Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 125422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 627(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125422 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 627(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
Relief washes over me. The trolls could tip the balance of this war, or at least give us equal footing. “That’s…a mercy,” I say, my shoulders relaxing slightly. “We’re stretched thin now.”
He nods. “I don’t know how many there are, but in the old days, there were hundreds of them. We could use every last one to take back Shadow’s End.”
At that name, my chest tightens. Shadow’s End, my former home, now Louhi’s lair. It stands waiting, a dark beacon of her power. “We’re still going there, aren’t we?” I ask softly. “To get Tuonen?”
He meets my eyes, expression grim. “We must. As long as Louhi holds Shadow’s End, she has the upper hand. We cannot let her rebuild and strike again. Time isn’t on our side.”
I think of the wounded inside, their moans drifting through the broken corridors, and my mouth twists bitterly. “We have so many injured,” I say. “If we move too soon, we leave them behind, vulnerable. But if we wait, Louhi might be at us faster than we can blink with even more reinforcements than before. She might come herself.”
I shudder at the thought of what she can do now with all that power.
My father sets a hand on my shoulder. “The Keskellis’ arrival changes things. With their reinforcements, we can leave a small garrison here to protect the wounded, maybe even send the most critical cases away from the front. Perhaps Torben could open the portal and they can go through to the Upper World to be treated. It’s not perfect, but it’s safer than dragging them into another battle.”
“Is anywhere safe now?”
He sighs, gaze drifting over the broken battlements. “No,” he says bluntly. “But we’ve made progress. Hanna’s return, even if she keeps her distance, unsettled Louhi’s plans. We caught them off-guard here.”
“How is she doing?” I ask gently.
My father sighs, his gaze sliding to mine, looking weary. “She’s too much like her mother now, too much of a goddess, but I feel I’m getting through to her. She’s still half mortal, half human, and that’s the side I need to appeal to.” His voice lowers. “In every way possible.”
I decide I don’t want him to elaborate on that. At all.
He clears his throat and goes on, “If the Keskellis are indeed coming, we won’t have to hold this position for long, but we must stay vigilant. Louhi might try to strike before our allies arrive.”
I nod, stomach knotting. “I’ll convene with the others, see what we can come up with. We need to see the enemy coming if they try a surprise attack.”
He nods, satisfied. “You’re a General now, Lovia. I trust your judgment.”
The weight of that trust settles on me like an anvil. “I’ll do my best,” I say softly.
He offers a faint smile and then moves off to speak with other officers. I stand there a moment, letting the breeze carry the scent of smoke and swamp over me. Reinforcements are on the way; that’s one spark of hope, but we can’t linger too long. Eventually, we must push onward to Shadow’s End and confront Louhi face-to-face. The thought sends a shiver of anxiety through me. We’re caught between caring for the wounded and the urgency of pressing our advantage.
I step back inside to find the young soldier I spoke to earlier. The hall is quieter now, save for low groans and Tellervo’s murmured spells. The girl looks up as I approach. “Your name?” I ask again, kneeling beside her.
“Ismena,” she says, voice still trembling.
I offer a reassuring smile. “Listen, the Keskellis are coming. Allies. Reinforcements. You’re not alone.”
Her eyes widen, relief flickering through the pain. “That’s…good?” she whispers. Obviously, she has no idea who or what the Keskellis are.
I squeeze her hand gently, wishing I had my father’s powers of coercion. “Tellervo will tend to your arm soon, and then maybe we can find a way to get you to safer ground, perhaps back to your world. Just hold on.”
Tellervo, now examining another soldier’s burns, glances my way and nods. She’ll do what she can. I stand, turning my gaze to the wounded mortals who fought for Tuonela—for my father’s cause, and now, as I hold command, for mine. I must justify their suffering by leading wisely. When the Keskellis arrive, maybe we can transport the worst cases out, secure a fallback position, and move forward without leaving them to Louhi’s mercy.
I walk among the injured, offering quiet words of comfort or praise. I’m no healer, but I can at least show them we value their sacrifice. It’s the absolute least I could do. They watch me, eyes filled with trust and doubt, hope and fear. I’m new to this role, but I can’t afford to falter. I must find a path that balances mercy and strategy, compassion and steel.