That night Diana, Jonah, and their protectors all dined with the afflicted twins, it seemed too cruel to Diana to think of them as Ash Makers. They were incredibly thankful to the four of them, stumbling over their words to get the gratitude out. The day she broke her hand and that night, a mumbled thanks was all Chiru could manage. So the Wanshi spent the whole of their dinner sitting far away from them all. The twins knew that Chiru wanted to return to the Order, while Ed said nothing, Susan went on to describe how awful their time with them had been.
“The cave got so cold and so dark, I hated it,” Susan told them. “We never had much to eat either. The food was so bland, nothing like this.” She scooped up her buttery elven mash, delighting in the salty taste of it. “Niae brought us actual sweets too, the Order only had grandma candies.”
“Like little fruit shaped hard candies?” Jonah asked.
“No, they weren’t anything special, just little balls of hard sugar. They weren’t the worst, but elven candy is so much better,” Susan replied. “I think I’ve seen what you’re talking about though. I thought you weren’t from here, how do you know about them?”
From his Bot, Jonah projected images of strawberry candies wrapped in film made to look like the fruit. “Here’s what my grandma always had,” he explained.
“Those look so much better than the ones we got…” Susan said as the twins walked to the wall. “They’re not good? How? They look so pretty…” Her hand touched the high definition image. “The matrons never had ones in such nice wrappings.”
Ed nodded, running his hand through the beam of the projector, casting a shadow on the wall. “How is it that small?” he asked quietly. “The ones at the theater are so much bigger than that. They have big reels of film and everything.”
“This one is digital, not analog,” Jonah said, plucking Bot off his shoulder. The little machine floated over to them and Ed held his hands out for it like a bird. The teenager gasped as its claws sucked into its body and it became a normal orb. Susan poked at it, jumping back and cursing as Jonah made it turn towards her.
“One day, everywhere will have digital films and video,” Jonah went on. “It will probably take a long time, but eventually it will happen. I don’t know if the projectors will be that small though… I saw the Couriers you guys had, on my world they're considered old fashioned cell phones. Not that it’s that bad to have something digital here.”
“They were really fun at first, we used them all the time. They had games on them, like board games, but made of ‘pixels,’” Susan said. “The Order had timers so we couldn’t play them for long. But they got boring anyway, there’s only so many times you can make the little snake eat the dot.”
Jonah chuckled at this.
“It was so you could focus on work,” Chiru remarked.
“We fucking hated that too,” Susan said, turning on her without missing a beat. “Kids forced to work, it isn’t right. It’s fucking banned in Grunhir.”
Chiru rolled her dark eyes. “Children need something to do,” she mumbled. "You two hardly worked."
“I liked exploring the city,” Ed admitted before the argument could continue. “The sewers were scary, but I like the city, it’s pretty.” He shifted Bot around in his hands.
Susan snorted in Chiru’s direction and turned back to her brother. “You always liked wandering around, exploring places you shouldn’t be,” she said, scratching his head roughly. “It was always getting him in trouble, I don’t know how many times they found him in the attics or cellars of the orphanages. He hates that we can’t go into the forest. It didn’t stop him from trying and getting sick from it though.”
“I like seeing the sights, when the matrons took us on field trips to the cities, that was the best,” Ed said with a slight smile. “It was so nice to get out and walk around. The trees and stuff weren’t so bad with all the buildings around them. I’d like to see a real forest one day without feeling bad.” Susan rubbed her brother’s shoulder, their faces both resolved to never live that dream.
“Hm, I think I can help you with that,” Jonah said happily.
Ed started as Bot flew out of his hands again.
Above the children’s heads on the wall came projected images of nature. The vibrant green and wet underbrush, their leaves heavy and drooping from the rain. Every ridge of the soaked bark was crisp and defined. Their mouths hung open as the camera pointed up at the towering trees and all their swaying branches. The tops of the pines climbed up to a gray blanket of clouds. Bundles of needles bobbed as the raindrops hit them. The viewpoint went down to a muddy trail, a trickling stream moving alongside it, past exposed rocks and tiny dips in elevation as it flowed down the hill. There was a narrow river at the base, misty and slowly bubbling along. The surface of it rippled with the steady deluge. From Bot came the soundscape of such a forest, one where most animals took cover, and all that was left was the constant shushing of the falling water.
