Chapter Forty-Nine

Raimie

As Rhylix and Ren again explained what was coming for us, I absently tapped Silverblade’s hilt, keeping my eyes fixed above their heads. If I met their gazes or stopped this nervous tic, everything would catch up with me, and I needed it to wait in the wings for a moment more.

Sometimes, detaching from oneself and one’s surroundings could be useful.

With a look of concern, my friend said my name, and I shook myself.

“Oswin, if I asked you to gather my family, Marcuset, and Gistrick, would you do it?” I asked. “Or will that interfere with your bodyguard duties too much?”

The spy, who’d faded into the background for this whole conversation, shifted in place.

“I could get someone else to do it,” he slowly suggested.

For the love of…

“I can watch my own back for a little while, you know,” I snapped. “Especially with Rhy here.”

Ok. That outburst had been uncalled for, but of all the changes I’d endured in the last week, having someone constantly hovering around me, watching, had been the worst. It had made accomplishing some of my more sensitive tasks close to impossible. I didn’t think Oswin and the various people he represented would appreciate me learning how to lockpick, like I needed to do for Nylion.

When he just stared at me, I sighed, unsure of how to continue. I should apologize, but how-?

“I could do it.”

Turning to Ren, I raised an eyebrow, which made her grin.

“What? I know what they look like, so I can wrangle them into one place, which would make everyone happy,” she said, “but why would you want to do that?”

Wasn’t the answer to that question obvious?

“First, they need to know what’s happening, just as much as I do, and please don’t argue with me about that, Oswin,” I said. “I may have accepted the whole ‘being king’ business, but that doesn’t mean I should stop consulting with the knowledgeable people around me.”

Saying not a word, Oswin grinned, but what I’d said had Rhylix furrowing his brow.

“Becoming king business?” he asked.

“I’ll tell you later,” I said. “Also, if what you’re saying is true, then we’ll need to discuss battle plans, and given our timeline, we won’t have much time to do it. We should start soon.”

I already had some ideas about how to defend my people from the coming threat, but hearing from others, especially an experienced commander like Marcuset, would be helpful.

“You mean to fight them?” Ren asked.

With her nose wrinkled, she was looking at me like I was crazy, but I couldn’t blame her for that. I’d heard every word that she and Rhylix had relayed about the odds we’d face.

“Perhaps we will. At the moment, it’s our most likely course of action,” I said, “but I haven’t decided yet, not fully. Hence, why I want to speak with the others.”

With an uncertain nod, Ren said, “All right. I’ll grab them. Shall we meet in the same place as usual?”

Where she and I had been meeting to discuss her efforts in Tiro?

“It’ll have to do,” I said. “With so many people inside, the tent may get cramped, but so far as I know, we won’t find privacy anywhere else.”

“Yes, unfortunate as that is,” Ren said. “Give me a quarter hour, and I’ll have them there.”

“Thank you.”

Flashing a grin at me, Ren took off while Rhylix speculatively watched me.

“You two are working well together,” he said.

And he found this unusual, why?

“She apologized. I apologized,” I said. “Everything’s good between us now.”

For some reason, this made Rhylix smirk, and I might have asked him about it if Oswin hadn’t cleared his throat then.

“Are you… well, sir?” he asked. “Considering what we just learned, you’re acting very…”

Flippant? Yes, I was well aware. This was what always happened when I detached. As I’d said, it could be a useful skill at times.

Sighing, I rested my hands on my hips.

“Would you rather if I were panicking?” I asked.

Shaking his head, Oswin drawled, “No, I’m just…”

He appeared to have nothing else, so I patted his shoulder, hoping it would reassure him.

“Don’t worry. I’m ok,” I said. “I do need to grab a few things before this meeting, though, so Rhy? Will you accompany us?”

“Will it help?” my friend asked.

Was he serious?

“Yes, it’ll help. Having you around always helps,” I said, “and don’t think I’ve forgotten that we still need to talk. You may have brought me another distraction to delay that conversation, but it does need to happen.”

