Chapter 180- Truth Carried Back
Tarria
By the time I pushed open the flap of Lexy’s tent, my lungs still burned from the sprint through the forest. Sweat dampened my hairline, but I didn’t pause to collect myself. The queen sat at a small wooden table with CJ at her side, parchments spread before them. Her gaze lifted at once, sharp as a blade, searching my face for the truth before I even spoke.
“You’ve returned,” Lexy said, her voice even but threaded with concern.
“Yes, my queen.” I bowed quickly, then straightened. “I found them.”
CJ rose, the muscles in his jaw tightening. “Adrian?”
“And Kael,” I confirmed. “They’ve set camp by the northern ridge, not far from where we suspected. It’s no temporary rest, Lexy—it’s a base. Tents, supplies, guards posted. They’ve settled in to prepare for something larger.”
I recounted everything in order, my mind replaying the details as though carved into stone: the rows of tents, the guards patrolling in tight rotations, the crates with their eerie glow, Kael’s voice carrying orders to ready themselves for a strike when the moons align. I spoke about nearly being discovered by one of their scouts, of hearing Adrian’s name on their tongues, of the dread that lingered in the camp like smoke after a fire.
Lexy’s expression hardened with every word. Her hands rested flat on the table, but I could see the faint tremor running through her fingers—anger contained, not fear. CJ paced the length of the tent, his growl low and unrelenting.
“They’re stockpiling something,” I finished. “The crates weren’t filled with food or ordinary weapons. Some of them glowed. I don’t know what’s inside, but it’s not natural. Whatever they’re planning, they want it ready soon.”
Silence filled the space. The weight of my words settled between us, heavy and undeniable.
Lexy leaned forward, her eyes locking with mine. “You did well, Tarria. You risked everything to bring us this. I won’t forget it.”
A flicker of relief warmed my chest, but I didn’t allow it to linger. “What will you do now, my queen?”
Her gaze shifted to CJ, then back to me. “Now, we move. But first, the alliance must hear this. Every leader deserves to know how close the enemy is breathing down our necks.”
I nodded. “Then I’ll leave you to it.”
“No,” Lexy said firmly. “You will stay. They need to hear it from your lips as well. Truth carries more weight when spoken by the one who saw it.”
I swallowed hard but bowed my head in agreement.
Lexy
The council buzzed with restless energy as the alliance leaders gathered, each one summoned in haste after Tarria’s return. The fire at the center of the room crackled, casting shadows across their tense faces. These were men and women who had seen war before, but the unknown still had the power to rattle even the strongest.
CJ stood to my right, a steady wall of strength. Tarria remained to my left, her presence quiet but unyielding. When all were seated, I rose.
“Tarria has returned from her scouting,” I began, my voice carrying above the murmurs. “What she has to say cannot be ignored.”
I gestured for her to step forward. Her eyes flickered with unease, but she squared her shoulders and spoke clearly, recounting every detail she had told me. The alliance listened in grim silence, jaws tightening, fists clenching, eyes narrowing as the picture sharpened before them. When she spoke of the glowing crates, a ripple of alarm broke through the restraint, voices rising in question until I raised my hand for order.
“Thank you, Tarria,” I said when she finished. She stepped back, and I faced the alliance. “You all heard it. Adrian and Kael are not weakened as we had hoped—they are preparing. They’ve dug their roots into the northern ridge, building strength, gathering supplies we don’t yet understand. They plan to strike when the moons align. That gives us little time.”
An older leader leaned forward, his face creased with worry. “If the crates contain what I suspect—dark artifacts, relics of corrupted power—we cannot allow them to be unleashed.”
“Exactly,” I said. “We’ve fought Adrian long enough to know he never rests until he has the upper hand. But we will not sit idle while he sharpens his claws.”
The room hummed with low agreement, though unease still clung to the air. Some wanted immediate action, others urged caution. CJ raised his voice above them all.
“If we strike recklessly, we risk falling into his trap. But if we delay too long, we give him the time he craves.” He looked to me, leaving the choice in my hands.
My decision weighed heavy, but clarity burned in my chest. “We cannot wait. But we also cannot blunder in blind. Here is what we’ll do.”
The alliance leaned closer, eyes fixed on me.
“We’ll divide our forces. A smaller team—swift, precise—will strike the ridge to confirm what is inside those crates and disrupt their supplies. They won’t be expecting a surgical hit, only an army. The rest of our strength remains ready here, guarding our people and prepared for Adrian’s retaliation.”
A younger leader frowned. “And who leads this strike?”
“I will,” I said without hesitation. Gasps rippled through the tent, but I raised my hand to silence them. “I will not send others into danger I am unwilling to face myself. Adrian is my battle as much as anyone’s. CJ and I trained to fight as one, and together, we are strongest. This mission needs that strength.”
CJ’s hand brushed mine under the table, steadying. His eyes told me he would follow, no matter the risk.
Tarria stepped forward suddenly, her voice firm. “Send me with you. I know the ridge, the patrols, the weak points in their guard. Without that, you’ll be walking blind.”
I studied her for a long time. She had risked her life once already tonight. But her words held truth. She knew the terrain better than anyone now.
“Very well,” I said. “You’ll come.”
The leaders murmured among themselves, some uneasy, some nodding approval. At last, I lifted my voice once more.
“Adrian believes we’ll wait. That we’ll cower behind walls while he builds his army. He is wrong. We’ll take his strength before it can rise against us, and we’ll end this before the moons grant him whatever power he seeks.”
Resolve hardened across the faces around me. Plans were already forming—supply lines adjusted, warriors chosen, signals arranged. For the first time in days, the alliance moved with a singular focus.
As the meeting broke apart, I caught Tarria’s arm gently. “You’ve done more than scout tonight. You’ve given us the path forward.”
She looked startled, then bowed her head. “I only did what was needed.”
“Exactly,” I said.
When the room finally emptied, CJ and I stood together, the firelight painting us in gold and shadow. His hand slipped into mine, warm, grounding.
“We’ll end this,” he murmured.
“Yes,” I answered, my eyes fixed on the flames. “On our terms, not his.”
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