*Noah*
It had been several days since we got word of Daven’s forces mobilizing for war, and I sent my mate and our only child away from our ho so that they would be safe and as far away as possible from our ruthless enemy.
It felt like much longer than that.
While my father oversaw strategies toward offensive maneuvers, I was tasked with fortifying defenses around the Drogomor stronghold and preparing our warriors for the coming siege.
I was just along our northern border, surveying the field and forest surrounding the area, when my heart felt heavy as I imagined the violence and mayhem that would soon befall the still and peaceful land.
“Status report, General,” I barked to our top general, Elara.
The middle-aged man straightened, his dark eyes serious, his jaw tensed. “Sir, my n have studied the terrain extensively and have deduced that the enemy will be disoriented should they be forced to travel through our dense forests. I recomnd stationing so of our archers in the trees to launch a surprise assault from above.”
I felt the corner of my mouth turn up slightly, despite the direness of the whole situation. “Excellent,” I comnded him. “See to it that that particular plan is carried out.”
“Yes, sir,” he said, ducking his head slightly in a bow. “I’ve also received word that the protective wards that you issued are now in place.”
I nodded. I wasn’t optimistic about how well those magical wards would hold up against the dark magic that Daven was likely wielding. Our only hope there was that it would at least give the ruthless tyrant pause long enough for our forces to gain the upper hand.
“And what are you devising for the open field?” I pressed, knowing that battle in a wide area devoid of any kind of cover required a clever strategy for maneuvering.
“We’ll need to utilize diversionary tactics,” the general said decisively. “With your permission, I suggest arranging for our scouts to harass the enemy from behind. It will create chaos and divert their attention, tricking them into believing they are our main line of attack.”
Once again, I was pleased by the general’s thoroughness. He had been our top general for over a decade by this point. And it was clearly evident in his style and attention to detail. By creating a diversion, misinformation would likely spread through Daven’s defenses, leading them to focus their attention on the wrong areas.
My optimism rose slightly as we continued to plan out our defenses and counterattacks.
Days later, Father and I stood side by side in his office, our plans of attack mapped out on the board in front of us. A large-scale model of our lands was on a huge table behind us, complete with figures representing our defenses and warriors.
I eyed the number of warriors we had set out along the southern border of Drogomor. We were anticipating a naval attack thanks to the scouts who spotted Daven days earlier. In preparation, we fortified our weaker points along the coast and established watchtowers along these areas as well.
“It appears that we’ve done all we can,” Father said suddenly, his eyes scanning the map of the battlefield. “I believe our strongest advantage will be the high-speed vessels that will be used for hit-and-run tactics against their navy fleet.”
While I agreed with my father, I had a feeling in my gut that suggested otherwise. As soon as word ca of Daven being spotted on the water, we ended up putting the majority of our finances and our forces out along the coastline. While this was the obvious strategy, it left our hofront more vulnerable than I would care for.
My father and I turned sharply when the door burst open, revealing one of our scouts.
“Speak, man,” I spat impatiently, panic filling at the look in the young man’s eyes.
“Daven’s navy fleet was spotted traveling along our southern shoreline boundaries, sir,” the scout said, his voice mostly level.
While my father fired off a few more questions about the ti and who this information was coming from, I felt unease start to fill . Of course, we had anticipated a naval attack, but the scout revealed that it was a modest fleet size.
“Father, the size of the fleet hardly calls for the large force we prepared,” I said once the scout was gone.
“It is the main piece of information that we have to go on, Noah,” my father replied.
I understood his point and even agreed with it to an extent. Still, there could be more that we weren’t realizing, so kind of strategic bluff designed to divert our attention from Daven’s actual intended mode of invasion.
I realized decisively that we needed to investigate. I left my father to continue strategizing with a couple of our generals and made my way out to the northern border where I had just t with Elara to plan counterattacks. We had a solid strategy but maybe weren’t putting enough forces behind it to be as effective as necessary.
I watched as Elara led a group of n into the forest. With Daven spotted along our border, it was ti for stationing our soldiers to be prepared for an attack at any ti. I watched as the n held their heads high and disappeared into the trees.
