"Just send us to the war," the woman, who've I've learned is named Astrid.
She sat impatiently on the stone steps with Raziel and Gale while I spoke with my sister.
"As soon as I deal with the rogue attacks in my capital, I'll send you on your way."
"Why can't we go now?"
"Because," I sighed out, now turning o face her, "The three of you are my responsibility, which means you're staying with me."
"Just stick us with one of your guards and be on your Royal way."
"Look, I only need to take care of the casualties caused by the attacks. After that, you'll be on the next train, okay?"
She didn't say anything else, only returning a look to her cousins.
I turned my focus back to a tired Olympia. She managed to gain some control in the captain, bringing in more soldiers from the Westerlie kingdom.
"Rogue attackers have been filling up the cells, or at least what remained of them after the attempted Coup d'état, and more are still to come."
"And exactly how many more are we talking about?"
"Not sure. Every time we pull one weed, more take their place."
"Well, we better keep pulling, then."
~*~
If I knew pregnancy would keep me so immobile, I would've been more careful. I'm not a grounded person. Staying away from the fight, it makes me feel useless. The only thing that helps keep my thoughts busy is making sure my citizens are okay.
I sent my prisoners down to a cell where the other Rogues were while I helped the injured in our outside makeshift infirmary. maybe sometime in confinement would make them change their minds. I know I said they wouldn't get another choice, but I want to. these people, their justification for betraying their Kingdom weren't bad. But even so, they still have to be charged with their crimes. a clean slate for all of them would not be practical.
But second chances? everyone deserves that.
And as much as my mind wanted to race about Xander, he isn't my priority right now. Our child will always be first in my mind, but for the sake of the Northerner kingdom, the people have to be.
I wish there wouldn't be any more blood spilled, but this is war. There's blood beneath my feet, and sadly, on my hands. if we were ever going to win this war, people have to die. Minds cannot be easily changed, no matter how hard any of us try.
And maybe they shouldn't. Raziel and his cousins, the reasons for joining the rogues are justified in their way. Because of Xander's parents, they lost so much that they shouldn't have to have lost.
And everyone else? what were their reasons? What pushed them over the edge that made them betray their own people, their country? I wanted to find out. I can't be a queen only those who choose to serve me. The rogues...they are still my people.
I haven't talked to Xander, yet. Although he's angry with the betrayal of his people, he's never stated how he feels about them. Does he still consider them a Northerner citizen even though they've pledged their loyalty to another ruler, or is every rogue a traitor to him?
To most people, war is war. you have to kill them before they kill you because they will. but Xander? he loves the country in the people in it. I just hope that he doesn't take his anger for Ryker out on the people like Raziel and Astrid.
I finished patching up a young boys leg and sent him to his waiting mother that also had a few injuries.
There were so many wounded. I didn't want to keep them in one place though, so we set up different work sites around the capital. each had twenty guards watching over all of them.
Since we've arrived back, there hasn't been another attack, but you never know. They aren't very well known for their timing.
"Next," I called out.
A woman with a rounded belly bowed and took a seat across from me. She had a small head Lac across her forehead with a blood-drenched cloth draped around it. This was the worst part of this war. Innocent pregnant woman having to deal with violence they shouldn't have witnessed.
"I'm going to take this off now, okay? Please tell me when you feel some pain."
She hissed as I began to remove the fabric. There was still some active bleeding, and the wound was open, but it wasn't serious. I grabbed a fresh cloth and poured some alcohol on it. "This is going to sting. I'm sorry."
She gripped the railings on her chair as I placed the wet fabric against her skin. It had to have hurt like hell. I sewed the wound closed and rebandaged it.
"Are you having any pregnancy problems? Did your stomach get hurt?"
"No, thank the heavens for that. It was a piece of metal that flew at me. But I think I am okay besides that."
"Do you mind if I check?"
I felt around her stomach and felt the baby kick. I couldn't wait to experience that myself. I'm barely two months and it's already felt like a year.
"Nothing seems abnormal. You child just seems concerned with its mother."
I gave her a soft smile and she sighed, leaning back into her chair. "She's been kicking me for days. I don't think she wants to wait two more months."
"Why don't you head to the dining area," I pointed across the field, "They're serving lunch."
"Thank you, your grace." She bowed again and went on her way.
I don't know how many more of these I can do. It's not the medical part that stresses me. It's watching little girls coming up to me with broken ribs and pregnant women who might go into labor early because of the trauma, and the dead bodies stacking up inside one of the demolished buildings.
Even though I wanted to give the rogues a chance, this, right here, is why they are never fully innocent. I just wish they could get past their rage and see the havoc their actions have caused.
The havoc that their actions have caused. That's it. I may not be able to change everyone's minds, but I know three who might be interested.
I turned behind me where two guards were stationed for my protection.
"Guard, bring me Raziel, Astrid, and Gale from the castle's prison cell."
"Yes, your majesty."
He came back with them, all three still bounded by silver cuffs.
"Take them off," I commanded."
"But, your grace,-"
"It's alright. I'm sure my dragon would be happy to feast on them if they tried to escape."
He unlocked their restraints and they sighed with relief.
"What are we doing here? Are we finally leaving," asked Astrid.
"No, I'm still too busy to focus on your departure. You're here to see this." I gestured to the open area. There were so many things happening at once, it was hard to focus on one situation.
There were people receiving oxygen due to smoke inhalation, blood donors, body parts being popped back into place, and the worst one for me, small children being carried to where the other dead bodies laid.
"Violence is never justified by righteous reasons," I said, not looking away from the injured. "Xander's parents have caused you a never-ending pain, and I'm so sorry, but this, this can't possibly be the answer."
They were speechless behind me so I continued. "Killing all of you would be easy and it may feel right at the moment, but redemption is possible, even after something like this."
I turned around and saw remorseful faces. "If you had managed to set off that bomb yesterday, you would have left, not knowing the pain you caused others, the same one that you felt all those years ago."
"We don't deserve redemption," Gale admitted, "We deserve to die, not them."
"Yes, you do right now. And tomorrow? Probably still so, but only because you haven't worked on the repenting for your sins."
"How are we supposed to do that?"
"By joining us. I'd rather send to the war fighting on our side, not theirs, but that choice is up to you, not me."
"And everyone else," Astrid asked.
"I believe redemption is open to everyone. Giving up your lives to fight with us is punishment enough."
To me, getting them to join us was a better solution than having them fight against us or worse, dying because they were too stubborn and rage-filled to agree. But to the citizens of the Northerner kingdom? I'm not sure they want that.
The injured here, they've lost so much because of the rogues. Their homes, their jobs...their loved ones. And what scares me most, is the rage they might feel against our enemies.
We're already at war. No need in fueling the fire. But, even if we make it out of this alive, there will never be an ending call for blood.
When, I reminded myself. When we make it out of this alive.
"Robbin!"
I turned to see Olympia racing out of the castle. The look on her face was clear enough.
"Please don't tell me there's been another attack."
"No, but it's coming. I just received a report of rogues closing in on the capital."
"How far away are they?" I used my dragon blood to call on Vision as I waited for an answer.
"Robbin, they're already here."