Jordan lay flat on her stomach, trying to ignore a sharp stone that jabbed at her hip. Norae lay beside her, her shoulder lightly pressing against her own. Calyx crouched nearby, shrouded by bushes and magic.
Together, they stared down at a valley filled with certain death. Behind them, the blighted sun dipped low. It shielded them from view, blinding any scout who might happen to look in their direction. Jordan swallowed as she ran her gaze across the expanse. Calyx had mentioned there might be some 'trouble' to get through before they reached the Capital, but she'd never imagined anything like this… It was all spread out below her now, as far as the eye could see – a seething camp of soldiers that stretch in a bristling ring the entire way around the caldera of Eoscan. Calyx had scouted as far as she could to check, but no passage was left unguarded. Gryphons patrolled the skies, leant kind winds by Airkin. Earthkin had sunk solid barriers deep into the ground, blocking off any caverned entrance. Dreamkin watched over Betwixt, poised to destroy anything that moved through without their permission.
"Nice of her, to roll out the entire welcoming party," Calyx snarked.
"How are we ever going to get through all of that?" Jordan asked, eyes wide, "There's three of us… against, what? Fifty thousand...?"
"Four," Norae offered, "Forgotten Thallo."
Jordan fixed her with a flat look. "Oh, excellent, that should shift the odds solidly in our favour."
Norae elbowed her, and they retreated, sliding down the back of the rise they were perched upon. Out of sight, they trotted soft-footed back to their hidden glade half a mile away. Thallo crooned softly through the gathering darkness, happy to see them – and not altogether pleased at having been left on her own. She pressed her head to Norae's chest, and the Callkin ruffled her feathers as a thank you for guarding the camp. Calyx swept out to check the perimeter, and then they settled down to share a quick, quiet meal without daring to light a fire. As the night gathered around them, Norae looked up to the glowing moon that dominated the horizon.
"At least none can sneak up tonight," she said, gesturing to the flooded landscape beyond, "Keep to the shadows beneath the trees, we will not be detected."
"I've cast a shield around the camp, too," Calyx said. She threw a small twig at a near-invisible shimmer a few metres away, and it hissed and disintegrated to ash. "Only we may pass."
"So," Jordan sighed as she wiped the last crumbs from her lips, "What's the play?"
"Not playing, Jordan," Norae scowled, disapproving, "It is not a game."
Jordan managed a small smile. "It's a reference, from the Old World. I mean, what is the plan? How do we get to Grandma?"
Norae cocked her head, confused, then shrugged and let it slide.
"There's only one way to get to Esadora," Calyx said grimly, "We will have to fight our way through."
Jordan's head jerked up as an icy chill ran down her spine. "Are you nuts? Did you not hear me say three against fifty thousand?"
"Four," Norae corrected, under her breath.
Calyx shook her head, unsympathetic. "There is no other way."
Jordan huffed. "Take on an entire army, that's your plan?"
"Head-on is not a plan," Norae said darkly, "That is a suicide mission."
"If we strike hard, and fast, we will get through. Lat'Nemele have razed armies before." Calyx encompassed them with her raptor gaze. "I will take care of anything that stands in our way, but I will be grateful if you'd watch my back. We don't know if there will be any of these Shadowkin – or how many there are."
"I don't know, Calyx… That sounds like insanity."
Refusing to be dissuaded, Calyx leaned forward and cast a miniscule battlefield onto the ground. "Look, we will enter the field from here, down this rise." Their tiny silhouettes glowed as they moved together in tight formation, descending into the jaws of hell. Inky black shadows descended on them from all sides, but flashes of magic obliterated them.
"They will come at us from every angle," she continued, adding glowing gryphons into the mix, making them sweep down, claws outstretched. Airkin plunged from the gryphons' backs, riding the thermals to rain down death from above. The Gryphon Knights dove and slashed, trying to force them apart. Deep bogs opened up underfoot; spears of rock and gouts of fire hammered against their shields.
Jordan gulped, stared down in horror, watching wave after wave of enemies swamp their tiny unit.
Norae narrowed her eyes, gestured derisively at the carnage. "See. Suicide mission."
"You know, Calyx," Jordan said, tearing her eyes away, "This visual is not helping."
"It will not be easy, but we can do it," Calyx said softly, "We've only to keep our nerve."
A bottomless silence stretched; glances were exchanged.
"Fine," Jordan said at last, "But if we die, I'm going to kill you."
"Crazy as she is!" Norae threw her hands up in the air.
"Do you have a better idea?" Calyx asked.
Norae tossed her a dirty look. With a sigh, she looked to Jordan.
"Do not trust Lat'Nemele. But if you say we go, Jordan, we go."
"Thank you, my friend," Jordan smiled, earnest, "If I ever become a queen, I promise to give you whatever your heart desires."
"Heart desires not to die," Norae scoffed. But she offered an impish smile in return.
"It's decided, then," Calyx said briskly. "We will rise before dawn and make our move. It will be easy at first –" she ignored Norae's derisive snort "– sleepy soldiers, mostly infantrymen in the outermost ranks – but it will become more difficult as we make headway towards Eoscan. The inner circles will contain the bulk of the Witchkin, the Gryphon Knights, and whatever else Fayne has managed to drum up. Be prepared for anything, and make sure you get plenty of rest tonight. There will be no recourse tomorrow; once we begin, we must see it through."
She held their gazes each in turn until they nodded acquiescence. Satisfied, she turned away, seeking her own private corner of the night to prepare.
With an exaggerated sigh, Norae flopped down beside Jordan.
"Good, then," she scoffed. "Tomorrow we die."
Jordan pulled her knees up, wrapped her arms around them. "It's no joke."
"Know that. Already said so."
Jordan rested her chin on her kneecaps and met Norae's dark gaze. "I'm scared."
Norae nodded, her lips pinched tight together. "No shame. Fear will keep us alive. Am scared, too. This plan is the craziest thing I have ever heard, but… we must save your grandmother."
Jordan lifted her gaze to the distance, as if sheer willpower would stretch her sight right into the Vaults of Eoscan. "I hope she's okay," she said, her voice small and sad, "I don't know what I'd do without my Grandma…"
Norae reached out to squeeze her arm. "Will get her back, Jordan. You will see."
Jordan nodded tiredly. "I'm sorry I got you into this mess, Norae… I bet I'm the worst friend you've ever had."
"Regret nothing," Norae smiled. "Been the best adventure. If we die tomorrow… well, at least I have walked beside a Queen."
"You're the best," Jordan said. She stifled a yawn. "One day, I will pay you back for all of this."
"No need. That is what friends are for."
They exchanged a smile, and then Norae added, "Come, get some rest. Tomorrow will be a crazy day."
She pushed to her feet, hauling Jordan up with her. They shuffled off to their little tent, shoulders heavy beneath the weight of Destiny.