Blood Of Fire (The Blood Burden Series) (28 page)

"My path, though it was hard, lead
me here so I could guide you.  If I had passed on to the other realm then I
wouldn't be here for you now.  Every trial has a greater reason behind it just
as your journey is for a greater good."

Nicole fisted her hands at her sides,
"Do you not realize that Kat and my dad almost died for this
greater
good
and that the lives of both fae and warrior alike teeter on the outcome
of this war.  Sage died because of what you set in motion."

Titania's eyes remained soft despite
Nicole's brashness, "This is a war that needed to be started.  The outcome
will create a world that is better for all of us."

"You don't know that," hissed
Nicole.

"I have faith in you.  You weren't
created by accident my dear.  Greatness is your destiny and through it you will
unite mine and your great grandfather's people."

"How will war and death unite both
sides?  It doesn't make sense.  Too many innocent people have already perished
when only one person deserves to die and that's Loch.  I will not kill anyone
who doesn't deserve it."

Smiling, Titania kissed Nicole's
forehead, "Sweet dreams my brilliant granddaughter."

Nicole stared confused into her
grandmother's face as the world around her dissolved.  She didn't understand. 
How would her not killing anyone solve this?  This is war after all.  Her eyes
opened and she was back in her room staring up at the ceiling.  The sun cast
small columns of light across her bed but she didn't see them.  An idea was
spinning in her mind and it consumed her. "I will not kill anyone who
doesn't deserve to die."

She sprung from her bed and bounded out
to the balcony causing the guard to jump clutching his gun tightly.  Nicole
grabbed onto the rail and stared out at the sunrise in silence.  The colors of
the horizon were the most beautiful and vibrant she had ever witnessed.  The
orange blended into pink which in turn blended into blue creating an artist's
canvas. "So beautiful," she whispered.  The joy of having a plan gave
everything a brand new light.  The world up until that moment for her was
covered in a gray haze that only hinted at the pristine picture living
underneath but now it was as if she had new eyes.  There had never been a way
to stop this war, it had to happen.  But it could be a tool to create a new
beginning.

"It's a bit chilly for my
liking," responded the guard who had been watching her from a safe
distance.

"Back home we call the final cold
snap just before spring the Blackberry winter.  After those last couple of cold
nights you know the world around you is about to change into something
beautiful."  Nicole smiled and walked back into her room.  Training today
would be in the field with fire so she had to prepare.

"Do it again," commanded
Luke.  He joined the front line in the formation of warriors and fairies as
they re-aligned themselves to run through the drill again.  Each time the front
line consisting of warriors would begin by pummeling the first line with fire. 
Then the fae's archery line would fire a spray of arrows raining down on the
target dummies.  After the first two lines passed blurs with blades, both
warrior and fae would inundate the field.  Some flung small knifes through the
air with such skill that they flew straight into the necks and eyes of their
opponents; while others brandished swords that glowed with a blue power.  In
one swing the blade decapitated the target.  An electric hiss accompanied each
swing of the unusual swords.

General Moyer stood above the group
watching the action with a docile Queen Teya in a chair at his side. "They
are perfect.  You should be proud of your army."

"Yes, very proud," Teya
mumbled.  Her eyes lazily drifted around the field then she went back to
staring at the tips of her long hair.  The necklace Luke and Slade had forced
onto her glowed green against her pale chest.  It was doing its job.  Teya had
become complacent and easy to manipulate because she could care less about the
world around her now.  All goals of world domination were gone along with any
desires she had of living life itself.  She only sat staring into space until
someone spoke to her.

General Moyer chuckled at the queen,
"You were such a fool to treat Nicole that way.  She should have killed
you and taken the crown the day she arrived.  You never deserved the
throne."

"Yes, she should have killed
me."  Teya agreed as if she was commenting on the rising sun.

"Maybe she will when we go to the
battlefield.  We will let you stand in the middle like a trophy.  The first one
to kill you wins.  How does that sound?"

Teya's attention was distracted by the
action on the field as the army finished the last wave of the assault so Moyer
didn't receive an answer to his taunting.  Luke and Slade walked up to the
platform where they sat.  "How did it look to you, General?" asked
Slade.

"Like a killing machine."

"Are you seeing any weakness?"
asked Luke.

"Yes.  Divide them up into two
opposing groups then neutralize all powers, Slade.  Have them go head to head. 
I'm sure that Loch is counting on you being there and possibly using this
tactic so they will be skilled in hand to hand combat too.  We should do the
same."

Slade nodded then darted into the
soldiers but Luke stayed behind.  "What if Nicole is there?"

"You need to focus on winning, not
her.  If Loch has somehow managed to convince her the warrior race is superior
then she is just another fly to be swatted down."

Luke kept his eyes on the army as he
processed Moyer's words.  "I know she won't turn on us."

"Our intel says otherwise.  She's
training side by side with them."

"There has to be a reason for what
she's doing.  I won't write her off that easy."

"You will forget the woman you knew
or you will not lead this army out on that battle field.  You can't go into war
with conflicted feelings."

"I can lead this army," Luke
shouted back at the General, upset that he was questioning his abilities.

Moyer stood staring with a face of
stone, "She will be leading Loch's army into war.  Do you really think you
will be able to stand your ground when the woman you love becomes your enemy? 
You will write her off and remember what your duty is to this kingdom." 
His voice softened slightly, "If she is still on our side she will make it
known."

