Chapter 118

"How many females are there?" Darien asked. I looked at Valeen.. "Twenty fertile ones, three sick ones." Valeen murmured. "When the war begins, my father will have all the children sent to the nurturing den as well in case reinforcements are needed." "Wait, where do the children usually stay?" Christopher asked. "Until they turn eighteen? Here." She pointed at a cave in the deep north where there was eternal winter. Christopher swore under his breath. I spoke up. "I realize this is a lot to ask, and you are all entitled to say no, but I have known about the state of these females for a long time now and I have constantly kept myself from just running north and rescuing them on my own. But war..." I looked to Jon and somehow the sight of him inspired more courage in me. "War requires strategy and this is the best we've come up with." There was silence. "You will all have to miss the claiming ceremony, but I promise you we will all survive to make it to the next one. Our convoy leaves fo