“There are a few access points you can use if you stay away from the grounds and choose higher areas which overlook the courtyard surrounding the Well. I think these would be better options for you, because the grounds will be busy and there are fewer places for you to hide. Plus,” Thallax gestured to Ulreah. “Ulreah needs to be able to see what’s coming if he’s going to fry it. So, my suggestion would be that you head for the roof levels. There is a turret you can use, just here.” Thallax indicated to an area on his map of Savangrad. “The Well lies beneath this. It’s not small – maybe a twenty-foot opening.You just need to be on target. We could try and arrange back up, in case you miss; some infantry soldiers who could pick the stone up and put it into the Well. Ideally, the fewer people who know about this plan, the more likely it is to succeed. We need the element of surprise to be on ourside, and we won’t have that if Rannirr knows what we are doing.”
Alianna studied the different access points Thallax had shown her on the map of Rionan’s home and his suggested route that she take with Ulreah. She looked at the surrounding forests, the grounds, and her eyes landed on a large, dark circle that stood prominently on the map itself. It was surrounded by the four walls of a courtyard, which had two other openings to the wider grounds and space surrounding Savangrad.
“I won’t miss,” she said, her voice certain.
***************
After going over their maps again several times and reaffirming their plans, Thallax left to tell their warriors to get ready to move. He would be explaining to them that their Lord had amassed enough power to stand against Rannirr, and that was all they needed to know at this point. The light was beginning to fade from the sky, and Thallax felt that this would give them an advantage, as they knew Savangrad better than their enemies. Battlefield advantages were everything, he had repeated to Alianna several times throughout their strategising.
“How many does Thallax command?” Alianna asked quietly, as the scrolls and maps were diligently packed away by Korva.
“The latest count is ten thousand,” Rionan muttered. There was a long, drawn-out pause. “We lost half of our forces in the last battle, before I arrived in Porthan.”
Alianna felt the small amount of breakfast she had managed to consume rise within her throat. “And how many does Rannirr command?”
Rionan hesitated, placing a hand on the small of her back as he spoke. “It is suspected that he commands at least twenty-five thousand troops, in addition to any Xanthian creaturesthat may have nowjoined his cause. Creatures of his own dark making, and any that he has convinced to fight with him.”
Twenty-five thousand.At least.They were outnumbered, so vastly.
“What of the Northern Lord?” Alianna demanded, anger rippling through her voice. “Doesn’t he send anyone to fight? Send any aid?”
“The Northern Lord and his people remain hiding in the far reaches of his territory. You must remember that he cares for my women and children, Ali. As much as I wish to remain in contempt, I do not. He has decided what his role will be in this war – and I have decided my own.”
“He’s decided to be a coward,” Alianna spat, and Rionan offered a contemplative look.
“That may be the case. Only time will tell which decision was correct: mine or his.”
The light was beginning to fade from the sky, signalling that it was time for them to move.
Rionan had asked Ykava to return to the council tent once more to check Alianna over for a final time. When she had finished, nodding silently to her Lord to signal she had everything she needed as High Healer, it was time to leave. Rionan retrieved the stone from the chest that he had kept it locked away in since their arrival at camp. He placed it in a leather pouch, which he secured across Alianna’s body and buckled closed.
“Slightly more hardwearing than canvas,” he offered with a small smile that did not meet his eyes. An attempt at humour in a difficult situation.
“A little more.” Alianna smiled back. She reached up a hand and cupped his cheek, looking into those mesmerising blue eyes that shone with such a strange mixture of affection and pure fear.
This would not be goodbye.
This would not be the last time they saw each other. Held each other like this.
Alianna told herself this over and over again, trying to keep her heartbeat even in her chest, although she knew that she could not fool Rionan into thinking she was not worried.
Rionan placed his hand over Alianna’s and stared at her for several long moments, an aching blooming in his chest, before Ulreah stepped up beside them.
“I will stay with her, My Lord. As I promised,” he nodded, looking from Rionan to Alianna.
“Ulreah,” Rionan started, looking to his friend. “I shall tell you the same as I have always told Thallax. Even on the battlefield. Please call me Rionan.”
He pulled his friend in to an embrace that seemed to shatter Ulreah’s consistent, cool composure, and for the briefest of seconds, they were not Lord and Stormbringer. They were Rionan and Ulreah – two friends who had found themselves in this awful situation.
“Thank you,” Rionan said quietly as he pulled away from his friend.
The three males looked at each other – Ulreah, Rionan, and Thallax, who was standing nearby, at the front of the assembled infantry. When Rionan nodded to Thallax, Thallax’s voice boomed through the air around them, as if being projected.
“Soldiers of Western Xanthia,” he cried, and all at once, everyone’s attention snapped to him. He stood before the assembly, head held high. Alianna could sense a strange, rippling energy flowing from Thallax, touching every member of the crowd gathered before him. “Our Realm has a dark cloud hanging over it, casting shadows on everything it touches. Our people cower in fear of the Lord of the East. Yet we, Warriors of the West, sayno more. We shall not cower in the face of injustice. We shall not hide from the enemy of peace. We shall not leave, in fear, knowing wecould have secured a better future for the next generation of young Xanthians.”
Alianna felt a shudder run through her body as that ripple of power from Thallax continued to flow outwards, in waves across the vast number of warriors that were gathered to hear their general speak.
“Today, we unite against Rannirr and his armies. Today, our Lord leads us into battle, empowered by ancient magic that will allow him to destroy the forces that seek to take your liberty. Today, we make history, and you will be remembered as those who freed Xanthia from the claws of tyranny. If death comes for us, then we welcome it with open arms, for we know that our death brings a new dawn for theRealm of Xanthia. I ask you all now – will you fight with our Lord Rionan?”
