"Wh...what? " Flame struggled to ask once Kalen mentioned the bit about her blood.
He affirmed it and she turned to Nuriel who was seated next to her. She had chosen to stand, and both her hands were on his shoulder. And they still hadn't yet mentioned their earlier encounter with Phoenix. But at the moment, the news Kalen had to share had everyone in utter disbelief.
" So it's her mate she's trying to wake. That's why she kept on bothering you. " Barin said.
" We don't know for sure who the god is, but I suspected just as much. " Kalen told them.
" And my blood is what will wake him?"
" Correct. "
Shaking her head, Flame tried to absorb the information.
" And there's something else, " Kalen added and Victor sighed.
" More bad news?"
" I'm not sure whether it's bad. But according to what Caspian told me, the blood must be freely given. "
" Meaning?" Drexel asked. He thought he understood but he just needed to get the facts straight.
" Meaning that Flame has to willingly give it for it to work. "
" Well that's a good thing, right?" Drexel asked. If Flame had to willingly give it then Phoenix was doomed. She would never do such a thing.
" I suppose it is, but this is a power thirsty goddess we're talking about...we can't put anything past her. "
" This is really twisted, " Flame said. Wondering just what she had been drugged into, she didn't regret being there but it appeared as if trouble never ceased to follow her around wherever she went. Even if it was an entire new realm.
Nuriel placed his hand on hers, but he didn't look back at her. He was thinking. His mind so full of thoughts he didn't even know where to start. And he also had to will Flame to stay put and not reach for Phelan's wings,the angel had traded places with Aziel and was now on the far side of the council table.
" Judging by what we witnessed today, I'd say it doesn't matter whether the blood has to be given freely. Phoenix is determined to get what she wants, " Nuriel finally spoke. He feared for Flame. And he wondered how he would be able to keep her safe and still protect the kingdome from the talons of Phoenix.
" Why? What did you witness?" Flame asked.
Most of the council members already knew. With an exception of Phelan and Kael.
The two had been scouring the air from the border of the kingdom, looking for anything that seemed out of place, and they had been the last ones to arrive at the Triecan so they were still unaware.
Bastian was as usual, absent.
His seat rarely ever occupied.
But he already knew about Phoenix and he had decided to go and look out for her in the darkest of places.
" She seems to be harmonious with the dark, " Nuriel had told him. Knowing if anyone could understand then it would be Bastian. And so he had asked to miss the council meeting and get more time to look. And considering how serious the matter was, Nuriel had agreed.
Nuriel asked Kalen whether there was anything else he wanted to add.
" I think it would be better if I told you the remainder in private my king, " Kalen sent through their mind link and Nuriel told him it was okay.
" No. I believe that is all, " Kalen said fir everyone to hear. And so Nuriel explained what had occured earlier that day. The warrior that had died had been among the strongest ones as well...so they had lost a great fighter.
" I want to inform the family myself, I'll go after this, " Nuriel said and Victor said he'd go with him.
Flame listened on, at that point she was fed up with being shocked. And she realized that if every little thing she learnt surprised her then she would live her entire life in constant astonishment. And a very long life it was.
" So she vanished? Like 'poof!?" Aziel asked, snapping his fingers and looking at Nuriel with narrowed chartreuse eyes.
" I still can't get the image out of my mind, it was just creepy, " Zarek said as he shuddered., then he went on, " We had even tied her up, then all of a sudden this.... darkness just come out of nowhere and engulfed her. Then she was gone"
" We ought to have ripped out her heart. " Rylan said. Angry as usual. He was sure they could have done more to capture her, he knew that she was powerful but still. They were angels! They were also powerful in their own way.
" I agree with you, " Nuriel surprised him by saying.
" And the next time either of us sees her that is exactly what we shall do. "
Rylan seemed at least pleased to hear that. He was probably strategizing how he'd go about it when the time came. Could picture the females heart in his hand.
" So she can teleport?" Flame asked. Her worry increasing.
" You're telling me that at any moment she can just pop up in front of me?"
Kael who was standing by the wall began to walk around. Touching things that came to his view and pacing back and forth.
" You're not defenceless Flame. You know you're not, " he said.
He sounded so serious it was hard to believe that was Kael talking.
Flame breathed out and tried to look composed,but she was still very much afraid.
" You mustn't worry about your safety m'eudail, that's my obligation. "
Nuriel was trying to calm her. He could feel her fear, and he didn't want it to exist.
Phelan asked how they'd proceed from there.
" Well clearly we have to make sure Phoenix doesn't get to Flame. One god is enough we don't need another, " Aziel said and they agreed.
" I'll find two other warriors to guard her, " Victor told them and Nuriel asked him to make it three. Andres was good but he was still secretly mourning his sister's death. And there was ni way one warrior was going to be enough.
" I think we should also select one of us to watch over her. That way if anything happens he'd be able to link the others about it and we'd react quickly, " Barin said an the others thought it was a wise idea. Not surprising since Barin was smarter than most knew him to be.
" I'll do it, " Nuriel said but the others didn't think that was such a bright idea.
" You have other things to deal with, " Aziel reminder him. But Nuriel stood his ground, saying that the safety of his mate was his primary concern. If he lost her then he'd lose himself as well.
" Aziel is right, it's better if one of us watches over her instead, "
Victor directed the words to Nuriel, knowing that if he'd listen to anyone then it would be him. They were close friends and Nuriel always listened to what the other angel had to say.
" I agree as well, " Flame added and Nuriel looked up at her.
It was difficult though, what if something happened to her and he wasn't there?
In the end he gave in and looked at the others to see who would be a great fit. They were all capable, but he also had to look at other things, for example, he would have chosen Drexel but he would be needed to lead the warriors on ground. And what if Flame was in a situation that needed her to be flown away?
He looked from one angel to another, Victor was also not a choice because without Victor there was no army, those warriors trusted him with their lives.
He'd have chosen Bastian had he been present. And as he thought about that he realized that Flame hadn't even met him yet.
In the end he picked Barin, no one was better when it came to making last minute choices and reacting instantly.
" You can be sure I'll guard her with my life, " Barin said. Then he gave Flame a quick and subtle smile before they returned to the matter at hand.
With an angel to protect his mate Nuriel felt a fraction better, more relieved.
Now they had to try and find a way to capture Phoenix.
" I know you all don't want to hear this, but she won't be found unless she wants to be, " Aziel casually stated some minutes into their strategizing. He crossed his arms and turned to each of the angels around him, and he saw that they had all been thinking the same thing.
" So what do you suggest we do? Just sit around and wait for her to appear again?" Nuriel questioned him and h shrugged.
" Calm down, I didn't say that now did I? "
" You implied it though,"
" I didn't imply it either, "
" So did you have a better idea?"
Aziel stood then, and Flame frowned on realizing that the carefree angel was walking towards her. Nuriel asked him what he was doing.