Not only were the twins impressed, but most of the room. Rosetta floated over, staring at the video from several feet off the ground. Warren stood, tugging the Sorceress back by the jacket when her body interfered with the image. Niae and Kalyah watched in wonderment as the scene continued onto the soaked and rocky shore of the river. Casually Chiru peered over from her corner of the room, a restrained look on her face at the display. Aiko, whose tiger form still spooked the twins, watched as a house cat with a look of pure feline focus.
Diana smiled at Jonah, who was distinctly delighted at the joy he had brought to the room. Compared to the feature length movies of equal richness and wonder, this was still special to her. It was always fantastic for a Druid to see nature in such a peaceful state.
The twins laughed as the video showed a frog, blinking as the raindrops hit its head. They watched on for several more minutes as the camera moved along the flowing river. The owner of said camera’s boots crunching in the rocks and sloping in the mud. Thunder blasted out of Bot and the two shook at the sound of it. They laughed at their reaction, seeing the flashes of lightning in that gray cover of clouds.
“I wish we could see something like that in person,” Ed whispered, eyes reflecting the projection as his young face grew grim.
There was such sorrow in him that it moved Diana greatly. Before she could say anything, Kalyah went to the boy, hugging him and laying his head on her shoulder. “Isn’t this wonderful though? Not many people on this planet have seen something so nice,” the healer said softly. “Almost no one else has seen such an amazing film, hm?”
“Yeah, thank you, Jonah, thank you,” Ed said with watery eyes.
“We will take you to our kingdom,” Diana declared. “You’ll see some sights there.”
Ed’s blue eyes blinked out the tears and his sister’s stared in sudden surprise.
“When this is all over, you’ll be able to see the Magi kingdom and all the natural wonders there,” she went on. “I know Grunhir is beautiful and the forests are rich, but one can get lost in them. The sources are much too strong for afflicted like you. My kingdom is well known for its forests, but it is growing very modern as well. Within the cities there are small reserves of nature where you shouldn’t be pressured too much. We’ll find you a family where we can still visit, where Jonah can show you more wonderful films as well.”
“The parks were always fun, the trees weren’t that bad in Grunhir,” Ed remarked, giddy with excitement.
“A real family?” Susan wondered.
“Yes, we’ll find you the best of them. The best that royal resources can find,” Diana assured them. The thought of her mother and the foolish fight that had parted them surged through her mind. A deep regret and wound that had yet to heal. She hoped one day she would speak with her again. The tree was just outside, but she couldn’t bring herself to contact her. Why exactly, she wasn’t sure. The most recent reason was because she figured the Witch would see her through one of her many watchers, then say something horrible through the Mimic and make her mother panic. Then the queen would send an army and the surviving Ash Makers wouldn’t come. All their hard work would be undone by her mother’s panic.
“Thank you, so much, your highness,” Susan said, bowing her head.
“Please, sweetie, just Diana,” the Druid said, waving her hand.
When the four returned to their penthouse after a few hours of watching videos, they were met with a few surprises. Glimvet had left a Trio of Crow Clerics to watch over their room, one outside and two within. They were the small woman named Hwen, a man named Shesta, and a tall man named Bere. The last one was waiting for them outside their door, already in his elven trance with his staff resting against his arm. He sprung up from the floor with a pureblooded elf’s dexterity, shaking their hands and introducing himself and his mission. The Feast Leader was in the lobby with the Grave Paladin and Shesta was watching from the roof. There was no reason to protest their further protection for the night, so they thanked them. Two would be leaving with Glimvet to pick up the Ash Makers, and one would stay just in case. Jonah made sure they had keys for the elevator and they entered their apartment. Bere thanked him for the concern, sitting back down to enter his watchful rest once more. It wasn’t a common sight to see an elf trance, but useful for those that didn’t want to remove their armor or wanted to sit sentinel.
Hwen was sitting on the couch which had been Rosetta’s home. The silver eyed and pale skinned Night elf had her mask off and was drinking tea. When they entered, she bowed her head, using her gloved hands to fit her beaked mask on once again. Her staff was leaning against the couch and her censer was unlit. She introduced herself, explaining what Bere had already told them. When Diana came up to her, spying the still half full cup, she bowed her head further. The princess remembered the bit of elvish Hwen had said earlier, and asked her about it.
