We all lift together

Midnight arrives, and with it the hour of the third meeting of the Army for Freedom. The girls and I are standing at the edge of the lake. I clutch the seed tightly in my hand. Laila slides her hand over mine. «We’re ready.» she says, giving it a light squeeze.

I raise my fist to my mouth and whisper to the seed: «Akanke, Omid, Vlahar, Thyra and Dakarai.» Then I let it fall from my hands. The girls huddle close to me. From the ground, the carnivorous plant bursts forth, swallowing the four of us in a single bite. I wake up in the earthen chamber with the bonfire. Moments later, the girls stir as well, looking around in confusion.

«You could’ve at least decorated this room a little better.» Laila comments. «There aren’t even any chairs.»

«Then make some.» I'll answer.

With a snap of her fingers, stumps rise up from the ground. «Now this feels like a real campsite.» she says, sitting on one. We all follow suit.

Not long after, two more figures join us. «Oooh, finally, seats!» exclaims Vlahar, sitting down. «Where are the others?»

«Patience,» says Omid, laying a hand on his shoulder. «Why not play us something on your domra in the meantime?»

«Of course!» Vlahar answers cheerfully. He pulls out an instrument resembling a lute and begins to play and sing, leaving us all spellbound. Shortly after, Akanke and Thyra arrive, joining us in silence to admire his performance. Vlahar bursts into a powerful, rapid riff. The ground begins to tremble, and we all leap to our feet shouting, «Opa!»

Dakarai glares at us. «Uuuuuuuhhh, I’m already regretting this.» His eyes land on Akanke.

She rises, smiling faintly though her gaze is heavy with sadness. She steps toward him. We all hold our breath. «Mjinga, where have you been all this time?!» she shouts, tugging at his ear.

«Don’t yell, Kelele!» he shoots back, pinching her cheek.

«I was worried about you!» her eyes glisten with tears. «I’ve been searching for you for years!»

«As if I cared about your worry.» Dakarai replies coldly, refusing to meet her gaze. «And why are you here? I thought you wanted to run away from Goran.»

«I’d do anything to bring you home.» she says, her voice trembling.

His face darkens. «I can’t. I can’t just go back as if nothing happened. This is all my fault, and I have to make it right.»

«How can you be so stupid? How could you possibly have caused something that happened three hundred years ago?»

Suddenly, Thyra rises to her full, imposing height. «Enough,» she interrupts, stepping between them. Her tone isn’t scolding—more… pained. «Family is a precious gift. Don’t waste the little time you have by fighting, because… you don’t know how much it hurts to lose someone important all of a sudden.» Thyra places a hand over her heart, her eyes glistening. «I only ever had a working relationship with my son. I watched him die before my eyes, and only then did I realize how much more I should have done to be with him… Don’t waste your time attacking each other, or living apart.»

Akanke collapses, tears streaming down her face as she throws herself into her brother’s arms. Dakarai, until then impassive, holds her close, burying his face in her shoulder, his body trembling.

Once the tension fades, the three of them sit. Lili rises to speak, her tone calm yet firm and filled with hope. «Our enemy divided us,» she says, «exploiting our fears and our losses to make us give up. But now we are here, united by a single will.» She points toward Akanke and Dakarai. «Your reunion is not just a moment of joy—it’s proof that hope never dies. That we can overcome the wounds of the past and build a better future. We must join forces—but as Renren may have already told you…»

«Renren» Vlahar chuckles. «Ahio!» he yelps after Omid and Thyra smack him on the back of the head.

«…we will not act recklessly.» Lili continues. «In the next two months, we will prepare ourselves properly, and we will show Goran that the world will never break again.»

Her voice rings through the chamber, filling all of us with conviction. «I don’t know about you all, but she’s convinced me.» Vlahar says casually.

«You have us all.» adds Omid.

Lili looks around at all the hopeful faces. “I’m so proud of her.”

«Good. Moving forward, here’s how we’ll proceed. Thyra, I’ll need you to secure the cooperation in battle of all the malylebky tribes.»

«You have my word.»

«Dakarai, what are the limits of your bag?»

«It doesn’t have any.»

«Excellent. That will be key. You’ll handle transportation. I presume the king may have an army of ochiupaty. I’ll need you to provide as many rebels as possible with furs—and to handle all the moving of troops.»

«And how am I supposed to do that?»

«You’ll keep them hidden inside your bag.»

