Once Breanna and Falco were moving up the rise to their position, Ashk turned to Liam, who looked ready to explode. “Don’t ask her to be less than she is, Liam.”

“And what is she, besides a woman who’s lost her mother and grandmother in the space of a few days?” he demanded.

“A Daughter of the House of Gaian.”

He swallowed whatever he’d been about to say and left her, signaling to his men to take up their own position.

As she reached her horse, she heard Varden call her.

“You don’t have to be here today,” she told him.

“There aren’t many of my men who felt they could face this field again, but those of us who can…” Varden shook his head. “We need to do this, Hunter. Now, there’s not many of us, so I thought we’d join Baron Liam’s men. Besides, fighting from the cover of the trees will be an advantage to our new warriors.” He jerked a thumb over his shoulder.

Ashk stared at the Small Folk being helped off the Fae horses.

“They wanted to come. They’ve lost friends and family to the nighthunters, too. And they’ve assured me they’re wicked accurate with a sling.”

She walked over and studied the grim-faced men and women who were no taller than the length of her arm. All of them carried slings and had a bag bulging with stones hanging from their belts.

“All right,” she said. “You go with Varden and Baron Liam. Varden, tell Liam we’ll alternate between arrow and sling. When the enemy reaches the striking point, let the slings fire first. Once the first line drops, the bowmen will have a clear shot at the second line.”

“Yes, Hunter.”

Ashk hurried to her horse. How much time had passed? How far had the enemy advanced? Her eyes scanned the field. Gwynith and one other Lady of the Moon with a pack of shadow hounds was riding with her. The other two Ladies with their packs were with the Hunt coming up the road from the village. Her huntsmen were ready, the first waves of human companies were waiting for the order to move up the rise and descend into the field. Breanna and Falco had taken up position where she’d told them to. And Selena, dressed in white overdress and trousers, sat quietly on Mistrunner with Rhyann beside her, mounted on Fox.

They’d refused to explain what they’d meant by “dreams and will,” but seeing the Sons and Daughters now gathered behind the Huntress, and remembering the Son who had asked her if she really wanted Wolfram made barren, she decided it was just as well they hadn’t told her what they intended to do after the Black Coats and the barons who followed them were driven into the tumble of stones.