Arising before the morning rays of sunlight, all thanks of course to the alarm clock, both Lilth and Anastasia get ready to head out to Fairbreeze. While eating breakfast by candle light, Lilth ponders about the story behind the alarm clock. The wind-up clock was sold to Sin'doreian vendors by the Goblins, but the technology is originally from the Gnomes, the supposed enemy. Irony. And with chance, Lilth may see some gnomes along with humans and maybe dwarfs from the Alliance once the battle starts. Can she really let the Scourge wipe the small force out, while she comes in and kills everyone there at their weakest strength and takes the wall for her kingdom, just like that? The heavy weight of guilt continues to press against her chest.
"Do what feels right young one," M'uru whispers in her mind.
At this point, Lilth isn't surprised every time he does that. Rather, she depends on his advice and warnings. His calm voice is reassuring.
Leaving their room, Anastasia brings along Alero with them. Stepping out into the Walk of Elders, with the moon providing much light, they find a Blood Knight with a torch and three Thalassian warhorses.
"Commander, Lieutenant, I've brought you your horses," the very young looking knight offers the reins to his superiors.
"What's your name, and…how old are you?" Lilth asked.
Surprised, the young knight rubs his long golden hair and his fel-green eyes looks down in embarrassment while replying, "Chor'yal madam. I'm really fifty-four years old."
"Just barely six years from actually manhood," Anastasia comments.
A feeling of alienation swells in Lilth's heart, as she's only twenty-three with a body of a young adult around ninety-five. Anastasia's only ninety-eight year s old.
"Please, I just wanted to protect our kingdom. Please don't tell anybody."
It's not surprising to Lilth, seeing a young boy wearing the armor and the role of an adult. With the last Scourge attack on Silvermoon City, and the decimation of ninety percent of the Quel'dorei population, including both Lilth's parents and Anastasia's father, there are a number of orphans and the young left with the old. It's a miracle that the young and middle-aged adults weren't all killed off.
"Though you lied on your application into the Blood Knight organization, you have a pure and honest desire. So long as you seek not revenge, I shall allow you to accompany me," Lilth uses the tone of authority. "And, you mind if I call you Chory?"
Looking up to his commander, Chor'yal accepts the nickname, and gives his gratitude to her.
Each mounts their warhorse. Lilth looks at her companions and says, "Stay by my side for this mission Chory, I've got something in mind for you. Now let's go meet the rest of our troops."
Motioning the horses with a light kick to the side, off they went, with Alero following.
As the morning light breaks the night sky, Lilth and her companions reach the outskirts of Fairbreeze Village. The first rays of sunlight sparkle when hitting the ruby crystals on the tops of each spiraling and domed building. Looking afar, Lilth sees the one-hundred troops she was promised to command for this mission. Was Chory supposed to come along, since he's a messenger? She just assumed he's supposed to go along. Oh well, it's better to watch over him than Liadrin, Lilth ponders.
The troops sit in idle next to the building with the tallest spiral shape. The composition of the troops is a mixture of Forsaken and Sin'dorei, while two Forsaken officers are talking to a woman on the open porch at the building. Riding up to the porch, it can only be her other two lieutenants, as the woman they're talking to is the Magistrix of Fairbreeze Village, Landra Dawnstrider. According to the Liadrin's plan, the Magistrix was supposed to supply the transportation for her small army.
"Welcome to Fairbreeze Village Commander. I was just talking with your lieutenants here about the preparations for your voyage," Landra gave her warm greetings.
Lilth notices the typical crimson and black outfit many officials wear since the Scourge attack. Landra's wears her black dress with a crimson vest and a crimson cloth layering from the hip down to the Magistrix's knees. Even her male Forsaken lieutenant is clad in the same color scheme on his plate armor and two-handed axe. The long, upright ears confirm Lilth's suspicion that he was once Quel'dorei. The striking contrast of the three is the other Forsaken lieutenant. She is armed with frosty blue robe, with icy shoulderpads spewing frosty mists down her back, and frizzy green hair. She was once human.
"Greetings, Magistrix Dawnstrider. What's the status on transporting my men?" Lilth inquired.
"The three ships anchored at Sunsail Anchorage to the west have recently arrived in the cover of darkness. With you here now, the operation can proceed on schedule."
"I see. Thank you for allowing the operation to carry through your jurisdiction Magistrix. Where are the ships be heading to?"
