“Not that. Though Astraeus’s crew is….” He paused, eyes flitting to Raek and the others bustling about. “Surprisingly honorable. I meant the soldiers. The rest of the Rising forces will be here. They know Ronan has brought you, that you’re friends. You threaten them. They could lose faith in him. He doesn’t lead by fear, and neither should you.”
I bristled at the unexpected lecture.
“I’m not their leader,” I finally said, shaking off his rough hands. “I am a weapon. And I’ll make it clear what will happen should they step out of line.”
Vulcan handed me a waterskin. “And I’ll help you,” he said, lip twitching into a hint of a grin.
My eyes softened, surprised at the sudden support.
Evony scooted to make room, and Vulcan stepped back as Tiberius stretched his massive wings before angling them back.
I grabbed a fistful of his mane as Evony wrapped her arms around my waist. That otherness I sensed since Skyscape Pass seemed to pulse as she pressed against my back. Tiberiusthundered down the center aisle, and my stomach dropped as he threw a gust of air down the deck with his mighty wings, flying past the mainsail, billowing in Astraeus’s wind.
As we neared Khasimir, a sea of Rising tents rose beyond the city. Ti banked and let the Obscura swirl from his wings into a cloud of shadows. I pushed a tendril of Transcindiel into the raw darkness, transforming pieces of it into tiny shimmering shards, reflecting off the autumn sun like a black rainbow cast across the sky as we arched around miles of Rising forces.
It had beensix months since I’d last stood in a Rising’s war tent, listening to Ronan argue with the other commanders, discussing attacks, counterattacks, and intelligence.
Apparently, the Rising commanders in the south were able to afford a more lavish camp living as I lounged in a velvet chaise in the corner of the large war tent, while Ronan and six others leaned over a detailed map of Aedrialis. Vulcan loomed in the corner a few feet from me, eyes intent on the planning taking place.
It was strange being back in Khasimir. The southern city held memories, most of which were too painful to drum up. Too warm, too nostalgic. Too many with Aeriden’s face among them. Even stranger was the absence of the reigning lord. Jon Pavel, my father’s close friend and ally, was nowhere to be found. His villa had been abandoned, and his fleet was nowhere to be seen. Lord Pavel commanded a large force of Sultiran naval ships. While my father’s value lay in his horses, Jon made himself indispensable with ships.
I wedged the tip of Honor under my fingernails, picking away the dried blood from my training session with Nerissa. Shadowsdanced along the facets of its golden gem in the dimming lantern light. We’d been in Khasimir for a week now, still arguing over the best course of attack.
“Before winter,” Ronan urged, turning toward another commander whose name I’d already forgotten.
Einar grumbled his agreement as he scanned the map.
“And then we’ll need to push north as soon as possible if the dark king is hitting Stynguard.”
My stomach pitched at the sight of those ships heading toward Sultiran shores. Of the thought of ashen being unleashed upon the university city.
“What of the king’s new city shield?” one of them asked.
I snapped my head toward the group.
“We won’t be able to take Aedrialis until we bring that down.”
“Leave the shield to me.”
I turned my attention back to my fingernails as Astraeus swaggered into the war tent. I swallowed my disgust as the leaders of the Risingbowedto him. Astraeus’s smile widened into a grin as he shook their hands. He slid his dark gaze to mine in warning before joining the others at the table.
Vienah stepped inside the tent, followed by Nerissa, Drystan, and Carina, closely guarded by Kresida. Though I didn’t particularly like the War Slayer, she had become a part of our motley group, and I enjoyed watching the soldiers flinch in her presence.
I stood, joining them at the back of the tent. Vienah slid an arm around me, giving my waist a squeeze in greeting.
“How do you intend to break the city shield? A shield that powerful… Nobody knows if it’s ever been done,” one of the men asked.
“My men have the means,” Astraeus responded. “My fleet will attack from the east. If we can get air cannons in line fromthe south on the ground as well, we should be able to take it down.”
“With what, exactly?”
“Rubellines,” Ronan responded, raising an eyebrow at Astraeus. “A type of stone that can neutralize magic. You’d need a hell of a lot to take down the city shield, though. You have enough?”
Astraeus gave a firm nod as he scratched his short beard.
“We need to be strategic with the magic wielders,” Kresida said, turning to Carina and motioning her toward the table where the men stood. “There are only six of you, and you can bet Saros will throw everything he’s got at us when we arrive at his door. What do you think, Highness? Two of you in the air, three on the ground, and one from the east?”
Carina’s brows pinched as she studied the map.
