Chapter Sixty-three

Rubbing his eyes, Damion rose from the bed, trying to make sure he didn’t rouse Volencia. The night before, she begged him not to go. She wanted him home to be with her worried he wouldn’t come home. He convinced her he had the armistice on his side and they couldn’t touch him. He hadn’t planned on going, not after her crisis with the baby. However, after learning what he knew now, how could he not?

Gareth. He was forced to take his Uncle’s place, after Damion killed him in in battle. The only reason they kept him under control now was because they had his pregnant wife. Damion would kill everything in his path if it were him. The thought of what he would do if it were his daughter? Like the Chirobi? What would he do then? The whole world would burn before he watched anyone use Volencia or their daughter like that. He was ready to murder any of them tomorrow to save those women. How could Volencia even consider a different option?

Shaking the thoughts from his mind, he went to find Gregron. He was relaxing back in Rosencia’s study. A place he often went to when in need of peace and quiet. “What are you doing here?” Gregron asked, swirling his cup. Damion had not once seen him drink, and that was at least the second cup he’d had today. “You need to sleep.”

Damion nodded, pouring a cup at the bar before sitting beside the Captain. “Volencia was in a panic. So, I waited until she fell asleep to come find you. I was worried you would be too by now.”

Gregron shrugged, “Normally I would be. But something told me you wanted to talk.” He watched Damion settle into the chair. Leaning his head back and stretching out his long legs. “You’ve really brought this castle back to life since you’ve shown up. The stress of it all is starting to show on you though. Make sure you take of yourself too.”

Damion chuckled, taking a deep drink. “Your princess definitely keeps me on my toes. And the last moon has been anything but relaxing. Tonight, I thought Volencia might kill me herself.”

Gregron chuckled, “You worried me yourself. When she grabbed the whiskey and flung the stopper at you, the anger that flared on your face was terrifying.”

His head lolling to the side, Damion studied Gregron. “I hope you know I would never hurt her. But after being terrified for her health for days, to see her be so neglangent with herself and the baby, I did get angry. That doesn’t change the fact that I love her and only want what’s best for her.” He sat up, drinking down his glass.

“I’m empty too.” Gregron took the cup, “What are you having?”

“Water.” Damion smirked as the Captain sniffed the glass in surprise. “Anyway, I came to find you because I was hoping I may be able to convince you to come with me. I think I’ve come up with a plan to save the wife and daughter of the other council members, at least.”

“You think a rescue mission will give you the ammunition you need to convince them to fight with you?”

“With us. Let me explain…” Damion started, sitting back. The two elves talked over the plan for a good part of the night.

Gregron shook his head eventually, “Do you really think this is going to work? There is an awful lot of guess work at play.”

“I know. That’s why as soon as we realize we’ve failed, we have to get out of Belodia at all cost. We need to go in with the expectation, this is the most likely outcome.” Both Damion and Gregron’s ears twitched, and both sat up straighter, listening.

“She’s calling you.” Gregron said, jumping to his feet. It was faint, far off cry, carrying down the marble halls.

Damion ran for the door, calling behind him, “No, she’s screaming.” Doors opened as Damion thundered through the halls, lamps poking out from them as he lept toward the stairs taking them four at a time. Volencia’s screams becoming louder and more desperate. Folk were starting to crowd into the halls, and Damion had to push his way through. Gregron was on his heals, and called out, “Everyone out of the way.”

Venron was stumbling out of his chambers as Damion and Gregron turned the corner. She was leaning heavily against the wall, her eyes looked up at him wildly. “Damion.” She sobbed. As he reached her, she fell into his arms, crying. “There was something on the balcony. You weren’t there… I was just… I just…”

Damion’s gaze shifted to Gregron, who nodded, heading into the room. Venron followed. Damion held her, pulling her against him. “What was it?” He asked softly, trying to calm her.

