Marked By The Mad King Alpha (Phoebe and Perry) novel Chapter 181

**His Mercy Tastes Like Hunger**
**Chapter 181: A Command**

**Without Words**

**Phoebe’s POV**

I had issued the decree, and surprisingly, it had taken effect despite the pushback. The air was thick with dissent; countless voices rose in protest, insisting they would rather stand and fight than abandon the homes they held dear. Yet, as they witnessed the unwavering strength of my command, their defiance crumbled.

They were warned that their houses would be lost, but that was not the core of their anguish. What truly stung was the thought of retreat—the bitter aftertaste of allowing our enemies to invade their sacred ground. It felt like a wound that would fester, a humiliation too deep to bear.

I had explained to them, with a calmness I barely felt, that the enemy would not seize their land. We had a plan, a strategy that remained shrouded in secrecy, one I couldn’t divulge. Only when I assured them of our foresight did they reluctantly agree to evacuate.

In addition to orchestrating the evacuation, I summoned every healer we could find. Their skills would be indispensable when the battle came—and battle was not merely a possibility; it was a certainty looming on the horizon.

Yet, healers were a rare commodity in this beleaguered place…

“I’m Millie, and this is my sister, Katherine,” a girl around sixteen said, her voice trembling slightly as she introduced herself and her younger sibling, who looked to be just a year younger. “It’s an honor to meet you, my queen.”

They bowed deeply, the nervousness evident in their posture, as if the weight of my title pressed down upon them.

“They’re the only healers we could locate, my queen,” Justin chimed in, his tone laced with regret.

[What about the medicine I need?] I gestured for them to rise, then pulled out my notes, which were filled with hurried scribbles and frantic diagrams.

“Don’t worry, my queen, we have plenty,” Millie reassured me, her voice steadier now. “We’ve been practicing diligently. Since few people need our help, we’ve managed to stockpile quite a bit.”

I nodded at Katherine, who radiated a more cheerful demeanor than her sister. The younger girl returned my gaze with a bright smile, her enthusiasm infectious.

[I’ll need your help. Can you tell me what you’ve learned about medicine?] I ushered them into one of the quieter rooms, hoping to establish a better line of communication for the challenges ahead. Writing everything down wasn’t always feasible, so we would need to rely on a series of agreed-upon hand signals.

In that moment, I felt an overwhelming longing for my voice to return.

But I was ensnared in this mental prison, a lock in my mind that kept me silent, a barrier I couldn’t seem to breach.

“We’ve learned much from books,” Millie confessed, her eyes flickering with uncertainty, “but some mixtures are beyond my grasp. I feel more confident with healing magic than concocting potions, but Katherine excels in that area.”

I probed deeper, seeking to understand their capabilities and limitations. It was essential to know where their boundaries lay; I couldn’t afford to push them beyond their skills when the stakes were so high and everything could unravel in an instant.

“Are you a healer, my queen?” Katherine asked, her curiosity shining through, only to receive a gentle elbow from Millie, who seemed to think her sister was overstepping.

I waved dismissively, signaling that it was alright, then shook my head. [I’m not a healer, but I studied medicine under the royal healer. I’ve acquired quite a bit of skill.] The awe in their eyes was unmistakable—not everyone had the privilege of learning from the royal healer.

Once everything was arranged and the evacuation moved forward without a hitch, alarms blared through the air, a harbinger of the enemy’s approach.

“Enemy attack,” Samuel growled, his jaw tightening with frustration. He longed to charge out and join the fray, but his duty was to protect me.

Justin shared his agitation, both of them trained warriors, itching to fight while they stood idle, compelled to remain behind as others were ordered to repel the oncoming threat.

Yet, this was also a noble assignment, one that required strength of a different kind.

Reginald gently set Fiona down, allowing Darius to take over, but first, they paused to rest near a river.

Fiona washed the grime from her face and hands, fatigue weighing heavily on her despite only being carried on Reginald’s back. Her stomach growled in protest.

She drank deeply from the cool water, then wiped droplets from around her neck. Darkness had settled in, and they couldn’t afford the risk of a fire, not with royal warriors potentially lurking nearby.

They would take turns sleeping, determined to continue their journey come dawn.

Only five more hours until they reached the meeting point. Almost there.

“I’ll take first watch,” Darius declared, settling himself beneath the sheltering branches of a tree, his eyes scanning the darkness for any signs of danger.