When morning broke, soldiers and peasants alike began to stir. Rhaine finished packing her belongings when Alex approached. "Commander Rhaine," he said gently. "How are you coping?"
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Rhaine shook her head. "I don’t know if I’ll ever get over what we just went through." She looked back at him, her voice quiet. "I never thought anyone would be capable of doing what happened in Trandell."
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The trauma of what they had witnessed in both Trandell, and Silver Falls, would haunt them all for the rest of their lives.
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Alex nodded solemnly. "I’ll admit, I didn’t think something like that was possible either. But.."
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"If you’re about to tell me to stop blaming myself," Rhaine said, cutting him off, "I’ll stab you."
Tears welled in her eyes.
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"No, Commander. I wasn’t going to say that," Alex replied, offering her a folded piece of cloth. "But it’s best the troops don’t see you like this."
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"There’s no law against crying, Alex." She snatched the cloth from his hand. "We’re all human."
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"No, there’s not," he agreed. He turned and looked out across the waking camp, soldiers moving stiffly, civilians clutching one another. "And yes, we’re human. But these people... they’ve cried all night. They’re exhausted. Scared. And they need more than just orders now. They need to know someone can protect them from what’s coming."
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"I already said Orion was my fault," Rhaine muttered, shame and anger flickering across her face.
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"You’re right," Alex said plainly. "Orion coming here was your fault."
Her gaze sharpened, but he didn’t flinch.
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"But it wasn’t only yours," he continued. "I’m not a religious man, never been my way. But what happened in Trandell, what Constance said about keeping a piece of Annihilation locked away..." He paused, the horrors still fresh behind his eyes. "Orion being capable of what he did, how the council judged him, how he responded, that wasn’t on you. That was bigger than all of us."
He shook his head, the weight of truth settling over them both.
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“The Church is filled with vermin,” Rhaine muttered. “Brother Constance said that, didn’t he?” She handed Alex back his cloth. “If he’s right, then so am I.”
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Alex tucked the cloth away. “I’m going to be as kind as I can about this, Rhaine.” He took a steadying breath. “The moment you stop feeling sorry for yourself, that’s the moment everyone here will start to feel safe.”
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“I’m sorry, Alex! I’m sorry I ever asked you to come. I’m sorry for dragging you into this. I'm sorry for taking you away from your precious drinking! I’m sorry for everything!” Her voice cracked, her hands trembling with rage and grief. Her eyes locked onto his, burning with defiance. “But what I’m not sorry for,” she said, calming just enough to steady her breath, “Is how I respond when my whole world falls apart.”
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Alex didn’t look away. He pointed toward the people gathered beyond. “So did every person out there,” he said quietly. “Their worlds crumbled too. It wasn’t just yours.” He stepped closer. “You’re the leader. That means you don’t get to break, not now. Because those people?” He nodded toward them. “They need you. Even if you’re dying inside, they need you to be their light in the darkness that’s swallowing everything.” His voice shook as he added, “Because after what I just witnessed... I don’t know if there’s a Creator. But whatever’s going on out there, I could sure as hell use a little light right now.” He swallowed hard. “So yes... I need you too.”
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Rhaine pushed past him, brushing his shoulder. “I liked you better when you were bragging about yourself,” she muttered.
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But she stopped short. Ahead, every soldier and townsfolk stood watching her. Some with tears in their eyes. Others with hollow, silent pain etched across their faces. All of them wore the same look Alex had, the same unspoken plea.
They needed her.
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Rhaine paused. In that still moment, she finally understood what Alex had been trying to tell her. The leaders of the Church were gone, no voices remained to calm the people, only dismembered corpses and the scurrying of rats. Her training had prepared her for battle, for doctrine, for command. But nothing had prepared her for this. Whether she liked it or not, Rhaine realized she was no longer just a commander of soldiers. She was now the leader of all of them.. peasants, warriors, survivors. The last thread of order in a world unraveling. She took a deep breath and stepped forward.
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“I know what we’ve been through. I know what we’ve lost,” she began, her voice cutting through the murmurs. “Last night, I thought long and hard about Trendell, about what happened there.” She hesitated, the image of rats pouring from Brother Constance’s corpse rising unbidden in her mind.
“Brother Constance said Orion believed the Church was filled with vermin. And maybe… maybe he was right.”
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A ripple moved through the crowd.
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“But we are not rats,” Rhaine said firmly. “Whatever vermin infested Trendell, Orion took it with him. He is gone. and we are still here.” She raised her voice, heart pounding. “We’ve lost two towns and now a city to the forces of Annihilation. But we must not stop. In this time of darkness, we must rise!”
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“If Trendell could fall,” someone shouted from the crowd, “what makes you think River Hallow won’t?”
Voices whispered. Doubt spread like smoke.
