King Matthais of Troivackia stood by the helm of the ship, watching the single fire at the top of the city of Austice. A flickering eye from the castle, beckoning them closer…

Night cloaked their fleet, but the dawn was only a couple hours away. He smiled slightly as he thought of the King of Daxaria’s face last they’d met… and thought how he was going to show the man what true strength was.

It had been six years before, when they’d convened on Daxaria’s shores to discuss trade increases, only to reach a stalemate when he had been forced to reject their counteroffer.

“I will increase trades for food supplies for three years only, but in that time, you must decrease your military expenditures and instead use some of the funds to help your farmers to replenish their soils, and lower their taxes so that they have the strength to work their fields without starving.”

Matthias had given a firm ‘no’, and left, swearing the entire journey home that the smug imposter King would have to learn the hard way not to force others to rule like he did.

“Your Majesty, it is time to ignite the torches to signal the men on shore,” the captain announced from the helm a few feet behind the King.

Matthias turned to glance at Aidan Helmer who stood over the captain’s left shoulder. “Light them.”

The fire witch gave a brief bow of his head, before blinking, and the entire fleet of Troivackian warships, each with a lantern hanging from their figureheads, all burst into flame.

Everyone waited with bated breaths. Waited to hear the beginning of the chaos they had orchestrated for years… their men lying in wait on the shores should be surprising the Daxaarian military and reducing their numbers.

It was going to be a glorious beginning that would bring pride to their hearts.

Then they continued to wait, in a growing uneasy silence.

As the fleet drew closer, they realized that there wasn’t really any sound or cries of shock at all, which given that there were supposed to be five thousand men swarming the city, made no sense…

Occasionally someone would think they’d hear the ringing of steel or a short cry, but that was all.

“Mr. Helmer, when was the last time we received any correspondence from the men in hiding?”

“In Austice we heard word from only a small unit that they were well, but that there was some concern over the others. One part of the last report from them said there had been a fire, but no details were given for the sake of keeping a low profile.”

Turning towards the fire witch, the King’s expressionless face appeared all the more ominous.

“You did not think that was strange?”

“The men had said that during the kingdom’s preparation for the war, there was a chance they’d no longer be able to communicate. More soldiers and people were growing suspicious of anyone Troivackian-”

“This should have been brought to my attention, Helmer.” The threat in the King’s voice made Aidan’s coal black gaze momentarily glow in the dark.

“In the unlikely event that they have found every single one of our soldiers, we can still take the city in a matter of days.”

“You discuss the potential loss of twenty thousand men as though it were trivial.” Despite speaking quietly, Matthias’ presence was becoming larger somehow…

“What I am saying is, not all hope is lost. We must look at the greater picture.”

The torches at the front of the ships burned a little brighter.

“If we only have that thi-” Matthias began to say before the fire witch cut him off.

“-We will conquer Austice. I also happen to know a certain healer witch that, once captured, can be made to restore our men,” Aidan cut off the ruler while casting a look over his shoulder at the ship directly behind their own. It carried their secret weapon that would ensure victory for them.

“You better be right, Helmer.”

As the Troivackian King turned to stare at the Daxarian shores, he began to feel uneasy. He found himself thinking of his young children back at his castle, and wondered if he had appointed the right advisors for his eldest son if… perhaps… he didn’t make it back afterall…

*

Fin didn’t know when exactly he had fallen asleep. All he knew was that it was shouts within the castle that woke him and Annika up with a start. Leaping to the window before the witch could even swing his legs over the edge of the bed, the Viscountess surveyed what had started the call.

“The ships have appeared on the horizon… there is a row of lights… which isn’t very inconspicuous…”

Fin’s mind had already snapped to attention, and he was in the midst of pulling on his tunic shirt when he realized what exactly was happening.

“They are signalling their soldiers on shore to begin the attack.”

No sooner had the words left Fin’s mouth, when the distant sound of shouts and steel meeting steel could be heard, but then… the quiet returned.

Quickly throwing on his black coat over his black tunic, Fin swept out of the chamber, leaving Annika to hurriedly begin dressing herself.

