Page 135 of The Stolen Kingdom

The cat stared up at Kenna, licking her maws and hissing once the Vulcanian queen walked past her. Now standing by the crib, Kenna looked at the babies and then at Maris.

“I suppose I should give you my condolences as well. Eyphah told me you and Melvian were close.”

Maris simply nodded before her breath hitched as Eyphah walked into the room. The dark circles under Eyphah’s eyes were all Maris needed to know that the woman was just as broken as she was. The two of them locked eyes for a heartbeat before the other Sealian walked over to the crib.

Valda stood straight and took a couple of steps away from the crib, allowing Eyphah to have her moment with her niece and nephew.

“I do not wish to put more pressure on your shoulders, Survivor of Storms, but we must plan our next move now and make haste,” Kenna said, her hand landing on her ax while her gaze jumped from Maris to Valda.

“Goddess Eris is wounded, this is when we attack…” Valda said, locking her eyes with Maris.

A subtle grin curved on Kenna’s lips, her attention falling on Cerberus, then on Maris. “What do you have in mind?”

***

Maris pushed the goblets and plates off the wooden table as Valda unrolled the Sky Kingdom map. The four women gathered around while Valda placed chips and tokens over the map. She marked the castle, New Agenor, and the towns near Oberon.

After she was done, Kenna pushed her aside and grabbed a red chip and placed them around Oberon and on Prospero. Valda frowned and crossed her arms over her chest.

“You’ve been close to Oberon all this time?”

“Of course. I must keep an eye out on your army’s movement,” Kenna said with a shrug. “When I noticed you were not coming in and out, I wondered where you were, that’s when we started rummaging through some towns and Umbriel Desert.”

“Why didn’t you attack when you had the chance?”

“Because I was after you, not Arwin,” Kenna answered.

“Yet you attacked any Skylian you found.”

“Can we focus?” Eyphah said, throwing an angry glare at both Valda and Kenna.

Kenna scoffed before clearing her throat. “I may look like a barbarian, but I am not one. I think and prepare and prioritize attacks.”

“Youdoknow that Arwin’s army has taken hold of your artillery. That’s the only explanation for their attack,“ Valda said.

Kenna waved her hand dismissively. “Nothing compared to what we have.”

“Weapons like those killed my best friend,” Maris said, her tone harsh.

“And my brother…” Eyphah whispered before glancing at Kenna. “A bomb killed him…”

Kenna opened her mouth, but stammered for a moment. She seemed disappointed, almost embarrassed. “We all lose when there is a war. Even if you reign victoriously, the souls of those who had to perish will haunt you every day for as long as you live. If the souls of the fallen, don’t haunt you, then it will be the memory of who you were before grabbing your first weapon. Hopefully, this will be our last fight.”

“Hopefully,” Valda added before patting the map. “How many troops do you have outside of Oberon?”

“Many are hidden in Ophelia awaiting orders. We can create a distraction while you sneak inside, just like you snuck into Prospero.”

Valda frowned, staring at the map as Kenna placed a couple of red chips around Oberon and Ophelia. “Do you have any soldiers without a thick Arevulcan accent that could join my men? They might play Skylian soldiers. Maybe bounty hunters?”

“How sure are we that Arwin and Eris are in the castle?” Eyphah asked, her attention falling on Valda. “What good can an attack on them be if they are not there? We will lose people for nothing.”

“After every battle, Arwin rushes into the castle to recoup. It has been his way since I can remember. With Eris hurt he—“

“He must be using the castle as a temple for Eris…” Kenna interjected, rubbing her chin. “Unless they have a blessed Asclepius worshiper, there is no way for Eris to heal unless she is in her temple. And for what I can see, her most faithful worshiper is Arwin, am I correct?”

Valda and Maris nodded at the same time.

“She is recuperating,” Kenna muttered, grabbing a chip and placing it over Oberon Castle. “To kill a god, you must use a holy weapon.” Kenna patted the ax on her waist and then pointed at Valda’s Heaven Sword. “But you must destroy everything related to them as well.” Kenna’s purple gaze shot up to Valda. “Everything.”

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