Bait

Pulling up their hoods, the twins joined Eira and the citizens of Oblivion and waited for the rest to pass. Then, slowly but surely, they headed on down the valley.

A large woman with fiery orange hair and a strange limp led the crowd. She seemed calm and collected for one leading a crowd from a monstrous horde.

Once Eria took over her spot on the hand cart, Mairwen ambled as quickly as she could to the lady in the front.

A false effeminate voice greeted her. "I do like the white hair, even if I only got a glimpse of it."

Mairwen rolled her eyes beneath her hood. "Not everyone can shapeshift at will into whatever visage they desire. Why on earth did you choose this look?"

Gandr smiled. "The group was unlikely to follow a rickety old man through the valley and that noblewoman's eyes nearly popped out her head when she saw me. I must look quite a beautiful sight to have caught even her attention."

The halfling flipped back his long tresses, quite proud of his performance. He had played many different kinds of humans over the years, and he prided himself on constant improvement. Mairwen was less impressed.

"You look very unique, I agree," she said at last. "A little way further up the valley and we will part ways from you. Are you sure you know how to get to the first stop?"

"Yes, yes. I will do exactly as I was instructed. Once I drop off everyone and get them settled, I shall return to assist your father immediately," Gandr promised. "You worry about your own part of this plan. I have my part well in hand."

Mairwen felt a little guilty. She knew what needed to happen, but she did not like the idea of leaving these women and children defenseless.

Gandr seemed to read her thoughts. "If it will put your mind at ease, I will put a temporary chasm between us and the wolves when we get far enough away. It won't last long, but it will put some extra distance between us and them just in case Livie changes her mind.

"Why couldn't you do that in Oblivion? That would have stopped the creatures, wouldn't it?" the princess was ready to send Gandr back immediately until he shook his head.

"It likely would have only slowed them down. The creatures are tenacious and agile. It took almost all my magic to encase just a few of them in the walls. I do not think I would have made much of a dent against an army. It also would have ruined the element of surprise."

The halfling could sympathize with the princess. There was really no good solution. Trusting the Emperor's judgment, Gandr had done as he was bid. He only hoped that he would still be of use when he returned. Or better yet, that the fight would already be won. Only time would tell.

"You should get ready. We will be out of sight of the fortress soon enough and we can part ways. Best of luck, Your Highness," the last part was said via Gandr's wind magic so no one could overhear.

"Thank you. Best of luck to you as well," Mairwen hung back and rejoined those pulling the hand cart. Slowly but surely, they began to allow the others to pass. That way, no one would notice as they slipped away from the back of the pack and headed northward.

------------------

When the last of the civilians had been cleared, Livie repeated her ultimatum to the Emperor: Aurora was to surrender herself by sundown or be taken by force. Her warning in place, she and her creatures retreated to the edges of the valley.

Devrim watched them leave with a complicated expression. He had sent Gandr away, so now even if he wanted to present an "Empress" he had no way to do so.

A battle was imminent.

"You think they will actually wait until nightfall?" Junayd had not left the Emperor's side as they watched the refugees pass unhindered down the valley.

The advisor had been ready to lunge in front of the grey-eyed man if the enemy had tried to attack him. Having nearly given his life in protection of the Emperor before, Junayd was fully willing to complete the task if needed.

The sacrifice, however, had not been needed. At least not yet. When the enemy retreated, the advisor relaxed slightly.

"I think they won't attack for at least another few hours. Waiting on danger you know is there is even harder than fighting. She will use the mind games to her advantage." Devrim turned away from the wall and allowed a sentry in Oblivion's uniform to take up the watch. "Notify me of any changes," he ordered.

Saluting, the guard turned outward and diligently surveyed the valley.

The Emperor and his advisor came down the wall to where a carriage was already waiting. Devrim looked at the steeds.

"Were we able to get any of our horses inside?" The grey-eyed man asked as he climbed in the cab.

Junayd shook his head. "No sire. We tried to lift a couple up the wall while the water was receding but it was too much for the animals and we were afraid of the attention it might draw."

With a nod, the Emperor sighed. "It's just as well. A bunch of extra mouths to feed was one of the reasons we needed to get people out of here. They will be able to graze on the hillside. If all goes well, we won't need them anyway."

Devrim calculated the number of horses already in Oblivion. While not enough for his cavalry, they would suffice if push came to shove.

"Do you think Livie suspects how many soldiers we have in here?" Junayd wondered. "She didn't seem worried about our numbers even after we said we were expecting her."

"Unless she saw our boats of soldiers, she has no reason to suspect. Getting the army here was no small matter. Since she didn't seem surprised to see me, she must not have known I was in Valiant during the most recent attack."

The reasoning made sense to Junayd. Whatever message Livie had gotten had been scarce on details. Or the one delivering the message was not sure of exactly who or what he had seen.

All around them along the walls, safeguards and plans were being put into place. Water was being drawn from the wells to make sure the men would be hydrated and a few unconventional methods, some of which Renat had suggested, were being assembled and put in place.

They would have liked to have done all of the preparations before, but many things were hidden in case a chatty citizen or child felt compelled to tell the enemy of their plans. Fortunately none of the civilians did any such thing, but one could not be too careful.

"Once they are done, we should all get some rest. You know the enemy is. We cannot allow them to win just because they have had more sleep." Devrim was mostly talking to himself, but Junayd noted the command. He would make sure it was carried out.

The Emperor's mind drifted to his wife. He hoped that she and their son were having a good time in the land of the elves. According to Mairwen, Aurora had been healed by the water in the land of magic.

This brought the grey-eyed man comfort. He only wished the magical mirror had not been lost, so he could confirm her health with his own eyes.

It was all the more reason to survive the coming onslaught. He would stop those who sought to destroy Valiant and return to the woman he loved.

In his mind, he could see her thin frame, her stunning blue-flecked eyes. His heart longed to stroke her face, which was now free of the cut that the treacherous wolf had inflicted.

Devrim thought of her in such vivid detail that as the manor came into view, he could picture the fiery-haired woman standing on the balcony in all her splendor. She waved to him and the slight wind made her sky blue sleeve flutter in the breeze. It was the most detailed daydream he had ever had.

"Who is on the balcony?" Junayd leaned out the other window with his brow furrowed.

"Wait, you can see that?" Devrim snapped from his reverie and focused on the figure more closely.

It wasn't his imagination! Someone with his wife's hair was awaiting them, though she was slightly taller and more gaunt than the lady he loved. "What in the world...?"

When they finally reached the manor, both men's curiosity only grew.

"Duchess Ashleigh, you were supposed to have left!" Devrim scolded the old woman as he stared in disbelief.

"You think your wife and the princess are the only stubborn women in our family? Ha! I am not leaving my city behind. Besides, you need me..." Ashleigh glared at the two men, daring them to defy her.

The Emperor blinked a few times. "And what, what have you done to your hair?"

"I borrowed that comb of Mairwen's before she left. Why? Does it not look the Empress's?" The duchess ran her fingers through the long, multicolored locks.

"No, the hair looks very much like hers, but...why did you do it?"

Ashleigh laughed, her face breaking into wrinkles of mirth. "Isn't it obvious? One word, dear Emperor. Bait."