Not All Heroes Are Guiltless

Chapter 80

Chapter 80

Aela’s POV

Dobson is a dreary town. The landscape is dark against the dense forest, and there is no creativity in the houses. Everything is functional to a fault. It’s been quiet and so many people aren’t working. The few days we’ve been here have made me able to process all the information I’ve learned.

Dungan is my father’s adoptive brother. My father nursed him back to health, and that’s why they had a close relationship. The cabin Dungan brought me when I first transformed was probably a hunting cabin for the family, and my parents used it as a getaway. Lana said my mother couldn’t get the solid disposition. They must have traveled a lot together. I could easily see it was a place to relax and be with loved ones. Lana said that Dungan hadn’t claimed his birthright, but the way my grandfather told it was Dungan had devoted himself to Bellar because he was a god that was able to save him. He owes his life to him. Didn’t mean he wanted to be the ruler of our enemy nation. He was only six years old.

I sit back in the midday sun when I hear a party arrive. He walks up behind me and exhales a large sigh of relief. Ethan is right behind him. “What gives? General Andrew, you look like you just seen a ghost.”

Andrews mumbles darkly to himself before snapping at Ethan, “Remember I am a general, captain. You are already on the grounds of insubordination.”

“Andrew, calm down.” I yell out angrily appalled he is already in a fighting mood. “You can’t accuse him of insubordination if I ordered him. Now, why are you yelling?”

“Princess, forgive me. I just came from Nevar, I feared you were there. They have Bellarn troops stationed there. They are giving them a quarter, and it appears they plan to rebel against our forces. They are no longer Redland; they have betrayed us.” He says in a hiss. He crosses his arms and waits, almost like he expects me to be raving mad. I’ve worked hard the last few days to give myself the strength to fight the invisible force, which overrides my actions.

They must have sent someone to port after we left to inform them of the threat, and King Dungan was ready. Dobson is already close to a ghost town. If Nevar doesn’t open back up to them, this community will move somewhere else. They can’t function without the building materials we need. “We have to gain control of the mines. Dobson is at the point of ruin, and we don’t have anywhere else that can manufacture what we need for our reconstruction projects.”

Andrew nods in agreement, “I already sent a messenger back to the queen. They have maybe a hundred men already guarding the settlement. In a few days, their number increased since we now pose a probable threat.”

Ethan glares at us both, “What’s the likelihood the King coming to defend them?”

I look at him sideways, “Explain your concern.”

“King Dungan must be in a spot and lacking materials for weapons. The Hou Ndours destroyed several islands that they used to mine for their own resources. He used the lapse of our control to gain resources. He’s not going to give up his hold without a fight.” Ethan rationalizes with a logical conciseness I almost miss having in my arguments and debates.

“How many men do you have ready to fight the Bellarn army?” Andrew looks at Ethan with his arms folded.

“Maybe two hundred give or take. Most are needed to ward off bandits in the area.” His stature changes to the more structure for when he’s more businesslike.

“Go prepare the men you can. We will wait until more arrives from the capital.” I say, and Ethan nods and motions to be dismissed. I’m standing next to Andrew when he leaves.

“I saw the Bellarns and worried you tried…” Andrew mumbles.

“No. I just instigated them to show their true colors” I say, staring at him with detest.

“Aela, I’m sorry. I didn’t know what came over me. It was like I was compelled, and I’m not sure why.” Andrew looks haggard and stressed. He’s obviously had a rough few days since I left.

I want to forgive him because of how remorseful he seems. The resentment still holds over me, though. I can’t forget what he did to me. My mate never would have degraded and humiliated me like he had. He would never intentionally hurt me like Andrew had. Compelled or not, it’s not something easy to disregard. With a soft, shaky voice, he speaks slowly, “I won’t deny I have wished you to be mine for a long time. I don’t know what came over me.”

I swallow remembering what my grandfather used to describe Lana’s father. He would devour people's bodies and souls. I can only imagine what she’s even capable of. “I have a vague idea. But I still don’t trust you. Please, don’t come near me.”

“I completely understand.” Andrew says, dropping his head down with regret. He steps back almost to show an example he’s willing to give me my space. “Anything I can do for you, I will. Just don’t throw me away.”

I watch him, and he doesn’t waver at all in his focus. He seems completely concerned about my projection of him. Hiding the pain I feel, I reply to him coldly. “Get your men to rest. Tonight, we need to see a better layout of their defenses. I would go, but I’m sure it's unbecoming of the commanding general.”

Andrew perks up and nods with a smirk, “Yes. I will work on that right away.”

He rushes out of the tent, and I stare back at it. I don’t know how much trust I can truly give him. He could have been under a similar spell as me, and with the fact I can’t see anymore spell fabrications. I can’t deter me away from him being a friend. He was probably an easy target to get to me.

My mother said she was driven mad because she was stronger than what Lana could control, but she was weaker than her to kill. I can let her take me. I need to solve this situation quickly and then find a way to break her spell.