“I… I th-think it was a dragon. At first all I could see was a little bit of movement, and twinkling color. But when I got out of bed to look, I saw its blue eyes in the darkness. It was huge. But it was like I could only see pieces of it.” He rubbed her back, kissing the top of her head.

“I’m so sorry.” He watched the door, waiting for the others to come back out. “I was talking with Gregron about tomorrow. I thought you would be safe. I didn’t know. I’m so sorry.”

Gregron stormed out, his eyes hard. “The beast is gone, but come, take a look at this.” Sliding the balacony door open, Damion followed him out, Volencia clinging to the back of his shirt. His senses were heightened, he listened for anything that would suggest they were coming back. Though the beast had been standing at her door, it was his that had been marked. The same ruine that he used when calling up the void. His brows furrowed as his hand hovered over the large claw marks in the stone before his balcony door. “Do you have any idea what this means?” Gregron asked, looking back at Venron, who’s eyes were glossed over.

“Perhaps they are trying to tell us something?” Damion looked at the ruine. “I don’t believe they mean us harm, otherwise they wouldn’t have been standing there, watching Volencia. They would have attacked if that’s what they wanted.”

“Or they’re figuring out a plan. Maybe they wanted to catch you both unawares, and didn’t do anything because you weren’t in the room.” Gregron offered, which sent chills up Damion’s spine. It was a possibility.

Damion’s jaw tightened. “I think we should find a spare room for the night, preferably one that does not have a balcony or large windows.” His mind searched for them, wanting answers now, but they were not here, or they were hiding from him. If they really wanted to communicate, why wouldn’t they have stayed? Was it because of her terrified reaction? Why were they coming now? His brow drew down, contemplating the ruine etched into the stone. They weren’t necessarily after Volencia. She had nothing to do with the void, so this message was for him alone. He just wasn’t sure what it meant.

“The only room you’ll find like that will be in the servants’ quarters.” Gregon frowned. “And the two of you shouldn’t be seen down there, particularly together, unless we want to start some petty rumours. Not to mention, if they sold the information to the wrong folk…” Gregron left the rest unsaid.

“We could stay in our rooms still. Perhaps they will come back, and we will learn what they want.” He wasn’t a fan of being caught asleep by dragons. Not without knowing whether they were friend or foe. “Either way, standing out here isn’t going to help us tonight, or do us any good tomorrow.” He wrapped an arm around his shivering fiancé. “We have a long day ahead of us.”

“I don’t want to sleep in here.” Volencia clung to him.

“Okay, we’ll go down to the study. I’ll take a chair and you can have the couch. At least it will look like we just fell asleep in there and will likely not start any rumors.” He pulled her inside. Kissing her temple. Gregron and Venron said their good nights there, as both went into Venron’s room. He guessed Gregron was going to try to talk out the plan with Venron. Though they both needed to get some damnable sleep. He was already going to be dead on his feet.

Once they were in the study, Volencia pushed him down onto the large sofa and curled up next to him. There wasn’t really enough room for both of them there, but he didn’t mind that she spent most of the night on top of him. Either way, he didn’t sleep well. By the time Gregron came downstairs to rouse him, he felt like he had just relaxed into his rest. Volencia pulled him from his sleep, with gentle kisses.

“I wanted to run through the plan one more time before it’s time to leave. We should eat as well.” Gregron started checking things off on his fingers. More invested in the conversation now that he’d had time to mull it over for a while. Volencia gasped as she heard the plan, noticing the formidable and angry glare that ran over Damion’s usually jovial visage. The very idea of what he would be doing and putting himself through terrified her.

“You can’t be searious.” She said breathlessly.

“Very serious.” Damion nodded. Though he was clearly not excited about the plan and had many of his own issues with it. “I need them to be fully convincing. I can’t take any chances, and I feel like we already know that has been a main interest of his.”

“What if you can’t…” Dark eyes settled on her visage.

Shrugging, he said, “I’ll just have to do my best.”