At six in the morning, mist hung low over the castle grounds, and the stench of smoke from the eastern fields still lingered in the air.
Luna stood on the balcony; she had not slept all night.
In her hands was a letter from the village of Riverbrook.
Its words were a refusal.
[We are sorry, My Lady.
We too have little food to spare.] Luna folded the letter, her breath coming heavy.
Behind her, the door creaked open.
“How do things stand?” Kael asked.
Luna turned.
Kael stood in the doorway, his face pale, yet he was already able to walk.
“You should be resting in bed,” Luna said.
“I cannot,” Kael replied.
“What is it?” Luna handed him the letter.
“The third refusal.” Kael read it, then crumpled the parchment in his fist.
“They are afraid.
Afraid that if they help us, Whitefang will burn their village to ash as well.” Luna nodded.
“Our food stores will last but two weeks.” Silence stretched between them.
Suddenly, a horn blast rang out from beyond the walls.
A single, long, piercing note.
AT THE MAIN GATE Six fifteen a.m.
Up on the battlements, five archers stood with arrows nocked and ready.
Below, outside the gate, stood a single Whitefang messenger.
He carried no weapon, only a scroll tied to the tip of a spear.
“Letter for the Alpha of Blackmoon!” he shouted.
“From Alpha Darek of the Whitefang Clan!” The guard glanced toward Luna, who stood at Kael’s side.
Kael gave a single nod.
“Bring it here.” The gate was opened just enough.
A guard stepped out, took the scroll, and returned inside.
The letter bore a black wax seal stamped with a claw mark.
Kael broke the seal and read.
In an instant, his expression turned to stone.
“What does it say?” Luna asked softly.
Kael handed her the letter.
The writing was bold, rough, and unmistakeable.
[Surrender Luna.
Give me the woman, or I come with a thousand men.
And none shall be left alive.
— Darek.] Luna’s hands trembled.
She gripped the letter tight in her fingers.
IN THE GREAT HALL Six thirty a.m.
The twelve Elders had gathered, every face drawn and tense.
Kael sat upon the high seat, Luna beside him.
He tossed the letter onto the table.
“Read it aloud!” he commanded, his voice sharp with rage.
Elder Alden picked it up and read.
When he finished, the hall fell dead silent.
“Cowardice,” one Elder muttered.
“This is an insult,” said another.
“He demands we surrender our Lady?” Every eye turned to Luna.
Luna sat perfectly still, her back straight and proud, though her hands had turned to ice.
Kael spoke.
“What say you all?” “We refuse!” Alden said at once.
“We fight!” “We have not the supplies to sustain a war,” another Elder argued.
“Perhaps we might negotiate…,” “Negotiate?
Surrender her?” Alden snapped back.
Voices rose in shouting.
“SILENCE!” Kael’s command cracked like a whip.
The hall fell instantly quiet.
Kael turned to Luna.
“The choice is yours.” Every soul in the room held their breath.
Luna stood and walked to the center of the hall.
“Do you wish me to go?” she asked, her voice quiet but clear.
No one spoke.
“I will not leave,” Luna declared.
“If I go today, tomorrow they will demand our children.
The day after that, they will demand this castle itself.” She looked each Elder in the eye.
“We are Blackmoon.
We do not hand over our own.” Several Elders nodded slowly.
Kael watched her, a flicker of pride in his gaze.
“Well spoken.” He rose to his feet.
“Write my reply.
Write it in red ink!” IN THE STUDY Seven a.m.
Luna dipped her quill.
Her hand was steady now, the cold fear gone.
[You want me?
Come.
And take me.
— Luna of Blackmoon.] She blew on the ink to dry it, then pressed the seal.
Kael stood behind her, his hand resting gently on her shoulder.
“Are you certain?” “I am,” Luna said.
“We will not bow.” Kael gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze.
“I am proud of you.” Luna looked up at him.
“But we must prepare.
