Calm Before the Storm
Dana's POV
Scouts had been sent to watch the lands surrounding the Temple, and near dusk they returned with grim news: a force of nearly five thousand Forsaken was marching toward us, armed for war. The enemy was only a day away, having made camp along the river plains east of Dunmire, where there was fresh water, open ground enough for their tents, and thick tree cover to hide their fires from distant eyes.
The Bound stood ready, and even the young Novitiates, still in training, had hardened themselves in preparation for the coming war.
Overnight, Thyr Vael had become a fortress.
At the center of the Temple, Ascend Veylan prepared the first line of defense. Together with several High Bound, he performed an ancient ritual as sigils were carved into the Temple walls to prevent any form of passage through the Veil. No enemy would be able to slip into Thyr Vael through shadows or hidden paths while the sigils remained active.
Veylan cast another barrier above the Temple grounds, shielding the stronghold from any attack that might come from the skies.
The Forsaken were far too unpredictable for carelessness.
The districts that were damaged during the previous attack were cleared of the dead and any survivors still trapped beneath the ruins. The people of the Temple were then moved to the district furthest from the front gates. It quickly became overcrowded, but it would remain under guard, protected mostly by some of the Bound recently promoted from Novitiate.
The Bound were divided into several groups, each given different priorities. They moved quickly through the Temple, carrying shields, weapons, and supplies across the districts as preparations continued through the night. The front gates of the Temple were shut and barred with iron.
Archers were stationed along the walls above the gates while smaller reserved forces waited behind them, ready to reinforce whichever side came under attack first.
Two divisions of Bound were sent to the eastern road leading to Dunmire, since it was the most likely route the Forsaken would take. Another division guarded the forest paths south of the Temple in case the enemy attempted to move under the cover of darkness before their arrival.
The High Bound joined the preparations soon after as well.
Though they ruled over the Temple districts and rarely fought directly in war, the coming battle left little choice. They armed themselves alongside the other Bound, and their presence alone was enough to steady the younger Novitiates. All hands were on deck.
The healers were stationed as well, though under far tighter protection than the rest of the Bound.
Chambers within the districts were cleared and turned into treatment halls where the wounded would be carried once the fighting began. Supplies, clean cloth, herbs, and restorative sigils were gathered, while smaller groups of Bound were assigned solely to protect the healers at all costs.
Unlike the Bound stationed along the gates, the healers were kept far from the front lines. Their task was not to fight, but to keep the wounded Bound standing for as long as the battle lasted.
Myself, the Ascend, Kumbuye, and Doya remained within the Sanctum while the preparations continued across Thyr Vael. My place during the war was beside the Ascend. I was only to step into the fight if Balshak showed himself.
The Ascend believed revealing our strength too early would be a mistake. If Balshak truly came with the Forsaken, someone had to remain ready for him.
So unless he arrived with the army itself, we would remain above the battlefield from one of the Temple towers, watching the war unfold below us.
I walked through the corridors of the Sanctum toward Kumbuye's room. Ascend Kaelric had called for him, me, and Doya.
When I reached his door, I barely even knocked before pushing it open.
"Oh—" The words slipped out before I could stop them.
I immediately turned away, heat rushing to my face. There was a woman on his bed, and Kumbuye was above her, both of them completely naked. Startled by the sudden intrusion, she scrambled to cover herself while he froze staring at me in annoyance.
"I'm sorry... sorry!" I blurted, already backing out. I pulled the door shut quickly — well, awkwardly.
I stood outside his door, staring at the wall opposite his room, trying very hard to forget what I had just seen.
Oh gods.
A moment later, the door creaked open and I flinched, still embarrassed.
Kumbuye stepped out half-dressed, tugging at his undergarments as he tried to fix himself properly.
"If you wanted to admire the view, you could've said so earlier," he muttered with a grin. "I would've invited you in a few minutes sooner... set the mood, make it an experience we'd all never forget... memories for life."
I couldn't believe I'd been embarrassed for him a second ago. I playfully hit his chest, laughing as I did.
"I promise you, 'the view' was not that amazing."
"Oh yeah? Probably can't compete with your lover on this one."
I started walking away with a grin, but he caught my arm and pulled me back.
"That was a joke."
"Yeah, okay," I said, nodding. "Well, Ascend Kaelric called for us. That's what I came to tell you before you decided to corrupt my eyes."
He raised a brow. "Well, that wasn't all my fault, was it?" He said, holding my gaze. "I mean, you do understand the concept of knocking and waiting for a response, right?"
"And I'm sure you understand what locking a door means."
"It was locked before you barged in."
"You know what I'm talking about."
"I do not."
I rolled my eyes.
"Well," I asked, lowering my voice, "how long has that been going on for?"
Kumbuye shrugged. "A man can't let off some steam?"
"We are at war, Kumbuye. And that's all you can think about?"
"The only thing on my mind right now," he said with a grin.
I stared at him for a moment, then sighed.
"Hm. Okay. Be in the Inner Sanctum immediately. And don't delay. The Ascend don't like being kept waiting."
"I'm kind of in the middle of something," he said, pointing toward his door, obviously referring to the naked woman inside.
"Deal with it."
I turned and walked off before he could say anything else, already heading toward Doya.
I hadn't seen him since he left yesterday, and I hoped he was fine. If I could, I would have taken some of his pain myself — anything to ease what he was carrying. I just wished he would open up to me more, and tell me more than he was letting on.
I knocked and waited for a response, but there was none. I knocked again, but still nothing. So I pushed the door open.
