Phoenix lifted her from the river and wrapped his cloak around her, carrying her into one of the caves carved into the valley wall. He set her down carefully against the stone.
Below them the creatures poured into the river, tearing at the bloodsoaked gown he had left behind, fighting over the scent of her. Phoenix extended his hand over the water.
The river froze. Every creature inside it froze with it.
He returned to Hazel and lay beside her, his body between her and the cave entrance.
"The plan is solid," Corrine said. "But because this involves Vangelis's mother we cannot simply execute it and walk away clean. Someone has to take the blame."
"We use her ladies in waiting," Roxanne said. "Or one of the guards."
Cassius shook his head.
"Too obvious. Why would her own guards move against the highest paying position in the palace? Whoever takes the blame needs to be someone of equal rank and someone with a genuine and documented grievance against her."
They sat with that for a moment.
"Lady Evelyn," Corrine said.
The room shifted.
"Matriarch Valeria's elder sister," Corrine continued. "Their relationship has never been anything but poisonous. Before Vangelis's father ascended the throne it was Evelyn who made it possible. She worked for it. She fought for it." She paused. "He rewarded her by choosing Valeria as his Queen and offering Evelyn the position of consult. Not even a Duchess."
"She left," Roxanne said quietly.
"Immediately. And before she did she laid plans that prevented Valeria from entering the Queen appointment ceremony. Valeria had to wait an entire year after the marriage before she could even begin the process." Corrine looked between them. "And then he died before the wedding could happen. Valeria never became Queen. Evelyn made sure of that before she walked out."
The silence in the room was thoughtful and complete.
"How do we get her to the palace?" Roxanne asked.
"Evelyn was a powerless wolf," Corrine said. "That was the real reason the king passed her over. Not simply because he preferred Valeria." She looked at Roxanne. "But if I bring her here and let her see what you have become, what a powerless wolf can rise to, she will come. I am certain of it."
Roxanne nodded slowly.
Hazel jolted upright in the cave, gasping.
Before she could gather herself Phoenix pressed the medicine to her lips and tipped it back without asking.
She swallowed and pulled away.
"What were you thinking enduring all of that alone?" he asked.
Hazel looked at him.
"What were you thinking," she said, "when you put a child in me and took my sight to protect something that was never worth protecting?" Her voice was steady and did not rise. "Do you think I am happy living in darkness? That because I have not thrown myself on the floor screaming you assume I am coping?" She held his gaze. "I am not my sister Phoenix. I am not an opportunist. I do not use people to climb. I build myself with my own hands." She turned away from him. "So stop performing concern. It does not suit you and it disgusts me."
The Next Day
"You think I should go?" Evelyn asked.
"I do," Corrine said. "Someone is going through exactly what you went through. And I know you. You do not turn away from that." She paused. "Nobody supports her. They all stand behind the Queen."
Evelyn looked at her. "What do you mean?"
"My lady she carried this kingdom for months while the Queen was gone. Everyone rallied behind her then. Everyone wanted her beside the King. Then the Queen returned on the wedding day and they abandoned her without a second thought." Corrine's voice remained even. "Including Matriarch Valeria."
Evelyn said nothing.
"When they discovered the Queen was pregnant and could not carry her political duties they forced her into becoming a political Duchess. She now carries the weight of both the King and Queen simultaneously. And the moment the Queen delivers they will discard her as though none of it happened." She met Evelyn's eyes. "Despite all of that she still gave Valeria a title. Her policies are so generous that even the servants are benefiting from them." She paused. "I did not come here to speak for her personally. I came here to speak for the people she is quietly carrying."
"She is well Alpha," the healer said. "She simply needs rest."
"You may leave," Phoenix said.
The healer bowed and stepped out. Commander Leo stepped forward.
"Alpha, intelligence reaching us confirms the Snakemen are preparing an offensive. They are forming alliances with neighbouring kingdoms and selling information about our territory to them."
"How many kingdoms had agreed to our alliance?" Phoenix asked.
"Three initially," Kael said. "All three have since withdrawn and joined the Snakemen."
Phoenix was quiet for a moment.
"If the Snakemen are so determined to strike us then we move first," he said.
"Alpha," Kael said carefully. "The Snakemen are a small clan but they are extraordinarily difficult to fight. Shape shifting, illusion formation, poison release. Armies sent against them have been destroyed regardless of size."
"Explain the illusion creation," Phoenix said.
The mage rose and cast a screen before them, images forming in the air as he spoke.
"The Snakemen fight like water," he began. "They use no weapons and no physical force. Their illusion creation works by infiltrating the minds of their opponents, making each soldier believe his allies are enemies. They step aside and watch the opposing army destroy itself." He paused. "The power is so deeply embedded in their bloodline that a Snakeman child under six years old can generate an illusion large enough to affect a hundred men simultaneously."
Speed could work in our favour," one suggested. "Strike before they can position themselves."
"You cannot attack what you cannot see, hear or smell," the mage said, cutting through the optimism. "Speed means nothing against an enemy that is already invisible before the battle begins."
"They are more dangerous than we initially understood," Korran said.
"We close the borders," Commander Leo offered. "Nothing enters. Nothing leaves."
"Our spies took days to bring us this information," Phoenix said. "Which means some of them are already inside our territory right now." He looked around the room. "If we close the borders they will know we are aware of them and they will move immediately. Let them believe they are undetected. If we can capture even one of them we can study how their abilities function and find the weakness." He rose. "The meeting is closed. You may all leave."
Korran made his way to Hazel's room and knocked before entering.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Better," she said. "It has been a while."
"It has." He sat beside her quietly for a moment. "Hazel, did you hide your pain because of me? Were you enduring it alone to keep me from being punished?"
She was quiet for a moment.
"I was afraid of what Phoenix would do to you," she said. "So yes. That is why."