Having consulted with the Oracle, Daniel decided not to risk going back to his world after the news he got from Sam. He found the bracelet and put it back on, hoping it would still work, and then finally laid down and shut his eyes for some much-needed rest.
Dreams did not disturb his sleep and he did not wake up on the other side of the invisible wall that separated his two worlds. He should have felt relieved, but he didn’t; time was still his enemy. He knew he was taking a big risk staying in this world, but he was counting on Winter to keep him alive for as long as he thought he had a chance to get his hands on him. And if he was wrong, well, he didn’t really want to die, but this wasn’t just about him anymore. If Winter had his way, there was much more to be lost than his own life. No, he would take his chances against Winter in this world, and hope that with a bit of luck and help from his friends, things would work out for the best.
Once everyone had rested enough and was now ready to move again, they left the castle of the Great Lord and headed down towards their next destination, the Valley of Destiny. On their way down from the mountain, Daniel and Hëna rode Lightning non-stop, going as fast as the wind for what felt like a whole day’s ride. Nathaniel and all the other wingmen from Dard'h flew above them, carrying Nemo in an improvised carter, while the oracle disappeared again, saying he was needed elsewhere.
Hëna did not say a single word the entire time and he could not find the courage to talk to her either. She sat behind him, holding on with her hands to his waist, making it all the harder for him to fight his ever-growing desire for her. Throughout the whole ride, Daniel felt her warm thighs brush up against his, her breast pressing up against his back, her dizzying scent overpower his entire being. But there were also fresh tears running down his spine, as her head casually rested against his back. More than once he made to place his hand on hers and interlock his fingers with hers, but then he remembered her face and tone of voice as she pledged her allegiance to him, and he stopped himself. Rarely had he felt as lost and conflicted as he did these days, and he feared he’d never find his way out of this.
When they finally reached the Valley of Destiny, they met with the rest of Gabriel’s wingmen who had already erected the camp. Hëna locked herself inside her tent and did not come out. Daniel knew she needed the time and privacy to properly mourn her brother, so he gave instructions that she was not to be disturbed.
After their arrival, Lightning also suddenly departed from him, sprinting back northeast towards the mountains. Daniel feared he had seen the last of the stallion and his sadness doubled. He had grown so fond of his magnificent friend and could not imagine facing the end without him. Still, he could do nothing but hope that eventually the stallion would return to him.
The location of the gathering was indeed a good choice for a gathering of troops, usually no more than two days ride from Endër or Sky-City, and less than that from New Sotira. Of course, now that there was no sun or moon, they could not tell whether it was day or night. Whenever the sky cleared up a bit - which was not that often - they could see the stars, but they were of no help. The whole kingdom was caught up in a state of perpetual dusk, made even gloomier by the snow and cold.
The camp was erected in the northernmost part of the Valley of Destiny, an endless field that seemed to have been put there for the specific purpose of hosting a huge army. The first part of their army was already with him, a legion of well-armed wingmen from Dard'h, under the leadership of Gabriel. They had sworn their allegiance as his personal guards, and had positioned themselves around his tent, surrounding him from all sides and keeping constant watch over him. Groups of them constantly patrolled the air, keeping an eye out for any possible danger or sign of movement, friendly or hostile.
They had just finished setting up the main tent where the leaders would meet, when the first messengers, the pair of wingmen who had flown to New Sotira, returned. They had spent only a few hours in the village and were sent back with the message that Ari and two of his sons, as well as the Queen of Endër, were already on their way. Ari’s eldest son, Andres, was left in charge of organizing and leading the first part of their new army. It would be comprised by all the men from New Sotira and the surrounding villages. They would need just over a day to arrive, if they rode non-stop.
Daniel was overjoyed to hear of this; he missed his mother and longed to throw his arms around her and feel like her little boy once again. Being an adult, was apparently harder work than they made it look, and if he had a choice, he’d gladly go back at being a kid and have the adults worry about saving the world. But he knew life didn’t work like that.
It wasn’t long after they settled when a storm hit the camp. By now the weather had turned completely against them, though this caught no one by surprise. No doubt Winter knew that the Great Lord was gathering the people around him, guessing what would follow. He would surely try anything within his power to hinder them, if not stop them altogether. Still, Daniel knew it would take a lot more than wind and snow to stop the people of Endërland from claiming back their kingdom.
Shortly after the first messengers had returned, he was notified that the second part of their new army was arriving at the camp. As he left his tent, he looked up towards the heavily clouded sky, and saw the wingmen of Sky-City, following their queen and prince in organized quadrants of hundreds. Watching five thousand armed wingmen landing in formation before him, Daniel’s heart was uplifted with hope and joy. They still did not know the exact number of Winter’s troops, but however many wolfmen he had surrounded himself with, surely they would be no match for the proud sons of the sky.
After landing, their proud queen walked with her head high towards him to present herself and her people. Daniel made to kneel before her, but then remembered. Despite her lordly demeanor, the Sky-Queen was now his subject, and just like the rest of them, she was supposed to bow to him first. And so she did, followed by Séraphin and the rest of their army behind them.
Daniel half expected to see some sign of malice or resentment in her eyes, but to his surprise and relief, he saw none. The wise queen knew her place and accepted it with humility and grace. Just like Gabriel before her, she declared her allegiance and that of her people to Daniel in the presence of everyone, followed by shouts of joy and loyalty from her wingmen. It was agreed that a meeting would be held once all the parties had arrived, so after this brief ceremony, the Sky-Queen retreated back to her tent to rest and supervise the settling of her army.
Next, in what Daniel estimated was about half a day, the convoy from New Sotira arrived, led by Diane, who as always was escorted by the ever-faithful Íro. Just like the Sky-Queen had previously done, Diane knelt before her son, laying her weapons at his feet and proclaiming her loyalty and allegiance to him. Daniel smiled as he realized his mother had armed herself with the very same weapons that Winter had gifted her. He was sure the irony would not be lost on the White Lord.
Following her lead, Ari and his two youngest sons did the same. Once again, feeling most uncomfortable, Daniel waited until his great-grandfather pledged his allegiance to him by kneeling in front of the improvised throne, before he could get up and embrace him. He had not doubted that his great-grandfather would come, but now that he was here, Daniel finally felt that his plan might actually work. Ari would know how to make everything happen, and he wouldn’t have to bear all the responsibility of organizing and leading these people on his young shoulders.
When the ceremonial stuff was over and done with, Diane and Daniel hurried towards each other, ignoring the eyes of everyone present in the tent. The queen hugged her younger son, happy and relieved beyond words to have him in her arms once again. She had been hoping and praying that Daniel would be safe and out of danger, but that he would turn out to be the Great Lord himself, had far exceeded her own expectations.
Yet, her happiness was about to be increased tenfold as Daniel led her to his personal tent, where Damien had been waiting. Daniel had made no menti
on of his brother in his letter, and was saving the surprise for when she arrived at the camp. There, Diane was finally reunited with her eldest son, amidst tears of joy and laughter. Years of sacrifice, searching, longing and heartache were finally recompensed as she took her firstborn in her bosom, and covered him with endless hugs and kisses, making up for lost time.
Watching the two of them, Daniel finally allowed himself a brief moment of joy, taking a respite from all the recent grief and worry. His sadness over Heli’s death still weighed heavy on his heart, as was his pain over Hëna’s hurt, and his worry over the fate of the kingdom. But he could do nothing but hope that whatever happened, the future would still carry plenty of moments like this.