Their progress through the mountains was slow, but they managed to remain on schedule. There were no snowstorms to slow them down and by the end of the third day, they were camped in the foothills on the east side of the Striga Range.

Kalian's apprehension grew with each passing moment, but he did his best to hide his concerns. Moira was stressed enough as it was. Her anxiety would only grow if she noticed how bad his own had become. Malachi was constantly breathing down her neck, and even Lir watched her with a faint hint of distrust.

It took all of Kalian's self will not to hit Malachi whenever he saw him pestering Moira. Thankfully, Malachi's pestering didn't last as long now that Delilah was occupying most of his attention. Kalian kept an eye on her when he could, but Delilah didn't seem to be having any issues with Malachi. Despite being the prick he was, Malachi actually appeared to be treating Delilah, for the most part anyway, with respect.

When morning dawned, the unit set off once more. Kalian could see smoke rising from another Ironblade camp in the distance. No doubt it was where they'd meet with the infamous General Dagen and his soldiers. In just a few hours, he might learn what his King and Queen had asked him to investigate.

"Are you nervous?" Bellamy asked. He was still walking beside Kalian's horse, as he had every day since they left.

"A little. I've never met Dagen before."

"Neither have I. I hear he has some sort of condition that makes him abnormally pale. People call him a living ghost."

Kalian knit his brows, a thought occurring to him. "Abnormally pale?"

Bellamy nodded. "Fair skin without a single blemish, ice blue eyes, hair so blond it almost looks white..."

Kalian's heartbeat quickened, but he shoved his suspicions aside. He would know nothing for certain until he saw Dagen. There was no use speculating on it now. He perked up as a horse trotted close to his other side. Malachi watched him with a cruel smirk.

"What do you want?" Kalian growled.

"General Dagen is looking forward to meeting you," Malachi said, not answering his question. "He likes to keep tabs on everyone within Commander Lev's inner circle. After all, she is second only to him. He'll make sure she gets rid of anyone he deems an...inconvenience."

Kalian narrowed his eyes. "That sounds like a threat."

"That's because it is. Stay in your place, Deirdre. You might have fooled her, but you haven't fooled me, and you certainly won't fool him." Malachi flicked the reins and his horse pulled ahead.

"What was that about?" Bellamy asked, looking up at Kalian.

"I don't know, but I don't like it."

Neither of them said anything more as they drew closer to the Ironblade camp. Already, people were dismounting from their horses and unfamiliar soldiers were rushing over to help them. Kalian swung down from the saddle and tucked his wings close. He rested one hand on his obsidian dagger and made sure Asar was still safe within its sheath.

Bellamy stuck close to him as they entered the camp. It wasn't long before Samson fell in step with them. He walked at Bellamy's other side, one hand on the man's shoulder and a wary gleam in his dark eyes. "Hell, why don't we all be on edge?" Bellamy chuckled, but there was little amusement in his tone.

"Kalian," Moira called. He paused and she caught up to them. "Lir, Malachi, and I are meeting with Dagen now. I want you to come along."

"As you wish."

She broke away from the group, beckoning for him to follow. Kalian relented, and smiled to himself when he heard Bellamy and Samson's footsteps behind them. Lir and Malachi waited up ahead, speaking with someone who was hidden by their bodies. Kalian clenched his jaw, waiting to see the General. Moira hesitated when she noticed he'd stopped walking.

Malachi shifted to one side, revealing the General. Kalian's heart stopped and icy rage pooled in his chest. Every inch of his body went taut and he curled his hands into fists. His suspicions were right. He would recognize this man anywhere.

"It's okay, Butterfly. It's okay. You'll be all right."

Kalian's frozen rage grew and grew, consuming every part of him. His palm itched for his obsidian dagger, but he resisted the urge. If he drew it, he'd slaughter this man without hesitation. He could kill him now just by using his magic. He should kill him. It would cripple the Ironblade forces and give his people a chance to repel them.

As Bellamy said, General Dagen looked like a ghost. His short hair was so pale that it was almost white. Even his lashes and brows were white. His eyes were an even colder blue than Lir's. His skin was practically colorless.

"Kalian," Moira hissed, taking a step towards him. "What are you doing?"

"Kal?" Bellamy touched his shoulder.

"Take your hand off me." Kalian's voice was little more than a rasping growl. Bellamy heeded him and Samson guided him back a few paces.

"My tummy hurts."

"Kalian, what's going on?" Moira came closer still.

