KDBookOnline
Share Us
“You’ll get used to it. Sila should be here soon, there are few things I need to organize before the evening meal. She was coming by to help take care of you.”
“Fine.”
Soren rose from her bed, hesitated awkwardly, then left.
The female who’d untethered her tiptoed in a moment later. “Hi, you can call me Milanny, I’m the healer in this quarter of camp. Are you feeling alright, dear?”
“Better, thank you.”
“I’ve never seen him like that, you know.”
“Like what?”
“Troubled. He didn’t rest once all evening, only ordered me to.”
The tent flaps flew open as Sila jogged in. “Thessa, I was so worried. I’m going to help you get washed up. I’m sure you’d like to join us for dinner, youmustbe starving.”
She wasn’t, she was angry, but still offered Sila a small smile. Sila reached her arm around Thessa’s waist, easing her onto her feet. Thessa could bear some weight on her mangled leg, but it still throbbed.
After a goodbye to Milanny, she rested her weight upon Sila, and hobbled out of the tent.
“So, you’ve met Echidna,” Sila whispered as they walked through camp.
“Indeed.”
“I’ve felt those fangs before, unfortunately.”
Thessa often recounted the horrors about the failed pregnancies—the ones she tried to forget.
Three males passed by and greeted Sila, sparing her from a response.
Sila continued, “Aside from the healer, and council, no one must know about her. Do you understand?”
“Why?”
“For one, no one knows about her. It’s just the way it is. From the council’s perspective, when everything else fails, the serpents will be our final defense.”
Thessa shook off the feeling of fangs plunging into her thigh. “So why not tell the rebellion about her, wouldn’t that inspire hope?”
“When you’ve watched our kind retreat on a battlefield, talk to me about hope.”
Thessa grew quiet. Sila was right. She knew nothing about battle. After a moment, she asked, “You anticipate we’ll lose?”
“I anticipate what may happen. As does our council.”
“Who, exactly, is part of this council?”
Sila hurled Thessa against a wall of a canvas as a cluster of children flew past them.
Thessa let out a small laugh. “Thank you, let’s not add being trampled by witchlings to my list of casualties.”
Continuing along the familiar path that led to the river, Sila said, “Aside from the general, myself and Jussal, there’s Brenneth, Sinclaire, and Christof. Brenneth is in charge of combat. Sinclaire is head of weaponry—I’m not sure if you two have been introduced yet. He’s a quiet male, keeps to himself, and his weapons. Then there’s Christof—the leader of the northern rebellion.”
“And what’s your position?”
“Magical training.”
Thessa’s brow lifted.