Wilde's Army (43 page)

He reaches for me first. “
There is no need to run. You have done what you needed to do, Kate. You have given a speech powerful enough to unite our people
.”

The bravado in Arland’s thoughts matches the look on his face, but I haven’t given a speech. I haven’t said a word since I agreed to the terms of an army with Murchadha. And since then, I’ve only spoken internally to the gods—to their magic—for help with Dufaigh.

I shake my head. “
What speech, Arland
?”

“Dearest Katriona, you must be confused,” Leader Murchadha says, interrupting my silent conversation with Arland.

Arland’s eyes break their lock with mine then he turns toward Murchadha.

I do the same.

The Leader of the Sea Dwellers steps toward us, arms outstretched before him like a welcoming embrace. “While you lost control of your emotions, your thoughts betrayed you. Magic carried out your thoughtful words. The images you have seen of death—of war—played around the circle you cast to protect us. To say your thoughts were horrifying would be a misstatement. However, what you said was what we needed to hear. What you have seen, we needed to see. We are a tired people, Katriona, and have lost sight of what remains important. Years of living in the Darkness—living as captives in our own world—have diminished our sanity, and for that we apologize.”

My jaw falls slack. Tears well in my eyes, blurring my vision and turning everything blue. Arland wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into an embrace he hasn’t given me in public since … ever. I rest my head on his chest, inhale his scent, revel in his warmth and love.

“The two of you have broken the law, but Leader Dufaigh, High Leader Maher and I forgive you—everyone forgives you—and when the war is over, you will be returned to your Leader status. Encardia needs more High Leaders like the two of you, but since we agreed to adjust our political structure … .” he trails off, and everything falls silent.

Dufaigh forgives me? A minute ago he was ready to punish me for the rest of my life. Murder my mother and Arland.

“
Whether his forgiveness is real or not does not matter, Kate.”

Maybe Arland is right, but if Leader Murchadha’s waiting for me to tell them how I plan to restructure, he’ll be waiting awhile. There is no plan. I’d like to say be more like America, but they wouldn’t understand that, and I’m not even sure if I do.
Revolutionize
. The word spoken in Griandor’s voice floats through my head again, but what does it mean? Revolution. America. American Revolution. Patrick Henry. Brad’s speech in fifth grade … .

Wiping my tears on Arland’s soft tunic, I take a deep breath, let my arms fall from him, then once again face Murchadha. “The political structure needs to be adjusted, but you will still need High Leaders. There only needs to be a more equal division of power. And individuals need to be afforded rights, protecting them from ever being harmed by anyone in a leadership position. The government should be for the people, by the people.”

If only I’d paid more attention in my history classes. I’d never found them interesting, but now I’d like to travel back in time and be the star student.

Murchadha holds up his hand. “We will discuss these things after the war is over. For now, I would like to ask of everyone gathered, who will fight for Katriona?”

Before anyone answers, a black spot appears in my peripheral vision. Standing in my protective barrier are Cadman, Saidear, and the other soldiers from Watchers Hall who ran the rescue mission to Wickward. They all glow with fire … with magic. They step through the barrier then join the crowd, bringing with them hundreds of faces I don’t recognize.

“Cadman! You made it. We were beginning to worry when chatter box communications discontinued.” High Leader Maher watches behind Cadman as more and more soldiers, women, and children come through the barrier. “I take it all has been lost at Wickward?”

Cadman shakes his head. “No, sir.”

He looks at the gathered crowd then smiles when he sees me and Arland. “From the looks of things, I think it safe to say their truth has come out?”

Leader Maher laughs. “Yes, Cadman. If Wickward has not been lost, why have you brought everyone with you?”

“To fight for Katriona, sir.”

Those who were staring at the sky now stare at Cadman in all his glory. His normally deep wrinkles appear smooth, his red hair has grown at least an inch, reaching down to his ears, and his body is covered in leather armor.

“So you knew she needed an army?” Leader Maher asks.

Cadman doesn’t look away from his High Leader. “Yes, sir, and after what I witnessed during our travels between Watchers Hall and Willow Falls … I vowed to be a part of that army.”

Dufaigh steps forward. “What is it you witnessed, soldier?”

“Katriona rescued every one of us. She was attacked by a shifter—the same creatures which infiltrated both Watchers Hall and Wickward—and nearly bled to death. She protected us through the forests, fought off daemons when we were attacked, but what made me vow to always fight for her … with her … was when she died.” Cadman meets my eyes, crossing his fist over his chest like he did so long ago.

Murchadha and Maher exchange glances.

“She died?” Leader Maher asks.

“Yes, and was brought back to life moments later. Do you know what she did? She did not give up nor did she allow the rest of us to keep fighting without help … she fought harder until every daemon was dead. Right then I knew we were on the right path. Before I traveled to Wickward, she instructed me how to use old magic, and I was able to save our people from the same fate many of our fellow Draíochtans have already faced. They followed me here to fight. Without Katriona, they would all be dead.”

Leader Dufaigh squints his beady, white eyes then comes closer to me.

Although his demeanor appears to be one of a more friendly nature, his presence disturbs me. I rub my hands together and shift from foot to foot.

Arland holds out his arm at his side, pushing me slightly behind him.

