40 - The Trap Unfolds

*Nemesia's POV*

The sun rose slowly over the horizon, casting a pale, golden light across the camp. The morning was unusually quiet as if the earth itself was holding its breath in anticipation of what was to come. The preparation for the battle had begun, and with it, the delicate balancing act of deception.

David was up early, already deep in discussion with his lieutenants when I approached him. The previous night's calm had given way to a sense of urgency as the reality of the upcoming clash with the Bears settled over the camp.

"Nemesia," David greeted me warmly, though his eyes were sharp, filled with the weight of command. "I've been discussing our strategy with the others. The Bears are more entrenched than we anticipated, but with our help, I'm confident that the Jaguars can push them out."

I nodded, careful to mask any trace of the turmoil inside me. "We need to hit them hard and fast. If we allow them to dig in any further, we'll lose our advantage."

David turned back to the map spread across the table, his finger tracing the lines that marked the Bear Clan's territory. "Agreed. We'll strike at dawn tomorrow. I want your team on the front lines, Nemesia. Your experience and tactics could turn the tide."

His trust pressed down on me like a stone. Every word I spoke had to be precise and calculated. "Of course. We'll be ready. But we need to make sure we have a clear path of retreat if things go wrong. The Bears are cunning, and they might try to flank us."

David nodded, considering my words. "You're right. We'll position our forces to guard the rear, just in case. And your team can take point on the western ridge—if the Bears try to escape that way, you'll cut them off."

I allowed myself a small smile, knowing that every such detail was critical to the success of our plan. "It's a sound strategy, David. We'll make sure the Bears don't slip through our fingers."

Satisfied with the plan, David gave me a nod of approval before turning back to his lieutenants. I stepped away from the command tent, my mind already turning to the next phase—preparing my own team for the true purpose of our mission.

I found Evar and Murphey near our tent, already gathering the others. Alice, James and Tom were there, their faces a mixture of determination and uncertainty. They knew something was brewing, but they didn't yet know the full extent of what was to come.

"We need to talk," I said, keeping my voice low as I gestured for them to follow me into the tent. Once inside, I closed the flap, creating a small barrier between us and the rest of the camp.

Alice looked at me with concern in her eyes. "What's going on, Nemesia? You seem… tense."

I glanced at each of them in turn, taking in the seriousness of the moment. "We're about to enter a battle, but what I'm about to tell you stays between us. This isn't just about fighting the Bears as you know... but about securing them as our allies after all."

James folded his arms across his chest. "You mean the plan you mentioned before? To take David out of the picture?"

I nodded. "Exactly. But it has to be done carefully. We can't afford to raise any suspicions, either before or after. This has to look like an accident in the heat of battle where an enemy got too close."

Murphey stepped forward, his brow furrowed in thought. "So, what's the plan, exactly? How do we make sure David's injured but not killed?"

I paused, considering the best approach. "During the battle, when we engage the Bears, one of us will need to get close to David. We'll stage it so that it looks like one of the Bears managed to break through the lines and target him. Evar, I think you should be the one to do it. You're quick enough to get in and out without being noticed."

"And he'll look nice in those leathers and furs the Bears are wearing," Athena's voice in my head made me blush a bit.

Evar's expression hardened with determination. "I'll do it. But we'll need to coordinate carefully. We can't have anyone else seeing what's really going on."

Tom, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "What about the retreat? How do we get David out of there without anyone suspecting?"

"That's where you come in, Tom," I replied. "Once David's injured, we'll need a quick extraction. You'll lead a small group to carry him to the monastery we've secured with the Bears. The women there will take care of him, and we'll make it look like the Bears captured him and decided to heal him to keep him alive as their prisoner."

Alice, who had been absorbing everything, finally spoke, her voice steady but filled with concern. "And what about the rest of us? What do we do once David's gone?"

I looked at Alice and smiled. Despite her youth, she had proven herself to the rebels from what I've heard. "You'll stay with the main force, Alice. Your job is to make sure our team is ready to evacuate from here, spread the information about David's capture and our loss. Then make sure to take our people away from David's forces and we'll meet at the Bear's Camp. Make sure to keep Rowan safe." 

She nodded, her expression serious. "I can do that."

As if he knew that we were talking about him, little Rowan entered the tent smiling at me. "We'll be going on a mission?" He asks eagerly like a typical boy.

Alice stepped closer to Rowan, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Yes, you'll help me, right? We'll keep an eye on each other, won't we, Rowan?"

Rowan looked up at her, his eyes filled with excitement and he smiled happily suddenly feeling important. "Yeah, we will."

