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Chapter 44
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Rise of the cardinal Chapter 45
Xander stalled our departure to Perch for a few days and kept the Lycan pack away from me as best he could until my heat was over. To humans, going into heat made no difference in how they reacted toward me. Their sense of smell could not detect anything. But to other shifters, it was a recipe for disaster. It was hard for Xander to be in my presence without ravishing me—which he frequently did, unable to control himself. I couldn’t imagine what it would have been like for the others should they have smelled me. From what Xander explained, shifter folks went in heat once a year, and they would leave the pack with their mates, should they have had one, and return after four or five days once it had passed. Having the anatomy of a human, I had no such luck as it came monthly, like any typical human. This made me wonder what shifters did when they lived in a human village to find work outside their packs. Xander tried to stay away as much as he could, but I hated being alone in this f
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 46
I pushed the doors to the main underground hall, and they banged loudly on the walls on each side. The echo it created silenced all the rebellion leaders gathered, and they whipped their heads in my direction. “Where is Lord Junco?” Silas followed Xander and me into the hall and sat at the end of the long table. Count Robin, Lord Heron and Lord Swallow looked between themselves nervously. When none of them replied, Silas flattened his hands on the wood surface and repeated my question more severely. “W-we do not know, Princess. Lord Junco took a handful of men and said he would go to the neighbouring village to ask for more food to feed the shifters who had arrived and never returned. We sent men to the town to enquire, but upon their return, they said that the village never had the visit of Junco, and the only horse trails that were visible were heading north.” Spoke Lord Heron with unease. I looked over at Xander, my face becoming paler with dread. Junco was going to Osprey city.
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 47
Xander POV We had sprawled a map on the centre of the table, and Silas and I were looking at routes Osprey could take. Silas pressed his finger on a plain between the Red Mountains and Maple. It was in the farming district of White Birch, which separated us from them. “This is where the battle will take place. We should meet in this district section if we both start moving simultaneously. That’s only if Osprey leaves the comfort of his castle. It’s flat and would be the ideal place for a fight. We cannot penetrate Osprey city’s defences if he stays there. We need to draw him out if ever that’s the case.” “I agree. The mountainside surrounding the castle’s wall is too steep to climb, and an attack from the forest lining the south would make us vulnerable to any assaults from the outer wall. If we are to fight Osprey, we need it to happen here, where we have a better chance at having the upper hand.” I scanned the map again. The White Birch plain offered us a straight path to attack,
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 48
Osprey POV I called the scribe after reviewing the draft for the mandatory enlistment summons. They were to be sent out to all the districts that very week. “I don't like it. It will need to be reworked. This is not a proposition but an obligation, and this document offers a choice. Airedah’s citizens will have none.” I handed the draft back to the scribe, and he inclined his head, begging forgiveness for the error. With this mandatory enlistment, I hoped to hit a soft spot in Cressida. Every abled body man of ten years and older must sign up and fight for their country. I knew she would not want children involved in this matter, and it could offer me an edge if she persisted with this ridiculous notion that she could overthrow me. We were the same, her and I. The sooner she realized that, the better it would be for the entire world. The prophecy my ancestor foretold referred to her. I knew it in my mind. All I needed to do was kill the bastard who claimed her before I had that cha
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 49
I had avoided Xander since the incident where I called out to other wielders. I had been dreadfully cold the first few days, shivering even though the hot summer days left everyone sweating and searching for shade. Xander had stayed by my side for as long as he could, warming me until I could finally have my own regular and consistent body heat. But then, duty called him as more and more shifters appeared and, having been proclaimed Lycan King came with its load of responsibilities. Avoiding Xander became easy with everything happening around us, but it didn’t lessen the guilt deep inside my chest. I was ashamed to have drained him to call forth the wielders. I didn’t know how I had done it, which made me even warier about using that sort of power. I realized just how much I still had to learn if I ever wanted to control myself. When Xander left my side for his duties, I moved around the many campsites, inspecting everything and welcoming the rebels. But I mostly spent my time her
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 50
