Deckard could hardly comprehend the scene before him. His home, his city—they’d been brought low by the power of a tyrannical Mage. Lives had been lost, friends and comrades destroyed by one man’s lust for power. And Blount’s tyranny was only beginning. It would continue to spread across the land...unless someone stopped him.
“We’re here now,” Deckard said, breaking the silence. “The city has us.”
With one final scan of the distressing scene, Deckard turned his horse. They couldn’t just sweep through an entire war camp, hoping their power was enough. They’d fought innumerable Shades in the Keeps, but this was different. There were nine of them against thousands, non-magical and Mage, all at once. They’d have to sneak into the city, find Blount, and kill him to regain control.
The others followed Deckard back into the trees. “How do we stop him?” Thom asked.
“He’ll be in the palace,” Deckard said, “setting up his reign.”
“All right,” Thom dismounted beside him, “but you can’t just walk in.”
Deckard stepped up to the tree line, observing the city. The stone walls showed minimal damage despite the weapons of war. He wondered if Blount’s Mages had negated the need for such tactics, the weapons’ presence perhaps a mere show of force. Though the road to the city gate was open, no one was entering or exiting.
“It seems Blount has shut down travel,” he noted.
“I bet he’d let us in,” Rafferty snarked.
“I imagine he would,” Vayden said. “But I don’t think surrendering is our best option.”
Brea pointed to the gate. “Is that the only entrance?”
“No,” Deckard said. “There are two more gates to the east and west leading to the farms and ranches.”
“Amid those houses?”
“Yes.” Deckard gestured to the two districts in turn. “Those are the lands allocated to the farmers and ranchers. They’re far less populated than the inner city.”
Brea nodded. “There’s nowhere to hide at either gate, is there?”
“No.”
“Sneaking in isn’t going to be easy,” she said. “But it could be done...by the right people.”
Deckard turned to her, expectant.
Brea held his gaze, stoicism on her face. “Rafferty, Ethenn, and I could slip through,” she said. “I wouldn’t trust anyone else to have the stealth for the mission.”
“What good would that do us?” Rafferty asked. “Iamincredibly fearsome, but I’m not sure the three of us alone aregoing to do much good against an army of Mages and Blount’s four Relics.”
“We could find another passage,” Brea said. “Or we could seek out the Alliance.”
“I have a question,” Ethenn interrupted suddenly.
They turned to him.
“What’s our aim here?” he asked. “Say we get inside and kill Blount. What’s next? The entire Waulden Army waits outside the gates, plus however many Mages he has at his side. Do you expect them to listen to us, to serve us?”
Ilain gave him a snide grin. “Dear, do try to remember,” her eyes sparkled proudly, “I am a goddess in their eyes. With the Relics in hand—and your generous assistance—I could wipe out each and every person who stands in our way.”
Ethenn met her gaze dubiously. “Really?”
“No matter what you think,” she said sharply, “I’m not a liar.”
Ignoring the pointed comment, he turned back to Deckard. “What is our plan after we defeat Blount? Unleashing Ilain’s wrath?”
“Hell hath no fury,” Rafferty mocked, “like Ilain Calder.”
Though Brea and Thom smirked, Deckard drew a hand along his jaw. Ethenn’s point was valid. Even if they took the palace and defeated Blount, they’d be left with an entire army to face and would already be exhausted from the battle against the now-King of Wauld.