"Good idea to keep him safe and make him treat this seriously" I though, making Athena nod her head.

The rest of the team nodded in agreement, each of them understanding the gravity of what we were about to do. This was no ordinary mission—this was the tipping point, the moment when everything could change.

"We'll need to move carefully," I continued, my voice steady. "Evar, once you've injured David, make sure to disappear into the chaos. Tom, get David to the extraction point as quickly as possible. Murphey, you and I will cover the retreat and make sure no one follows. Also, make sure that our people wear a small ribbon at their arm... it's a signal so that Bears won't kill them..."

James, spoke up after a moment unsure, his tone reflective. "Nemesia, are you sure about this? David… he seems like a good man."

I met James's gaze, sighing at his words. "I know. He is a good man, but this is bigger than him. This is about the future of our people. We can't afford to let personal feelings get in the way." 

"And it's about our revenge" Athena smirked.

James nodded, though I could see the conflict in his eyes. "I understand. Just… let's make sure we do this right."

"We will," I promised, though I could feel the tightness in my chest. "Now, let's go over the plan again."

We spent the next hour refining every detail, ensuring that each of us knew our role and could execute it flawlessly. There was no room for error—if we failed, the consequences would be catastrophic.

As we finished our preparations, I noticed Rowan watching me closely. I could see the questions in his eyes, the uncertainty that lingered just beneath the surface.

"Rowan," I said gently, motioning for him to step outside with me. "Let's take a walk."

He followed me without hesitation, and together we walked along the edge of the camp, the cool morning air helping to clear our minds.

"What's on your mind?" I asked, keeping my tone light.

Rowan hesitated, glancing up at me with those wide, earnest eyes. "I've been thinking about what we're doing… about David. He's not really bad like the people you talked about, is he?"

I sighed, feeling the weight of his words. "No, he's not. David is… complicated. He's a good man, but that doesn't change the fact that we need to get him out of here to make our plans work... but we will keep him safe."

Rowan kicked at a loose pebble on the ground, his brow furrowed in thought. "But what if we could change his mind? What if he could be an ally instead of an enemy?"

I stopped walking, turning to face Rowan. "It's not that simple, Rowan. David's loyalty is to the Lycan Kingdom, to his family. Even if we could convince him to join us, it would only be a matter of time before he realized the truth. And then what? He'd be a threat to everything we're fighting for."

Rowan looked down, clearly troubled. "I just don't like the idea of hurting someone who's… who's kind. But I get it… I just wish there was another way."

I knelt down to meet Rowan's gaze, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I know, Rowan. I wish there was too. But sometimes, in war, we have to make hard choices. Choices that hurt, even when they're the right ones. But I promise you, I'll do my best to keep David... safe... Ok?"

He nodded, though I could see the sadness in his eyes. "Ok..."

As we made our way back to the camp, I couldn't help but think about Rowan's words. His innocence, his compassion—they were qualities that I had once valued above all else. But now, in the midst of te conflict, they felt like luxuries I could no longer afford.

Athena's voice was a soft whisper in my mind. "He's not wrong, Nemesia. David is different. Maybe… maybe he doesn't have to be the enemy."

I sighed inwardly, knowing that Athena was only echoing my own doubts. "I know, but we don't have the luxury of maybes. This plan has to work. For Rowan, for my deal with the Queen… for everyone."

By the time we returned to the camp, the sun had risen higher in the sky, casting long shadows over the tents. The soldiers were bustling with activity, making final preparations for the battle ahead.

As we rejoined the others, Evar gave me a questioning look. "Everything alright?"

I nodded, though my mind was still churning with thoughts of Rowan's words. "Yes. Let's get ready. The battle is coming, and we need to be prepared."

Evar's gaze lingered on me for a moment longer before he nodded. "We'll make it through this, Nemesia. We always do."

I offered him a small smile, appreciating the steady confidence in his voice. "Yes, we will."

As we gathered our weapons and armour, the weight of the upcoming battle settled over me like a heavy cloak. There was no turning back now—only forward, into the storm.

And as I strapped my sword to my side and adjusted the armour on my shoulders, I couldn't help but wonder if Rowan's compassion, his belief that there might be another way, was something I should have held on to a little longer.

But there was no time for second-guessing. The plan was in motion, and I had to see it through to the end, no matter what.

As the camp prepared to march, I found myself standing at the edge of the forest once more, looking out at the horizon. The sun was shining bright, but the shadows of deception were already closing in.

And in the midst of those shadows, I knew that the hardest decisions were still yet to come.