“Yes, the Feast Leader is my grandfather,” Hwen admitted, the sharp edge of her beak shining in the light overhead. “He comes from an older generation where even a Crow’s name did not matter.” She gripped at her grayish black staff. “Niae told us that our names did matter to you, so we have shared them.” The glass disks of her eyes flashed at her tea.
“Please, your vanity doesn’t matter either, let us drink some tea together. I love some chamomile before bed,” Diana told her.
The small woman, shorter and more petite than the princess, rose up from her seat. “No, I should take up a station,” she said, shaking her head.
“We are watched very well, surely a cup of tea shouldn’t matter,” Diana said with a smile.
“We got enough wards to alarm us should anything happen,” Warren said, filling up the kettle and setting it on the stove. “I’ll have a cup with ya.”
“Yah don’t drink tea,” Rosetta said with a confused look.
“I like sweet tea, I just haven't had any here,” Warren said with a shrug. “The other two are going the day after tomorrow, Hwen is staying behind to watch. We might as well have a nightcap with our fellow protector.”
Rosetta eyed the Crow as she floated to the end of the kitchen. “Aye…”
“I’m gonna need some tonight, anything to help me sleep,” Jonah said shakily as he leaned against the back of the kitchen counter.
Hwen tapped her staff to a jingle of its ornaments. “Oh, there’s parchments that have arrived in your Messaging circle, sir Paladin,” she said, pointing over to the table.
Warren walked over, taking a deep breath as he scooped up the rolls of paper. His eyes darted across them, reading them several times. “Fuck…” he grumbled, tossing the last of them down.
“What’s wrong?” Diana asked, sifting through them. They were in elvish, a coded version used by the army and she only understood maybe a word or two of it.
“The blockade has escalated, the Wanshi are reporting that their ships are being attacked. They're blamin' the alliance ships for doing it,” the Captain reported, scratching his face roughly. “Nothin’s been sanctioned of course, and they're full of shit. But they're awful serious and Old Bill isn’t sure if they’ll be under attack or not. We might not have any back up when the Ash Makers come.”
“Oh God…” Jonah whispered in fear.
“Darling, it should be the morning, most of the Night Crew should be unable to surface,” Diana said, making her way over to him. “That’s assuming they even know to attack us at all.”
Warren sighed, crumbling one of the papers. Rosetta floated beside him. “I’ll talk to the Psyin temple tomorrow,” he said, holding his forehead and adjusting his diadem. “Maybe if they watch from afar or see the Heroes they’ll change their minds.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
“Probably not, the stubborn arses,” Rosetta scoffed.
“Might as well try,” the Paladin said. “Damn, I think I need a shot of whiskey with my tea.”
The kettle started to whistle, blowing its steam towards where Jonah was stationed, with Diana trying to comfort him. Warren removed it from the burner and Rosetta brought tea cups and saucers out of the cabinets with a wave of her hand. As the steaming water slowly turned darker, Diana wondered what exactly to do.
"What do we do if they don't help us?" she asked the room. “If the Psyin temple decides that Ash Makers and royalty are not worth protecting? If there is an attack and we are left to defend on our own?” A little spark of an idea flickered in Diana’s mind.
The Captain brought out a bottle of whiskey and popped the cap of it. Into a spare teacup he poured a small portion of the honey liquid. His gauntlet scraped across the ceramic as he slung the alcohol down his throat. He sucked his teeth at the sharpness and finally shrugged. "Figure somethin' else out," he mumbled.
Hwen approached the princess with the quiet billow of her cloak. With a click she shifted her mask down and removed it. Her silver eyes were the color of a well polished platter, standing out vividly as they glanced around the room. "Grandfather led us here under a veil, upstairs Shesta trances in the shed, having veiled himself there. When the Ash Makers come, they will be veiled by the strongest of our temple. Niae explained the ultimatum given to you, Miss Diana, and the day after tomorrow will still be three days until that week is over. If everything goes right, then the group will arrive and be under our protection. A message can be sent to the army that they are here and are in need, surely then there will be someone available to meet them here," the Crow Cleric said, bowing her head at the end of her speech.
"That might work, not a fan of sittin’ and waitin’…" Warren mumbled. “I’ll still talk to the temple. It might not be a bad idea to contact the king and queen of the Magi.” He flicked his focus to Diana.
“I cannot call my mother,” Diana said firmly. The sudden spark grew bright and she was filled with an eagerness to hold onto it. A faint glimmer of hope that part of her knew was wrong instantly. The other parts of her reached out for it, holding it unformed and unspoken in her mind.