Wincing, Rhylix shrugged.

“Whatever you say, Raimie,” he said. “Let’s focus on survival for now, though, yes?”

One of these days, that man would run out of excuses for hiding things from me, and I couldn’t wait for it to come. But in the meantime…

With Oswin and Rhylix following, I headed for my tent, ignoring the salutes that the surrounding soldiers directed at me, but then, I’d gotten pretty good at that in the last week. I wasn’t sure why those forms of respect had been happening more frequently, whether it was because Oswin has shared the burden I’d accepted or not, but to my great relief, no one else had sworn their fealty me since the spy had done it. I couldn’t handle another exchange of vows, not so soon after the last one.

When we reached my tent, I spun on my companions.

“Wait here,” I said. “I won’t be long, and Oswin? You can keep a good enough watch on me from this spot. Please, stay put?”

I didn’t want them to see what might happen behind those canvas walls.

With an explosive sigh, Oswin indicated his approval.

“We can wait,” Rhylix said.

So, I ducked into my tent, reaching for the few texts I might need in the coming hour, but they weren’t my goal in coming here.

No. For that, I collapsed onto my bedroll, and as I’d learned long ago, I quickly fell to dreams.

Only when I was in my nightmare realm did I let detachment fall away from me.

“Fuck!” I howled at a never-ending horizon.

With my fingers tangling in my hair, I started frantically pacing, barely noticing as Nylion approached me with a hand extended.

“Heart of my heart, please,” he said.

I wasn’t sure how I made myself stop, but when I fell still, I hesitantly took Nylion’s offered hand, gasping to calm my racing heart. As always, a long-lost sense of connection soothed me, and after gulping several times, I managed to focus, if only nominally.

Nylion squeezed his hold on me, offering a hesitant smile, and seeing it, I slid into panic again.

“Oh gods, Nyl,” I said. “You heard what they said. What will we do?”

“What we always do,” he said. “Survive. Together.”

But that only highlighted something I hadn’t let myself consider in full yet, and at the thought, I snatched my hand to me.

“That’s right. You and I are one,” I said. “If I fail… if my decisions get me killed…”

“I die too, yes,” Nylion said, “but how is that any different from the soldiers whose lives depend on you?”

Squeezing my eyes shut, I turned away. I hadn’t needed that reminder.

“It just is,” I said. “I don’t know how to define it, but my responsibility for them and the idea that I could get you killed… it’s different, ok?”

After a pause, Nylion circled in front of me, squatting so I had to look at him.

“Heart of my heart, I trust you,” he said. “I have always trusted you to keep us safe in the real world, and when you cannot do that, through no fault of your own, I am here to help.”

He truly meant that. I looked at him, seeing his absolute faith in me, and it broke my heart. I didn’t deserve it.

“But you do.”

I didn’t acknowledge that, snorting as I hauled Nylion upright.

“You feel like helping now?” I asked.

Dubiously eyeing me, Nylion said, “Do you want my help?”

As I considered what I knew about my other half, applying that knowledge to the coming meeting, I winced.

“Probably not a good idea.”

“No,” Nylion said with a laugh. “Social interactions are not my specialty.”

“I’m not that much better with them,” I said.

Nudging me, Nylion said, “Are you sure about that? I certainly find you inspiring.”

For unknown reasons, that made my cheeks heat, and as usual when this happened, I ducked my head, hiding it. Fortunately, Nylion chose to ignore my reaction, although he leaned into me after a moment.

“Will you be ok out there, handling them?” he asked. “I will do what I can to help, but... it is not the same as it was.”

Throwing my arm around him, I convinced myself I was doing it for reassurance’s sake and not to take a brief taste of completion.

“I’m grateful for what we have, although…”

I pulled away, enough to meet Nylion’s eyes.

“What’s with the contradictory emotions that you emanate when we’re around certain people? Don’t know how I keep forgetting to ask about that.”

