“Medith, you called it. He did send eyes to watch us. They’ve pulled back now, and the plan’s sliding forward like a shadow at dusk.” Iling rubbed her aching eyes, her voice ringing like a struck bell; even with sight that sweeps leagues, hunting a few ants on a boundless grass-sea was grinding her down.

“Ha! In the end he’s just a coward—bullies silk, fears steel, the sort of lord who clawed up by tricks.” Medith’s tone was light, like a breeze brushing reeds.

With a small feint she’d read him clean, like peering into a deep well of still water; from the way he tried to use Gerald to split us, the man had layers.

He always chases bloodless wins by any means, silk cords over iron blades; that kind of mind isn’t a hot-blooded young warhawk.

He figured a few watchers and Gerald’s cold shoulder would smudge my doubts, would cut a short but iron-tough bond like a knife sawing at green bamboo.

“Tail them back. Keep your speed like wind through wheat, don’t get seen. Loop from the west and slip to Dawnlight’s back gate. If they strike, our timing puts us on the field.

When it breaks, don’t hold back. If Paris won’t give me face, I won’t give him any.” A shard of flint flashed in Medith’s eyes. Sais’s voice carried a wisp of fog. “Is this really wise? He’s still a king, and a king who plays dirty.

If we fall out with him…”

“Sis Sais, that’s enough. The strong eat, the weak are eaten; that’s the winter law of this world. Allies stand on the ice of interest, not on vows.

Maybe Ostos truly held Her Majesty the Queen as ally, but that candle’s out now, the room gone cold.

I’ll fight, no matter the foe. As long as Medith speaks the word, I give everything.” Milia’s tone struck hard, like a drum in a tight gorge.

Sais nodded. “I know. I know all of that… I just…”

“Uneasy? Me too. Truth is, every battle scares me stiff. Look, my hands still shake like leaves in a night wind.” Iling laughed with trembling fingers.

Medith stepped up and patted their shoulders, warm palms on cold armor. “I know. My stubborn calls often put you on a knife’s edge, but believe me—I care. I care for you more than anyone, and for all I hold.”

“Of course…” Their smiles rose together, like frost melting under first light.

…

“Gerald Fortress Lord, their moves are getting tighter. They’ve been prowling the outpost for ages. We issued a warning, but it barely rippled the pond. At this pace, two days at most…” The guard captain’s brow was a storm front.

Gerald stroked the marble by the window, stone under palm, iron in his voice. “Pass my order. Citywide lockdown. From now on no one goes out. Check every weapon and strap every buckle, or bear the consequences.”

“Yes…”

…

Night of 9.10

“Gerald, I told you not to take in those walking disasters. Why didn’t you listen? Now look—their bad luck’s spilled on our heads like a black tide. A full ten thousand in an elite corps!

And that’s not the heart of it. The heart is, the Kingdom’s eye is on us! Do you grasp what that means?!” Norris’s roar cracked like thunder over slate.

Gerald went quiet this time, no rebuttal, his silence a held breath before rain. “Norris, I know your hatred for the Elf Clan runs deep, but after these days together, don’t you see?

Sprites are flesh and blood, same red water in their veins as ours. And from their side, they see us the same way. The fact they meet humans, and treat us like this, is proof of friendship.”

“So what? Does that wash out the fact they’ve doomed us—”

“Gerald Fortress Lord, bad news—the outpost’s been hit by the Hexclaw Legion!”

Gerald’s body jolted like a bowstring. In the distance, fire lanced into the night and bestial howls tore the dark; the one thing he least wanted to be true had come to pass…