Estevan
The sound of the alarm was all over the city, the troops were preparing for battle, we didn't know where the attack would come from, but we knew it was coming, so it was important that everyone hid in their homes.
The doors were flung open and I saw Alexia's face, from her expression the news was not good, she walked into the meeting room and stopped in the middle, looked at me and at us, being the only woman in the room, and then said:
"Forget the sea, they've docked at the Zaim border as I thought" Alexia looked worried, her face shining in the light from the window.
"So they're in Zaïm," my father said with affirmation.
"I really feared that would happen," said Alexia. "Charlotte married King Octavian."
"They've aligned themselves," said Lorenzo.
"They're using each other" I said with a sarcastic laugh "Because they both want to destroy us!"
My father shook his head and turned to Alexia.
"Alexia, how many boats did you see?"
"More than a hundred"
My father sat back in his chair, looking shocked and stressed.
There was weariness in his eyes from the sleepless nights, so much planning, worry and stress.
"We have to strengthen the borders" I said, dragging the dolls across the map, they were no longer at sea as we thought "They are more numerous, we are at a great disadvantage"
"We also have a dragon, so do they. But they have two armies," said Alexia.
"Our front line is well protected," said Lorenzo, making Alexia look at him.
"They have witches, they're well protected too" Alexia rebutted.
"Wait" I said, cutting them off and they looked at me "You said they have a dragon"
I frowned in confusion.
"Yes, George's dragon"
"Isn't that man dead?" Lorenzo asked as if reading my mind.
"Yes, but from what I've seen Charlotte rides him now"
The air became heavy, almost unbearable to breathe.
"Witchcraft," I said, "black magic," there's a part that talks about a dragon's forced bond, but that's a big joke. It's a violation of nature and it has consequences."
I looked at their faces, which seemed attentive, and then I stopped at Alexia's.
"I believe George's death was no accident"
"The information hasn't been released," said Lorenzo.
"And nor will they be" I said, understanding the situation and shook my head "Alexia, there is a way to beat the dragon, if you can get close enough to Charlotte to kill her, you'll be killing the dragon too"
Alexia looked at me in shock.
"So their lives are connected?"
I shook my head yes and saw a smile break out on my father's face.
He started laughing out loud and clapping his hands.
"That's incredible!" He said excitedly.
"We can't deny that it's an advantage," said Lorenzo and Alexia shook her head seriously.
"You'd better not fail, Alexia," said my father, raising his face to look at her. "A lot depends on whether you kill their dragon or the queen, whichever comes first."
She shook her head, but didn't look confident.
George's dragon was bigger than Alexia's, he had more experience and he knew they were putting too much on her shoulders, but he had no choice.
Making Charlotte fall or killing her on top of the dragon was the most feasible.
I sighed tiredly, my mind was exhausted, no matter how many times I called for my dragon, it refused to come. I knew it was practically a losing battle, but I had no choice but to fight.
I didn't want to leave Alexia flying through the skies alone just as I felt I was failing my people, there was too much pressure and the war was knocking at the door with no time to continue preparing, Charlotte had been clever to ally herself with Zaim, her marriage to King Octavius so soon after her husband's death only raised suspicions.
If that's what I was thinking, she's crueler than Alexia had told me, capable of doing anything to get what she wants.
I left the room following Alexia down the corridor, she stopped and looked at me.
"Is it really happening W?" Her eyes focused on mine as her chest rose and fell rapidly, I shook my head yes.
The second alarm sounded and Lorenzo took off at a fast pace, I knew he was heading towards the army and in less than ten minutes they were almost all ready to march.
I touched Alexia's face.
"I want you to be careful when you're up there, if anything happens to you I don't know if..."
"Don't say anything Estevan" said Alexia "I won't lose this battle, I'll come back to you no matter how hard it is! I have many reasons to fight"
Alexia touched her belly and I immediately understood what she meant, my heart raced at the thought, I looked into her eyes.
"Are you serious?" I asked and saw her nod as a smile broke out on her face, I kissed her full cheek which seemed to tickle her.
I laughed and leaned our heads against each other, feeling the love I had for her, the desire to see his or her face, the love that seemed to come like waves was something I had never felt before or imagined it would be like this.
"You've made me the happiest man in the world" I said, holding her hands, not wanting to let her go, especially now that I knew she was expecting my child "I'll take care of you"
"You can't die today, you promised me a lifetime, you promised to grow old with me!" Alexia said and I felt the first hot tear fall onto my hand, I lifted her face to look at me.
"I'm not going to die, I have many reasons to fight," I said, repeating what she had said, "Alexia, we're going to celebrate when all this is over, I'm going to see my son's face!"
I bent over her belly and touched her.
"Wait for me, I'll be back!" I said, smoothing her belly.
I stood up and kissed her forehead, then I turned and walked away at a fast pace, my heart in my hand and my chest tight. I couldn't look back or I would risk sacrificing Olimper by preventing Alexia from riding Silver to war, and I couldn't do that.