Frozen Flame of Dawn - Chapter 52

Chapter 52: Chapter 25: Sanctuary’s First Step_1

The quiet night sky above the village was now painted with faint hues of purple and orange as the sun dipped below the horizon. A cool breeze swept through the makeshift fortress, offering a brief moment of calm amidst the chaos of the day.

Amira who stood atop the icy fortress she had created, her piercing gaze scanning the village. The contrast was stark—peaceful now, but haunted by the screams and chaos that had erupted just hours earlier.

The villagers who were able-bodied were preparing food on one side of the square, working in silence. While the injured lay on the opposite end currently being treated in the makeshift clinic that Rhea and Mira had established.

And the rest of Amira’s team which is not on guard duty, sat cross-legged in scattered corners, meditating to replenish their energy and temper their reserves.

For a moment it felt there was a sense of peace, but Amira’s heart felt heavy. Tragically, the assault resulted in the deaths of one-third of the village residents which she couldn’t get the thought out of her head: If they have arrived thirty minutes earlier.

Her guilt lingered like a storm cloud as she let out a deep breath. And while the sight of crying families and villagers clutching their injuries was a reminder of the fragile lives she had sworn to protect.

Sophie’s words broke her train of thought while she was lost. “Captain”

Amira turned around and saw Sophie coming up behind an older couple. The man looked worn out, but he carried himself with honor as his wife walked next to him. Her eyes were kind, but they were heavy with sadness.

Amira nodded at Sophie, her sharp focus immediately shifting to the newcomers. “What’s going on, Sophie?”

Sophie gestured to the couple. “This is Amir and Lila, his wife. Amir was the former chief. Their son who was the current chief was killed in the attack. So for now Amir is back in charge and they wanted to talk to you.”

Amira’s brow furrowed slightly, but she quickly smoothed her expression. She turned to Amir and Lila, nodding. “Thank you for coming. Let’s talk. Sophie, stay here—I’ll need you after this.”

The stiffness in Amir’s movements showed how old he was as he steeped forward, but his eyes stayed on the ground. Before he spoke, he did a small bow to show respect. “Captain Amira, my wife and I wanted to thank you personally. Without your team’s help, there would be nothing left of our village. You’ve done more for us than we can ever repay.”

Amira inclined her head slightly. “There’s no need for thanks, Amir. I only wish we could have arrived sooner. Too many lives were lost today.” Her voice was even, but the guilt she carried seeped through her words.

Amir thought for a moment and then looked at his wife before continuing. “I also wanted to apologize. My son… he dismissed the warnings from the broadcast saying it was probably a scare tactic and refused to prepare and now his arrogance cost us dearly, and also took much of your time and effort for that, we are deeply sorry.”

Amira’s expression softened, though her eyes carried a flicker of frustration. “The broadcast was meant to save lives, but arrogance or fear often clouds judgment. I’m sorry for your loss, Amir. Losing family is never easy.”

Lila, who had been quiet up until now, spoke with her voice shaking. “We are just grateful you came. The Federation army must have sent you to save us. You’re soldiers, aren’t you? You’re here to help villages like ours?”

With any hesitation Amira shook her head. “We’re not part of the Federation. We’re an independent mercenary unit. We happened to come across your village while en route to Icelorn Basin. We checked the area and saw the danger—you were lucky we arrived when we did.”

Amir’s face flushed slightly, and he quickly bowed his head again. “Forgive us, Captain. We assumed… but knowing you had no obligation to help us makes your actions even more admirable. We owe you a debt we can never repay.”

Amira waved off his gratitude with a faint smile. “There’s no debt, Amir. Protecting lives isn’t a transaction—it’s what we do.”

The old couple exchanged a look of deep respect and gratitude, but Amir’s expression soon turned serious as Amira broke the brief silence.

“Now, let’s talk about your plan moving forward,” Amira said, her tone firm but understanding. “I won’t sugarcoat it—we can’t stay here forever. My team and I will be here through tomorrow, but we’ll be leaving at first light the day after.”