"I've secretly contacted the troll village of Revantusk to be expecting you in two days time. You are to pass through the Hinterlands west on that day from the shores outside of Revantusk, and pass by the dwarven outpost of Aerie Peak unnoticed at the night of the attack, and complete your mission then. I thought this would be the safest route for your men to take."
"You've done your homework well Magistrix. On behalf of my men, I thank you for your concern. We will take that route."
The Magistrix's face fills with relief and pride. She takes a curtsy to Lilth. Looking out over to her troops, Lilth felt nervous. That's a lot of people she has to care for. Should she give a small speech here? If so, how should she say it? If only she had thought of this minor, yet major, detail earlier instead of painting.
"All troops, move out!" Lilth yelled.
Her troops stand up and started to head west towards the harbor a couple miles away. Relief floods her face as she avoided in giving a speech right then and there, but as she recalls, speeches are ones that give clarity to the mission and raise the morale of the troops. She'll need to do it sooner or later.
Mounting their warhorses again, Lilth waves goodbye to the Magistrix. Leading the front of the pack, Lilth is accompanied by her three lieutenants at her side. With some time to kill, Lilth ponders about who and how much she should trust among her staff. She doesn't have to worry much about Anastasia, as she loves the outdoors and is the only friend she has of her own kind. Looking over at her undead lieutenants, Lilth notices the male warrior grumbling under his breath, while the mage introduces herself as Julia Darson. Julia also introduces the grumpy colleague as Eyro Morton. A Quel'doreian birth name and a Human surname, what an odd thing to do Lilth thought. So far, Darson is runner-up to trust of the three.
Finishing the two mile march, the troops load up onto the Thalassian transport ships. With no problems the three ships set sail north and north-east around the peninsula and back south for the two day trek to the hinterlands, the highlands right above the Arathian Basin. On board the S.M.C. Dawnrider, Lilth holds her staff meeting in the captain's quarters. Chory sits in the corner of the room, ordered by his commander to observe and reflect on the decisions of the meeting.
Looking at her staff around the table, Lilth couldn't quite focus in starting the meeting. Some unpleasant thoughts started occupying her mind, until one of the lieutenants started to speak.
"I still think we should've sent Squad three to Tarren Mill and spook the Alliance fools until the Scourge came," came from Morton, still grumpy.
"Didn't you listen Eyro, Magistrix Dawnstrider already told us that the Horde members stationed at Tarren Mill are temporary moved back to Orgimmar to help fill in the security gaps for this operation. There'd be no supplies and fortified defense for the squad, should the Alliance or a Scourge scouting party pursue them back to the mill," Julia interjects.
Lilth had heard from Julia along the way to the harbor that there were four squads, twenty-five per squad. Squad one and two were Sin'dorei while Squad three and four were Forsaken. A balance between the two sides.
"Do we have a scouting party?" Anastasia wondered.
Reviewing the roster, Lilth looks at her with disappointing news.
"Afraid not, most of the Sin'dorei troops are trained as basic Spellbreaker swordsmen. Only a couple are trained hunters, with one mage, and three priests. The Forsaken troops are also primarily warriors, with one warlock and two priests."
"A couple will do," Anastasia told her friend and commander. "I'll take the squad with the two hunters, and make a five man scouting party ahead of the army to track enemy movements. Don't want troll headhunters picking off our men."
"Then I get Squad three," Morton declared.
"Very well then, I'll take Squad two and Darson takes Squad four," Lilth concludes. She adjourns the meeting. Everybody else leaves, leaving only herself to be remaining at her seat. Why didn't Liadrin give her any paladins? Five would've been sufficient to have around. Lilth needed dedicated holy, protection and retribution paladins. One to tank, the other takes the heat to the enemy, and the third heals the wounded, all providing support for the main force with their skills and auras. That strategy used at the gate, during what's now called 'the Battle for Ghostlands,' worked effectively against the Scourge. Oh wait, Chory's a paladin. She still has plans with him yet.
The rest of the voyage went uneventful. Reaching the coastal shores outside Revantusk village, Lilth and Darson went to meet with the head of the Revantuskian chief, Primal Torntusk, outside the village while her troops and supplies are unloading.
"Welcome to me humble village elf leader. I got word de other day of yo're arrival," Torntusk greeted her visitors. Her face is covered by a wolf skin mask, clad in steel. "We won't let no dwarf-mon touch yo ships while yo're gone."