Silas POV I was sitting on my bed when I heard someone knock on my bedroom door. I had finished my tasks for the day and was hopeful of a good night’s rest. I guessed the Faiths had other plans for me that night, or else why would someone call upon me at this hour? I momentarily wondered if it was Lord Swallow who had completed his report and wanted to hand it over so we could look at the logistics in the coming morning. I got up and opened the door. My mouth dropped in surprise at seeing Ida standing there, her fingers in a knot in front of her shirt. Each time I saw her, my heart drummed aggressively inside my chest. When she saw my barely dressed appearance, I noticed her cheeks flushed red, and she turned her head away to look at the empty corridor. I loved the way her cheeks blushed. She really was beautiful, and it sometimes pained me she would never be mine. Ten years ago, my father told me I would wed Cressida Cardinal when she turned twenty, and I felt overjoyed and hono
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 51
I waited by the hot spring for Silas to meet me. He seemed to take his time. Maybe Silas wouldn’t come. Perhaps he had a change of mind and didn’t want to be involved in this. I wouldn’t blame him. Xander could be scary when he puffed up like a big, bad wolf. And after everything that happened, I wouldn’t hold it against Silas to avoid Xander.I shifted my weight from one leg to the other, mussing over the towel and second shirt I had brought. Since Silas was with me, I wouldn’t be going in the water naked. I would keep my shirt to cover most of my body if he needed to come in and grab me. I still had no idea what to expect from this, and all the things that could happen scared me.I moved and sat on a rock that had moss all over it. The mist created by the spring was considerably less thick than the last time I had been here. The early spring air had been cold, but the summer nights were hot now, making the thick fog less dense.Th
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 52
The information that my mother gave me kept spinning in my head. Although it was not exactly what I had wanted to know, she touched on key points that I needed to hear. My heart squeezed, knowing I did not have the chance to say goodbye to her. It was like losing her all over again. It was less painful, but seeing my mother open a wound I had stopped picking at, hoping it would heal itself with time. I bit the inside of my cheeks, thinking about it. Xander snapped his fingers in front of my eyes and made me jump. I stumbled slightly, trying to match his walking speed, and lifted my gaze to see what was happening. Had he said something? “You’re not sleeping in the library again. You’re coming with me.” I sucked in a breath until my face became red. That was the part I had dreaded—us being alone. Silas had told Xander what I had planned, and every time Xander gave me a wounded look, it made my insides squirm. I had tried to excuse myself from both of them after
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Rise of the cardinal Epilogue
Ida POV - Three years later I placed my quill down and looked at the manuscript I had finished. I had worked on it for three years. It had been an arduous task, especially since it recounted the story of my life—a life I had no memory of. I looked it over once more, and once I was satisfied, I closed the book and backed away into my chair. Xander had presented me with this blank book years ago. He had encouraged me to talk to everyone and gather all the stories they had to share of past moments we had lived together. Otis had been a tremendous help. He told me of my upbringing and of my parents. He had known me the longest and had emphasized that my parent’s legacy lived on through me. I was more than happy to write everything down on the blank pages of that book if it helped me understand where I belonged in this world. The first year had been challenging. Many individuals came to speak with me, and I didn't know who they were. They wanted me to become queen. They said it was my b
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 65 - End
Xander POV Trepidation and falling into the unknown had been things entirely foreign to me. In the past, I had always been the sort of person who calculated every possibility. It was partly because of my Lycan side, being logical, cautious and using those primal instincts. I never took chances without thinking of the outcomes. If I took a risk, at least I knew what could happen, and I would know how to react when faced with them. Ever since I joined my life with my fated mate eight months ago, I had become reckless and impulsive—my Lycan side as well. Everything I did, I did for her, so we would never be parted again, and I often found myself in situations where I didn’t know the ending. As I watched Ida floating above me, unmoving with her heart-wrenching, teary-eyed face, I knew in that instant that she was making a tough choice, and I had not been privy to her plan. I shouted her name and extended my hands, hoping that by some miracle, I would catch her an
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 64
Otis and Xander charged the guards that were looking out at the battle unfolding. They had not thought of being attacked from the back. They would have never suspected someone would have come through a different entrance than the ones at the base of the mountain. Xander was limited in what he could do, as he couldn’t fully transform into Lycan form, but he did his best with the situation and helped until I had regained a little of my strength. I had lost a lot of blood, and although I had healed myself, I still had slightly blurred vision and slurred movements. I thought I looked inebriated. The piercing sounds of clashing swords and dreadful screams resounded inside my ears. I placed a hand on a tree and worked hard to stay upright. I needed to get my head straight if I wanted to face Osprey, and trepidation spread over me like a cold shower. I squinted my eyes when I saw flashes of colour out on the battlefield. I momentarily wondered if I had imagined it,
