Reluctantly, Noah lowered the sword. He glanced at the sibyl. “This missing Roseblood—can they be used to resurrect Elowyn and Analise?”
Aurelia released a breath. “Yes.”
“If this person were found and killed,” said Gideon, “could Cressida use her own blood to cast the spell?”
Aurelia shook her head. “It’s an Arcana spell—it requires the blood of a close family member. A parent, child, or sibling. But it isn’t just blood that’s demanded, it’slife. The spell requires the kin’s life be sacrificed in exchange for the resurrection of the dead.”
“So if Cressida used herself as the blood sacrifice, she’d die in the process.”
Aurelia nodded.
“In other words: if this missing Roseblood were disposed of before Cressida found her, Cress wouldn’t be able to cast the resurrection spell.”
“That’s correct.”
Gideon looked to Noah. Aurelia had just made it clearGideon’s plan was the best one they’d come up with. Noah had no choice but to concede.
The Good Commander nodded to the guards still pinning Meadow. The moment they let go, the girl ran for her mother, locking her little arms around the witch’s neck. Despite her chains, Aurelia hugged her child tight, forming a protective shell around her.
Harrow stepped forward, walking a slow circle around the chained witch. “We know Soren has given Cressida an army. What we need are numbers. How many ships, soldiers, and artillery does she have at her disposal?”
Gideon remembered the steamships sailing into Caelis’s harbor.
“Eleven ironclads, nine gunboats, and seven troopships,” said Aurelia. “Plus thousands of well-armed soldiers.”
It would be more than enough to take the capital by force.
Harrow glanced at the Commander and nodded, as if the sibyl was indeed verifying the information delivered from her contact.
“And the terms of the alliance?” asked Noah.
“Once Soren’s army helps Cressida take the capital, the prince will marry Rune Winters. If the wedding does not take place as promised, Soren will retract his men, artillery, and ships, leaving Cressida to fend for herself.”
Gideon watched as Aurelia hummed a familiar lullaby against her child’s cheek, trying to calm her. It was the same lullaby his mother once sang to him and his siblings, frightening away their nightmares, soothing them when they were sick.
He shook the thought away.
This witch was nothing like his mother.
A soldier crouched in front of Aurelia, whose arms tightened around her child. The song in her throat quieted and her lipscurled in a snarl, like a she-wolf ready to tear out his throat if he came any closer.
“Captain Sharpe.” Noah’s voice pierced the silence, forcing Gideon’s gaze to the Commander. “Soren’s ships may have already disembarked from the Continent. If so, they will be here in three days. In order for your plan to work, we need to get a message to the prince, and have the Crimson Moth ready to hand over when he arrives. I’m therefore giving you two days to come through on your promises. If the Crimson Moth slips through your fingers once again, I’ll have to assume it’s intentional.Two days. Understood? If you fail, you’ll be accused of sympathizing with witches and put in a cell to await execution.”
Execution.
The word rang through him like a gunshot.
But could he do it in two days?
Did he have a choice?
Gideon steeled himself. “You must let me work unhindered. I need your complete trust, even if it looks like I’m compromised. To get the information we need, I must convince Rune I’m on her side. No sending soldiers to search my apartment or arrest me. No interference whatsoever.”
The Crimson Moth could not expect an ambush, or she would outmaneuver them.
Noah slit his eyes. “Fine. Agreed.”
“Great,” said Gideon, flatly. “Now, if someone wouldn’t mind releasing me”—he held out his manacled fists—“I’ll escort the sibyl back. I have a few more questions for her.”
