Page 74 of The Ruthless Fae King
“Morning,” he whispered.
I looked at the scene before me and tucked into breakfast. There was a war map of the realm with figurines smack dab in the middle of the table. Bowls and platters of food sat around the edges of the map, and everyone grabbed fruit and breads and meat as they all shouted random ideas. I expected the other wives to complain about having a war map on the dining table but they were pointing out weaknesses in the border and advantages. I realized that they too were not just decorations. These were warrior women I sat with, and was proud to host in our home.
Arwen’s twin girls were brought in and out of the room by their nursemaids, and it was so sweet to see the dragon king dote on them. He kissed their faces, their feet, and rubbed their little hands along his scruffy beard.
As Lucien and Raife were arguing over the Narrow Strait, a messenger came into the dining hall with a wounded warrior. The Winter Soldier was missing an arm. It was wrapped tightly in gauze with a tourniquet.
Lucien stood quickly and rushed to the man’s side. “Ardell,” Lucien greeted the soldier.
King Lightstone stood as well and went to the man’s side. “Do you need healing?”
Ardell shook his head. “Bleeding has stopped. Unless you can grow back an arm?”
King Lightstone frowned. “I cannot.”
Ardell nodded. “I bring news, my lord. Distressing news.” He looked at everyone in the room.
“Speak freely, these are my closest friends and allies,” Lucien told him.
Ardell took in a shuddering breath. “I’ve snuck into Nightfall like you asked. I spied on the queen’s soldiers for a full day before I was caught and then got free.”
We all steeled ourselves for the next thing he was going to say.
“What did you see?” Lucien placed a comforting hand on his good shoulder.
Ardell looked off at the far wall as if reliving a trauma. “Her men… some of them… they can shift forms like the wolves at Fallenmoore.”
I gasped, standing from my chair and walking closer to him to make sure I’d heard him correctly.
“What do you mean?” Lucien spoke slowly. “They’ve been bitten? They’re changed?”
Ardell shook his head. “They’re not as big as Fallenmoore wolves. And some of them can only partially shift, but it’s enough to do damage.” He held up his bloody stump of an arm for effect.
Lucien began to pace the dining hall as the elf king reached out and held his hand over the man’s wound. A purple light emanated from his palm and the man’s face relaxed. “Thank you, my lord.”
“Is there anything else you can tell us?” King Lightstone asked him.
Ardell inclined his head. “They have hundreds of the machines they use to strip us of power. They’re on wheels, and a person only need lie in it for a few moments before their power is sucked into an elixir.”
“An elixir!” Queen Kailani stood, and so did the dragon king and queen. It seemed no one could sit any longer. We’d collectively lost our appetite.
Ardell nodded. “The soldier drinks the elixir and then has the magical power.”
King Lightstone and Queen Kailani shared a look. “We must have missed that,” they said in unison.
I didn’t know what they were talking about. My mind was stuck on the fact that Nightfall soldiers, against all odds, were now imbued with every creature’s power in Avalier.
“Thank you, Ardell. You may retire from service. You will receive full soldier’s benefits for the rest of your life,” Lucien told him.
Ardell dipped his chin. “Permission to stay on and fight? My magic still works with one arm.”
Lucien grinned. “Permission granted. Go rest up.”
Ardell bowed to all of us and left, and then the room exploded into dialog.
“They have the power of wolves now!”
“How long has she had these machines!?”
