"She took him. Didn't she?" Kyera whispered, her words seemed to trigger Bryson. The man's clinched fist impacted the bolder beside him with a sickening snap. The face of the bolder cracked at the force of the bear paw resting in the groove it just created. Kyera took his hand, feeling no damage she met his eyes expectantly. "Is she still alive?"
"Yes. Barely and to my deepest regret, yes she still breathes. She had no right… she had no sense. They used her and she bloody well let them. Now Gale's life hangs in the balance. Because she couldn't bloody trust her family." His anger ripped through every word, like barbs. Kyera's heart shuddered as she realized he was right. The force of emotion nearly broke her control like ice on a lake. The ice being a thin layer between her and the power that raged just below, begging to consume her.
"I can't speak her her. My blood is too close to the surface. I need you to put her in prison and let Grandest Mother pass judgement on her according to the law." Kyera whispered forcing the claws and paws that were trying to change back to their original form with sheer willpower. She would not lose everything by becoming a beast.
"I will do so, but you do know the punishment for stealing a child here?" He asked and Kyera turned to him.
"If Grandest Mother decides her life is the necessary payment, then that is the ruling of the Matriarch. I will obey her decision. She made her choice." Kyera was surprised to find her heart hurt to say those words. She had lost so much but, that couldn't protect Akira now. It was out of Kyera's hands and perhaps that's for the best.
"As you wish, Princess Kyera Frost Dancer. What's the plan?" He asked and Kyera smiled softly. She had a plan, and it had been a good one but it was useless now. They had ruined it, but little did they know they increased the danger by ten fold.
"Take the Pheonix Frost knights, my own calvary and destroy them. Once and for all, and get my son back if at all possible." Kyera replied, no longer seeing a chance for redemption for the Dark Ones. A line that should not have been crossed, had been violated and it correlated with the law and Kyera's bottom line.
"Revenge or law?" Talis asked standing a few feet away in the shade of a tree, his eyes on the pyre.
"No man or beast should slaughter the guard. No child should pay for the failures of the parents. Trust is sacred and should not be broken. These are just the laws they have broken. Am I justified?" Kyera asked meeting Talis's eyes. He smiled softly, listening to the power behind her words.
"Yes. We are justified. I will gather the troops." Talis bowed at the waist and Kyera nodded sharply.
"Thank you. I… I need to see… Clovis!" As the words left her mouth those arms were around her, holding her from behind.
"I got your things ready. My brothers are gathered. We are ready to do this with you, Princess." Clovis whispered kissing her hair. That action was sweeter than anything else she had ever felt. It was time.
"Let us take back The Forest Gate." Kyera agreed as the shadows swirled around her. They were dark, throbbing with power but waiting. Waiting for something deep inside her heart.