Deborah's POV
I lowered my voice, leaning in slightly to ensure the werewolf could hear me over the steady hum of the restaurant. The clinking of silverware and muted chatter around us created the perfect cover for our conversation, but it didn't soften the intensity of his gaze.
His golden eyes were sharp and unyielding, scanning my face for any sign of deceit. I could feel the weight of his suspicion pressing against me, each word I spoke dissected and examined in his mind. He was silent, guarded, as though deciding whether I was an ally or just another potential threat.
He studied me for a few moments longer, as if weighing the sincerity of my words. His silence was heavy, and I could almost see the calculations running through his mind. Finally, the smallest thread of trust began to form. It wasn't much—just a faint connection—but it was enough to keep him from walking away. For now, it was a start.
Finally, he spoke. "We fought back against Macha's assault on Tirfothuinn," he said, his voice low and rough. "On the surface, it might've looked like we came out unscathed, but the truth was far worse than we had imagined. Sanctuarium held against most of the attacks, but the barrier was severely damaged. The only reason it didn't collapse was because of the witches' relentless efforts—" His voice broke slightly, an edge of anger and grief cutting through. "They gave everything they had to keep it intact. Two of them… didn't survive."
My chest tightened at his words, a sharp pain blooming in my heart.
Sanctuarium was more than a shield; it was Tirfothuinn's lifeline, the sole defense standing between us and destruction. Maintaining it required immense magical energy, and these witches paid the ultimate price to protect their home. I could almost see it—the moment when they'd reached the edge of their power, their bodies straining as they poured everything they had into the barrier, refusing to let it fall. Their sacrifices were heavy, and they weren't losses we could afford to repeat.
"So," he continued, his voice low but filled with restrained fury, "we can't let that happen again. This time, we came to Macha to understand the enemy—figure out their strength, their weaknesses. We want to be ready for the next battle. No more mistakes. No more losses."
I nodded slowly, taking a deep breath to steady my emotions.
I understood their resolve, but the way they'd chosen to infiltrate Macha was reckless—dangerous in ways they clearly didn't fully grasp.
"How did you even get here?" I asked, my brow furrowing. "The security around Macha is so tight. You couldn't have snuck onto one of their airships."
At this, the faintest hint of a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "We didn't sneak onto anything," he said, his voice carrying a note of pride. "We had help." His gaze flicked toward the silver-eyed individuals seated nearby.
"Them?" I asked, glancing at the Birdfolk. I had noticed how different they were but hadn't realized they were allied with the werewolves.
"They're Birdfolk," he said, and there was a quiet reverence in his tone. "They have wings strong enough to carry us to Sky City."
"Birdfolk?" I repeated, my voice low, filled with astonishment. I'd heard stories of them—rumors whispered among the people of Murias—but I'd always dismissed them as myth. "They're real? That's… incredible."
"They are," the werewolf confirmed. "They're incredibly skilled. They can navigate the skies with ease, carrying us to places that would otherwise be impossible to reach. Thanks to them, we bypassed Sky City's checkpoints entirely."
While his words explained how they had managed to evade detection so far, they did little to ease my growing concern. Macha had significantly increased its defenses since the last attack. Even with the Birdfolk's assistance, it was only a matter of time before their presence drew attention. The longer they stayed, the greater the risk of exposure.
"It's too dangerous for you to remain here," I said firmly, lowering my voice even further. "The Vandran family's guards aren't just numerous—they're highly trained, and their vigilance is unmatched. On top of that, Sky City is littered with surveillance systems. You can't keep moving undetected forever."
The werewolf shook his head, a flash of stubborn determination crossing his face. "We haven't uncovered what we came here for. If we leave now, everything we've done will have been for nothing. Besides, with the Birdfolk's help, we can stay mobile. We won't get caught."
"You're wrong," I said, meeting his gaze squarely. My voice was calm but unwavering. "You won't find anything useful here. Even I, with access to the Vandran estate, haven't uncovered any substantial information. Wandering aimlessly through Macha will only lead to your capture. Trust me—staying here is a mistake."
