Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 766: A Letter ()

~Fort Inferno

"I will make a few adjustments to the patrol routes. Here... here, and here." Neveah gestured to the routes she intended to switch. "It may or may not be of consequence, but I do not intend to let anything remain as any compromised insider might have known it to be."

"Understood." Lord Kiroff agreed, no one questioned Neveah’s choice of words. Lodenworth and Keila’s betrayal may have been widespread news by now, but the rider council had decided not to confirm it directly and Neveah would respect that. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

However, as Commander of the City Guards, Lodenworth had access to the flight patrol routes of all twelve fortresses. He knew too much and that meant, so did Keila. Whether or not the patrol routes would be significant to their plan, Neveah could not tell. Even so, it was not a chance she was willing to take.

"With Xenon’s guidance on their layout, I prepared a few adjustments for Forts Rudder and Kezrar Dun, just in case. It is hard to predict which of these three fortresses will face the next confrontation, if any. You will review it, and convey it to the respective lords with discretion." She continued.

"At once." Lord Kiroff took the parchment from Neveah’s hands and nodded to one of the Infernal dragons who headed out to carry out the order.

"Your Grace." Lord Egwain strode into the war council, accompanied by three other mages. He paused not far from the door as the gazes of the Infernal dragons already present lifted to the mages in almost perfect tandem.

"Lord Dragons." They greeted with another bow.

Neveah was not certain if she found it amusing or frustrating. They had been perfectly in tune in the battle they just fought, so much so that it still astonished Neveah. She knew it had only been possible because the dragons temporarily accommodated magic and the mages...or spell flingers as Lord Kiroff preferred to call them.

Not willingly too, but because the circumstance had demanded it. But now, the tension had returned completely like they did not just claim a victory together.

But she did know this tension was not something that would go away so easily. Not after centuries of loathing magic and for the mages, centuries of being overlooked.

"Egwain." Neveah acknowledged. "You had something to report?"

At Neveah’s words, the mages approached the council table and Neveah gestured for them to occupy the vacant seats.

She noticed the wary glance the mages passed to the Infernal dragons and she pointedly glanced over at Lord Kiroff. He broke his glare first and the infernal dragons followed. Only then did the mages take the offered seat.

"As Your Grace instructed, we infiltrated the lower district and set up a formation with magic." Lord Egwain reported. "They could not have anticipated our retaliation would not be a direct confrontation."

A dream formation. Neveah had not known the mages could also spin a spell forcing its targets into a false reality of a dream. She had only come up with the idea because of her own ability to dream walk, limited as it was. And the soul arts that had been used to force her into a false reality of her past, back at Mount Edar.

Combining both factors provided an idea, a unique spell and the mages had risen to the challenge, bringing her thought process to actuality in barely a few hours.

"My father has aided me in more ways than he could have imagined." Neveah murmured, her thumb grazing the pendant she never took off for even a moment.

"How lethal is this formation?" She asked.

"It will be difficult for anyone who does not wield magic to escape it. And even for those who wield it...they will have a hard time breaking free." Lord Egwain assured. "With the blood Your Grace provided, it will take a greater toll on werewolves in particular."

Xenon’s glare flashed through Neveah’s mind, it had taken him a while to make peace with the fact that she had drawn her own blood and let it be used for a spell. But magic like this needed some sort of link, and there was no other werewolf to ask.

"However since it is not fully developed, it can only stall them for a few hours." Lord Egwain added for caution.

Neveah’s gaze moved to Lord Kiroff who nodded once.

"Once Your Grace gives the order to activate the formation and the werewolves are caught in the spell, my dragons will begin evacuating the lower district." He continued. "A few hours is enough time to get out at least 70% of the population. But if there should be any confrontation..."

Lord Kiroff’s hesitation was within reason. They were not certain how exactly to deal with the werewolves since the part they played in this scheme was still unclear. Neveah’s ties to the species was also being taken into consideration.

"The werewolves have made no notable movements to support the Fae in battle, but I cannot be at ease leaving foreign invaders on our territory. They may not have moved yet, but may very well play an important role in the Fae’s retaliation." Neveah said decisively. "Before that, I need them rooted out. Silently..."

"Evacuate as quickly as you can." She continued. "Once the evacuation is complete, and the citizens of Inferno are safe...they will see the demerit in their actions and retreat. If they fail to do so, we will do what needs to be done."

"One thing is for certain, I will have them taken care of before another confrontation with the Fae." Neveah made clear.

The Infernal dragons soon vacated the council room and Neveah took a seat, breathing a quiet sigh, she rested her head down on the table. The door creaked open again, but she did not glance up, knowing who it was.

Xenon had been called away a short while ago to scout the volcano and only just returned.

He stopped by her chair and stroked her hair gently, his tone pained. "Love, you need your rest. As do I."

Neveah hummed in response, rising to her feet. She led the way out of the council room.

In the hallway, an infernal dragon seemed to be headed to the council room but stopped as he sighted Neveah.

"Your Grace. A letter for you." He says, handing a sealed parchment over with a bow.

Neveah took the letter, tucking it away in her belt pouch. She would get to it later.

For the time, she needed some sleep. And perhaps her dreams would provide much needed comfort.