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 63
Jordan used his nose to locate Xander, and once we heard a war horn echo faintly through the underground tunnels, the three of us froze.“It’s starting,” Otis whispered.The colours on my face drained, and I hurriedly grabbed Jordan’s arm.“Are you sure Xander is close?”“Positive. He’s down there somewhere.”“Good. We can take it from here. Find the Lycans and help the rebellion!”Jordan hesitated but accepted my orders. He walked away, then circled around and stared at me with nervous eyes.“What of Lynn? Where is she?”“She’s safe with the healers away from the battlefield.”Jordan nodded and doubled back, running into the darkness. Otis and I continued our way down the path until it forked, and not long after, there was a wooden door to our left. There weren’t any guards, but I could hear some discussing further away
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 62
Silas POVThe tension in the air was palpable. Everyone was on edge, and the slightest noise made all the rebels jump. We had a restless night of marching before taking a break, and I feared it would not sufficiently prepare us for the battle to come.When we stopped, the rebellion leaders and I discussed the plan, and I thought it good. We had everything ready, and everyone present knew the risks they were taking. None of them left in the night, and everyone was accounted for in the early morning before the sun rose.A rebel woman brought everyone something to drink to help perk us up, but I just stared at the beverage and couldn’t find the will to swallow the hot drink. I didn’t have the stomach for it. What made me even more anxious was that I hadn't heard from Ida yet. She had left us in the evening the day before, and I wondered if she fared well with her wielder friend. I knew she could take care of herself, but if what the shifter that a
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 61
The black mass of the western mountain appeared before Otis and me. It separated a narrow passage between Mirra and White Birch districts, leading to either the Spruce Cove or Willow regions. It wasn’t as tall as the other mountain ranges, but it was sizable nonetheless.I dropped lower above the tree line and climbed the mountainside by flight.“What are we looking for exactly?”Near the top of steep cliffs, there was a tunnel that led inside the secret passages of the mountain. From what I had gleaned from the forest earth, there were a few, but that one had seemed unoccupied and our best chance at getting in undetected.“A passage. We’re almost there, I think. It’s harder to spot in the dark.”“Please tell me you have a plan,” Otis grumbled as I took more speed.“I do, and I don’t. My plan was to get us here.”I thought I heard Otis mumble, but I ignored him. M
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 60
Xander POV The silver shackles that bound my wrists and ankles burned my skin. I winced and shifted my weight, wanting to prevent the bindings from touching too much skin. I slowly opened my eyes. There was no difference between having them close or open. Complete darkness surrounded me. Only the scar of Ida’s blue mark left a dim glow on my skin. But it wasn’t enough to see anything clearly. The clinking of another set of shackles resonated in the space, and I heard a grunting sound coming from another person. The other prisoner coughed and hissed as the silver stung them. “Who’s still alive?” I asked in a hushed tone. “It’s me… Jordan.” Good. Jordan was still here. He was the strongest out of the ten Lycans that accompanied me on this mission. “Can you recall what happened to us?” “Some, not much. We went inside the village. It was silent. Shifters attacked us, but they weren't shifters. I tore a leg from one of them, but it
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 59
I saw red and jumped off my horse.“Ida! Don’t do it. I know what you’re thinking!” Silas pleaded. His voice was frantic, and he followed suit, dismounting his horse to grab my arms and stop me.I shook my arm out of his insistent hold and jumped backward.“We waited too long. The plan won’t work. If Xander or any other Lycans have not returned, they were taken by Osprey’s men… or Osprey himself. Arm everyone, now! I’ll take Otis with me, and we’ll go straight to White Birch Castle. Keep moving in that direction and keep your eyes peeled. I have a feeling this fight will happen much sooner than expected.”‘Then I’m coming with you!”“Don’t be absurd.” I scoffed at Silas. “The rebellion needs you here. Who will lead them all once the battle starts? I can do it with Otis.”I tried to show him I was confident, but I only wanted to
Rise of the cardinal Chapter 58
As soon as Roselin and Count Robin had produced and distributed the immunizing liquid against the incapacitating effects of the other, we quickly set for White Birch plain. All the shifters followed the moving party from the forest, while all the human rebels took the road with hundreds of wagons in tow. We needed to move the weapons, the armours, the food and water supplies.Only a handful of elderly rebels stayed in Perch. They would reroute any other rebels that arrived from farther districts. My heart broke when no wielders showed up, making me think that Otis and I were the only ones brave enough to show ourselves. I refused to believe we were the last two left.We had been on the road for over a week. It would take another day to reach the designated portion of the plain, where the rebellion intended to set up and prepare for the war. By my calculations, Junco had most likely arrived in Osprey City two or three days ago, which made me worry.I was atop my