"I very much appreciate your support chieftain."
"No problem Lady Fin'dorei. Dwarf-mons and their friends are expanding into de hinterlands here. While dey'd be doing us a favor with de other tribes dat we hate, we don't want dem killin us too."
"With the wall ours to the southwest, they wouldn't think twice about expanding over here. That I promise you."
Pleased to hear so, Primal Torntusk and the people of Revantusk give their farewell to Lilth and her army, scaling the curved road up the coastal cliff. Anastasia and her scouting party take the lead, ensuring the local troll tribes don't ambush them during the quick trip across the hinterlands in one day.
By dinnertime, the troops, or at least the still living troops, take a break and eat their fill at Valorwind Lake. Only two-thirds through the one day trek. Walking down the side of the lake, the knot feeling in Lilth's heart tightens even more. Can she really let the Alliance force die? Aren't they just protecting themselves, nothing more? Anastasia catches up to her, along with Alero.
"What's wrong? You look worried," Anastasia concerning voice asks.
"Am I? I…I guess I'm just getting the nooby jitters since this is my first battle leading troops and all."
"You'll do fine. But, shouldn't you talk to your troops about the mission? We still got an hour before we can move again in the cover of darkness."
Thanking her lieutenant, her friend that always seems to be reminding her of her schedule and other important things, both started to head back to the troops resting alongside the road, the lake in a wonderful close view.
Darson and Chory motion Lilth to stand on a wooden box they've placed by the lakeside view. Lilth never liked being short at 5'6'', but a strong leader needs to show the troops the authority and respect the leader needs to execute any plan effectively. And if she needs to stand on a worn and abused wooden box that the two found nearby to achieve efficacy, then so be it.
Carefully stepping up onto the somewhat wobbly box, Lilth projects her voice.
"Men and women of Silvermoon Force unit #14. I thank you for your steadfast loyalty in coming this far in completing our mission assigned by our leaders, Queen Sylvanas Windrunner, Ranger-General Halduron Brightwing, and Matriarch Lady Liadrin. As you were debriefed before we set sail, our mission is to secure the Arathian wall tonight…"
Unpleasant thoughts plague her mind of seeing humans, dwarfs, and gnomes screaming in terror, dying horrible deaths. She momentarily looks down during mid-thought, feeling sad that she's ordered to let them all die, one way or the other.
"…But, we shall wait for the wall's defenses to be broken and then defeat the Scourge. Take any prisoners from the Alliance side… we have some use for labor in reconstructing the wall once the impeding battle is over."
Faces of once surprised looks of what the troops thought their commander could've said subsided, leaving their loyalty in her unharmed. Satisfied they were in not having to do the back-breaking work in fixing the wall. Their commander concludes her speech, leaving them to rest a bit longer before the sun is fully set below the horizon.
Night begins to encroach the land. Thick black clouds cover the night sky, creating a truly forsaken area to be in. The Forsaken themselves remain relax, while the Sin'dorei soldiers tense up in fear. The orders to march again commences, with the scouting party leading. The only way the soldiers could see each other without detection from the use of torches was by their eyes, the fel-green eyes by the Sin'dorei soldiers and the golden soft eyes of their commander, like a beacon of light and hope for them.
Lilth could barely make out the huge statue of an eagle in the short distance at Aerie's Peak. She remembers the report saying that the Wildhammer dwarves, one of three clans, live there and help the Alliance in breeding gryphons. They have little in the way of trained troops to do anything in this impeding battle for any side. In the future no doubt, that's probably another mission once the wall is secured. Her army achieved passing by without detection, and heading downward on the cliff that leads into the Hillsbrad area, right outside of the Arathian wall. Lilth orders a halt.
Using a telescope, ironically another gnomish invention, the braziers are lit extra big, with patrols on top of each of the walls. Sighing in relief, Lilth is relieved to see that the battle hasn't started yet. Motioning Chory to her, she sends him to each of the squads to standby until the Alliance outpost's outer defenses are breached by the Scourge. Little did Lilth realize that this has become a waiting game.
Voices nearby are heard by Lilth and some of her squad. She could barely hear someone speaking.
"This is Lady Tyche." Lilth couldn't see who or what she's talking to in the darkness. "Nothing unusual over here. Want me to continue checking the ridge to the north of the wall? ...Roger, I'll send my lieutenant to check the ridge on the south, and I'll set up the devices now."
