Ashen Rise

"IGNORE HIM, he's being moody." Oberon sat down in a leather chair next to Callum, ignoring Nohx's closed office door. He slowly sipped his mug full of tea, gathering his thoughts for their next conversation. Because, despite his calm demeanor, his stomach felt twisted into knots.

"He's always moody," Callum grumbled, crossing his arms. "What's wrong with him now?"

Oberon eyed Callum. "I didn't peg you as dense."

Callum straightened in his chair, his mouth pulling down into a sharp frown. "I'm not dense. What's that supposed to mean? I'm not the one closing himself away in his office when we're a week out from the Royal Wedding!"

"Then you should know why his highness needs his own privacy." Oberon tilted his head back, eyeing the office door. He dropped his voice an octave. "Yesterday was the Festival of Stars. Surely you understand why a certain someone is upset."

Callum wrinkled his nose. "It's disgusting to me that you're suggesting that Sir Nohx even is capable of feeling upset about that. He's a tyrant. And the Princess deserves someone who isn't hiding away in his office!" Callum made sure to say the last part loudly, hoping to rouse the beast himself.

"Not sure why I bother trying to be peacekeeper," Oberon sighed. He took a long sip of his tea. "He wanted to be with her last night. And Andorra had spoken to him through the stars. He's agitated about her message."

"They can speak through the stars?" Callum's voice was that of disbelief. "But, only the Prophet knows how to do that. Not even Win can-"

"Andorra can't. Nohx however-"

"Is getting irritated that you're talking about him." Nohx pulled open the door, his dark eyes settled on Callum. His eyes narrowed slightly. "Let's get this meeting started. Or maybe we should wait a little bit longer if the two of you haven't finished your gossip."

Oberon leaped from the chair with too much enthusiasm. "We're just eager to see your smiling face and shining personality, your highness." His grin was a feline stretch across his face.

Nohx fixed Oberon with a glare at the word highness. Then, he settled his look on Callum. "So, I'm not allowed to feel upset, huh?"

Callum brushed past Nohx into the office, biting his own tongue. It would do no good to rile Nohx up in the office, not when there were things to be done about the Princess. Instead, he held his hands up in a surrender.

The door slammed shut behind the three of them. "We need the perfect entrance." Nohx moved to his desk, gathering his papers. "The timing has to be right."

"Her wedding," Oberon offered.

Nohx shook his head. "They'll be expecting that. Expecting someone to come and ruin the day. Everyone will be on high alert."

Oberon eyed Nohx with an alarmed look. His mouth popped open as he set his mug down on the nearby bookshelf. "You're okay with Andorra marrying him?"

"This needs to be perfect. We can't just arrive on their doorstep on the day of their wedding, when they have fae armed and ready." Nohx's voice was gruff. "I've been making plans. The Winter Court troops are ready to go. At my word, hundreds of fae will be ready to ride wyvern to the Royal Court and begin an attack."

"You're starting a war? I thought we were pro stop-war?" Callum's voice was a tad too shrill. He looked to Oberon, hoping to have an alarmed ally, but Oberon's face was thoughtful.

"You were right. I have no reason not to burn down Anlithamy to protect the Princess. And the Winter Court is not the only court on board with fighting the Royal Court before they can attack us."

There was a long silence. Tension was thick in the air. "You're telling me my father-"

"We spoke about this. Either you're with me completely, or you're with your father." Nohx cut him off completely. His gaze was steady, his face blank to hide his true emotions. Completely in control. "But yes, your father agrees."

"I'm with you, alright? Don't have to be such a brooding-"

"Dick?" Oberon cut in. Both Nohx and Callum spun to give Oberon a look of irritation. "What? I find that the human insult dick is an appropriate way to describe Nohx."

Nohx rolled his eyes, his face scrunching. "I find that you enjoy the human language far too much."

Oberon's grin stretched. "It's just so pleasant. And accurate. Now, let's stop lunging at each other's jugular and start planning. Nohx is right; we need to act fast. And the best way to act fast it to put the desire to protect the kingdom behind us. We either tear down Anlithamy to protect Andy, or we sit back and let them wipe her memory. Or worse, kill her."

Callum crossed his arms, clearly unhappy, but there wasn't much he could do or say to sway their opinions. "Fine. You're right. But the wedding? Is it smart to wait until after they're wed, or are we doing this in less than a week?"

"The timing has to be right. And they're all on high alert. They will be, until Anders is on the throne. But, the period of time right after the coronation? It'll be even worse. They'll expect an uproar from those opposed to the crowning of the King and Queen."

"So... it needs to be before the coronation." Oberon sanded his hands together. "They're on alert, but they're also too busy planning and preparing. An easy time for someone to make a mistake. For someone not to be watching as carefully."

"But, before the wedding may be even worse. They're so paranoid. What if we wait until right after the wedding? They'll feel a little relieved that step one in their mission to take over Anlithamy is finished. They'll feel confident. Assured. Too pompous to be watching their backs for those remaining days until the coronation."

Oberon watched Nohx's reaction. Out of the three of them, he was the most against the wedding. But, the Winter fae didn't appear stressed or upset by that at all. He looked thoughtful and serious, but not angry.

"According to Andorra, they have meetings almost daily. And the counsel looks stressed with all of the upcoming events. Despite being on high alert, they are weak right now. We just need an in."

"We need the Princess out of the castle. The minute they know of our arrival, they'll lock her away. Which means, it'll have to happen when she's visiting with Vulara." Callum paced back and forth, his body tense. "Once they realize the Princess is not in the castle, the entire court will go under lock down."

Nohx pointed at Callum. "You're right. Her being with Vulara will be the safest place for her while this happens."

"And are we just taking the Princess? Or are we also taking Anders? Are we taking out the counsel, while we're at it?" Oberon cracked his knuckles. "I'd really like to take out the counsel."

"We should take them all out. Every last one of them." Nohx turned to his notes. He began scribbling something down. "We're going to burn the royal court to the ground. Because it doesn't matter if we rescue Andorra. With the counsel in the court, they will do everything in their power to turn Anlithamy against each other." The venom in Nohx's voice reminded Oberon of their time in the human realm. It made him take pause.

"Aren't you worried though that Cornomous will send you back to the human realm? Ban you forever?"

Nohx felt the ice at his finger tips. He clenched his hands to stop it from creeping up his wrist. "If it means saving Andorra and Anlithamy, then it's worth it. I would live out the rest of my life in the human realm if it meant keeping her safe."

Callum looked to Oberon, his jaw working. He shouldn't have been surprised at the reaction from Nohx, but he was. "You were right," he said to the snow fae.

"Right about what?" Nohx snarled, his residual anger coating his words.

"That you have feelings. Now that we've planned our attack, I'd say we get some lunch. Plotting against the Royal Court has left me famished."

"You're always hungry." Nohx pinned him with a dark look.

"It'll make you feel better, I promise!" Oberon sang. But deep down, he knew that there was no cheering up Nohx. Not from what was about to happen.