“Why not?” Jonah wondered. “Why can’t we call your mom?”
The Druid stood straight, pushing out the quiet doubts in her mind. “Because, you haven't seen her, Jonah. She’s a mess of emotions and if she has no army to back her, then she will be absolutely useless. My father will be equally busy with negotiations now that they are struggling.” Aiko grumbled, looking up at its master. It knew what dwelled within her mind and its icy blue eyes stared coldly at her.
“I’m sure she could wrangle a group of fighting strong together,” Warren said, folding his arms across his broad chest.
“Possibly, but we would have to deal with her instability,” Diana went on. “She wants me safe at home and has no interest in the children downstairs. I can’t say what would happen to them if she got suddenly involved without my father or the army behind her. Rosetta, you spent a lot of time around her recently, you know how unpredictable she can be now.”
The Sorceress, who had been idly drinking her tea, raised her head. “Wot?” she asked.
“My mother, we can’t rely on her, don’t you think so?” Diana rephrased, she felt her heart beating quicker in her chest. Inwardly she couldn’t believe herself, but what she had kept quiet for a long while was now speaking. Hwen, blessed with elven hearing, peered over at her. Surely she could hear the princess’s nerves.
“I dunno, she’s been upset ever since yah know,” Rosetta said with sorrow in her pearl pupiless eyes. “She luvs yah and she’s still well respected by the army… Yer dad could probably gather some people together too.” This last bit she directed at Warren.
“The old Wolf would probably go to the queen first, they're pretty good friends from back in the day,” Warren said with a nod.
“Would it be so terrible to wait here quietly, like Hwen said?” Diana offered, holding her staff with both hands. She gripped it tightly to hide her trembling.
Jonah eyed her suspiciously. “We still need some back up, just in case,” he stated. “Not having anyone to back us up would be a terrible fucking situation. It'd be the worst case scenario.”
“He’s right, and may I ask what yer playin’ at, Miss?” Warren said sternly, snorting a long breath. “Ya sound like yer tryin’ to lead us into somethin'. I might be a Paladin, but I know a thing or two about psychology.”
“What? I… It’s just that I think my mother isn’t going to help us much. Your father and uncle are preoccupied too,” she stammered nervously.
“The Magi army is pretty big and we have the Psyin temple here to ask after,” Warren continued. “We’re gonna find people to help us, it might take some explainin’, but we’ll get it.”
“What if those communications are interrupted? What if the Heroes are watching that?” she asked, feeling her voice rising in pitch. “Hwen’s idea of sitting in silence until help can be found is not that bad…” She gestured to the elf.
Hwen nodded. “Grandfather is skilled at veiling, he will have them here in no time. The wards and traps he has placed on the doors are quite deadly as well to the undead and any intruders,” she said simply.
“We’re we to fight, then it wouldn’t be so bad for us,” Diana said, feeling the words escape her. “Many of the Night Crew can’t come out during the day.”
Jonah stomped his metal foot into the stone work, causing a thunderous clap. Warren was the only one not to jump at the sudden explosion. “Is that it? You want to fight now?! You want to fight for our lives?” he said loudly, a sound painful to hear. His emerald eyes blazed at Diana, she didn’t recognize this furious man looming over her. His metal hands were spread wide and he shook them menacingly as she stood quiet.
Diana breathed quickly, swallowing at the dryness of her throat. “No, I-I am only saying that we could, should the chance arrive, we could fight. We have a Feast Leader, two Paladins, six skilled Clerics, and a former Court Mage.” She feebly gestured to the people in the room as Jonah’s glare grew more frightening for her. All that she had held onto mentally vanished. She felt all at once that she was losing him. “I’m--”
“‘The chance’?” Jonah roared. “Actually getting attacked is the worst thing to happen. All this training, armor making, it’s just in case the army is too late. I’ve been shooting for a day and a half, Diana! That’s nothing!”
“No, stop, I… please, oh gods Jonah, forget it, forget I said a blasted thing!” Diana slammed her staff into the ground, disrupting the nervous spiral of wind circling her feet. The magic dispersed like the fight within her.
He swallowed down his anger in fast deep breaths. “Why would you even think such a thing?” he said, his voice still having a sharp edge. “We need to avoid a fight at all costs. The Heroes will just kill those kids, I’d never forgive myself if Susan and Ed were hurt. Chiru would try to fight too, and they would kill her too, all the Ash Makers would just die like their friends.”