«Does anyone know what keeps the zombies alive?»

«I do,» Omid replies. «Over the years I’ve gathered a lot of information about Goran and those around him. The army can only be stopped in two ways—by killing the summoner, or, as Renren has already proven, by cremating the bodies.»

«Do you know who the summoner is, and how he does it?»

«Yes. His name is Radomir. He was a scholar, obsessed with life and death. His studies led him to Morana, to whom he swore devotion.»

«I see. Then the only way to destroy the armies in one blow is to kill Radomir.» Lili reflects, hand on her chin.

«But there’s just one problem.»

«What is it?»

«The three generals are already dead. And the one who controls them is Goran himself.»

«Very well. On that note—Akanke.»

«Yes?»

«“Renren told me about that spell to cremate enemies. Could you cast it on all the soldiers’ weapons?»

«Yes, but it would take a long time. And if I cast it on such a large scale, it wouldn’t be strong enough to kill instantly—let alone affect the generals. Plus, if we’re not careful, we could end up harming each other. The spell activates with the slightest pierce of flesh.»

«I see… and you can’t make it work only on zombies?»

«The spell would be far too complex—it would require the power of a god.»

«Very well. Then Thyra and Omid, it will be up to you to drill your troops to use them with utmost care.»

«Yes!» they reply in unison.

«You, Dakarai, will also handle the transport of weapons.»

«Couldn’t Akanke deliver them herself?»

«No. She travels on a walking hut. Not if but when the enemy finds it, they could follow it anywhere, discovering every hideout. Renren told me how cautious you are. The fact that you’re still alive after what happened at Bekov is proof. You’re the thread that ties us together—you have the most crucial role in this preparation period. One wrong step, and we could lose before we even begin.»

«Eheh, no pressure at all.» Vlahar mutters.

Lili turns to him. «Now, as Radomir’s power may be greater than we can imagine, we must scorch the earth. I’m sorry to assign such a grim task, but once you have the weapons, you must travel to every cemetery, battlefield, old and new, across the kingdom, and cremate all the corpses. We cannot allow him last-minute reinforcements, nor a surprise attack.»

«We’ll be as discreet as possible.» Omid assures with a bow.

«Thank you.» Lili replies, returning the bow.

«Renren, I need you to at least reach Kenji’s level.»

«What?! But he has divine powers, and he’s as strong as Stoyan! I don’t worship gods, nor am I a magical beast.»

She looks me straight in the eye, her smile sweet and reassuring. She places a hand on mine. «I have faith in you.» I feel my cheeks grow warm. She releases my hand and turns toward Laila. «I’ll also need you to train.»

«How? I can’t fight.»

«You don’t need to fight. You’ll be support. I’ll teach you to read my instructions instantly—what to do, and where—without too many words.»

Laila crosses her arms, glaring at her sideways in silence. «… Fine.» I smile at her. “I know you’re just putting on a tough front to hide how much this means to you—it’s written all over your face.” She shoots me a fleeting glance, her cheeks flushed.

«And you, Nadia, I’d like you to increase the amount of energy you can wield. Your healing support and the versatility of your familiars will be crucial to saving as many warriors as possible from death.»

«Mh!» Nadia answers, her expression serious and determined.

«I’d rather not bring her onto the battlefield,» I protest. «We came here to find a safe place for her.»

«I understand your concern,» Lili replies, her gaze sharp, «but if she doesn’t come, our medical support may fall short. A small variable like that could mean defeat—and then there will be no safe place for anyone.» Her serious eyes weigh down on me, making me falter.

«I understand, but—»

Nadia interrupts me by tugging at my cheeks. «Mmmmmh!»

«Hey! What are you doing?!»

A hand lands on my shoulder. I turn to see Laila. «Søren, I don’t want her to come either. But look at her—do you really think she’d feel better staying behind, doing nothing, while you risk your life for her?»

«Laila…» I lower my eyes to Nadia. «All right… You’ll come wi—» I don’t even finish before Nadia throws her arms around me.

Lili smiles at us, then turns serious again as she addresses the group. «Good. Now I need you all to explain to me, in detail, every ability you and your subordinates possess. Then we can call this meeting concluded. Tomorrow afternoon, we’ll meet with King Auguste II, and I will present the battle plans.»

“Tomorrow afternoon? With so little time, and so few details, she hasn’t only mapped out the preparation phase—she’s already thought through the battle itself… Lili, you’re truly incredible!”