I sat in the window seat in my bedroom, watching the encampments beyond our walls. Another pack had come onto our lands earlier this week and set up several camps in various locations. When envoys went out to see their leader, they were turned away without explanation.
"My lady?" A voice said close to me, making me jump, "Please forgive the intrusion, I knocked but didn't receive any response…" I looked to see Marcus, one of my trusted advisors. A rugged yet handsome man, wise beyond his years and with enough patience to make up for the shortcomings in the rest of my Council.
I waved him off, studying his face, "You have no need for an apology, Marcus. Is there any news?" He took a deep breath and I held mine, then he shook his head and looked out the window to the camps.
"No, my lady. Our envoys are still being turned away, however now they are being turned away at the border of the main camp instead of at the leader's tent. One of our spies infiltrated the camp and reported back with no useful information, albeit interesting." He paused, looking back at my face with a frown, "They do not talk in their camp. They use hand gestures to communicate. I'm not sure if it's because they expected us to send spies, or if that's how their people are. I have never encountered such a pack."
I cocked my head, considering the idea, only to find that I could not even picture it. A whole camp not talking to one another? What does that mean for their pack? I would have to go into my father's library and see what I could learn from his writings on the various packs he had visited, and the ones he had planned to visit but never did.
"My lady, if I may be so bold?" I inclined my head to indicate he should continue talking, "The people are growing restless. Our hunters have not left to check their trappings, the farmers are running low on grazing land for their livestock…the general mood of the city has taken a severe downturn. There is fear brewing. We must make an announcement, soothe their fears and ease their restless spirits."
"You make very good points, Marcus. However, you know I cannot make an announcement without solutions. What do you suggest?" He took a deep breath and stared out the window for a few minutes, lost in thought. It would take too long to get an answer out of him at this point, as he was weighing all the pros and cons of each suggestion he might give.
"What about our passages into the mountain? Are those still secure?"
"Yes, my lady. Why do you ask?"
"Can we not send our hunters out that way? They can circle the forests the long way around to go to their traps, avoiding passing close by the camps. They can also set up traps on the Northern slopes, bringing them away from the camps entirely." He nodded, considering my words.
"We can review that idea, I believe it would be easiest. It would be best for us to maintain an air of neutrality and peace, to not agitate this…invasion, so to speak. I think we should send the farmers out the Southern gates, let them graze their livestock on the other side of the trade corridor. However, that would mean they would have to camp outside our gates overnight, and we would only be able to send one or two farmers at a time."
I nodded, mulling over his words as the sun started to set on our city. We sat in silence, both contemplating the best paths forward as we watched fires light up the camps as they began making meals. Only once the sun had fully set and the moon started to rise did I turn to him.
"I must go and pray to the Moon Goddess. Please, call in my guards on your way out. We will convene the Council in an hours time." He nodded and swiftly exited the room to follow my orders, no doubt mind linking the other Council members to inform them.
I made my way to the highest point of the castle, crossing the bridge to the temple built directly into the mountainside, and admired how the rising moon already bathed the temple's mosaic floor in its light. I kneeled in the centre of the floor, my dress fluttering in the soft breeze, and closed my eyes. I focused on the pull of the moon, taking deep, even breaths as I sought out my connection to our goddess.
"Mother of all creatures of the night, please hear my prayer and grant me guidance."
"Mychild," a soft voice whispered on the wind, "you have called to me."
I smiled, feeling the familiar sensations run across my skin at hearing the Goddess' voice.
"Oh Goddess Nyx, please guide me on how best to save my people. I fear there is an enemy at our gates. They do not wish to parlay, nor have they moved on as if they were merely traveling between lands. How can I address this foe?" Crickets began to chirp, and I strained to listen to any hint of her voice on the winds.
I felt her connection and attention, sharp and at full force. I couldn't tell how much time had passed until I heard her voice whisper in my ear as if she stood next to me.
"This is no ordinary foe that you face. You will meet three men this night; a great foe who will stop at nothing to burn everything you have built, a man who may or may not choose your side against his kin but will hold your life in the balance, and one who will change the trajectory of your life in its entirety." I frowned at the words, pondering how I would know which one is which, feeling the tremble in my gut telling me I would know innately.
"My dear child, only you will be able to stop him from scorching this Earth to keep you from harm," her voice wrapped around me like a motherly hug, then the breeze died, and her presence dissipated, but I heard her last words as if implanted directly into my head, "hewillbeyourmate."
"My…mate?"
"My lady!" Came a yell, and I whipped around to pinpoint the voice. Marcus led the other Council members towards me at a full sprint, their faces etched with panic, anger and terror. I began to stand and brush off my dress, frowning as I turned to face them.
"Marcus, what is it?"
"My lady! The camps! The invaders! They are attacking the gates!"