Diana gave out a pathetic cry. She imagined the blonde twins covered in blood, dead on a bed like her sister. She butted her head against the unyielding wood of her staff. The force rocked through her skull and sent shockwaves through her teeth. She had to get the image out. How could she be so foolish and brash?
Three quick hits into the staff, Diana’s head was pulled back by warm metal hands. Jonah held her, fighting the object out of her hold. Twisting about she buried her face into his chest, clenching her teeth at the agony on her forehead. She wrapped her arms around him, anchoring her fingers into his back, warm beneath his leather jacket. Aiko sent her the feeling of annoyance, then acceptance as its mighty body brushed up against the combined pair.
Jonah hugged her back, running his hands through her tousled hair. “Why?” he whispered. “I just don’t understand why, Diana? We were planning everything just in case, why did you suddenly think it’s a good idea to fight?”
“It’s not!” she sobbed into his shirt. “It’s a terribly daft thought that I never should have voiced.” She ground her head into his shoulder, feeling the stiffness of his collarbone across her injury.
Through Aiko she saw Jonah looking around the room for answers. There were none forthcoming. Warren stood in silence, a vaguely irritated expression on his stubble darkened face. Rosetta’s eyes were downcast, fingers picking at the bindings of her fingers. Hwen appeared quite uncomfortable at the development. How dreadfully embarrassing, Diana thought, to make such a fool of myself. She wanted to break the tie with her familiar, but the tiger kept the connection strong. She had let the quick and stupid thoughts leave her lips. Not only that, but she had built up to it, trying to pass off the idea like a salesman with shoddy goods. She was just like her mother, unstable and unhinged. She knew everything that was wrong with her wish to fight, the reasons crowded her mind now, making her head hurt more than the growing bruise across her forehead.
“Ya had a reason, so go on,” Warren said sternly.
“It doesn’t matter, she’s already suffering enough,” Jonah said, gently kissing her head. “I’m sorry that I got so mad at you, baby girl, I… I don’t ever want to do that again.” He took a deep breath as his voice started to crackle with emotion.
“Getting it out will help us understand,” Warren pressed on.
Jerking her head to the side, Diana stared out from her haven of Jonah’s jacket. She spoke in harsh and fast tones, raging at herself and not the others in the room. “To prove myself, to prove I am a Hero. I know we would face no chance against the whole Night Crew, even during the day. A Hag could cloud the sky and the Vampire and the Ghouls could attack with the sun out. The Werewolf could even attack us, transforming in the shade. The Heroes, the Guardian and the Rider might join, their magical weapons could cut through the wards with enough effort. Who knows if Angelina and Fia would dirty their hands as well… It was stupid, but this alone I stand on, I will not contact my mother. There is a whole army to call, a whole temple here. The Archdruid queen will be of no help, she is unstable, as I am sometimes. The death of my sister has corrupted her mind, there is no telling the danger she could put herself in coming here. I may lose control of my magic sometimes, but she has not had a hold on it since Luann…” Her voice began to get hoarse and a catch formed in her throat. She coughed, a horrible scratching one.
Jonah held out his hand to Rosetta and he gave the warm tea to his love. She carefully drank it, seeing through Aiko the damage that she had done to herself and the extent of the red marks on her skin. Maybe she understood Rosetta better than she knew. This self harm only came about since Luann, pain sometimes seemed the only thing to shed her of the thoughts. As Jonah held her, pecking her head, she recalled how fierce he had become. She never wanted to see that again, not aimed at her. His care eased the trauma of loss and despair far better than self harm ever could. The fact that he was still willing to comfort her was amazing. One hand cradled the cup and the other clung needfully to his shirt, her fingers damp from her own tears given the sodden fabric. She had to hold onto him.
Warren tapped his fist on the marble countertop. “I understand the need to prove yerself, the urge to fight. In the Whittaker family we call it the 'Blood thirst.' It's the reason most of us join the army or the police force. It's a damn curse from back before my grandpa Warwick. We get the itch to fight and ain’t nothin' will settle it save the action itself. It's how a lot of my brothers and sisters wound up dead, or all cut up. You've seen my pa, my uncle, all the cuts across their faces, the burns, the lost eye, all from fighting past when their armor gave up on 'em." He sighed from his great chest. “It ain’t worth the trouble to always give in to that, to wanna fight. Without more help, we’d be fighin’ an uphill battle, one we can’t win.”
