It was too late now. The choice was between helping the humans, who had brought this war upon themselves, and waiting for armies of evil beings to come to the Shadowglenn Valley and cause the same damage they had done fifteen years earlier. It was really no choice at all.
The small group had retired to a private room within the keep while their armies fought on. A fire roared and wall-mounted torches burned.
Sheanni glowered at King Almeir while he looked straight ahead, tapping his foot on the stone floor and feigning ignorance. General Geril returned her stare, forgetting how dangerous she could be to his fragile sense of pride.
"You have no right to be so insolent toward my king. I should have killed you for attacking him like you did, especially in front of his men."
"You should, should you? Why don't you come over here and try it," Sheanni rose to her feet and glared at the general who, in return, just showed her his middle finger.
"Enough, Geril." King Almeir roared. "If there's one thing more insolent than pinning a king to a wall, it's the rudeness you're showing to someone above your station. She might be mad but she's a queen, damn it. Remember your place."
Lord Meridin sent his chair flying as he jumped to his feet. "Don't dare call my wife mad, Almeir. You're the lunatic invading the enemy's territory. You couldn't have left them well alone and kept all our people safe, could you?"
"No-one's safe while they live and feed upon live victims, you fool."
"Easier to protect against a small group out for meat alone than a whole army bent on destroying us all," Sheanni spat.
King Almeir rose from his chair and squared up to Sheanni, a slight tremor in both hands and voice. "We won't have to protect our people from then anymore once they're all dead."
"You're delusional," she said, turning on her heel and striding towards the door with her husband by her side.
"Where are you going?" the king called after them.
"To fight," said Sheanni, not breaking her stride.
Meridin turned to face the human king and general as he reached the door, fighting to keep his rage from bubbling over the surface. "You may be content to cower in here, Your Majesty, but we stand by our army until the battle is done."
Leaving the gaping faces behind them, the pair marched through the door and slammed it behind them.
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