Shrugging, Nylion said, “I am not sure. What you are feeling is my instinctual reaction to them. I do my best to keep it private, but that does not always work.”

“Well, that’s not concerning at all, considering how hostile you’ve been toward some of them,” I said.

Shrinking on himself, Nylion stepped away from me.

“I am sorry,” he said. “Making life more difficult for you is never my intention.”

Rolling my eyes, I said, “It’s a good thing you’re not doing that, then.”

I pulled Nylion in front of me, holding him in place once that was done.

“You help me, Nyl,” I said. “Look at what’s happening now. If I didn’t have you, I’d probably have lost it in an embarrassing way earlier. Instead, I held it together and fell apart here, where it was safe and healthy to do so. That’s all thanks to you.”

“Ha!” Nylion scoffed.

Then, he grinned at me.

“I am glad that you find me somewhat useful.”

Releasing him, I clicked my tongue.

“Fine. Be stubborn if you want,” I said before grimacing. “I should probably go back. Who knows how long I’ve been asleep?”

Smirking, Nylion said, “Not long, I assure you. Time works differently here. Still, I wish you luck in the coming conversation and please. Remember that I am here if you need me.”

“Thanks, Nyl.”

I shook myself, flinging tension out of my arms, before resting my hands on my hips.

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“Speed me along?” I said. “It’s time to get this over with.”

“Of course,” Nylion said.

He touched my temples, and my nightmare realm dissolved into nothing.

----------------------------------------

When the first of my summoned guests arrived, I was as ready as I’d ever be. Tugging on the hem of my new uniform, I scanned a recently drawn map of the surrounding area again, making sure I hadn’t missed anything. I was grateful to have clothing that both fit my trimmed physique and wasn’t falling apart, but because it wasn’t worn in yet, my uniform’s fabric was still stiff. I found myself picking at it or otherwise adjusting at the oddest of times.

“It’ll be fine,” Rhylix said behind me.

He was sitting on one of the crates in this tent, and glancing at him, I made a face.

“Maybe this conversation will go well, but the rest? I doubt it,” I said. “Don’t worry, though. I can hold it together for a little while longer. I’ve dealt with worse than a bunch of cranky elders before.”

Snorting a laugh, Rhylix leaned back while pulling his legs under him.

“That’s for sure.”

We shared a smile as the tent flap, hidden behind other crates and barrels, lifted, and someone quietly cursed as he maneuvered his way into the cramped space I’d cleared. Glancing over me and Rhylix, Marcuset placed himself on the other side of my table with a nod, quickly followed by Eledis.

“What’s all this about?” my grandfather snapped when he spotted me.

Turning to Rhylix, I said, “See? Cranky elders.”

As my friend choked on a laugh, I smiled at the men who’d joined us.

“You’ll find out soon enough,” I said. “Let’s wait until everyone’s here before I explain, though, shall we? I’d rather not repeat myself.”

Eledis started grumbling to himself, but he didn’t have long to wait. Within a few minutes, Ren led Gistrick and my father into the tent, coming to a stop at my shoulder.

“Unless you object, I mean to switch places with Oswin. I’ll play sentry instead,” she said. “Much as I might wish otherwise, this is more his fight than mine. He should be in here, listening.”

She’d made a good point. Why hadn’t I thought of it?

“All right,” I said.

When she turned away with a nod, though, I grabbed her wrist, drawing her gaze back to me.

“Thank you, Ren,” I said. “For everything.”

For a breath, she wordlessly stared at me, but then, one corner of her mouth lifted in a grin.

“No need to thank me,” she said. “Like you said before, you’re the one who’s lost here. What sort of woman would I be if I let you drown?”

Reversing my hold on her, she squeezed my hand before leaving, and I stared after her, rubbing where she’d touched me. Why did it feel so pleasantly warm?

Someone cleared his throat, and with a small start, I turned to the gathered men, some of whom were watching me with interest.