A thousand men is no small force.” “I know,” Kael said.
“From this hour, every soul capable of fighting begins training.” NOON Twelve o’clock.
The messenger rode away with their reply.
He tossed the scroll onto the ground before the Whitefang outpost, then turned and fled back.
Deep in the woods, Darek picked up the letter.
He read the words, then threw his head back and laughed.
“Good,” he snarled.
“She has spirit.” He turned to the ranks behind him.
A thousand warriors stood assembled, spears and shields in hand.
“Make ready,” Darek ordered.
“In three days, we march.” AT THE CASTLE Three pm.
Luna took charge of the training.
Two hundred soldiers stood assembled in the courtyard, armed with wooden practice spears.
Luna walked the length of the line.
“Again!
Raise spears!
Lower!” Her voice lacked Kael’s thunder, but it rang with command.
The soldiers obeyed.
Kael watched from the balcony, seated, his body still weak and unhealed.
Mira came to him with a cup of tea.
“My Lady is extraordinary,” Mira said.
Kael nodded, his eyes never leaving Luna.
“Yes.” A soft, proud smile touched his lips as he watched the woman he loved.
EVENING Five p.m.
Luna went down to the kitchens to check their stores.
Mira stood over a large pot, stirring porridge meant to feed a hundred people.
“My Lady,” Mira said.
“This will suffice for two meals.” “Good,” Luna said.
“We must make every portion count.” She stepped forward to help stir.
Suddenly, a servant leaned in close and whispered.
“My Lady.
Someone asks for you.
They wait at the rear gate.” Luna paused.
“Who is it?” “They say they come from Riverbrook.
They bring a small boy.” Luna’s heart skipped a beat.
“Bring them inside.” AT THE REAR GATE Five-thirty p.m.
An old man stood waiting.
Beside him stood a boy of eight.
The moment Mira stepped out, the boy’s face lit up.
He looked so like her.
“Mira!” he cried.
Mira ran and caught him in her arms, weeping openly.
“Minho!
Are you unhurt?” “I am, Sister,” the boy said.
The old man bowed low.
“My Lady.
I brought him here through the forest paths, so no one would see.” Luna stepped forward.
“I thank you.” She turned to the guards.
“Escort them inside.
Feed them, and give them shelter.” NIGHT Eight p.m.
In a quiet chamber, Mira and Minho sat sharing a meal.
Luna sat beside them.
“Thank you, My Lady,” Mira said, tears spilling over.
“You saved my brother.” Luna shook her head.
“You are the one who showed great courage.
Had you not spoken of him, we would never have known.” Minho looked up at Luna with wide eyes.
“My sister told me you are the kindest lady in all the land.” Luna smiled gently.
Just then Kael entered.
“What has happened?” “Mira’s brother has come to us,” Luna explained.
Kael looked at the two, then gave a solemn nod.
“You shall remain here.
You are safe within these walls.” Mira fell to her knees, overcome.
“Thank you, Alpha.
Thank you.” TEN PM.
Kael and Luna stood together on the balcony.
The night air had turned sharp and cold.
“Three days,” Kael said quietly.
“They will be here in three days.” Luna nodded.
“We will be ready.” “We are not ready,” Kael said, speaking plain truth.
“But we will stand and fight nonetheless.” Luna laced her fingers through his.
“Then we fight this battle, side by side.” Kael looked out toward the dark horizon.
“At first light, I will send scouts to map their approach and find the paths they will take.” BEYOND THE WALLS Eleven p.m.
Darek stood before a great fire.
He held Luna’s reply in his hand, crumpling it in his fist.
“Three days,” he growled.
“I will give you three days to tremble in fear.” He tossed the letter into the flames.
“And then I will come, and take what is mine.” MIDNIGHT In their chamber, Luna could not sleep.
She sat by candlelight, writing in her journal: lists of names, stockpiles of food, battle plans.
A knock came at the door.
“Enter,” Luna said.