Just as the voices came closer, they soon retreated. Lilth almost had a heart attack, fearing that their cover could've been blown. Some of her men were armed to the teeth and ready to kill anybody if they were spotted. But what devices was that woman talking about? Lilth would have to take extra precautions when invading, or at least let the Scourge figure out the mystery for her. For almost three hours, nothing had happened. Nothing.
Lilth was wondering if the reports were somehow incorrect. If only she had new reports on where the Scourge is, that would be nice. She notices her soldiers nearby getting edgy.
"Look," came the voice in the darkness that Lilth recognizes as Anastasia. "The guards are getting ready."
"The Scourge has come."
"(You can tell without meeting them?)"
"It is another ability my kind possesses. We Naaru are the physical manifestation of the Light. But without Darkness, the Light has no meaning. The two have a special connection in sensing each other, but these lowborn undead do not posses such connection."
"(I see, but you could've told me that sooner)," Lilth ponders before something caught her eye. Or rather it was something large that grabbed her attention. A large Scourge force had decimated the nearby abandoned keep and is heading straight for the wall.
"Chory," Lilth beckoned.
"Yes Madam?"
"Tell the troops to get ready. We'll go in when I give the order."
"Understood."
"And Chory."
"Ah, yes?"
"You're orders after that is to stay close to the base of this cliff here and continue running messages and healing the wounded. You've been training as a holy expert, so I absolutely need you to tend to the wounded and help any of the priests nearby."
"Yes madam," a sigh could be heard in the young man's voice.
Now to see how the Alliance would fare against the terrible might of the Scourge. The Scourge army stops right outside of the front wall. The Arathian wall is composed of three walls, front, the original and the biggest of the three, and the rear wall. An eerie voice shouts in a tongue Lilth couldn't understand.
"The lich ordered its minions to attack," Julia's voice comes up from behind.
Guess that's a benefit for being undead Lilth ponders, as the Forsaken can't be fooled with a language the living can't understand. Focusing back on the battle, the front wall's wooden gate soon broke, with soldiers fighting and falling off of the wall. Screams of battle rage and screams of death sound past the immediate battle field, that most of Lilth's army can clearly hear.
Agonizing pain smolders in Lilth's heart. Why do they have to die? Why can't she use her army to defeat the Scourge? She has the power to save them. If it wasn't for those stupid…
"Hmph, the Alliance is holding their own alright," Morton's voice too comes up close from behind. "They still won't win."
And he's right. Despite the few hundred of Scourge that has been slaughtered already, with a few dozen being resurrected by their necromancers, the Scourge are still pressing through the wall. Using the telescope, Lilth aims it at the main wall's archway. That will be the determining point of the battle. If the Alliance can hold that chokepoint, they win, if not, then the price would be very high to pay. So far the Alliance is holding the archway with some difficulty.
"Prepare to send our troops down to the base of this cliff. I want..." Lilth trailed off in her order.
Her mind prods her with questions. Is this what she really wants? To sacrifice the Alliance as living bait and take the easy highway towards victory. Or is this really what her superiors want? Only plotting plans from the comfort of their war rooms, unable to hear the screams of terror and see the destruction that such plans create.
"…Just get them down there. This will be a quick strike operation. But, the scouting party will scout down the path the Scourge had come from to ensure no reinforcements arrive. Be prepared for anything. Dismissed," She finishes with disgust.
As her troops begin to quietly walk down the cliff to its base, Lilth stands where she is, only glued to her telescope and seeing the battle unfold in front of her. The Alliance still hold the archway, but…are those Nurebian spiders coming out with some Alliance soldiers on the Alliance-held side of the main wall? A multi-layered assault at this time of night? This will definitely have to be in the report later. Looking at one of the soldiers from her telescope, something caught her undivided attention. Did she actually see him by one of the braziers?
Having seen enough, Lilth sprints down the trail. Once at the bottom of the cliff, Lilth meets up with her Forsaken lieutenants and Chory.
"Are everybody in…" Lilth attempted to speak.
Excruciating screams of death and explosions sound across the area. Not enough to have to cover their ears from their distance, but not pleasant to hear either. Guess that was what that woman had mentioned before when she was referring to that "device," just some land mines in key locations that the enemy could've taken over had if the worst case scenario should happen, Lilth figured.
A messenger comes up to Lilth and her staff by a few portable torches.
"Commander, Lieutenant Anastasia has sent me to inform you of a Scourge detachment that's on its way over here and requesting available soldiers to counter," the messenger reports while catching his breath.
