Broken, but Not Defeated

Chapter 59 (Juliana)

"Hold up." I say, holding my hands up to stop everyone. "Everyone hold up! Can we please back it up."

"To what part?" Rowan asks, looking at me. Never thought I would be glad to see Rowan next to me.

"The part where you have a twin sister, and didn't tell me," I say, placing my hands on my hips. Rowan has the decency to look guilty.

"Rowan!" Lyra gasps, a twinkle in her eye. "I'm hurt you wouldn't tell her about me. You hurt me right here," she says, holding a hand to her heart. A look of hurt comes over her face, but that twinkle never leaves.

"Get over yourself, Lyra," Levindal says, He then lowers himself to the ground and leans his back against one of the stone walls. "We should get comfy, this is going to take a while." We all sit down, I don't miss the way Cole sits next to me nor the way Rowan and him are sending each other death glares. Lyra sits next to Rowan and just rolls her eyes.

"Okay, so you have a twin sister, who's older than you, and a legend. Glad we've got that covered. Next, we are allying with the same people who tried to kill me last fall?" I clarify, directing my question to Caldina.

"Yes," Caldina sighs. "I've just learned something, and no one is going to blame you if you want to grab your people and run for the hills." Kathrine and Levindal look at each other then back at Caldina.

"The Doryukans will fight at your side no matter what happens," Kathrine says.

"So will the Fae. We've never run from a battle and we won't start now," Levindal says, and his siblings nod. Caldina grabs dry grass and lets it burn in her hands. I don't think I will ever get used to the sight of fire burning in her hand.

"My aunt is breeding dragons," Caldina says.

"Yes!" Lyra yells, "and here I was thinking that we would just be facing boring old witches, no offense, Caldina."

"None taken," Caldina says.

"We get to face dragons!" Lyra yells, jumping up and running around us.

"Lyra, sit down!" Levindal commands. His voice makes me want to salute him. Caldina glares at him. "Please," he grumbles. Lyra stares at him, mouth wide open.

"Did you just say please?" she asks, shocked.

"Um, I hate to interrupt, but we're about to go into war with dragons so we should probably start drafting a battle plan," Kathrine points out. "Oh, Katrina, I was wondering where you were," Kathrine says as a young woman makes her way to our group, she must be Kathrine's sister.

"I was looking for you," Katrina says, sitting next to Kathrine. We all look at Levindal and Caldina, the leaders of the group.

"What's the plan?" Wesley asks.

"First we need to make contact with King Malcolm," Caldina says.

"Who here has the best handwriting?" Peter asks.

"That's what I was going to ask," Lyra exclaims, elbowing him in the ribs.

"Ouch."

"Enough," Levindal says, glaring at them. They both give him cheeky grins.

"Then what?" Anya asks, "Do we just march into the palace?"

"What if we split our forces?" Katrina asks, first looking at her sister then at the rest of us.

"How would that work?" I ask.

"Lunetta probably already knows who I have allied with, and who I haven't," Caldina says.

"But would she know how many we each have brought?" Kathrine asks.

"Maybe, maybe not," Caldina answers, "But is it the risk we're willing to take?" Everyone falls quiet, How many will die because we're taking a risk?

"Yes," Lyra whispers. I look over at her, she has a look of determination.

"I agree," Katrina says.

"What about this?" Anya suggests. "Instead of forcing them to go, we let each soldier and warrior choose for himself."

Wesley nods his head in agreement.

"If we do this there is a chance that none of them will make it out alive." Caldina warns us.

"I'll lead them," Lyra says, looking at each of her brothers carefully.

"What! Lyra, no!" Rowan exclaims. "Levindal you can't honestly be thinking about letting her go?" Rowan asks, when Levindal says nothing. Levindal looks at his sister.

"I know many of my soldiers will follow you to the ends of the earth and back. Be careful." He stands up and puts his hand on her shoulder and says something under his breath to her. Then he walks away.

"I'll go with her," Katrina says. "And before you say anything sister, you will need someone to lead the Doryukans that you can trust." Kathrine just nods her head.

"Meeting dismissed," Caldina says.