A scout burst in, breathless and pale.
“My Lady!
There is movement in the forest, hundreds of torches.
They move faster than we were told.” Luna stood at once.
“How much faster?” “They will be here in two days.
Perhaps even sooner.” Luna turned to the window.
The stars were beginning to fade.
Time had run out.
War was coming sooner than expected, and Luna must lead the defense while their Alpha lay weak and unhealed.
She turned back to Kael, who sat watching her, his face set in grim resolve.
“You heard him,” Luna said.
“I heard,” Kael replied.
“Give the order.
Every man stands to arms tonight.” Luna nodded.
She turned back to the scout.
“Go.
Rest.
Eat quickly.
We will need you.” The scout bowed and hurried away.
Kael closed his eyes for a moment.
“I have failed you.
I should be the one standing at the head of our men.” “Do not speak so,” Luna said softly.
She knelt before him, taking his hands in hers.
“Look at me.” Kael opened his eyes.
“I am afraid,” Luna whispered.
“But I will not run.
And you taught me how to stand.” Kael lifted his hand and brushed her cheek with his fingers.
“And I would trust no one more than you.” IN THE KITCHENS Twelve-forty a.m.
Mira woke five other servants.
“Up!
We cook through the night.” Minho sat huddled in a corner, his arms wrapped around his knees.
“Sister…
is war coming?” “Yes,” Mira said gently.
“But we are safe here, within these walls.” She stirred a massive iron pot.
“Prepare enough food for three days.” Another pot for porridge.
Another for boiling water.
Soon the kitchens were filled with heat, steam, and quiet, hurried work.
THE ARMORY One a.m.
Elder Alden pried open chests and inspected every sword, spear, and shield.
“Four hundred arrows remaining,” a soldier reported.
“It is not enough,” Alden said.
“Wake the smiths.
They work through the night.” In the corner of the room, three blacksmiths were already at their forges.
Hammers rang against iron, and sparks flew upward in the dark.
THE GUEST CHAMBER One-thirty a.m.
Luna gathered all the women of the castle, twenty in all.
“You will not fight upon the walls,” Luna told them.
“But your work is vital.
We will feed the defenders.
We will tend the wounded.
And we will keep the children safe.” One woman stepped forward.
“We are yours to command, My Lady.” Luna nodded.
“Then from this hour, you are the healing corps.” UPON THE WALLS Two a.m.
The night watch changed shifts.
Torches burned all along the ramparts, casting a ring of light over the castle.
Archers sat watching the dark line of the forest.
From far away, a low sound drifted through the trees: the slow, heavy beat of war drums.
“Do you hear that?” a guard whispered.
“I do,” his companion replied.
“They are coming.” IN KAEL’S CHAMBER Two-thirty am.
Luna returned and spread a map across the table.
“See here,” she said.
“If they come from the northern woods, they must cross this bridge.” Kael leaned forward, tracing a line with a trembling finger.
“Or they may come this way.
A narrow path, little known.” Luna marked the spot.
“We will set traps at both crossings.” Kael gave a faint, proud smile.
“You learn swiftly.” Luna sat beside the bed.
“Sleep now, while you can.
I will keep watch.” Kael nodded and closed his eyes.
Luna watched him for a moment, then turned to the window, where the sky was already beginning to pale.
THREE A.M.
Deep in the forest, Darek raised a hand.
“Halt,” he commanded.
“We camp here.” One of his captains frowned.
“Why not press on, Alpha?
We could be at their gates by dawn.” Darek smiled, cold and cruel.
“Let them wait in fear through the long night.
We attack at sunrise.” He looked toward the distant shape of Blackmoon Castle, dark save for the pinprick glow of its watchfires.
“Three days has become one,” Darek murmured.
“Let us see how long they hold.” Dawn was coming.
And inside the castle walls, Luna stood face to face with her first great decision as their leader: to hold fast behind the walls, or ride out and strike first.