The battle is officially ended by three short horn blasts from Leif.
My breath saws out of my lungs, and my entire body aches with the effort the training demanded, but I smile broadly. Pride pulses strength into my sore limbs.
“We did it.” I smile.
Lachlan throws a slick arm around me and returns my grin. “We did.”
“Thank you all so much!” I yell to the Affric and Fairhairs warriors who trudge from the ground. I was met with a few waves, but mostly grunts.
“That was our best training yet,” I say to the group as we gulp our water by the refreshments table. “How are the other units faring?” I scan the warriors as they leave.
“They still ha’ a ways to go,” Lachlan answers. “I’ve been working on partnering the Northmen with the Roman legions Marcus brought, but it’s been a challenge. There’s bad blood between a few of them that spans centuries,” he mutters.
Why Odin saw fit to bring enemies to a single realm and expect peace is beyond me.
I chuckle. “Yeah, I expected that. Any skirmishes, though?”
Lachlan shakes his head, but it’s Evander who answers. “Not really. There’s a growing feeling of time running out, so the consensus is we need to work together and quickly.”
It has been too quiet.
There’s been no news about Odessa and Julius, or how they feel about the fact that most of the capital now resides here.
My anger towards them has also shifted into something else, something quieter.
“And how do you all feel?”
“It does feel like something is coming,” Elowen mutters.
Mina sweeps her hair out of her face. “Well, I’m ready to take back your throne whenever you are ready.”
I smile at my friend, so eager for retribution.
“Elowen’s right,” Tane replies, his braid swaying slightly as he shakes his head. “I do feel like something is coming, but I’m not sure we should be storming the capital any time soon.”
“Why is that?” I ask, my face reflects my confusion.
“We’ve only recently solidified our ranks and have begun working together as units. We need more time to make sure we have all the kinks out.”
“That is correct. Most of our guards had trained together for years before they began working efficiently as a team,” Lachlan answers.
“But we don’t have years. We might not even have months.”
Mina jumps in. “How long do we continue building our ranks and strengthening our rebellion before we attempt to take back Lena’s throne, then?”
“Ideally, before war breaks out,” Mathilda grumbles, but freezes.
“I think she’ll want to storm the capital now,” Elowen whispers.
“And why is that?” Lachlan asks.
Mathilda and Elowen share a look, a flicker of fear passing between them before pointing at the sky, and that is when we see it.
The sky that is rapidly darkening.
The clear blue becomes an eerie silvery gray. I stare up at the sun but shield my eyes just enough to see a circle of blackness beginning to devour its golden light.
“It’s an eclipse,” I whisper.
