Chapter 10.2: A Conspiracy

They exchanged glances, the faintest smirk tugging at one corner of the elder councilor’s mouth. “Because, Commander,” he said, leaning forward, “we have a plan. A way to ensure the pack’s survival… and the kingdom’s stability.”

Mæra did not blink. “Go on.”

She was annoyed at the fact that they kept stalling and talking in circles when they could just get straight to the point?

“You will—” another councilor cut in, She remembered his face from the first day she had been here but she still didn’t know his name. “drug King Theron everyday. Keep him asleep, incapacitated, unable to join battle. He is not ready to lead and will get himself killed. He should remain a figurehead while we, the Council, handle the true responsibilities of command.”

Mæra’s jaw clenched imperceptibly, though she made sure that her face betrayed nothing. Her mind raced as she realize that this was their game. They wanted Theron under their thumb, and they hoped to coerce her into becoming the instrument of their conspiracy.

“And what if I refuse?” she asked.

The first councilor’s eyes narrowed, definitely not expecting that answer. “Refusal is… unwise. You answer to the King, yes. But consider the consequences, Commander Cael. Should you resist, you place yourself in the crossfire. We are the only ones who can protect you. Theron cannot protect you from us and from external harm. He is weak and his father barely did anything to train him as he was always in battle.””

Mæra’s gaze did not falter. “I answer only to Sipreme Alpha King Theron,” she said in a colf tone. “And to no one else.”

A murmur ran through the chamber, the councilors and elders exchanging looks laced with irritation. Their plan, they had assumed, would be easy to manipulate her into obedience. Clearly, they underestimated her.

“Are you aware that Theron runs decisions past us?” Questioned one of them.

“You don’t seem to be returning the favor,” she retorted. Her eyes scanned the room for Beta Gerald but he was nowhere to be found.

At least it gave her hope that all kf them weren’t against Theron.

Why do you care if they are against Theron? Naya asked in a teasing voice. I thought that you didn’t care? Thought you hated him.

Get lost. She seethed.

“And what happens,” the eldest councilor said, drawing her attention back. His voice was dripping with menace, “when you fail? When you are caught between your King and our authority? “

“We’ll see about that,” Mæra said, turning toward the exit. Her boots clicked against the stone floor.

She pushed the door open and walked down the corridor, the hot afternoon breeze lifting her coat at the edges.

A sudden whistle cut through the air. Mæra’s head snapped to the side just as an arrow streaked toward her.

Reflexively, she dove to the side, rolling across the marble floor immediately. She was fast; faster than most, but not fast enough.

The arrow grazed her ear, blood spilling down her jaw.

The metallic tang of it filled her mouth as she brought a hand to her face, brushing the blood away with her gloved fingers. Her eyes scanned the corridor.

She knew that whoever had fired the arrow had done so to intimidate her so it was obviously the work of the council.

She wondered if they probably had a hidden signal she didn’t know to signal te attacker ro shoot.

Her lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile.

If they thought a single arrow would scare her, they were sorely mistaken.

She reached a narrow balcony overlooking the training grounds, and she paused, crouched against the stone balustrade to see if she could try to see whoever it was.

If she was able to, she would reach them a lesson and use it as a message to the council.

Maybe serve them the man’s ear in a box as a gift.

She grinned at the thought and continued looking from the balcony.

Men were training— some in their wolf form, snapping jaws at each other, while others were having sword combats. She tried to look for anyone that seemed out of place with a bow and arrow.

A man slipped past a pillar do quickly that she barely saw it. He had golden brown hair that glinted in the sunlight but bedore she could study any of his features, he was gone.

She sighed and then stood up from where she crouched.

From this height, she could see Althara beyond stretched into the distance. The sky had the orange glow of late afternoon. Winds whipped her hair around her face, mingling with the blood trickling from her ear.

Some of the men tha were raining caught a glimpse of her and paused, stopping to look.

They whispered to one another as they tried to recognize who she was.

“Is that not the new commander from Vaelmont district?”

Maera turned away in that instant because she didn’t want why attention on her.

She began to replay her conversation with the council.

It wasn’t the necessarilj that concerned her most. They were somewhat predictable.

What bothered her was the uncertainty of what Theron might do if he learned of this betrayal. If he found that those who were meant to advise and protect him were conspiring behind his back.

They only saw a boy orphaned by war, left to inherit a legacy he had never been trained to uphold.

If she was honest with herself, she felt the same way but she felt he had potential.

Whatever they plotted, she would not be their pawn. Theron would not be their puppet.

A rustle from the corridor below pulled her attention. She crouched lower, narrowijg her eyes. A shadow detached itself from the wall.

She braced herself, eyes darting in all directions for another arrow.

A folded scroll landed silently at her feet instead.

She picked it up, her brows furrowing in confusion as she unfolded it.

Think wisely Commander.