Page 32 of A Flame of the Phoenix

Kyleer sheathed the Ember Sword but lingered his threatening stare on Cale for a moment longer.

She’d expected resistance and questioning when she asserted herself, and she wouldn’t let it shake her confidence. Agalhorbelieved in her, Reylan believed in her, her friends always stood by her, and most of all, Faythe believed in herself. It was a road that had taken her a long time to reach, but now she was here, she was not backing down for anything or anyone.

They stayed another hour discussing the finer details of moving the legions one by one inconspicuously, predicting where they might try to infiltrate next and staging their obliviousness to give others a chance to make haste toward High Farrow.

With each movement of figures across the map, the sound of the war drums heightened.

Faythe smiled to Commander Cale before she headed out, but he retained his sour expression.

“You did well in there,” Nik said, following her.

She breathed in the crisp air as they climbed a hill.

“Sometimes I miss delivering apple tarts.”

Nik chuckled then rubbed his stomach. “Marie’s tarts were the reason I started stalking you. Training you was just a cover-up to visit the stall.”

For the first time in weeks, Faythe genuinely laughed, pushing him.

Snow had begun to fall. Faythe reached out a hand, watching the white flurry land and melt against her leather glove with a sense of foreboding she couldn’t explain. She became entranced by the weather, but not for anything good. That was when she stopped walking, recalling the word of the Dresair she’d freed from the mirrors in a Rhyenelle town.

“When snow falls, it will not end until the war is won.”

Faythe sighed, wondering what had happened to the creature…if she’d unleashed another monster onto their land. She couldn’t think about that when she had three more imminent ones to slay.

Marvellas. Dakodas. Mordecai.

“Agalhor would have been proud of you,” Kyleer said gently, catching up with them.

She spoke her gratitude in a heavy smile. “They have a right to be wary of me,” she said. “I have a lot to prove, but I’m ready.”

Pride twinkled in Kyleer’s eyes, and she leaned into him when he slung a large arm around her.

“Where are the others?” Faythe asked Nik.

They’d tried to convince Tarly to come to the meeting, if only to be another allying monarch to their cause, even without an army to contribute. He’d declined, and it hadn’t felt right to insist after his look of reservation and defeat this morning. Tarly had lost his father, was separated from his sister, and had fled his kingdom with no ambition to go back. She didn’t know him well, but she ached for him.

“Lycus was helping Samara figure out our fighting attire. Nerida went into the nearby woodland to find new herbs, and Tarly claimed he needed materials for arrows, so he accompanied her,” Nik informed her.

A large white wolf stalked up the hill behind Nik. Her name was Asari. Faythe had found it amusing how the beast often followed Nik though he had little desire for its companionship. Her twin wolf, Katori, was always by Tarly’s side. A wonder, really, how the sister wolves had chosen two people who could barely tolerate each other.

Between Asari’s teeth were two rabbits, reminding Faythe she’d skipped breakfast this morning.

“She’s useful sometimes, I guess,” Nik grumbled, reaching out a hand to scratch behind her ear. He may voice his dismay, but he couldn’t hide the small hint of endearment in his eyes when he looked at the beast.

They headed back down the hill, deciding to walk into the forest and try to intercept Tarly and Nerida to share their rabbit meal with them.

An hour later, they’d made a fire, cooked and eaten the rabbit, and been found by Nerida, Tarly, Lycus, and Samara.

Faythe gave over to a punishing exertion in her sparring against Nik now.

“I must say, it’s thrilling to finally have you somewhat match my combat ability now,” Nik quipped.

She scoffed, clashing Lumarias to the Farrow Sword, pushing off and twisting right before they could lock still.

“Somewhat?” she goaded. “I’m about to hand you your ass.”

It was the perfect distraction they both needed. While she appreciated Kyleer was always eager to release their anguish through a session, she was rejoicing at the memories being with Nik stirred up.

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