“My apologies for the delay,” I said. “Ren was just telling me that she’d send Captain Oswin in here, and once he’s joined us, we can begin.”

Crossing his arms, Gistrick said, “Are you sure you want him here? He is a spy, after all.”

Someone must have gotten around to telling him that piece of information. I wondered if he’d raised this protest due to disgruntled feelings over the delay or the typical distrust that common soldiers had for spies.

“While he may be a spy, Oswin has also been appointed as my bodyguard,” I said. “Considering the close proximity to me that this position requires of him, he’ll find out what I mean to tell you sooner rather than later. Why not include him?”

No need to mention that he’d already heard the news I meant to share. As if to emphasize my point, the spy effortlessly strolled through the maze of crates as I finished speaking.

“Find out what exactly?” he asked.

Somehow, I kept from laughing at his display of ignorance, gesturing to Rhylix instead.

“As many of you already know, Rhy left to scout the surrounding terrain after we arrived here,” I said. “He’s recently returned, and given the news he brought with him, I thought it best for us to gather so that he could share.”

And I stepped aside. Rhylix and I had agreed that he should repeat his initial report to these people, letting his in-person perspective add to the urgency of our situation. He, however, refused to come down from his crate, instead making himself more comfortable on top of it.

“First of all, a small matter of business,” he said. “Everyone here knows I hail from Auden now, yes?”

Everyone nodded, of course. This was one of the few secrets I’d pulled out of him long enough ago for it to have filtered to the rest.

“Good. Then, I expect no one to question how I know about these things.”

Hopping to the ground, Rhylix started rearranging things on the table.

“For the most part, we have nothing to worry about right now,” he continued. “By a stroke of luck, we’ve landed in the middle of the Cerrin Forest, the only uninhabited portion of Auden’s west coast. At least, it’s uninhabited besides the occasional rebel or solitary survivor.”

And Tiro, of course, but considering the town was hidden on the eastern fringe of the forest, I couldn’t fault Rhylix’s omission of it.

“Unfortunately, we do have one, massive problem.”

Having placed a map of Auden so that it faced the others, Rhylix rested a finger on a point to the south of us, although still barely within the forest’s reach.

“A fort lies here, name of Da’kul,” he said. “The Enforcer of this region makes this place his home, and before you ask, all of you know who he is. You’ve each met him at least once.”

At that, the others stiffened while my father rested his hand on the ring around his waist.

Licking his lips, he said, “Teron?”

With a nod, Rhylix said, “And that’s not the worst of it. Because of our activities in Ada’ir, he’s been aware of our impending arrival for quite some time and has prepared accordingly. He’s gathered a significant force, one that was sent to meet us in battle on the morning after I escaped the fort. Given that this was a little over a week ago and considering the average march time of such a large army, I’d say that it’s within three days of getting here.”

Finished, my friend made way for me, and as I approached the table, I leaned on it. Resting my fingers on the map’s edge, I did my best to ignore how badly my guts had coiled on themselves.

“This is what we know,” I said. “The enemy’s numbers are around nine thousand strong. Their ranks are made up of mostly Kiraak, which I’ll have Rhy explain in a moment, but so far as we know, they’re not bringing siege engines with them, just troops. We’ll have to send out scouts to verify this and check if they claim a cavalry division, but that’s for later. Given this, here is what I propose we-”

“Nine thousand?” Gistrick interrupted with a strangled voice. “How the hell are we to stand against that? Our numbers stand at…”

When he paused to consider, Oswin helpfully stepped into the silence.

“Five thousand, two hundred, and thirty-five,” he said. “That’s counting everyone with a passing ability to fight, though. The number of our competent soldiers is probably lower.”

Gistrick wildly gestured at Oswin as if the spy had proven a point.

“They outnumber us nearly two to one!” he said. “Alouin above, I hate to suggest it, but we should consider splitting up. We can regroup later.”