I stood on top of a hill as the preparations for war went on around . I considered the variables that I had collected over the past several days. I still wasn’t convinced that the true thrust of Alpha Daven’s assault wasn’t coming from sowhere other than the sea. Could he have prepared a covert infiltration via a small sabotage and assassination squad? If that were the case, our entire defensive posture would have been oriented incorrectly.
I looked out over my ho, knowing that one day, I would be alpha and expected to protect it. It was now just hitting that this war could change that forever, whether it took away my ability to lead or changed the entire state of Drogomor.
I wasn’t alpha yet, but my father’s devotion to this land had already created a deep sense of responsibility toward my ho. I was more determined to protect it with everything I had.
“Sir?”
I turned to face another general, who straightened at my withering look. I lifted my chin, wordlessly giving him permission to speak.
He didn’t waste any ti. “Sir, we are fully prepared to station ourselves along the coastal border. We are just awaiting your final command before doing so.”
I felt my lips tighten at his words. Father had entrusted to make the final decision regarding the mode of attack. He was likely assuming that I would go with his original plan and had no idea that I was debating whether or not we should take half the original forces we had prepared for naval defenses and place them along the opposite side of our land.
My gut was telling to do that, but my mind was urging to stick with the original plan. Not only would I risk leaving our potentially most vulnerable border defenseless by doing so, but if I didn’t go with the original plan, the amount of preparation for half the warriors to completely change gears would be too significant.
Not only that, but I also didn’t have actual proof to back up the theory that another attack was planned. All I had were my instincts, and they just weren’t enough for to go off of to make a decision of that magnitude.
“Order your n to station themselves along the coastline and remain battle-ready to repel the coming warships just offshore.”
The general nodded and saluted before hurrying off to do just that.
I watched him go, a grave expression on my face as a sinking feeling filled . I sent a prayer to the Moon Goddess, asking that my foreboding instincts about hidden threats already dwelling undetected within our midst proved incorrect and nothing more than my paranoia wreaking havoc within .
If true enemies had already penetrated Drogomor unseen, then calamity may soon erupt from within, causing all to be lost before the fight had barely begun.
We could be making a grave mistake.
I started to make my way back to the estate when a panicked cry t my ears.
“Noah!”
I turned, my eyes widening in shock at the sight of my stepmother rushing toward , her eyes wide and her dress torn on the hems.
“Estella!” I gasped, rushing toward her with concern. “What are you doing here? You should be with Zara...” I trailed off as panic filled , but I needed to focus on my stepmother, who was obviously in great distress.
My stepmother was doing her best to appear the strong Luna I knew she was. I gripped her shoulders, hoping she could feel my strength so that it would comfort her. My frown only deepened as Estella shivered slightly in my hold. She looked as if she was trying to speak but just couldn’t.
“Are you alright?” I asked gently. “Have you been hard?”
She shook her head and seed to blink back tears. I let out a breath of relief.
“Let’s get you inside,” I said gently, putting an arm around her shoulder and ushering her toward ho. Worry twisted my gut. I knew I shouldn’t ask just yet because my stepmother was obviously very shaken up, but I had to know. “Are Zara and Briella alright? Why aren’t you with them?”
My stepmother stiffened and then looked up at with wide, frightened eyes. “I’m sorry, Noah. I don’t know if they’re alright or not.”
I felt my blood freeze. “What do you an?” Please no.
“I never made it to Crowstar,” she said, her voice shaking. “I was drugged and kidnapped by Alpha Daven’s n.”
I bit out a curse and started walking faster, pulling my stepmother along with as concern shot through . “Just you?” I demanded in a hard voice as the mansion ca into view. “We need to get you inside so that a healer can look at you. You might be feeling well now, but who knows what they did to you.”
Estella just nodded, looking scared and small, which was so unlike her that it caused my heart to feel as if it was splintering.
“Estella!” my father gasped, bursting from the mansion.
“Issac!” my stepmother cried, pulling away from and rushing into his arms.
“What’s happened?” he demanded, taking her in his strong arms and rubbing tears off of her cheeks. He looked up at . His eyes were angry, so I knew he had already taken in her torn dress and frightened eyes.
“It was that Serena girl,” my stepmother said grimly, leaning heavily against my father’s chest. “She used so kind of dark magic to take my form.”
Father and I both stared at her in horror.
Serena was with Zara and our baby.
Reviews
All reviews (0)