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‘We send part of our elite hawks to stop any further raids, but that will mean splitting the forces faithful to us.’
‘Then let’s do it,’ Killen murmured. ‘Have a small army contingent ready to defend any vulnerable eyries, towns and cities on Kassian’s path. Kione, you’re best to lead this charge. The rest will remain here, with Kaxim, to continue training and amassing recruits for war. Also, do we have anyone who can infiltrate Kos whisper-quiet to listen in to what’s going on in court and amongst the noble houses? Someone high-krest enough to have eagle-sight into what they’re scheming?’
‘A cuckoo strategy,’ Kione said.
Killen nodded. ‘Something like that.’
‘Not half bad,’ Kaxim conceded. ‘We may already have a songbird in the cuckoo’s nest. I’ll reach out to them.’
Killen shrugged. ‘Good. Who else do we need to look out for?’
Kaxim indulged him. ‘The Kythnians.’
Killen aside a brow. ‘The sage medics? My mother and I were to visit them to help restore our sight until we connected with the SHärd. What of them?’
‘They’re not only medical specialists but also scientists and Katánian by origin,’ Kaxim said. ‘They are the descendants of an eyrie that was one of the first when our people moved into the sector from beyond the veil. They cleaved from us planet-bound locals to create a high-tech mage society that lives on the moon of Kythnia.’
‘They embraced technology while the Kíríga and his Council rejected it,’ Killen said.
‘Naam,’ Kione confirmed. They are much superior to Katáne in that regard. Apart from the Kogun, they helped us develop our warbirds, the ships your grandfather used for marauding throughout the sector. Since then, they left us alone—until they got super ticked off by your grandfather’s threats a few years ago to ‘take back’ their territory. Rumour has it they’ve far more advanced weapons ready to fight back if attacked.
‘Fokk me,’ Killen said drily.
‘Fokk us all if we don’t find a way to make peace with them,’ Kaxim clipped. ‘We’re engaged in battles on every front, and the last thing we need is their lunar firepower raining down on us.’
‘Agreed,’ the Král-In-Waiting growled.
‘For now, we must focus on making you the spearhead for the army. That’s what will conquer this war despite our shit numbers,’ Kione growled, his usually smiling visage grave with concern.
Killen jerked his chin in agreement. ‘Heard the saying, ‘We, the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful? You’ve done so much for so long with so little that we can now do anything with nothing.’
The Kíríga let his words sink in for a moment before continuing. ‘What’s the plan to ramp me up?’
‘Here’s what we’re proposing,’ Kaxim said. ‘First, we have to appraise your combat capability. Your ability to wield your sab?r koya is the one thing that’ll win over any doubters.’
‘How so?’
‘In disguise as my apprentice, you’ll join the kambí’s warrior training to assess your form and tweak your skills. Next, we’ll get you into sparring matches with our elite sab?r warriors. Once you demonstrate your prowess, we’ll reveal you are the rightful Kíríga. With your hawkstone laid bare and your proficiency is proven, you’ll acquire the unilateral support to either march on Kassian or meet him in the battle to halt his advance.’
‘I think I can hold my own,’ Killen murmured.
Kaxim and Kione exchanged glances. He caught onto their hesitation.
‘You don’t think so? I’m no prodigy with a sword, but I’ve spent more than a decade learning the ways of the koya wielding from my mother in Devansi. I can also draw on the knowledge within this not-so-secret inheritance of a hawkstone. To gain the required fighting skills from the Kings whispering into my thoughts every freakin’ day.’
Kaxim pursed his lips. ‘Not enough Kíríga. Sab?r Hawk combat has come a long way since the KiaMalkia was on Katáne and since the ancients as well. It’s faster, more brutal and more lethal than she taught you. I witnessed you fight Tempest Light and -,’
‘And you think I require some serious brushing up on my competency,’ Killen interjected.
‘Something like that,’ Kaxim conceded. ‘Respectfully, of course.’
Killen stood for some time looking at the ranges beyond, then tracking his eyes to the city, his hands crossed over his chest. In time, he stirred. ‘If this is the way, then so be it.’
‘Anything else we need to discuss?’ Kaxim growled.
Killen almost said something but bit his lip.
Wanting to share the one other unknown factor.
