

“I trust you, William. Off you go.”

The boy took off again, head high and chest puffed out at the responsibility she had just given him.

Tava turned back to the crate, her face falling as she began pulling out extra blankets. She looked up when she heard him approaching, giving him a sad smile before going back to what she was doing.

“Can I help?” he asked, reaching to take the small pile she was holding.

“You should be conversing with Drake and Azrael,” she said tightly, but she let him take the blankets.

“You need to be part of those conversations, Tava.”

“I do not think I can make those types of decisions, Callan. That is better left to kings.”

“And queens,” Callan countered.

“Of which I am not one.”

“You are already their queen, Tava. We simply need to make it official.” Her hands stilled in the crate, a blanket halfway out. Callan reached for it, adding it to his pile. “Are we taking these somewhere?”

Tava cleared her throat, pulling the remaining blankets out. “Some of the newer arrivals needed them.”

“Lead the way.”

“I can handle this, Callan.”

The sound of footsteps crunching on branches and leaves had them both turning, and Ezra appeared carrying another crate. He glanced from Tava to Callan, his lips thinning.

“Thank you, Ezra,” Tava said. “You can set it there. I will come back for it.”

Ezra nodded. “Do you need me to accompany you?”

“Not necessary,” she answered, eyeing Callan for a long moment before nodding and heading deeper into the camp.

“How have things been at the manor the last few days?” Callan asked as they walked.

“Fine.”

“Has Balam said anything?”

Her lips pursed. “Only that this was necessary to keep us safe. That someday, we would understand. When Drake pushed for more, he refused. He knows he makes us uncomfortable, so he keeps his distance.”

They spoke little after that. She was on edge, still clearly upset about what had been said in the clearing, but the moment some of the people noticed her, word quickly spread that she was here.

Soon, they were surrounded by people calling greetings.

Callan watched as her entire being relaxed. Tension eased. Her real smile returned.

The people glanced at him, eyes widening in recognition, but Tava put them at ease all the same.

She passed out blankets and asked about various people by name.

She would discreetly fill Callan in on the families.

She knew them all. Knew which children belonged to which parents.

Knew who had been ill, who had been looking for soap, and who had been needing a few extra pairs of socks.

She introduced him to all of them. He’d never remember them all.

Not right away. He’d try, and he’d feel terrible when he fumbled names and information, but he also knew she’d be there too.

That it truly was no longer his people, but their people.

They’d always been more her people than his anyway.

Later, when they were taking a moment to themselves before they rejoined Drake and Azrael, they were wandering beside a small stream when he said, “I have something for you.”