Luke nodded then confidently walked back
to the field to oversee the exercise but inside his head there was an explosion
of anger.  How could she be leading Loch's army?  What could Loch possibly do
to convince her to train with them?  This was not right and there was no way he
would allow himself to believe it.  He would prepare for this war alongside his
soldiers but when the time came he would do what was right.  He belonged to
Nicole.  He was her warrior.  Nothing was greater than him protecting her.

Another two hours of training without
powers had everyone breathing heavy but much more aware of what this war would
look like if Slade was forced to level the playing field.  The warriors were
great with hand to hand combat because of their natural strength but not having
their speed made them clumsy at times.  The fairies were weaker without their
magic but most were at least skilled swordsmen and archers so that advantage
remained.  Over all Slade and Luke agreed that they still stood a chance on a
powerless field.

"Do you believe it?"  Asked
Slade as the soldiers set up for another round of attacks.

"Believe what?"

"That Nicole is against us
now?"

Luke shook his head.  He peeled his
sweat drench shirt from his body and threw it to the ground.  "Not a
chance in hell."  He knew in his heart that Nicole wouldn't side with
Loch.  She of all people would be able to see through the lies he was sure
Nicole was being fed by his father.  If she was training with them there had to
be a damn good reason.  But it didn't matter.  Nicole belonged to him.  He
didn't care how barbaric that sounded.  She was his to love and protect no
matter the cost and he wouldn't let anything or anyone, including General
Moyer, stand in his way.

"Me either.  She's too smart for
Loch's games."  Slade smiled a lopsided grin, "What's our plan?"

"My plan is to lead this army into
war," smiled Luke.  Slade could read him a little too well but it would be
nice to have another person watching his back as he tried to get to Nicole. 
"But
our
plan will be slightly different once things start rolling."

Slade patted Luke on the back,
"Let's get our girl back."

**~***~**

A single fire ball fell at Nicole's feet
when she stepped to the edge of the field.  She knew without looking who slung
it her way.  Brien smiled broadly from his group of buddies in the center of
the fire training area.  Nicole didn't give him the satisfaction of a reaction
but instead took in the setup of the arena.  Over all it was a basic field
close to three hundred yards long and a hundred yards wide with a wide pond
running down either side.  Large boulders, a few narrow walls with doorways and
several large dirt mounds made up the inside of the area.  Dotted around the
edge were several seared and unstable looking building shells, some two stories
tall.  Nicole made quick notes of each area of safety she could find.  Today
her strategy would be much different.  No more being the hopeless rabbit in a
maze of blood thirsty warriors.

Claude tossed her a black jumpsuit and a
red armband.  "You're on team red.  Team blue is your enemy.  Only use red
fire and shoot for the area covered by the suit."

"Guess you don't want me scorching
any of your men's pretty faces?"

"The suit is fire resistant so yes
it is much better for training purposes to avoid the face but the suit also
marks your hit."

Nicole slid the jumper on and zipped
it.  "One hit and the person is out?"

"One hit in a fatal zone and you're
out."

"How will I know if it was
fatal?"

Claude pinched at the material on
Nicole's sleeve.  She could feel that the top layer was loose compared to the
tightness of the liner when he tugged.  "Under the fire resistant layer
there are different color zones that will shine through when you're hit.  If
you see red…you're dead."

"Easy enough."  Nicole made
her way to the edge of the red squad and as usual she was ignored.  Shala
stepped to Nicole's side and started dancing her way into her own jumpsuit.

"What's the strategy Soldier
Keenen?"  A hush settled over the group as they all stared at Shala in
disbelief.  Shala stepped through the group until she was in the center. 
"She will be leading us into war so it's time to see what she's made
of."

All eyes drilled into Nicole.  Her heart
jumped up into her throat making it impossible to speak.  Mentally she started
pulling a list together of her experience with war.
Battleship, ummm Call of
Duty…I wonder if Contra counts?
  Then she remembered one advantage in
strategic planning that she had over them all.  Telepathic ability.  So far
most of the warriors had been successful at keeping her blocked out but she had
never bothered to challenge their barriers.  After all there were times she was
able to temporally overcome Slade's shield powers like when she opened the
gateway the first time.  "I hope this works," she mumbled under her
breath just where Shala could hear her.

"Here's the plan."  She
stepped into the center of the group and lowered her voice.  "You all must
let me inside your heads.  Stop blocking me so I can guide you."

"We don't need you to guide us.  We
all know where every warrior is just like you do thanks to our blood." 
One of the twins had managed to be thrown onto Nicole's team and he wasn't too
friendly.  He was the slightly leaner of the two skilled swordsmen with black
hair and eyes that matched.

"Kade, give her a chance to prove
herself," shouted Shala.  Everyone, including Nicole was baffled by the
support Shala was showing.  Nicole couldn't help to wonder if this was just
part of her game or if Shala really believed in her.

"We will go up the field in two
teams.  I'll fall back into the second team and issue the commands as we move
forward.  Trust me and I'll get you all through this safe."  Nicole was
surprised by the confidence in her own voice.  She didn't realize until that
moment how much she was depending on this plan to work.  There was no other
way.  Not just for this training game but for her plan to win this war.