It was partially a good thing no one really locked their doors in the Sanctum.
I stepped into the room and found him still asleep. Half the morning had already passed. This was unlike Doya.
I tapped him lightly, trying to wake him, but he didn't budge. I tapped him a little harder before he finally stirred awake.
Then I glanced around the room and noticed the silverware scattered across the floor. The silverware reserved for wine to be exact.
"Hey, Doya," I whispered as he raised a hand to rub his eyes. He mumbled something under his breath, though I couldn't make it out. "Doya, wake up."
"No... I wouldn't give in to the darkness. I would never do that," he mumbled again.
What?
What was he talking about?
Then his eyes suddenly opened.
"Dana," he whispered before bringing his hands to my face.
"What did you do last night? You smell terrible," I teased.
He chuckled softly. "I'll call an attendant to draw me a bath. You can scrub me."
What was wrong with everyone today?
I laughed. "Ascend Kaelric called for us. We need to be in the Inner Sanctum as soon as possible."
"Ahhh," he groaned.
"Now's not the time to be difficult. Have a bath and get dressed." I leaned down and kissed him before turning toward the door.
"Wait."
His voice stopped me and I turned back.
"Please... don't leave. Stay with me."
I didn't know if it was just me, but he had been acting strangely. Then again, everyone had. Kumbuye had been another case entirely.
I nodded, walked back toward the bed, and sat down.
"Well, I walked in on Kumbuye with a woman," I said, hoping to lighten the mood.
Doya was already out of bed, setting aside the usual blue robes he wore as High Bound.
"A woman?" he asked.
"Yes. They were... indecent."
He turned around, eyes widening. "You walked in on them making love?"
"Yes," I admitted, embarrassed as I looked away.
"Well, who was it?"
"I don't know her. Maybe an attendant or a cook. I didn't really look long enough to tell."
He shook his head with a quiet laugh before moving toward the door.
"Let me get an attendant for the bath."
I nodded and settled comfortably onto his bed, waiting for him to return.
---
The meeting with the Ascend ended smoothly, and by the time we left the Inner Sanctum, every part of Thyr Vael had already settled into position for the war.
We rode through the night toward the eastern watchtower overlooking the Temple. When we arrived at the tower, we dismounted and climbed the stone stairs to the top, where several guards already stood watch over the eastern road leading from Dunmire.
From above, all of Thyr Vael could be seen. The perfect position to oversee the war.
"Movement!" one of the guards shouted, stepping forward and pointing into the darkness.
Every eye turned toward the road below.
"The scouts," Doya muttered beside me.
Several riders burst through the darkness, pushing their horses hard as they rode toward the Temple at full speed. Even in the darkness, I could see how frantic their movements were.
The iron gates were drawn open to let the Bound in.
The riders rushed in spilling through the heavy gates of the Temple as we went down the stone stairs to meet with them. One of them nearly fell as he dismounted.
"They're here," he gasped. "They're—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
The barrier Veylan had cast rippled across the Temple like something was pressing against it from the other side. Whatever it was tried to force its way through the seal of the Veil.
"It's the barrier," one of the High Bound said sharply. "Something is probing it."
Before I could even process the words, Doya dropped to his knees. His hands flew to his head as a scream tore from his lips.
"Doya!" I moved toward him instinctively.
But he didn't seem to hear me.
His hands flew to his head, shoulders shaking as he pressed harder against his skull, with his teeth clenched, and trembling.
He started mumbling the same words over and over again.
"I won't let you in... I won't let you in..."
I reached for him, but he shoved me away.
"Hold him down," Kaelric ordered the guards.
As they all moved in to restrain him, a sudden burst of power erupted from him, throwing them back.
"Kumbuye, go into his head," I said quickly.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward and closed his eyes. His expression changed. "He keeps repeating the same words," he rasped. "I can barely make it out."
"Go deeper," I demanded.
He took in a slow breath.
"He's not alone in there," he whispered. "Something is speaking to him."
My stomach dropped.
"What is it saying?" Kaelric asked.
Kumbuye's face twisted with confusion, like he could not understand what he was hearing.
"Give in to the darkness," he muttered quietly.
Kaelric's expression darkened. "Balshak is trying to control him."
"What?" My heart stuttered.
"Is he saying anything else?" Kaelric asked, turning back toward Kumbuye.
But before Kumbuye could answer, blood streamed from his nose and his entire body jerked up as he snapped his eyes open.
"He pushed me out," he gasped.
We thought we had some time before they arrived but they were already here. They had come earlier than we expected hiding beyond the eastern hills beneath the cover of darkness.
Then another bell rang from above.
"Incoming!" one of the guards screamed.
Kaelric summoned a chain of shackles and clasped Doya's hands behind him to keep him bound.
"Take him into the tower. Now," he ordered.
The gates of Thyr Vael groaned open just enough for a single horse to pass through. A wounded Bound slumped weakly in the saddle with blood soaking through his robe.
The moment he entered, the gates slammed shut behind him.
He fell from the horse immediately, crashing hard against the floor and wincing.
"We were ambushed," he gasped.
Ascend Corvath stepped forward. "Where are the others?"
"Dead," he croaked.
He had been part of the second division guarding the forest paths south of the Temple.
The healers rushed toward him and carefully lifted him from the ground, preparing to carry him away.
Then he spoke again, barely above a whisper.
"They knew we would be there."
Ascend Corvath's expression hardened instantly.
"Ring the war bells again," he ordered. "Everyone to formation!"