Game of Prythian

Chapter Three

We all burst out laughing. Matt was a Day Court fae. His dark skin and hair matched that of Hava's. I was the only mortal among these fae, and yet they followed me as their commander. I never knew why.

I gave the signal and we all moved out. The horses burst into their full speed. Matt grinned at me, his long dark hair flowing out behind him. I glanced around. My soldiers, my friends, my brothers and sisters in arms. Fae or not they were my friends.

I shouted over the wind, "You know the commander's have been pushing me to name the legion, but I don't think that is entirely up to me."

I saw savage grins. A friend who's been with me since the beginning questioned, "Aren't we just the Hunters?"

"That's what the people on the other side of the wall call us. But I don't like it because it takes out the fact that we have females in this legion." I answered him. He nodded, and conversations of all types broke out upon what we might deem ourselves.

I grinned and pushed my horse a little harder. The grin was faked, the conversations hid my nervousness from them all. This would kill my friends, and I had no way to save them all.

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Hours later we arrived at the western coast. I shouted, "Stick to the woods, it'll be our only cover!"

I had four forest nymphs in the legion. One for each sector. They directed their sector horses on where to wait for us. And how long to. Matt noticed my nervousness earlier.

I shouted, rounding everyone up to listen to orders. Once they were all circled up I spoke the truth. "By estimates, there are going to be twelve ships, with two thousand a piece."

No one moved, I continued. "The Queens refuse to dispatch the other legions because their palace needs correcting."

Snarls cut through the air like arrows. "We are going into this without backup and without any idea of how many forces there truly are."

The tension spiked, "But if they get this cove, then our chances of losing the war entirely sky rocket."

"I gave you all orders on the ride here now to get to work." I commanded. I knew they could smell my nerves. Matt stuck with me. Regina left to go deal with her own orders.

A steady silence hung over us as we walked. I scurried up a tree, and Matt up another. I went all the way to the top, and looked for any sign of light over the water. Matt said from the tree across from me, "What do we do if we can't win."

"We take the whole damn cove down with us." I said evenly. If this was how I died so fucking be it. Matt nodded, and glanced around the waters. The sun glared into our eyes as it sank beneath the horizon. Matt said, "I see them, by the rate they're sailing they'll be here late tomorrow morning."

I felt around for Regina's power until we could talk through our minds. Give the order no fires, lanterns, or torches they'll be able to see us. I said to her. Regina sent a wave of compliance. Matt and I scurried back down the trees. It was warm enough to camp out without the tents.

We ate in mostly silence. The fruits and dried meats came in handy tonight. We didn't need to heat them up. Which meant we could keep our presence a secret. I sat in silence on the outside of our little circle, propped up against a tree as I listened to the forest. A long hunting knife sat lined up with my thigh. I said quietly so only their fae ears could hear me, "We need to be up before dawn tomorrow, we should sleep. Try to stick near the trees."

They arose from where they were sitting and went to their positions. Four years later and I still couldn't believe I truly got the trapper position for Graysen. Elain was probably with him tonight, it was her free day.