As he moved down the still darkened corridor, he lit the torches as he approached them. More for Annika’s sake than his own. He could sense every stone in the entire castle in dark or light…

Had he always been able to do that?

He’d always been aware of the furniture and knew that it acknowledged him, but now it felt like his skin was prickling with new awareness… it was like he was apart of the castle somehow…

As Clara appeared at the end of the hallway, Fin strode purposefully up to the woman and gently clasped her arm.

“Get Annika out of here by any means necessary if the fighting reaches the castle. She promised me she would, but I want your word that you will keep her safe.” Fin’s eyes that had grown stranger since his death, had an even eerier shimmer to them that made the maid swallow firmly before replying.

“Yes, My Lord,” she agreed quietly. Clara stared up at him briefly, silently wondering if she would ever get used to the strange light that seemed to come from within the redhead… Lowering her gaze once more, she brought herself back to the present.

Satisfied, the witch released her and continued down the hall to the stairs.

He passed by a handful of people. A few Knights, and a couple of maids that had bravely decided to stay and help, but once Fin had set foot outside the castle, found mage Lee and Jiho already on the steps silently watching the crest of the hill.

“Where is the King?” Fin asked as he looked around them.

“His Majesty is waiting in the camp for the Captain’s report. There must have been another unit of Troivackian Knights that were missed,” mage Lee observed somberly.

The Viscount felt his teeth set themselves on edge.

“The witches should be hidden under the docks. It’s more likely that the unit will try to find the soldiers or Knights to try and overtake them,” Lord Fuks suddenly appeared from the castle behind them. The man for once was not wearing an excessively billowing coat.

“I see. So… for now we wait until the ships reach us?” Fin asked, his heart in his ears.

“That is all we can do until they are within range of the fire and air witches,” mage Lee pointed out patiently.

The redhead’s eyes grew fixed on the ships that were difficult to count from such a distance.

“I don’t like waiting,” he muttered after a few tense moments ticked by.

“Don’t wish for violence to hurry,” Jiho reminded him quietly. The Zinferan had his long hair tied back, but instead of wearing his usual blend of Zinferan and Daxarian styles, he wore the traditional garb for Zinferan soldiers. A spear was leaning against one of the carved stone trees in the castle’s front, which was his weapon of choice. The man had come fully prepared to be in the thick of battle, but was rightfully wary of it all the same.

“I’m not wanting it to happen. I just don’t like the uncertainty…” Fin replied slightly louder as he watched the line of ships slowly advance closer to them.

“By the way, Fin… if you happen to die again and leave Annika a widow…” Jiho began, his light teasing tone earning a good humored glare from the redhead. It was then Lord Fuks quietly joined them to watch the ships. Oddly the man failed to announce his arrival as he usually did.

After a brief nod to the Earl, Fin regarded his friend again, his tone wry. “You want to raise my children for me? Good luck.”

“I would rather- wait. Plural? Children? Not child? Oh Gods, no. Twins? No. I’ll just try to have one of my children marry one of yours and call it a day.” Jiho shook his head, his expression mortified.

Mage Lee couldn’t help but chuckle while Lord Fuks smiled.

“You need to actually have children then, and for that to happen you’d actually have to be interested in someone who isn’t my wife.”

“You raise a good point. Mage Lee, do you happen to have-”

“I have a son,” the elder replied a little too hastily.

“Hey now, Lee, no need to be so testy. Jiho is a Lord afterall! Keith could do worse… then again Jiho, would you really want Keith wedded to a daughter- making him your son-in-law? No offence Lee.”

“I take plenty of offence you redheaded buffoon. Stop nattering like old maidens about who will marry who and talk about something else will you?” The mage huffed while giving the smirking friends a warning glance.

Sighing, Lord Fuks stepped between the mage and redhead and wrapped his arms around their necks. “It’s been an honor getting to work with you all. If I die on this hill today, I’m glad I do so with friends at my sides.”

Fin shot a smile to Jiho, then the batty old man who had flashed him his fruit basket the first day they’d met, then he noticed Lee watching him.

