Fall

Atlas

“Trene’s here,” a breathless messenger said. He ran away again before Donovan could respond.

“Atlas, do you want to speak to them?” Donovan said.

“Can I go?” Kane asked.

Donovan gave him a thinly-veiled glower. “You’re not leaving our protection, princeling.”

“He’s right,” Atlas agreed. “You need to stay in the core of soldiers. We can’t have you hostage by the East-West.”

Kane was clearly irritated, but his botched meeting with Queen Celia had proven how underhanded the other leader could be. Atlas wasn’t willing to risk his son again, and truly didn’t want to let him out of his sight, but talking with Trene was of the utmost importance.

“I’m going,” Milla said.

“Me too,” Skye piped. She frowned when Milla looked to her. “What?”

“Not this time, Skye.” Milla folded her arms. “When are we leaving?”

“Now.” Donovan waved over a few soldiers. “Take a guard with you.”

A few flurries touched Hudson’s nose and melted. He sneezed. It’s starting to snow.

So it is. Atlas’s steps were heavy as they marched around the back of the Northern camp. Trene was a little ways away, closer to the middle of the battle than he liked. They were decked in winter camouflage of white, pale green, and baby blues. With the coming storm, they would blend in perfectly.

Atlas was ushered into the ranks of the woodland territory. Indifferent faces passed him, although subtle emotions were underneath. A tug of a smile. A creased frown. The Trene warriors were camouflaged from all sides. They were so much unlike the vibrant Loy, Atlas wouldn’t have been surprised if the prince had been a foundling.

Or a changeling, Hudson laughed.

Atlas cracked a smile, but it faded when he saw Nell.

She was a winter queen, matching the sky with its shifting grays and white. Her stance was in its ever-rigid state as she organized her troops. Something between a snarl and grin kept her warriors dancing for her affection, hoping to sway her one way or another.

Her hands waved as if she were conducting an orchestra. “Yes, to the front. Don’t whine, or I’ll show you true pain. You there, we need some tents to weather out this snow. And you—“ She had reached Atlas and Milla. Her mouth made a flat line. “You’re early.”

“You weren’t expecting company on a battlefield?” Milla asked.

“I thought the North had to have meetings for every step they made,” Nell sniffed.

The wind picked up around them, fluttering the winter capes of Trene like a united flag. Atlas pulled a roll of parchment from his pocket.

“We need your warriors on the Southern flank to boost—“

Nell made a tut-tut noise. “Who said I was here for you, ambassador?”

“Our treaty—“

She cut him off again. “I’ve read and memorized that treaty since we signed it. Tell me, what have we promised to you?”

Safe passage through their territory. Atlas knew this by heart.

“Did it…” She examined her nails. “Say anything about promised troops for an Eden-wide battle?”

Milla stiffened beside him. Hudson bristled. She’s playing with us.

“That treaty is a receipt for what the North pays for your alliance,” Milla said. “There are unspoken delicacies in a treaty.”

“You’re both fools,” Nell spat. “And it started when you killed Loy.”

“We didn’t kill Loy,” Atlas spluttered.

Keep a cool head, Hudson advised.

Nell pulled a scrap of red from the sleeve of her coat. “This one of the few reminders of my son. A cape. I know your son is prince, ambassador. What reminders will you have of him?”

“You don’t know the consequences of your actions,” Milla said, trying to regain footing. “Queen Celia will not legitimize Trene as a territory. She will give it all back to the West.”

Nell had a piece of paper in her hands. She unrolled it. “That’s not what she said here.”

“Don’t do this,” Atlas said. He would not beg. But they did not plead, they would bleed. “If the North is defeated, Eden will be in chaos under Queen Celia.”

“You don’t even know what she’s like,” cooed Nell. “Or maybe you do.”

“What?” Milla said. She tucked a gray strand behind her ear.

Nell laughed. “Maybe if you give me my vitrum, I’ll consider your side.”

“There’s no time. It can’t grow past Elbe,” Atlas said. Sweat beaded his forehead. Are we going to perish?

Hudson hesitated. I pray not.

“We’re going to enter the fight shortly. Have my vitrum by midday, and Trene will be with you.” Nell waved them away.

Atlas struggled against the winter guards, then let them escort him away.

The North was lost, and Nell knew it.

Piper

They ducked back inside the Eastern jungle. There, no one was particularly hostile. It was all command tents and running soldiers. If they kept low to the ground and far enough from the action, they were both invisible.

Piper had been there at the Trene treaty signing. That meant the North had extra help now, but they needed something to turn the tide of the battle. She aimed to do damage on the inside with Reine. Steal plans or take a key general out of the scene.

Look for the biggest tent, Reine thought. That’s where the head general would be.

The red tents were bright markers in the dim light, easy for messengers to spot. The entrance flaps were in motion like a revolving door as the heads of the monster talked. Everything in a hurry, everyone in mild panic.

One was set apart from the others, its Eastern flags wilted in the dead wind. From the shadows on the inside, it appeared no one was inside.

Piper followed Reine cautiously, not daring to unlock her alea this close to the tents. Her fera nosed her way past the door, then froze.

Piper, Reine said.

What? Piper slipped into the tent. Her eyes widened.

Bound and gagged before her were Finch and Tennyson.

Reine was already next to them, cutting their ties with a precise claw. Tennyson rubbed his wrists.

Finch covered his face. “Piper,” he whispered. “We’ve been tricked.”

“We have to leave now,” Tennyson said.

Piper looked around. “Where’s Taft and Chip?”

“They have them in a stable not far from here.” Tennyson rose, and went to check the tent flap.

“Why have we been tricked?” Piper asked Finch.

He gave her a hollow stare. “Queen Celia is—“

Tennyson recoiled, bowling into them. Reine growled. Piper was on her hands and knees. She craned her head to look at the shadow above them.

Lady Harper narrowed her eyes. “Hello again, heroes of Elbe.”