The werewolf fell silent, his expression conflicted. I could see the weight of my words pressing against his resolve, but he wasn't ready to concede just yet.
"I'll make you a promise," I said after a moment, my tone softening slightly. "If I find a better way to get you the information you need, I'll send it back to Tirfothuinn. But you need to leave now. Tirfothuinn needs you alive."
He frowned, his distrust evident. "And how exactly are you planning to send this information?"
"Don't forget," I said quietly, "Matthew is in Ablach. He's been lying low because of the tight security at the checkpoints, but he's safe. I can send any critical intelligence through him, and I promise it will reach Tirfothuinn."
At the mention of Matthew's name, a flicker of emotion crossed his face—hope, tinged with reluctance. He wanted to believe me, but doubt still lingered.
"You need to remember something," I continued, leaning forward slightly. "Sky City's greatest advantage lies in its resources and advanced technology. Their weaponry poses an enormous threat to Tirfothuinn. Our defenses rely on magic and limited resources, and that imbalance puts us at a significant disadvantage. If you return now, you can focus on preparing Tirfothuinn for what's coming—strategizing a way to integrate air, land, and sea into a cohesive defense. And more importantly, finding a way to combine your abilities with the Birdfolk's. That synergy could tip the scales in your favor. As for the weapons… leave that to me."
He studied me for a long moment, the tension in his posture softening ever so slightly. I could see that my words were beginning to sink in, though his hesitation remained.
"Deborah," he said at last, his voice low and cautious, "I hope you're telling the truth. If you get any information, make sure it reaches Tirfothuinn quickly."
"I will," I promised.
Reaching into my coat pocket, I pulled out a folded piece of paper and placed it on the table between us. It was a hastily drawn map, sketched during the drive earlier that morning. I had marked three key locations in Sky City, along with their distances and relative positions to Tirfothuinn.
"This is the layout of Sky City," I said, tracing my finger along the lines I'd drawn. "Here's Ablach, Macha, and Tairngire. And here," I added, pointing to a small circle near the bottom of the map, "is Tirfothuinn. Together, these points form a natural encirclement. If you're going to break through, you'll need a multidimensional strategy—land, sea, and air working in unison."
The werewolf's brow furrowed as he studied the map. After a moment, he glanced up. "Do we even have the resources to pull off something like that?"
"How many are in Tirfothuinn right now?" I asked. "Both wolves and Birdfolk."
He hesitated, then answered, "We have 8,371 wolves and 393 Birdfolk."
I nodded, my mind racing through the possibilities. "Then, technically, Tirfothuinn has 393 'aircraft.' Is that correct?"
The werewolf blinked, momentarily caught off guard, before nodding slowly. "You could say that. The Birdfolk can move freely through the air, and they're capable of carrying wolves with them. If they're equipped properly, they could conduct reconnaissance and other missions."
"Exactly," I said, relief flickering in my chest. "But here's the problem: Tirfothuinn doesn't have enough weapons. Without proper equipment, all the abilities and aerial maneuvers in the world won't win you the battle."
He nodded, a shadow of frustration crossing his face. "That's why we came here. We were hoping to gather intelligence—something we could use."
I exhaled, my tone soft but insistent. "I understand. But staying here isn't the answer. Macha's defenses are too strong, and Vandran's surveillance is relentless. You're risking everything for information you'll never get."
He looked down at the map again, his expression dark with conflict. After a long pause, he straightened, folding the paper carefully and slipping it into his pocket. When he met my gaze again, his eyes were steady.
"You're right," he said quietly. "We'll leave. But we can't abandon Tirfothuinn. If you find anything, send it to us."
"I will," I assured him. "Now go. Protect Tirfothuinn."
He nodded, turning toward the exit with a resolve that felt heavier than steel. As I watched him leave, I couldn't shake the weight pressing against my chest.
The storm over this city was far from over. And Tirfothuinn's survival still hung by a thread.