Hellion's Reckoning
Chapter 38

Their situation could not have become any stranger. He had spent the day following a fussy mouse as they reconstructed his entire camp. Among the crowd at the festival, they had gathered a host of a little over one hundred and thirty. Thaddeus spent the day scolding Inias on his sloppy defenses. He was concerned with an attack from Varen and split his small troop. It was unlikely Varen would attack him at all, leaving him in a vulnerable position over nothing. The mouse explained that he should have focused all his defenses on repelling the magistrate.

Thaddeus put the newest recruits to work on fortifying their defenses. Thaddeus ordered the newest recruits to cut down trees and started erecting gigantic walls of sturdy wood. “The fort is a trap,” The Sage explained, sitting upon Inias shoulder as they passed Styx pulling a wagon of fresh weapons. “We feign a retreat and let him take it. Then with flaming arrows, we set it alight.” Inias could smell barrels of oil being carried around and placed in key locations to be dumped. The entire forest would burn, allowing slaves and refugees to escape around it.

It had been centuries since Bacchus last walked the estate, and their connection with him was uncertain. If Keira could sway Bacchus, he would stay in the forest, laying the trap for Ailog. A three-pronged attacked upon the Magistrate and his forces. According to Thaddeus, only two concerned them. Luring out Ailog and freeing his slaves. His mysterious viper would apparently orchestrate the third within Ailog’s court. Inias didn’t like the secrets, but Aubron and his father had trusted the mouse. Even Varen urged them to heed his counsel despite his burned eyes.

The coming battles would destroy two great pillars of The Hallow. The Ravenmoon estate standing as a beacon of hope to the Hellions and Dusk Haven, a bastion of purist sentiment. It would shatter their people, but hopefully, in time, they would return to setting things right.

As dusk settled over the camp, Keira burst into the cottage with a wild smile on her lips. Vestin followed behind her with a solemn look. “Did you win his support?” Thaddeus chirped from beside Inias on the back of the patio sofa.

“Yes, well, just for this battle,” Keira answered, explaining about Bacchus wife, father and the family drama. “One of us is getting a happy ending. That’s a win, right?” Inias walked over to the floor into her open arms. She threw them around his neck and wrapped them around her waist, pulling her in close. “We’re all getting a happy ending,” Keira reminded him, and pecked a kiss on her lips. “With Bacchus’ support, the Magistrate’s fate is all but certain. ‘He who with a mocking laugh. Hunts his prey, snares and drags him to his death.’”

The three of them looked at him, confused, but he simply waved a careless hand. “Just some old poetry,” He said.

Vestin shook his head as he leaned against the wall, “He didn’t even look at me,” He muttered, “You challenged him, gave him a reason to fight. He saw you as the heir.” Keira ran to her brother and shook her head. “He’s a loony drunk. Who cares what he thinks?” She told him.

“After the festival, I was ready to punish the whole city,” Vestin went on as both Thaddeus and Inias turned to face him. “You were the one who calmed everyone down, stopped us from making a huge mistake.”

“We’re all angry! You think I don’t want to burn the city down? Of course I do!” There was a pleading look in her eyes. She didn’t want to her see brother just give up. “You’re a great leader, too! Father will teach you; he’ll make you the best leader our clan has ever had!” They still had their father to guide them after the battle. He wasn’t the man he used to be. Not after seeing everything his sins had wrought.