Diana was silent, nodding after a few moments. She had never been so shamed among those she considered friends. Hwen was a stranger, and she hoped the elf didn’t think that the young human was always like this. To believe she forgot about Luann long enough to feel she had something to prove, to anyone, was absurd. The princess must have thought about Angelina’s gloating face without realizing it and pride had gotten in the way of her common sense.
“Ya get it, alright, well, best to get off to bed. Y’all need yer rest,” Warren said, then he chugged his tea down like he had the whiskey.
“Should we call a servant of the Holy Mother for Miss Diana’s head?” Hwen wondered.
“No, I should like to keep the mark, at least for now. The headache will help me sleep,” the Druid said in a quiet voice. “I should have listened to Aiko when she first expressed her frustration with me. I apologize, one last time.”
“We all forgive you,” Jonah assured her.
She weakly smiled at him. “Drink your tea, my love, all will be sorted, but your nervous soul will have a hard time sleeping I imagine,” she said in a low whisper.
He took a deep breath. “Yeah, yeah, it will be,” he agreed. She felt his heart rate rise against her arm. He sipped at the tea, green eyes troubled over the rip of the cup.
“I’ll call the Psyin temple tonight, get some kind of answer out of them,” Warren stated. “Go on to bed, don’t wait up for me.” He signaled to Rosetta.
Since the Paladin had mentioned his family and their curse, she had been lost in thought while gazing in his direction. She was wavering in the air when Diana and Jonah brought up the subject of dead children. What exactly went on behind that pearl set of eyes, Diana who was watching through the curious wandering tiger, didn’t know. They didn’t have to wonder for long as she spoke. “I don’t think I’m ready to fight anyone, yer better off not countin’ mah as a resource,” she said glumly.
“No one has to fight, we’re gonna get back up and the Heroes and Angelina’s pets will turn tail and run. Or even better, they’ll have to give themselves up,” Warren explained with a smirk.
Rosetta swallowed. “Aye, I’m not ready to fight with yah, I won’t be of any use,” she rephrased, floating off towards their bedroom.
Watching her for a moment, Warren shook his head. “I’m off to use the phone downstairs, goodnight,” he said, flicking his fingers off his diadem to them like one might a hat.
That night Jonah and Diana tossed and turned together. They moved in an uncoordinated mess, unable to decide if they should hold each other or not. There was silence between them, as nothing they said could make things any better. The valerian root could only do so much and she was bodily exhausted, but her mind kept running. It sprinted through the shame, the worst case scenarios, and one choice it constantly flip flopped on like a fish on a dock. It was a fifty-fifty, both absolute decisions. If she contacted her mother, then some of those horrific scenarios came about. All that she had kept hidden would be bared and she would have to endure the erratic beast that had taken the place of her mother. Facing her through a projection had been awful enough, flesh and blood would be too much. Then again, what if she didn’t contact her mother and she was putting those children in danger?
At breakfast the couple was yawning widely. Their eyes were heavy and they ate mechanically. Jonah kept glancing back at their bedroom longingly. She didn’t blame him and if she could sleep any longer, then she would. There was a bruise on her head on which she applied a cream, the pain only increased by the lack of sleep. The last bit of valerian root had yet to leave her too. She figured that maybe if she ate just enough she could sleep again from the weight of it all.
“Well, here’s the good news,” Warren said, serving himself from the platter. He had promised it when they first came lumbering out and it made them sit up now. “The Psyin temple here says that if anything bad arrives, all we need to do is call them and they’ll be over here. I was surprised, but I’m glad.”
“They should be here now,” Diana grumbled.
“I agree, but it is their job to show if trouble arises, we should be happy they’ll do that still,” the Paladin shrugged.
“So we have our back up?” Jonah said, yawning so wide it twisted a muscle in his lower jaw. He rubbed at it with grit teeth, scowling when it was all done.
“We do, which is good, since I have bad news too,” Warren said with a flat mouth.
“What?” Diana asked.
“Eutace heard from his platoon this morning, the blockade has escalated further, the Wanshi have given the alliance an ultimatum that they’ll attack if any of their ships are harmed again. Of course, the army hasn’t done anything, so they can’t stop what they didn’t start. We can’t expect any help from the Magi army, it could be a full battle out on the ocean there.”
“Wonderful…” the princess sighed.