He doesn’t believe in Dufaigh any more than I do, but the Leader makes his way around Arland then stands in front of me anyway.

“For years, I have been more concerned with control rather than life. Tonight, Katriona, you reminded us we were all going to perish. I will agree with your restructure, but more importantly,
I
will fight for you. Tell us what we must do and we will do it.”

I’m not sure what to make of him, but I can’t call him a liar either. “I—”

“I would also like to fight.” Deverell steps forward, fist over his heart.

Lorne, Cyric, Flanna, Brit, Mom, hundreds of soldiers, children, and friends step forward and announce their willingness to fight for me. Some take a knee and mimic Cadman and Deverell’s salutes—how Arland did when he swore his life for mine—others speak the oath with tears rolling down their cheeks, some with eyes flitting around.

Mom steps forward, out of the crowd, around the Leaders,
around everyone
, and takes my hands in hers. “I have always fought for you, and will continue to fight for as long as I live. There is no doubt in my mind your father is smiling down upon you from the heavens, Kate.” She speaks slowly, resonate … proud.

High Leader Maher returns to his feet. “You have your army, Katriona, now what do you wish us to do?”

His words drive understanding into me, a deep-rooted understanding of everything I’ve accomplished since venturing off the horse farm in Virginia. No longer am I Kate Wilde, college student, horse lover, best friend to Brad. Now I am Katriona Maher. I have fire. I have united a people who have battled for centuries. And now, I have an army.

I must seek out Dughbal and destroy him with these things. The Draíochtans know not why they fight, but I do, and I think it’s time I finally shared. “We have to find a fallen god and kill him. Dughbal is no longer an immortal, but the powers he has stolen from us will make the fight harder than it should be.”

“
A god
? We cannot fight the gods, Katriona,” Leader Maher says.

“Not gods, god. But you are right; you should not fight. You should remain here with the children and keep them safe. If we succeed, they will be our future, and if we do not, they may still be our future. Anna and Marcus, Kent and Keely—Encardia depends on them and all the other children like them.”

Anna and Marcus bounce up and down when they hear their names and wave. I don’t wave back, but I’d love to. I’ve missed my cheerleader and her enthusiasm, her wide smile and big brown eyes.

I look back to Leader Maher. “Griandor informed me I am the only one who can kill Dughbal, and I have many reasons why I want to.”

Taking a deep breath, Arland tightens his hold on me. “She is correct, Father … to an extent. Although Kate’s visions showed mostly death and failure—which I believe to be her own personal fears—those visions showed Perth, Flanna, Cadman, Brit, Kate and myself fighting. No one else. We only need a small army because we seek out one god, one god who has stolen the body of someone close to Kate. This will be a personal journey for her, for all of us. Aside from Cadman, we are all Leaders of Encardia. Does it not speak to you that the future Leaders must fight together?”

I already had an army and didn’t realize it. The only other thing Griandor wanted me to do was unite our people, and it appears as though I’ve done that. Flanna smiles at me, fist over her heart. I glance around at the others: Cadman, Brit, Perth, they all wear the same proud look, mimicking Flanna’s gesture. Arland is always able to figure these situations out so fast. I lean into him while the three Leaders gather in a small circle then confer with one another.

“
Are you sure we must go alone
?”

Arland kisses the top of my head. “
I
—”

“We have considered both of your opinions and approve your request for a small army. The soldiers from Wickward shall remain here; we will
all
remain here until this war is over. It is safer for us to be together,” Arland’s father says then directs his attention to me. “When would you like to leave?”

I don’t want to waste time any more. The war needs to end, Brad needs to go home, and I want my life with Arland to start, but I know everyone needs rest. “In a few days.”

Leader Maher nods. “We will prepare provisions for your departure. Shall we go inside and discuss?”

I stare at Arland. The gathered crowd forgotten, the war a small blip on my radar. Soon we will depart this place, we will be free, and we will be one step closer to a death I’ve seen Arland die too many times. Whether those visions were accurate or not, I don’t know, but what I do know is I’ll find out.

He looks down on me with what I interpret as both happiness and longing. Arland doesn’t worry about his death anymore—I read that emotion straight from his brain; instead, he feels complete with the acceptance we’ve been offered. He traces my jaw with the tips of his fingers, then threads them through my hair.

He’s forgotten the crowd as well.

“On second thought, we can discuss details with the two of you in the morning. Come along everyone, return to your quarters. There is much to be arranged inside. The soldiers need rest and Arland and Katriona need time.”

Without waiting for everyone to return inside, Arland takes my hand in his. We turn and go the opposite direction, back toward the willow, the candles, the river, back toward where our life together truly began.

There will be time for war tomorrow.

Tonight is time for us.

© 2012 Krystal Wade
http://krystalwade.blogspot.com

Curiosity Quills Press
http://curiosityquills.com

Please visit
http://curiosityquills.com/reader-survey/
to share your reading experience with the author of this book!

Official Homepage
|
Twitter
|
Facebook
|
Google+
|
GoodReads

Krystal Wade
can be found in the sluglines outside Washington D.C. every morning, Monday through Friday. With coffee in hand, iPod plugged in, and strangers – who sometimes snore, smell, or have incredibly bad gas – sitting next to her, she zones out and thinks of fantastical worlds for you and me to read.