CHAPTER 43 –
Shadows Before the Fire
The morning air was cold and heavy with mist. The camp stretched wide across the plain, rows of tents flapping gently as soldiers stirred awake. The scent of sharpened steel and burning firewood mingled in the air, and the soft clink of armor carried across the field. It was the calm before the storm, the breath a man takes before plunging into icy water.
Men whispered their prayers while tying leather straps. Some cleaned their blades with silent reverence, others mended boots worn from long marches. The banners of Xavier's house swayed in the pale light, a reminder of what they fought for.
Through it all, eyes followed one figure—the warlord. Xavier moved slowly but with unmistakable authority, his cloak draped across his broad shoulders. Illness still clung to him; his steps bore a slight weight, and his skin carried a paleness that had not been there in better days. But when he stood tall, when his gaze swept across his men, the sickness seemed to vanish. He was the pillar they leaned on, the reason they had not broken despite the weeks of despair.
And they needed him now more than ever.
Adrian's POV
Adrian walked at the edge of the camp, head bent as he studied a folded map in his hands. He felt the weight of hundreds of lives pressing down on him. Desmond found him there, the old soldier's boots crunching softly on gravel. "You look like a man carrying stones on his back," Desmond said gruffly.
Adrian glanced up, forcing a faint smile. "Feels heavier than that." Desmond's eyes softened. He placed a calloused hand on his son's shoulder. "That's leadership. The burden never leaves, but you learn to walk with it. You've done well, Adrian. Better than I thought you could."
The admission caught Adrian by surprise, warming him in a way no torch could. But he shook his head. "I only made a plan. A plan is nothing without a leader to follow through."
Later that morning… Adrian sought out Xavier. He found him seated on a wooden bench outside his tent, watching the camp stir like a giant waking from slumber. The warlord's breathing was steady but deep, his illness evident in the way his hand lingered on his chest when he shifted. Yet there was no weakness in his eyes.
Adrian bowed his head respectfully. "My lord." Xavier laughed softly a said "You've never called me that before." Adrian smiled faintly. "Today feels different." He hesitated, then added, "I wanted to say… thank you. You've been more than my cousin. More than family. You've been the leader I've always looked up to. Whatever plans I've made, whatever strategies I've laid out—they mean nothing without you to carry them."
Xavier studied him quietly, then let a rare smile break across his face. "You've grown, Adrian. A mind as sharp as yours can win a hundred battles. But remember this—" he leaned forward slightly, his voice low, "—a mind alone does not lead. Nor does a sword alone. It Is both, together. That is why we will win. Because you and I fight as one."
Adrian's chest swelled with pride and relief. He bowed his head once more, not as a cousin but as a soldier to his commander. "Then I will follow you, always."
Calm Afternoon – The Garden
Far from the camp, at the family estate, the afternoon sun poured warmth over the garden. Andre's laughter rang like bells as he chased butterflies across the flowers. Luna laughed with him, her gown brushing the grass as she twirled. For a moment, it felt like war was a distant nightmare, and life was only sunshine and laughter.
Then Luna faltered.
Her laughter cut short into a gasp. Her hand pressed against her stomach, and before Andre could notice, her knees buckled. She collapsed into the grass. "Luna!" Grandma's cry pierced the air as she hurried forward, cane forgotten. Andre froze in panic, then rushed to her side, tugging at her sleeve.
Servants shouted, a messenger ran to fetch Alessia, the physician. Within moments, the garden was a flurry of movement. Alessia knelt, checked Luna's pulse, pressed gently against her stomach. Her expression shifted—shock, then dawning realization. "She's not ill," Alessia whispered, glancing up at Grandma. "She's with child."
The words spread like fire.
Andre starter crying seeing his mom been carried into the msnsion, not fully understanding, but Grandma's face lit with tears and a trembling smile. "A grandchild…" she murmured. "Xavier's child."
Luna now awaken, was laid on her bed while Alessia attempt to revived her... When the truth was gently told to her, she gasped, one hand covering her mouth, the other pressing to her belly. A flood of joy and fear warred inside her.
Author's POV
That night, Luna sat alone by her window, staring at the stars. Her hands cradled her stomach as tears slipped down her cheeks. The joy of new life should have lifted her, but instead it made her heart heavy with dread.
"What if he never returns?" she whispered. "What if my child never knows his father?" Grandma entered quietly, laying a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Fear is natural, child. But do not let it consume you."
Luna's lips trembled. "I cannot be strong this time." The door opened again. Xavier stepped in, his presence filling the room. He moved slowly, his illness evident, but his eyes held fire. Luna rose at once, rushing into his arms, her tears soaking his cloak.
"You can't leave me," she whispered. "Not now. Not when…" She couldn't finish. Xavier rested a hand gently over hers on her stomach. His breath caught, but then he smiled. "A child," he murmured. "Our child."
He kissed her forehead, then drew her close. "Listen to me, Luna. I will return. Not for war. Not for glory. But for you. For him. For the life we've made." Luna wept into his chest, but his words steadied her trembling heart.
Few days later… Alessia stayed close, ensuring Luna's health. Jessica, Luna's closest friend, arrived to provide comfort. And Tami, Xavier's younger sister, came with laughter and fierce loyalty, vowing she would not let her sister-in-law face the months ahead alone.
Meals became gatherings of warmth, even amidst war. Jessica teased Luna gently, Alessia lectured about health, and Tami filled the air with energy that broke tension. The house was no longer filled with silence but with voices, laughter, and hope.
****************
Back at camp, Xavier convened the council once more. The tent was alive with firelight and urgency. Adrian stood at his side, respectful but firm, guiding the details. Dami leaned across the map, adding precision.
But Xavier's presence commanded the room. His voice, though rasped from sickness, cut like a blade. "Our men will not falter if they see me riding with them. I will lead from the front. That is not a debate."
The generals bowed their heads. Whatever doubts they had were burned away by his iron will. As twilight fell, the army began to move. Light troops slipped into the Veynar Pass, cautious over narrow ridges. Rocks shifted, paths crumbled, but they pressed on.
Xavier rode at the head, his cloak snapping in the wind. His body was weaker than it once was, but his spirit was a wall of stone. The soldiers who looked upon him found their courage renewed.
Scouts returned breathless, reporting enemy stirrings in the distance. Tension rippled across the camp like a storm cloud ready to burst. Night descended. The valley was a dark maw, shadows stretching long and thin. Then—horns. Enemy horns, faint but growing, echoing across the cliffs.
The soldiers tightened grips on their weapons. Adrian glanced at Xavier, uncertainty in his eyes. Xavier met his gaze, nodded once—calm, resolute. ***** Far away, at the estate, Luna stood by her window, hands resting on her stomach, whispering a prayer to the stars.
The war was about to begin