“And where, exactly, would we do that?” Eledis calmly rebutted. “Save for Rhylix, none of us know about this land. If we split up, we’re liable to end up indefinitely scattered in the wind instead.”

“So, what do you think we should do?” Gistrick snapped.

Shrugging, Eledis clasped his elbows.

“We run, yes, but as a cohesive unit,” he said. “That will gain us time-”

“Not enough of it, though. You know that, Eledis,” Marcuset interrupted. “Running will only tire the troops out.”

As Eledis glared at his friend, my father lifted a finger from his crossed arms.

“Probably not the best idea, but could we cross the Narrow Sea again?” he said. “We could garner support from the Southern Kingdoms before trying this once more.”

This idea had Eledis scoffing while Gistrick laid a hand on my father’s shoulder.

“My friend, you spent a lot of time in the Southern Kingdoms back in the day,” he said. “Do you really think that any of them will help us?”

“Not to mention how much time we’d waste by doing that!” Eledis said.

Bristling, my father started defending his point, and I wondered if I could bring this meeting back under my control. As I’d watched them arguing, I hadn’t been able to move, frozen in place first by their strong reactions and then, by uncertainty. How could I get them to listen?

When Oswin nudged me, I glanced at him, hoping he didn’t see how wild my eyes must look.

“You can do this,” he said. “Go on.”

He inclined his head toward the map, and I took a deep breath.

“I wasn’t finished,” I said.

But they paid me no heed, getting increasingly upset.

“Louder, sir,” Oswin said. “Like their opinions don’t matter.”

Because in this instance, those opinions weren’t supposed to matter. So, straightening, I squared my shoulders and bellowed.

“I’M NOT FINISHED!”

On the tail end of this, a knife sailed between me and Oswin, impaling itself in the middle of the table, and this display, along with my ringing voice, effectively shut everyone up. As Rhylix retrieved his knife, returning to a seat on his crate, I made sure to catch each gaze of the men here.

“We’re not crossing the Narrow Sea. We’re not splitting up, and we are most certainly not running.”

Even I was surprised by how firm I’d sounded there. Damn, that statement had brooked no argument. Hopefully, I could keep it up.

“What we will do is stand and fight,” I continued. “Now, as I was saying, if we position-”

“Forgive me, sir, but are you fucking serious?” Gistrick interrupted. “We’d have to be insane to face such an overwhelming army when we have other options.”

“And what are those other options?” Marcuset said.

“Run! Live to fight another day!” Gistrick said. “You said it yourself months ago, Raimie. Sometimes, that’s all you can-”

Unable to hold myself back any longer, I slammed my hands on the table, making the others jump. I kept my eyes fixed on the map, carefully enunciating each syllable as I spoke.

“I would appreciate it if I could finish a single thought without interruption.”

Lifting my gaze, I fixed Marcuset and Gistrick with it.

“For having sworn your fealty to me, you two have shown me little respect. I’ve come to expect such treatment from my family but from two successful military commanders? You surprise me. You should know the concept of a chain of command better than this.”

With a laugh, Gistrick said, “You’re pulling rank now? After all this time?’

As he continued to chuckle, I waited for his mirth to run out, unceasing in my stare until he fell silent.

“No. I’m not pulling rank,” I said. “The lack of insignia on my collar should make it obvious that I don’t have one. I am your king. I am above rank.”

Blanching, Gistrick gave a slight nod, and when I turned to the other three, they watched me with unreadable expressions in place.

“Can I expect any further interruptions from you, or may I continue unimpeded?”

None of them moved, seemingly locked in place, until Oswin cleared his throat.

“You appear to have their attention, sir,” he said, “which they really should have given to you from the beginning.”

Ok. Maybe it was time to let up a little. Even as I did so, though, I was afraid my legs would buckle without anything to support them. I’d never been so assertive before. I wasn’t sure I liked it.

“Yes, well,” I said. “I suppose I’ll forgive them for it this once since I haven’t been acting the way I should until now. That will have to change. For now, though, it can wait.”