The elder held out a whorled hand to him.

“Ashowan, we’ve had our spats but… I do consider you a friend.”

Overcome with the moment, the witch reached out and shook his hand. The two shared a meaningful glance, before Fin released the mage’s hand, and proceeded to wipe his palm on Lord Fuks’ coat in feigned disgust.

Lee, noticing the physical sleight immediately grew incensed. “Oh, you son of a-”

*

“Witch! What is that there?” King Matthais pointed to the nearing shores of Daxaria. The sky was turning a delicate shade of blush pink as the sun crept closer to the horizon behind them, but clear as day there were several balls of fire dotting the entire perimeter of Austice.

Aidan frowned as he marched forward and snatched the cutlass from the captain as he moved.

Frowning into the spyglass, he swept the instrument along the edge of the nearing city, and felt anger burn through him.

“They’ve… They have fire witches directing fireballs towards us. I imagine there are air witches there prepared to help them with their distances.” Lowering the spyglass Aidan turned to see the King of Troivackia staring at him with his usual unreadable and infuriating gaze.

“Are you able to disperse the flames?” the King asked briskly.

“Perhaps half of them.” The fire witch then turned and began striding back from the bow to the stern of the ship.

“Helmer, what is it you are planning?” the King called out, his silent footfalls easily closing the distance between himself and Aidan.

“Most of our plans aren’t going as we hoped. So I’m going to improvise a real surprise for them.”

“I thought you only wanted to bring that out after most of Austice was ablaze.”

“Like I said. Plans changed. I’m going to destroy the castle and grab that healer. I’ll find out exactly what’s going on… they should not have been this prepared. I just need your men to rush the streets up to the castle quickly so that you can join me. I doubt I will need long.”

The King felt the urge to snap the neck of the Chief of Troivackian Military for the thousandth time in a matter of a week. The man who had given careful thought and planning to the war, was now quickly becoming a liability. The fire witch hadn’t conferred with him, the King, on anything of import for weeks… it was clear the man was planning a coup of his own. He was just ridiculously frustrating to kill… especially because…

He definitely gave them an edge that no one could have rightfully prepared for.

A loud whistle pierced the air, along with the creaking and splintering of wood.

The Troivackian King sighed, Aidan Helmer needed to die, but it would not be by him that day.

*

As Fin sipped his coffee on the castle steps, he listened to the Captain relay to them all that they had captured the unit of Troivackian soldiers that had remained in the city successfully without any casualties to themselves. The entire inner council with the addition of Jiho had gathered to be briefed, and to share a brief breakfast- not that many of them could stomach much.

So far, their strategizing was working remarkably well. They had foiled what would have been a devastating surprise attack, and had formed a strong alliance with the Coven… yes…

A strong start indeed.

“What in the world is that?!” Mr. Howard’s exclamation as he looked past the group towards the fleet that was almost within firing range, immediately snapped everyone’s attention back to the incoming army.

Everyone swung around, their stomachs leaping to their throats.

However, all they saw was the first wave of fireballs being launched.

Granted half wound up in the sea, but they had anticipated Aidan Helmer’s interference on that.

The men watched several ships go up in flames in a moment of silence as the first waves of death crashed down.

“NO! Gods! LOOK!” Mr. Howard’s tone of sheer terror drew everyone’s eyes to him as he pointed to the sky.

“How is he… WHAT?!” Mage Lee roared.

“Ashowan, did you have any-” Norman burst out gripping the hilt of his sword, as did the Captain whose lone blue eye was wide open.

“I had no idea!” Fin’s heart tripled in speed. “I-I honestly had NO idea… How…”

Mr. Howard turned on the witch, his manic disbelief, devastation, and panic potent as he roared his next words.

“YOUR FATHER BROUGHT A FUCKING DRAGON!”

Fin couldn't bring himself to reply as he stared at the largest creature he had ever seen in his life soaring above Austice, his father on its back.

When his brain finally began working again, his only coherent thought as screams began to ring out around him was,

‘We’re done for.’