“Fetch him,” Hydris said like that should’ve been obvious.
I grinned at the bossiness that seemed to come naturally to my little prince now as I gripped his hips and lifted him up over my head. His wings fluttered and he flew around to pick me up and set me on the ground as Silver Sparkle shrank back to her normal—maybe preferred—pony size. While we waited for the general’s arrival, Hydris baby-talked to the unicorn about how fast and wonderful she was. I almost joined in because she was all that and more, but I decided a respectful distance was better for both of us.
All around us were soldiers who looked a little too thin and awfully nervous. Only some of them had any armor at all, like maybe they’d run out by the time they got to these guys. I couldn’t believe that the presence of their prince was making them that twitchy—he was still cooing at a unicorn—so what was it? Oh. Did they think he was here to start the war?
“It’s not happening,” I told them. “He’s here to stop all of this.”
“What?” several voices asked.
Hope lit a lot of their faces, and I knew then that I was right. None of them wanted to fight, but they were terrified they would have to.
“We’re here to tell the general to retreat. There will be no war.”
One kid made a sound like he was trying to keep a sob inside as everyone around us looked to Hydris. Thankfully, he was finally done praising his unicorn and had started paying attention.
“That’s right,” he said before pausing to clear his throat. “No more fighting. You’ll all be going home now.”
That kid started loudly crying, several more being quiet about it, and all of them visibly relieved. I’d never served, so I had no idea what it might be like, but this entire scene had me feeling like these people had been living through hell. Because of past wars? Because of the threats used to get them here for this one? It honestly felt like Hydris had just liberated them.
“What’s going on here?” a big bass voice barked as a large man in shining silver armor stomped into view. He shoved out of his way those who didn’t move fast enough and frowned with full judgement at those who were crying. “Explain yourselves!”
I could see Hydris shrink a little, and I didn’t blame him. That had to be General Albion and he was an intimidating guywho no doubt used that to his advantage. Him and Mannix had probably gotten along like a house on fire.
“General Albion,” Hydris said with his shoulders back and head held high.
“What? Ah. Finally,” the general said as he seemed to notice Hydris and recognize who he was. But then he looked to someone else and said, “Tell the front to start the attack.”
“No! I am not here to start,” Hydris said forcefully. “I’m here to end this. You will remove all personnel from the border and return them to their normal duties.”
“Normal duties?” the general scoffed. “These are farmhands and useless layabouts recruited on the march here to fight for their way of life against our enemies.”
Well, that explained the crying. They were only dressed like soldiers.
“General, I will not say this again, so hear me now. There will be no war today or any day.”
A shiver went through me at the rock solid tone of Hydris’s voice. He was tapping into his princely side and it was incredible to watch.
“No war?” The general seemed genuinely confused. “I have several communications from you detailing exactly what you want from this conflict.” He waved his hand at someone who might be an aide, and they promptly started fishing around in a satchel.
Hydris shook his head. “You have been communicating with Lord Mannix, who was acting without my consent.”
“I don’t believe it.” He grabbed a handful of papers from the aide and waved them at Hydris. “Every single one of these has your seal on them.”
“Something easily forged.”
They stared at each other from some ten feet apart, and damn but it was hot to see Hydris holding his ground like that.
“I unmade Mannix for his crimes this morning, General. I would hate to have to do the same to you for disobeying me now.”
I bit my lip to keep from smiling too much as I fell even more in love with my vicious little prince.
The general shoved the papers back at his aide and frowned so hard that his eyes nearly disappeared beneath his brows. “Sound the retreat. Have them moving within the hour.”
As the general stalked across the open area between them, obviously heading toward an opulent tent, it occurred to me that maybe, under normal circumstances, a general wouldn’t be so dismissive of his leader.
“General?”
He paused and swept his gaze over me.
