He could feel Riona’s hesitancy, her uncertainty, before she surprised Declán with an answer he hadn’t realized was possible but made perfect sense.
Chapter Twenty-One
RIONA HOPED TO saveDeclán’s possessed warriors if it was the last thing she did and said so to his men. Their men. She thought she would be uncomfortable talking to this lot because they were clearly seasoned warriors, but she wasn’t.
In fact, the more she talked to them, the more confident she became.
“I’m certain that everything I suggested your king build into this castle over the years,” she said, clarifying how they would be fighting with magic, “was for the sole purpose of me, my sister, and your kings defending this castle with magic without bringing harm to your possessed comrades.” She looked at Madison ruefully, who sat on Cian’s lap nearby. “Unfortunately, we likely won’t have any choice but to use magic against Raghnall’s warriors.”
Her sister nodded in agreement.
“Tell us more about how ye intend to keep our possessed warriors out of harm's way,” one of their men said, “yet use that same magic on enemy warriors fighting alongside them?”
“With help from these lower exits in the walls.” Riona pointed at the ground-level ones that had been there for years. “I believe when Madison and I use our magic from those locations, that same magic will radiate from all of the new ones. Magic that will hold them back and keep them safe.”
“How will ye know which ones are ours, my Queen?” another asked. “When ye have not been here that long.”
“Through my connection with your king.” She looked at Cian and Madison. “A connection through the mind that we all share.”
“And what of ye, King Declán?” another man asked. “Where will ye and King Cian be?”
She sensed Declán wasn’t overly pleased he wouldn’t be near her but understood they all had a role to play.
“On the battements with ye.” He nodded at his men. “Fighting alongside ye.”
Cian nodded in agreement. “As will I, although closer to the gates, lest they fall.”
Declán nodded his thanks.
“And what of yer dragon king brother?” the first warrior who had spoken wondered, eyeing the height of the surrounding walls. “What chance do we stand if he embraces his inner beast and attacks on behalf of Raghnall?” He shook his head. “I have never seen a dragon before, but folklore claims them vicious. Ruthless in their destruction.”
Riona explained how she felt that King Aodh’s dragon might be the reason for the totem. That somehow it would play a part in this. She did her best to sound confident because she knew Aodh was the most terrifying aspect of what might be raining down on them soon.
More terrifying even than Raghnall and his sorceress.
So she could only hope she was right about the totem because she didn’t want Declán and Cian having to face off with their sibling. If that happened, there could only be one outcome, and she couldn’t imagine what it would feel like taking down their own brother.