Ignoring the others’ stares, I pulled another map from beneath the one Rhylix had been using.

“As you may have noticed, I’ve been working with a mediator from a nearby city. Her name is Ren,” I said. “She’s working to secure us a place of refuge, somewhere we might hide until this enemy army loses interest in us, but given her people’s disposition toward us, I find it unlikely that her efforts will succeed. Due to this scenario, I’ve been forming several battle plans over the last week, all while hoping we wouldn’t need them, and based off of Rhy’s provided intelligence, I’ve chosen the one that we’re most likely to live through.”

Pausing, I pointed at the edge of my new map, one that displayed a close-up view of our current position.

“We’re situated here, on the beach, with a dense forest to one side of it and cliffs on the other. This beach rises at a nice incline for a couple of miles before leveling off.

“Rhylix has assured me that the enemy is unlikely to approach us from the forest. He says that the Kiraak, which make up a majority of their army, do everything possible to avoid such wealthy examples of life, and given how empty the forest has been in the week I’ve explored it, I’m inclined to believe him. In addition, Ren has confirmed that rebel fighters from Tiro have been keeping the woods cleared of Kiraak for years, leading to a fear of it among them.

“Given this, Teron will likely have his army advance from the east, having had them pass along the other side of the nearby mountains to get here. They’ll approach through the deforested land between the forest and cliffs. I’ve already sent several scouts to confirm this.

“So, what I’m proposing.”

Retrieving a green token, I rested it on the map.

“We send a unit of our best archers into the cliffs, there to hide until the enemy army has passed them. Once it has, they will rain hell on our foe while they approach the beach. Hopefully, these archers will draw their stragglers away as well.”

I placed a larger token on the marked beach.

“Meanwhile, we leave a nominal force here to lure the enemy in. It will need to be large enough to allay Teron’s suspicions of a trap while not dragging too many soldiers away from our main host. Say, fifteen hundred or so. Having some Esela among them would be helpful as well, as their illusions can swell this token force’s ranks.

“Eventually, the enemy will charge, and when that happens, this unit will break rank, retreating along the coastline toward the forest. Once they’re clear, sailors on our remaining ships will use our cannons to decimate the Kiraak.”

After scattering a few red tokens across the beach, I rested my hands on it, hanging over the map.

“Now, to this point, the rest of us will have been waiting, hiding in the forest’s eaves, but with the enemy drawn in, we’ll charge, flanking them. If we continue pressing them between our blades and our cannons, we may have a chance.”

Pushing off of the table, I folded my arms behind my back.

“Questions? Comments? You’re welcome to voice your thoughts now.”

The others, however, refused to say a word. Some of them scanned the map while at least one just looked at me, and I fought to keep still.

“How in the void did you come up with this?” Marcuset eventually asked, breaking an uncomfortable silence.

With his question, one discomfort got traded for another, but I couldn’t display how unsure I was of this plan. Gods, why would I, an ignorant teenager, think that I could devise a working battle plan?

Forcing calm into my voice, I said, “Over the last few months, my lessons with Ferin and Eledis have covered many topics, to be sure, but strategy and military history were among them. In addition, while I stayed in Daira at Queen Kaedesa’s behest, I devoured the books in her library, getting through a good portion of them before we left the capital.

“All of you know that my memory is… unique, we’ll call it. I find it difficult to forget anything I’ve read, and while that doesn’t always mean that I’ve absorbed a finished book’s contents, I can retrieve it in exacting detail after I’m done. For the last week, I’ve spent far too long reviewing these resources to create what I’ve presented to you, not that I should have to explain myself. My question was on my plan’s merits, not my methods of concocting it.”

After an awkward pause, Marcuset nodded.

“I can accept that. Please forgive me if I caused offense,” he said. “As for what you’ve asked, this plan…”

Falling silent, he again examined the map while the rest of us waited. After all, Marcuset was the most successful commander among us.

