Maeva by Robert Oliver

Author:Robert Oliver
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2020-04-04T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 34

Later that day, Niv assembled Farius, Shareis, Frasie, Aiden, Lilly, Adrious, and Aja in her room in the inn. She sat in the rocking chair next to the fireplace. A single, dark orange shaft of afternoon sunlight illuminated her friends’ grim faces.

“I’ve spoken with the mayor. Before nightfall there should be more barricades, bows and arrows, and supplies ready for us to defend the city. Regardless, we must decide our next move. Before I make my final decision, I wanted input from all of you.” She took a deep breath and rested her hand on her knee. “I believe Ashmar should be our last stand.”

“Shouldn’t we evacuate the rest of the civilians to Masola?” Frasie asked.

“Frankly, I’m not sure we’ll make it that far.”

“There are some good fighters in the militia,” Shareis said. “With more explosives, plenty of arrows, and a hefty dose of courage, we may yet be able to withstand a siege.”

“Masola and Selandis have a far superior army,” Aiden said. “We could really use their help.”

Farius shook his head. “Cadrin expects us to run, and he has undoubtedly prepared for that. We need a novel strategy…something he would expect us to do.”

“You know him better than any of us,” she said. “What do you suggest?”

While her father pondered her question, Aiden interjected. “Cadrin wanted to keep Olivia alive.”

“Perhaps because of her connection to Narelle?” she asked.

“I’m not sure,” Aiden replied. “Morgan wanted to kill us then, but Cadrin delayed our execution.”

“His interest in Olivia might be all that is keeping us alive,” Farius suggested. “We should seize the opportunity and rescue her.”

“I want to rescue her, too, but we are hopelessly outmatched,” she said.

Lilly looked to Shareis. “A pair of stealthy Proctors would be well suited to the task.”

“This town would lose two of its best fighters,” Niv said. “But rescuing Olivia is worth it.”

Shareis stood. “Only a sliver of daylight remains. We have no time to waste. We will leave immediately.”

She stopped them. “Wait just a moment.”

Lilly looked back to Shareis before leaving the room. “I’ll fetch some provisions.”

She knew her wife was best suited for the job, but she wished it was anyone else embarking on such a dangerous mission. She cared dearly for all her friends, but she couldn’t bear the thought of losing Shareis.

She took Shareis to the corner and lowered her voice. “I know you have to go, but everything is happening so fast, and I…”

Shareis rested her hands on her face and pulled her in for a kiss.

“Promise me you’ll come back,” she whispered.

The expression on Shareis’s face told her she wanted to make that promise, but she knew her wife was too honest and sincere to pledge something that might not be possible.

“I promise I will be careful, love,” Shareis said.

She held back tears as she hugged her wife goodbye. She lingered in the doorway and watched Shareis descend the staircase. She took a deep breath, closed the door, and returned to the rest of her friends.

“I can scout the woods by air,” Farius said.

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