Amir’s calm demeanor faltered, and Lila’s hand flew to her mouth in alarm. The couple exchanged worried glances before Amir spoke, his voice betraying his panic. “Captain Amira, if you leave… I—I don’t think we’ll survive if these beasts come back. Without you and your team, we’re as good as prey. Please… I know it’s asking a lot, but can’t you stay just a little longer? At least until help arrives?”

Amira’s face softened slightly as she regarded the old man, but her response was blunt. “Amir, I’ll be honest with you—don’t pin your hopes on the Federation sending help. If I were you, I’d assume no one is coming.”

The weight of her words hung in the air like a stone. Amir blinked in confusion, and Lila frowned, her hands gripping Amir’s arm.

“What do you mean? Isn’t the Federation supposed to protect all of us? Isn’t that why we pay our taxes? Why won’t they help?” Amir asked, his voice rising with desperation.

Amira sighed and took a step closer, her face showed a mix of sympathy and irritation. “They want to help, but they can’t. You already aware that communication systems are completely down, everything from phones to internet. And as the chain of command is in shambles Federation as a whole isn’t ready to handle a situation of this size at once, but I’m sure people like Chancellor Helen are doing their best.”

Amir creased his brows, showing that he was getting more confused. “But… surely they’ve prepared for something like this? After the broadcast warning, they must have done something!”

She shook her head. “They wouldn’t have been ready, Amir, even if they had. They will focus on the central provinces because that’s where most of the Federation’s powerful and influenced people reside. They’ll secure major cities which already had strong wall as protection first. And the other provinces will be left as responsibility for their governor and army situated in it. And do you think the governor of this provinces Vandrim will expend his forces for small villages and town that don’t have walls or other defenses? They will be on their own.”

At the mention of Vandrim’s governor, Amir’s face darkened, and he nodded slowly. “That man… he’s as corrupt as they come. It’s possible that he will leave us. He’ll hide behind the walls of the bigger cities and let the rest of the province rot.”

“Exactly,” Amira said, her voice steady but laced with frustration. “And even if the Federation wanted to send help, they’d have to go through people like him. Do you think he would willingly deploy his resources to protect a small village like this?”

Lila’s shoulders slumped as she whispered, “Then what do we do? Are we just supposed to sit here and wait to be slaughtered?”

Amira’s sharp gaze softened as she looked at the couple. “No, you don’t wait. You leave.”

Amir blinked in surprise. “Leave? To where?”

Amira crossed her arms and took a step closer. “There’s a town inside the Icelorn Basin. It’s naturally defensible, with better infrastructure and more people to help keep each other safe. My team and I are headed there, and I suggest you and the rest of the village come with us. We’ll help you get there, and once we’re all settled, we can figure out what to do next.”

Amir’s eyes widened, and Lila gasped softly. “You’d do that for us? Even after everything you’ve already done?”

Amira gave a small nod. “We’re heading that way anyway. It’s safer to travel in numbers, and leaving you all here to fend for yourselves isn’t an option I’m willing to consider.”

Amir straightened his back, determination flashing in his eyes. “If you think that’s what’s best, then I’ll convince the villagers. We’ll prepare to leave with you.”

Amira nodded approvingly. “Good. You’ll need to move fast. We leave at dawn the day after tomorrow. Get everyone ready—pack only what you need, and be prepared for the journey. It won’t be easy, but it’ll give you a chance.”

Amir bowed deeply. “Thank you, Captain. You’ve saved us more than once already, and we’ll never forget it. I’ll make sure everyone is ready.”

He turned to leave, his pace hurried, but Amira’s firm voice stopped him. “Amir, wait.”

He paused, turning back to her with a puzzled expression. Amira gestured toward the corner of the village square, near the makeshift clinic. “What are you going to do about the children? The ones who just lost their parents.”