“It could work,” he finally pronounced with only the barest hint of surprise in his voice. “If you’re willing, I’d like to modify it a little. For instance, I’m not sure that we can use the ships’ cannons if we leave them in place. We couldn’t get those boats in range of the shore, but I can easily fix that problem.”

Waving a hand over the table, I said, “Have at it. What about the rest of you? Any thoughts?”

Clearing his throat, Oswin waited for acknowledgment before speaking.

“Could you tell us about the Kiraak, sir? You said you’d explain.”

“Right.”

I rubbed my eyes while shaking my head.

“Can’t believe I forgot,” I said before dropping my hand. “Rhy, would you mind?”

As I stepped aside, I was more than happy to fade into my friend’s shadow, but again, he didn’t move from his crate. Having begun playing with a knife while I’d been speaking, he continued flipping it through his fingers as he explained.

“Before I begin, you need to understand something. In this land, Doldimar is the embodiment of evil incarnate,” he said with his eyes fixed on the knife. “With me having said that, perhaps you can fully grasp what I mean when I share that the Kiraak are Doldimar’s children.”

My father shivered at that, but the others seemed unaffected. Knowing what I did now, I found their stoicism foolish.

“Several times a year, Auden’s overlord Harvests the many towns and villages in his domain. In doing so, he rips lovers apart, tearing children from parents, and… well. Suffice it to say that this is where Kiraak come from. Where before they were human and Esela, after coming under his ministrations, they become…”

As Rhylix glanced up, searching for words, he stopped spinning his knife.

“…corrupted,” was what he decided on.

With a sharp nod, he sheathed his knife, dropping from the crate to approach the table.

“This is mostly irrelevant for you, though,” he said. “What you need to know is that the Kiraak are nearly invincible. If you stab one in the heart, it’ll just keep coming. To kill one, you must behead it or hack it to pieces, but in combat, that second option is virtually impossible.”

Rhylix paused, presumably to allow questions, and frowning, my father took the given opportunity.

Slowly, he asked, “If this is true, then what’s the point of the cannons and archers during the proposed battle?”

This was where I stepped in again.

“The archers will aim for the eyes, when possible. A blind Kiraak won’t do the enemy much good before we eliminate it. Besides, their job will be to goad, not kill,” I said. “As for the cannons, do you really think that a shot from one would do anything less than dismember their targets? Even if they can’t cause such damage, the same concept would apply. We cripple the enemy as much as possible before facing them in combat.”

Giving me an approving look, my father said, “You’ve thought this through.”

I tried not to let that praise go to my head. He didn’t know how much I’d been obsessing over this plan recently.

“I’m glad you think so,” I said, “and I know that the added difficulty of killing Kiraak might make my plan even more unfeasible, but still, this is our best chance. We should fight. We should show Teron and everyone else in Auden that we’ll do what we must to accomplish our goals here.”

For some reason, this had everyone but Eledis smiling at me. My grandfather kept his scowl, but I’d expect nothing else from him.

“Again, I’m reminded of why I swore my fealty to you,” Marcuset said. “Not only are your convictions admirable, but you’re motivated and extraordinarily talented too.”

“Did you expect anything less that brilliance from him, Commander?” Oswin said. “Always, Raimie has astounded and amazed, or don’t you remember?”

Marcuset made a face at him while Gistrick laughed, and all the while, I kept my unease off of my face. I had no fucking clue why these men had such confidence in me, and I wasn’t looking forward to the day when I failed them.

“Well!” Marcuset soon exclaimed. “Now that we have a workable plan, we should discuss its details. If my king approves, of course.”

Waving at him, I said, “Please. Go ahead.”

Which was enough for them. They crowded around the table, and satisfied that I was no longer needed, I tried to relax. Given everything that was coming, I knew that accomplishing this task would be a struggle, one that would be almost as intense as what had happened over the last quarter hour.

Still. At the moment, it was all I could do.