Venser begrudgingly nodded after a pause.
“I am not politically linked to Saeren. There will be no backlash if I go in alone, whether I succeed or... not. You lose nothing.”
“Except a brother,” muttered Verin.
“And you’ll both be happier for it, no doubt.”
“Don’t joke about this, Leo.”
Leander swallowed and bowed his head. When he looked up to meet Verin’s pale blue gaze, he was anything but jesting. “Work it out for yourself, Verin. This is the most viable option.”
From his position, over Verin’s shoulder, Venser nodded, a small smile on his expression that Leander thought might even indicate pride.
Verin started speaking to other members of their group, evidently looking for other options. A few of them provided suggestions but they were half-baked and, in Leander’s limited experience with strategies, doomed to fail.
“Verin, please,” he whispered his words, but everyone fell silent anyway. “I can do this. I have to do this. My mess, remember? Just let me try.”
They stared at each other, Leander bobbing his head, his expression steely.
The Talius scion sighed. “Okay, we do it your way, Leander.”
A grin of triumph flashed across Leander’s face before he remembered what he was supposed to be triumphant about. The smile was replaced with serious and grim determination.
“How do you want to do this, then?” Verin asked as the group, at Verin’s hand signal, started to disperse, leaving only the three brothers.
Leander shook his head. “I was thinking I would just walk into the camp and request an audience with Nevari,” he explained simply.
Verin stared. “Come again?”
“No, no, he might be on to a good plan here,” Venser interjected.
“No, it’s a ridiculous plan, and you know it.”
“He has divinity on his side, even if it’s just the chance to meet him, Nevari is a pious man, far more pious thanJarryn. He will not have Leander killed without at least speaking to him.”
“Exactly,” Leander agreed, bolstered by his brother’s support.
“Gods protect you in this folly, Leander. Because we certainly can’t,” Verin said finally after much watchful deliberation.
“I’ll be fine.”
“You’d better be.”
“Right, I have a vague plan,” Venser said, and the three bowed heads to discuss and agree on various eventualities and their individual roles in this ill-fated rescue mission.
They concocted a plan to enter the enemy’s haphazard camp, leveraging each of their unique skills and expertise. Venser, with his knowledge of the land as well as military prowess, mapped out the best route for Leander to take, while Verin, an expert in diplomacy, provided a quick and disorganised attempt at schooling Leander on what to say.
Fuelled by determination, Leander didn’t need weeks of preparation to be ready. He was a master of deception, and knew this was an all or nothing mission with any number of possible outcomes, only one of which was favourable. He had to succeed.
With their combined efforts, the three brothers crafted a daring scheme that held the promise of succeeding against all odds.
“Once you locate Jarryn, have him send a signal using Aesthesia, Venser will sense it, and we will arrange an extraction. Yes?”
Leander nodded his understanding.
“And remember, the key to infiltration is confidence.Act like you belong there. You are the son of a goddess, don’t forget that,” Venser added softly.
“Everything you know as a divine being, even if you don’t have your powers now, led you to this moment. You have skills of deceit and deception, put that silver tongue to good use and it will see you right. Nevari will want to meet you and once you have gotten your audience, do not let him cowl you—he is a king, but he is young and inexperienced… and you know better than anyone how susceptible he is to your suggestion.”