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Rhaine didn’t waver. “The people of River Hallow endured horrors just like you. And I know we will make it a safe haven. A bastion against what’s coming.” Her voice rose with resolve. “But I need something from all of you. I need you to get there. I need you to fight. To endure. To believe that this isn’t where our story ends.” The crowd quieted, watching her.
“We will continue fighting,” she said, then turned back to Alex.
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“Let’s hope our envoy is sucessful in Stennor.”
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________________________________________________________________________________
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In the town of Stennor, a tense meeting was underway between Melissa Shadelyn, envoy of Commander Rhaine and Mayor Cormir Remington.
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“If what you say is true, Nightingale,” Cormir said, using the flamboyant title he’d assigned her, “Then every settlement is in danger. But I’m not sure I can spare the people. Or the supplies.” He lifted a goblet of wine to his lips and sipped leisurely before cutting into a glistening glazed pig at the center of the table. Cormir, ever the showman, never negotiated on an empty stomach.
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“Please reconsider,” Melissa said from across the table, her tone respectful but firm. “Lady Rhaine is already en route to Trendell. By now, I’m certain she knows what happened to Orion. If you truly can’t spare soldiers, at least send food. We are dining while survivors are starving.” She clasped her hands. “The mayor of River Hallow was killed during the battle between the Usher and the Harbinger.”
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Cormir chewed thoughtfully, eyeing her. He wanted to help but the diplomat in him wanted to see if there was a better deal to be made. “I’m sorry to hear that,” he said smoothly. “So, who’s in charge now?”
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Melissa took a calm sip of water. “A local business owner. He said you knew him, Jirjin Nightside.”
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Cormir froze mid-bite. He nearly choked. “The bandit?” he sputtered, coughing violently. He reached for his napkin. “What possessed you to let that lunatic take charge? You’d do far better to stay here,” he added, gauging her reaction carefully.
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Melissa remembered Jirjin’s warning about Cormir. The mayor might be charming, but he was always looking for leverage, and had a particular fondness for the company of beautiful women.
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She raised a brow, a subtle smirk curving her lips. “That’s a tempting offer, Mr. Remington,” she said as she crossed one leg over the other. Her voice was velvet. “But tell me, would that offer include the remaining survivors, or am I the only one invited to stay?”
Now it was her turn to see if he’d bite.
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Pleased by her response, Cormir grinned. “By all means, call me Cormir,” he said smoothly. “If you come, then of course, everyone is welcome.” He raised his glass in a casual toast. “Except the bandits. There’s no place for them here in Stennor.”
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“Jirjin said you’d say that,” Melissa replied, her fingers slowly tracing the curve of her lower lip. “I get the feeling that if I were coming, you’d give me anything I asked for.”
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Cormir’s eyes gleamed as he rose from his seat and moved closer, wine glass still in hand. He sat beside her, leaning in. His fingers brushed lightly against her cheek. “If you came,” he said, voice low and suggestive, “I’d make you my queen.”
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Melissa narrowed her eyes, giving him a sultry smile. “Why, Cormir… I’m starting to think you mean something more than just me coming here.” Her hand reached out to caress his face. “But before anything comes of this,” she added, voice like silk, “I need to ask you one small thing.”
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Cormir leaned in further, smiling with anticipation. “What do you wish to know, my Nightingale?”
Melissa’s tone turned razor-sharp, her lips just inches from his ear. “How many people did you sell into slavery to buy your mayoral title?” She pulled away, the softness gone from her expression.
“Do the people of Stennor know what you’ve done?”
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Cormir froze. His face turned an alarming shade of red, equal parts fury and humiliation. “How dare you accuse me of such filth! That’s preposterous!” He stood abruptly and stormed back to his chair. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
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“I bet you don’t, Cormir,” Melissa said coolly. Her voice now carried the weight of command. “But hypothetically speaking… I know a former pirate who keeps meticulous records. A ledger, full of names, dates, cargo. It would be awful if someone, say, one of the heroes who stood against the Usher decided to let Stennor read it.”
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Cormir grunted, clearly defeated. “I’ve changed my mind. I’ll send you fifty of my guards and the supplies you’re asking for,” he said, stroking both his beard and his bruised pride. “Hypothetically speaking, would it be safe to assume that nothing gets… circulated in Stennor?”
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Melissa rose from her chair, smoothing her dress with a graceful smile. “Thank you. You’re most generous, Cormir.” She paused to glance over the meal. “The food was excellent. And don’t worry, you’re safe and sound.” As she passed him, she added lightly, “But don’t think of it as a loss.”
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Cormir frowned, still reeling. “What do you mean?”
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Melissa leaned in close, her lips just a breath from his ear. Her voice was a sultry whisper.
“I never said I wasn’t coming… tonight.”
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