He couldn't tear his gaze off the General. As long as he lived, he wouldn't forget that face. Kalian's breaths grew more and more uneven. He wasn't sure how he was even restraining himself. He was going to tear this man limb from limb. He was going to make him pay for what he'd done. For murdering his wife and daughter. For killing the only two people who gave his wretched life any purpose.

"The pain will be gone soon, Butterfly. You'll be all right."

"Kalian?"

"I'm bleeding. Daddy, I'm bleeding! Why...why am I... Where's Mommy? I want Mommy!"

"Kalian." A hand touched his cheek. His gaze snapped to Moira's. "What is it?" She whispered, letting her hand fall.

Kalian shook his head, backing away. "I can't."

"You can't what?"

"Be here. I can't be here. I can't be near him." He pointed at Dagen. "If I am, something bad will happen. I can't."

"But the meeting..."

"I can't go. Fill me in later."

"Kalian..."

"I'll keep an eye on him, Commander," Bellamy offered.

Moira glanced between the two of them, then nodded. "All right. I'll find you after the meeting." She spun on her heel and headed towards the other three men, looking back only once.

Bellamy touched Kalian's shoulder and led him away. Samson hovered nearby in case he was needed. "What the fuck was that, Kal?" Bellamy hissed. "If looks could kill..."

"It was him," Kalian whispered. "He was there. He was the one who led the attack on Cosette." Bellamy's eyes widened in shock. "He killed Calandra and Yara. He's the one who murdered my wife and daughter."

"Shit," Samson and Bellamy said in unison.

☽◦༻◦☽◦༺◦☽

Moira followed Lir, Malachi, and Ivar Dagen into a large tent towards the center of the camp. She couldn't wipe Kalian's face from her mind. The look in his eye... He knew the General. He'd recognized him. She was almost afraid to know how the two of them had met. She thought she might be able to guess.

They entered the tent and were greeted by a large table surrounded by chairs. Dagen dropped into one and patted the seat beside him, flashing Moira a pointed look. She sat down while Lir and Malachi claimed two more chairs.

"Now then," Dagen began. "How was your journey? Not too difficult, I hope."

"Not difficult at all," Moira replied. "We didn't meet any storms in the mountains and were able to keep on schedule."

"Excellent. Time is of the essence these days." He leaned forward and tapped a map that was stretched across the table. Several red pins were stuck in it at different locations. "I've sent out orders for the rest of our units to reposition themselves. For weeks now, they've been preparing for my next set of orders. Those are what we are here to discuss."

Moira eyed the map, surprised to see how many of the pins were stuck in the Faerie Lands themselves. "How have they managed to cross the Vetiti?" She asked.

"They didn't. They circled back this way and crossed in the Faerie Lands through the mountains. It took longer, but was ultimately less dangerous than attempting to move through the Vetiti. I heard your own endeavor to do so ended less than favorably."

Dagen leaned closer to her, a sly grin crossing his thin lips. "I also heard about your unfortunate encounter with the Witch bandits. Your life was saved by someone who knew how to counteract a spell. Highly unusual, don't you think?"

"I was hoping I'd get to meet this man," he continued before Moira could reply. "I should offer him thanks for saving you." Moira tensed as a hand touched her thigh. Dagen squeezed her leg, then faced Malachi. "He did come along, didn't he?"

"He did, General. I was under the impression that he'd attend this meeting with us as well. Apparently I was wrong." Malachi's leering gaze shifted to her. Lir frowned at the man.

Moira ground her teeth as Dagen squeezed her leg again. She tilted herself away from him and he let go, saying, "I'm sure we can arrange a meeting later. For now, let's get on with our business. I want to finish it as soon as possible. There is a feast and dance planned tonight in celebration of our upcoming victory."

"Upcoming victory?" Moira asked.

Dagen drummed his nails on the map once more. "Against the Faeries. Our forces are strong enough to withstand a frontal assault on their species as a whole. I believe the time has come for us to make our move."

Moira said nothing more as Dagen launched into a long winded explanation of his plans. Once, she might've been excited by this. She might've listened wholeheartedly and offered ideas of her own. She might've been overjoyed by the prospect of the end of Faeriekind.

But now, she couldn't forget the horror and conviction that she'd seen on Kalian's face so many times. She couldn't hide from the words he'd repeated over and over again. She couldn't ignore the thoughts that hounded her. This isn't right. This isn't right. This isn't right. It wasn't right. None of it was. So why was she just realizing it now?