CHAMLEE’S POV
I could not believe what I just heard. Are they coming to attack us here in our land knowing that our armies have gone to war against them? They are sure that the people would be helpless with no one to defend them.
I seriously underestimated them. And now I see the rationale of leaving some soldiers behind as Chamlar has always insisted.
I have to act fast. Now it devolves on me to ensure that not even a single life is lost in this.
I pointed to one of the guards. “You, go back, tell the guards on the secret watch to retreat to the palace, and you” I pointed to another guard. “Get two other guards with you, go to the villages, and bring with you everyone. Ask them to run to the palace immediately” I ordered and they both took off on their heels, running as if their lives depended on it.
I turned to the guard that had brought the news and asked. “How long would it take them to get here?”
“He said in the next couple of hours, maybe two hours” he replied.
“Oh no… that is a short time” I murmured. “Go to camp immediately, and ask all the soldiers to come here right now” I ordered and he immediately took off.
The camp is not very far, he should be there in no time even in his exhausted state.
Little by little, the villagers strolled into the palace, running as if they were been chased by ghosts.
“All the fighters should remain here, while the rest, especially the women should follow Lara” I turned to Lara. “You should go and get my son, Lalic, take him to your mother, and take them somewhere to hide. Please remember that no harm must come to Lalic. Take the villagers with you. When you get to the stream, they should take the tiny path. There will see an old mine, they all should hide there and then you should return. On no account should any one of them come out” I ordered and she ran off.
I turned and saw Kendra and Mia amidst the crowd not too far from where I was and I called them to my side.
“Get all the slaves here immediately” I ordered and Mia took off.
“Kendra, you go to the elders, they should go along with Lara. Please make sure none of them remains behind” I instructed and hearing my command, she left.
Seconds turned into minutes, and minutes were slowly getting to an hour. Lara returned, she had done what I asked her to do.
“All the villagers are here, and those are the men that can fight. But you know just how little their strength would be when they meet with Diamond Cut” I said to Lara.
“I will take them and fortify them right away. None of them should lose his life” she replied.
“The slaves would have to go to the borders. They are to begin the fighting before the soldiers get here” I said.
“No…” she exclaimed in a low tone. “My Chamlee, the slaves are not trained for such. The soldiers would defeat them in no time. What is the use of sending them off to die?” she objected.
“That is their use, that is why they are here, to defend this land with their lives” I explained as if she was ignorant of that.
“But my Chamlar, the queen would not hear of such. She does not regard any of them as slaves, not in the least. She would be furious if we should try such” she explained.
“But then what are we going to do, what is their use? The armies are approaching and we are all going to die” I persuaded.
“No, we won’t die. We have to ask them. Any of them that agrees to fight will fight alongside the rest” she said.
“Okay, suit yourself. If you think that is the best approach, then I am not going to stop you” I reluctantly succumbed to her will.
She raised her voice and asked. “We are about to fight now, and most of you are here on your free will, except for the slaves among us. And if any of you cannot fight in this battle, such a person should indicate and go into hiding with the others immediately”
I was surprised when only a handful of slaves, mostly women left the crowd with bowed and disappointed faces.
“Thank you. Please you know where the others were taken, run over there immediately and don’t turn back” she ordered and they all ran off. She pointed to three of the men and said. “They are the last to leave us, please follow them and clear off any traces of their footsteps. I would not want the mine to be detected” The men immediately ran off to do as they were told.
“Okay, what now?” I murmured.
She said in a loud voice. “We appreciate all the women that remained for this battle. We are aware that most of the slaves are werewolves, please if you are one, move to the right” she requested and more than ninety percent of them moved to the right. “You and the rogues will go to the borders to fight and wad off the intruders. The rest would wait here and around the villages. I will lead the wolves and our Chamlee will lead all those on foot. However, the women and a few men will remain here in the palace. They will fight if the battle ever gets to the palace” she ordered.
Some women slaves moved away from the group of werewolves, but two refused to move.
“Please you will have to remain here” Lara begged them.
One of the women spoke. “I am not just a werewolf, but I also have the vampire blood in me. The soldiers will be no match for me. Allow me to go out there and finish them off”
The second woman immediately spoke up. “I have the vampire blood in me too and I am ready to fight and die for Pixolands. Here we have never been seen or treated as slaves, here we have even more rights than when we were free. Pixolands is my home and I will die defending it”
“Okay, and please know that Pixolands does not take your sacrifices in vain” Lara replied.
“How many of you have the vampire blood?” I asked.
A great percentage of the slaves raised their hands.
“That is great. Should we succeed in this fight, you will join the Chamlar in the battle. For those that are willing to” Before I could finish speaking, chants of agreement and willingness to go to war filled the place, all of them, eager to fight for my land.
“That is great. I will go and fortify you all now…” Lara suddenly stopped and looked at me.
“What is the problem, Lara?” I asked as I tried unsuccessfully to read her look.
“The fortification… the soldiers from Wild Cloak…” she began.
“Yes, what is wrong with them?” I asked impatiently.
“I had fortified all of them before some were ordered to return to Wild Cloak. We should send for them. They have to attack the enemies from the rear. This will be a surprise attack with the ability to throw the enemies off guard”
“Hey, you…” I called to a rogue who instantly ran up to me. “Take another rogue, go off to Wild Cloak, their soldiers should attack the enemies from behind. Use your wolf form and be fast”
Before I could conveniently register my words, the rogue and one other shifted to wolves and ran off with the speed of lightning.
“All those that are yet to be fortified should come with me please” Lara instructed and led them away.
I looked up at the sun, hopefully, we still have a little close to an hour before the enemies arrive on our land.