Her hand found Leukos’ beside her, and she clenched it, drawing courage from the quiet power he radiated.
Volcos raised his voice, cutting through the murmuring crowd like a blade. “Make no mistake—this battle will test us. Our strength. Our courage. Even our gods. We have many Gifted among our ranks, yes—but so do they. Whatever happens, we must hold the line and thin their numbers as much as possible. If we fail, they will regroup. And they will strike again before summer’s end. We must endure. We must survive to fight another day.”
The tension in the room tightened like a drawstring.
“A victory here,” Alcaros added, “would not only cripple the Emperor’s plan of invasion—it would send a clear message across the Great Sea that Tarquinius is vulnerable.”
From the rear of the barn, the tall warrior in furs stepped forward. Spiral tattoos decorated his chest, gleaming with sweat and ochre. His voice rolled like thunder. “Then let the gods watch, too. We will build a great altar to the Thunder on the battlefield. And we will sacrifice the enemy spies we’ve taken as offerings. Their deaths will summon a storm.”
A murmur of assent rippled through his tribesmen. Many nodded; others grinned, eyes glinting with savage anticipation.
Alena’s stomach turned. Her gaze snapped to Volcos. “Human sacrifices?”
The chief commander nodded. “I don’t like it,” he admitted, his tone low. “But the druids are certain—it’s the only way to gain the god’s favour on the battlefield.”
Alena’s lips parted, and for a heartbeat, she hesitated. Then she said, clear and steady, “You could also summon him with his true name.”
Silence slammed into the barn.
Every head turned. Every stare fixed on her. Then the dam broke—gasps and hurried whispers erupting all around.
Vix leaned forward across the table, one eyebrow arched. “Our gods’ true names were lost long ago. All that remains are fragments—Gifts, rituals, symbols.”
Alena’s pulse thundered, but she didn’t falter. “The White Mare revealed it to me when I met her. She doesn’t seem particularly fond of him.” Then she lifted her chin, her voice cutting through the noise. “And I’ll share it with any who wish to know.”
The effect was instantaneous—gasps swelling into a storm of shouts. The room ignited with urgency, warriors surging forward, cries of disbelief and fervour clashing.
The true name of a god was power.
And Alena had it.
Tanco barked out a laugh, while a slow, dangerous grin curved Vix’s mouth.
Beside her, Leukos watched the chaos unfold with a slow shake of his head.
Alena offered him a small smile and a shrug. “What? We’ll need all the help we can get.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “You just had to start a riot before breakfast, didn’t you?”
After the meeting,Alena and Leukos slipped out of the barn in search of Kaixo. The sun was high, and there was much todo before their departure. Still, Alena clung to every possible moment with the boy. The thought of parting from him left a hollow pit in her stomach.
They found Nik just beyond the gates, lounging beneath the wide arms of an old oak, a cloth spread before him strewn with bread, cheese, and fruit. Nearby, Kaixo and the other children darted between the birch trees, laughter trailing in their wake, Apollo chasing close behind.
Alena settled beside Nik, while Leukos surveyed the modest feast.
Nik bit into a glistening apple, juice sliding down his fingers. He shot her a crooked grin. “Way to make an impression, Red.”
He held up a basket of reeds filled with ripe plums in offering. Alena crinkled her nose, but before she could decline, Leukos plucked the basket from Nik’s hand.
“She doesn’t like plums,” he said smoothly, pressing a red apple into her palm instead.
Alena blinked, surprised he’d remembered. Such a small thing, yet it touched her more than she expected. She smiled in thanks and bit into the apple, sweetness bursting on her tongue.
The corner of Leukos’ mouth lifted in that way that made her chest tighten. He swiped a couple of plums for himself before turning to Nik. “Human sacrifices?” he asked quietly. “Did you know about this?”
Nik shrugged, though his tone carried an edge. “Nothing surprises me when it comes to the Westerners. Especially not when the gods are involved. Their druids tried to have Alena killed last summer, after all.”
Alena stiffened at the reminder, while Leukos’ expression darkened into a scowl.