Looking to see if the outside of the front wall is clear of the enemy, Lilth notices a lone knight on an undead horse. If only he wasn't there, she'd have more room to move without detection. And with luck, the lone black knight with an eerie azure glow to his sheathed claymore moves and enters through the front wall.
Looking back at the messenger Lilth orders, "Very well, tell her I'm sending Squad one, three, and four to take care of that Scourge detachment force. My squad will continue with…with the mission."
The messenger doesn't bother asking his superior what's bothering her, and runs back to the scouting party.
"Why on Azeroth are you sending most of the force away from the wall for a detachment force!?" Morton demands.
"Now's not the time for arguments, you will go with your squad over there and defeat them along with Anastasia. Darson, your troops will be under Morton's command for now, and you will accompany me to the wall. And Chory, I've changed my mind, you come with me as well and reflect about what all's been said and done after this mission. Dismissed," Lilth summons up the courage and takes her stand.
Grumbling, Morton takes the two Forsaken squads and Anastasia's squad with him to the impending, yet simple, battle. Julia doesn't object and obediently accompanies her commander. Running to the front gate, Lilth and her squad could hardly see if the fighting had stopped as many of the braziers have been snuffed out or tossed to the side, reducing much visible light, despite the break in the dark cloudy sky has helped shine the moon.
"Commander, look!" Chory shouted.
A few gryphons fly overhead. They don't bother with Lilth and her squad, but the dwarven riders take a round back to the rear wall. Did Aerie's Peak send reinforcements after all? They shouldn't have been able to mobilize at all, according to the reports.
"Can we still storm the wall with so few of our army?" Julia wonders out loud.
"You forget," Lilth reminders her subordinate. "That's why I'm here."
Sprinting ahead of her subordinates, faster than anybody thought she could run, Lilth could see a lich and that lone black knight entering a portal in the near distance. To her surprise, the portal closed as soon as the two went through. Mages can't close their portals that quickly. What's going on? Before Lilth could think of some explanation for the Scourge's odd behavior for retreating, a small explosion erupts nearby.
Lilth could barely hear someone shout right after that explosion, saying, "What? Those blasted corpses are bombs?"
Bombs? Did she hear that right? There are Scourge remnants, and their bombs? Regardless, Lilth continues towards the rear wall, only close to the battered archway of the main wall. Passing the archway could Lilth see a wall of red zombies moving closer and closer to the Alliance survivors. Before she could sprint into action and save them, a golden dome forms nearby. Unable to see who was inside that dome, the ground began to quake as a golden circle encompasses the zombies before a larger golden dome swallows them. Before Lilth could blink, the zombies detonate and the golden domes fade away under the tremendous pressure. The release of wind made Lilth flinch as she blocks her eyes.
As the released wind died down, Lilth hurries down to the rear wall, wanting to see if it really was him. She didn't see him among the corpses she could see on the way in, so just maybe…
"…Be wary Lilth, you're not welcome amongst them."
Having rushed way ahead of her troops, Lilth is the only one amongst the dwarves clad in the uniform of Ironforge, and a few humans and gnomes, and…night elves are here too? A human woman clad in azure armor with sword and shield at the ready runs up to Lilth, accompanied by two dwarven priests. The thought that she's not welcome had just occurred to Lilth.
"Siri, vore, Logeas Nol Reela," Lilth spoke to her 'welcoming party.'
Confused looks from the three are apparent. Lilth realizes this and shakes her head and uses Common.
"Wait, please, I don't mean any harm." Lilth notices a few dwarves carrying some humans, gnomes, and a few night elves, but the lack of light from the braziers near them didn't help her identify any of them.
"Really now," the woman clad in azure armor spoke with distrust. "How can I believe that when you're comrades are coming towards us?"
Looking behind, Lilth forgot that she left them behind in the dust, so to speak. Facing back to the azure clad woman, Lilth wants to ask this woman so many questions, but which one?
"Is, is Lucian Windchester among the survivors, miss?"
"It's Abigail. Abigail Burton, 2nd class Lieutenant-Knight under Knight-Captain Windchester's command. I don't see the need to tell you anything. You probably just want to kill our leaders and cause havoc with our chain of command."
Lilth drops to the ground, tossing her polearm a few yards away. Abigail and the two dwarven priests are dumbfounded by this strange woman's reaction. Sniffling sounds and soon tears swell up from Lilth's golden eyes.
