Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 129912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
“That is very kind of you, Conan,” Alora murmurs.
“Of course. There is just one concern I have.” He raises a finger. “Whisper Grovians are not known for violence or fighting. I’m not sure how we can be of use right now.”
“You’re not completely useless.” I look Conan in the eye when he finds my gaze. “Whisper Grovians may not be able to fight, but you damn sure know how to make a good weapon. Work on creating bombs, armor, weapons, shields. And if any of your men are willing to fight, we’ll do our best to train them with the five days we have left.”
“Okay, sure.” Conan nods, rubbing his hands together. “We can do that.”
“Good.” I put my attention on Alora. “We have five days to prepare. Right now, your people are scared, but you have to tell them we must fight or we will die.”
“I know what to tell my people, Caspian.” She rights herself, drifting past me to her throne. “My people aren’t strangers to battles. Many of the Gilded will stand, myself included.”
At that, Proll moves forward. “I cannot allow you to fight, my queen. We’ll need you in Vanora. You must stay protected.”
Alora’s eyes soften as she studies him. “I will fight, Proll. And if you want to protect me, you’ll stand by my side while I do.”
Proll’s nostrils flare. He wants to counter it, but he can’t. Instead, he gives a slight bow of his head and says, “Always, my queen.”
“Will any more of those creatures infiltrate Vanora?” Alora asks. “We found them lurking around the palace. Some were climbing the walls. I put out an alert for everyone to stay in their homes, but of course they did the opposite. I can’t say I blame them. It’s rare that I send out an alarm.” She points her attention to Hassha. “What should I tell them?”
“There is a reason no one was harmed by those creatures. They were nothing more than a scare tactic,” Hassha explains. “Selah was told to fight fair and to let us prepare for this war. If more arrive—which I doubt they will—kill them. In the meantime, I’ll place protection over all remaining territories. This will give you the opportunity to train in peace.”
Alora nods. “Very well.”
After speaking a bit more, we part ways, and a heaviness weighs on my shoulders. There is animosity all around us, and none of us are safe. Not even Alora is safe in her palace, surrounded by all her guards.
If we win this war but these territories lose their monarchs, the world will be chaos regardless. That alone worries me.
What’s the point of putting our lives on the line if it will all go to shit anyway?
FIFTY-SIX
WILLOW
“You’re upset with me.” Korah’s voice rises over the splashing sounds of the ocean.
Sitting at the shore, I glance over my shoulder as she nears me, loose wisps of her hair flowing with the wind. It irks me that these Regals look so perfect all the time.
“What gave it away?” I ask, focusing on the ocean again.
“You’ve hardly said a word to me since my arrival.”
“Maybe because I don’t have much to say to one of the people who murdered my brother.”
Korah falls into silence.
I wrap my arms around my legs, watching the sun rise higher over the horizon behind groggy clouds.
Caz tapped in thirty or so minutes ago to let me know Hassha teleported them to Whisper Grove to speak to the Whisper Grovians and the remaining Rippies. It doesn’t make me miss him any less though.
I tried taking a nap but couldn’t sleep because all I could think about was the discussion I had with Hassha. In my opinion, my choice is for the best, and deep down, Caz will know it. It’s just a matter of him accepting it.
And for all we know, I could survive it. Hassha said there was a possibility I could die. She didn’t say I would.
A sigh breaks my thoughts, and Korah takes the spot on the damp sand next to me.
“What will you name the baby?” she asks.
“Don’t do that.” I frown at her. “Don’t pretend like you actually care.”
“Willow, I care more than you believe. Do you think I wanted Warren to die?” Her brows pucker. “He was a good person, but that person was long gone. If you’d seen him, you’d understand and would’ve wanted us to do it.”
“Yeah, well you didn’t give me the chance to see him, did you?” I counter. “You don’t know what I want.”
“I know a lot more about you than you think I do.” She stretches her legs, peering at the ocean.
“What about Danica? Surely she wasn’t happy,” I say.
Korah cuts her eyes at me. “Danica stole a boat and left the island the night Warren became that…thing. She was angry with us so she sought her own help. We told her not to leave the island and that there was no one who could spare him from his fate, but she didn’t care. You’ve met her. She’s stubborn and looks for answers her way.”