"Lucian's my childhood friend! Please, tell me…" Lilth golden eyes look up to Abigail as her voice trails off as more tears start flowing down her cheeks.
Abigail takes a couple steps back with disbelief from this odd encounter. The dwarven priests look just as confused from this development.
"Are you the commander, uh…"
"Lilth Fin'dorei, Field Commander of the Silvermoon Unit #14."
"Tell me, will you grant us safe passage away from here if I tell you about Lucian?"
A glow of happiness spreads across Lilth's face. "Of course! I…I can't find any honor in destroying a supposed enemy that just survived a massacre. Please, is he alright?"
Looking at her comrades, she gets the nod of approval and replies, "He's alive, yes. I helped him perform a super-charged Consecration spell a little bit ago and he blacked out from being tossed by the explosion."
Relief starts to surface on Lilth's face. "Thank you oh so much Abigail. I won't forget your kindness. Please, can I…"
Lilth hears a frost spell from the distance. Abigail readies her shield and successfully blocks it.
"Commander!" Julia yells as she readies another frost spell.
"Darson, stand down now!" Lilth switches back to Orcish.
Too late. Darson had discharged another frost spell at Abigail. Quickly lifting herself off the ground, Lilth casts Divine Shield and stood in front of Abigail, absorbing the spell's frosty power.
"Commander?" Chory, standing near Julia, spoke out loud, very confused by this act of…of betrayal.
"We are aborting the mission. Ironforge has sent a few units over here. One hundred soldiers isn't enough to fight them off in two hours," Lilth conjures up a cover-up. "In exchange for letting the survivors go, we won't be followed back to the village. Now go send word to Anastasia and Morton and retreat back to the ships, we're going home."
No longer ready for combat, Julia and Chory, and Lilth's squad lower their weapons. Facing Abigail, Lilth gives a modest smile.
"I told them you had more reinforcements coming. From what Lucian was telling me by mail last month, the "old geezers" in the military elder council are too lazy to send adequate resources to their troops. Am I right?" Lilth quietly spoke with Darson nearby.
Looking down, Abigail's eyes still meet Lilth's. "That's right, sadly. I take it we can leave?"
"Yes."
"Thank you."
Abigail and the two dwarven priests walk backwards a few steps before turning around and running to catch up with their people.
Facing her troops, a sense of nervousness starts to overwhelm Lilth. Everybody is still in shock as to what just happened and even how to respond to their commander. How is she going to explain this to Anastasia and the others? Or even Liadrin…?
"Fall back. Send a messenger to the other part of the army and have them meet us back at the summit of the ridge. We're going home," Lilth musters the courage to show authority.
No one argued with her, nor did anyone spoke to her either. Everybody just walked back. They spent the next day treading through the hinterlands. While leading all one hundred of her troops back, Lilth for the first time in a while, felt scared, that everybody would hate her all over again. In the late morning of the second day since the battle, they reach the shores outside Revantusk village.
"Say wha? Wha happen down dere."
"The Scourge nearly wiped out the Alliance stationed there, and by the time I captured one of their lieutenants, I was informed that more reinforcements from Ironforge would be there soon. The main wall is ruined due to the multiple explosions their land mines caused when the Scourge were overrunning them, so there is no strategic value for them to use that wall," Lilth spoke with sincerity.
The two slowly walk to the coast right outside the village. The troll chieftain, still wearing her wolf mask, eyes Lilth a little bit longer. "Even de mighty Lilth could not change de hands of fate. My witch doctor says dat you have all troops back in one piece. You remind me of a Soldier King."
"Soldier King?" Lilth stared in disbelief. She thought of herself as a failure, an epic failure to her troops, to her kingdom, to Anastasia, and even…to M'uru.
"De Soldier King takes care of her troops and doesn't risk de lives of others without great cause. You be no king, or really queen, but you'd have de spirit of one."
"Auh, thank you. I'll try to remember that when I report to my superiors…," her golden eyes look down at the crashing waves against the sandy shoreline.
Once supplies were loaded and everybody onboard by midday, the trip back will be the calm before the storm. Nobody said anything to her on the trip back, not even grumpy Morton. The eyes are what bothers Lilth the most, those eyes of failure, of shame to their families' names. The only one who would talk to her is Anastasia, but even she isn't her chipper self since the battle. It's all her fault, all her fault…