Page 69 of Season Warriors & Wolves

“Silas’s troops are still in Breshall,” Tristin said.

“Smells like a trap to me,” Mal sighed, propping his feet on the table and covering half of the map.

Caiden pushed them off, almost making him tumble over. “Or Silas could be struggling to portal them past Mahara’s channel now that Visha has lifted up her veils again.”

My brother tsked. “My muffin, Silas has plenty of men, Crafters and beasts to spare, he would not spend so much energy to bring them back to Isjord, not when he has made sure allies. They’re either hoping we would go back or are remaining there to make sure we do not. Silas brought Snow when he dealt with the princes. She knows enough to ruin his plans. He expects us to turn the tide again like we did before.”

My brother was right. Like most of the times.

“No news from Vidarr?” I asked.

“None,” Nia answered. “Not since he’d last seen the Breshall Prince meet with Isjordian Captains in the northern waters where ships are still docked.”

“One of my Skye can fly over there,” Tristin offered. “No magic they can detect.”

“Silas has been hunting us relentlessly, it would not be smart,” Caiden said. “He still has contact with the slavers who had the Olympians. They would know a trick or two to trap one of ours.”

“What about me?” Elias asked. “I can go. My magic will slip with theirs. They think I died when I set the whole eastern camp on fire.”

Caiden shook his head. “No chance in hells he has bought your death. Silas must be looking for you, too. Just as persistently. You know Isjord under and over. We can’t risk it when you’re our most valuable asset against him at the moment.”

Elias leaned back and smirked at him. “Yeah?”

Caiden blinked at him and then at all of us. “Did the Isjordian just flirt with me?”

“If you ignore it, it will go away quicker,” Visha said, not tearing her eyes off the grimoire. She was set on figuring and mastering the dream veil enough to trap either Vas or Aurora more than just a few moments.

“Bet you still see me in your dreams, V,” Elias smugly said.

“Every day I thank the dark god for giving me dreamless sleep,” she replied boredly.

Elias nodded to himself. “She definitely loves me.”

She flicked her eyes up at me, there was so much violence there that it almost made me laugh. “Do we need him whole? I can just use his brain.”

“Too much work, Visha,” Oryn said, adjusting his specks. “We’ve talked about it.”

“My death aside,” Elias said, clearing his throat. “What are we going to do with the unblessed princes? Even if the king still remains on our side like Kilian says, the Isles are a separate entity. They bow to a king, just not his rule.”

“Don’t worry,” Snow finally said, munching on the cashews Caiden had procured for her. “I’ll get them to drop father in a blink.”

“How?” Nia asked.

“You know,” my wife said, yawning and stretching in her seat. “I put a knife to their throats. Threaten their progeny and their pets, though I would rather not threaten their pets. Make them bleed a little, burn a little, cry a little, whimper a little, beg a little—”

“Sweet heavens,” Eren murmured, rubbing his temples.

Snow shrugged. “If you have a better idea.”

“We can offer them help. Shipments. Partnerships. Anything,” he replied. “Lin, it is time to make allies not enemies.”

Thora raised a shy hand and I nodded for her to speak. “I like the bleeding a little, burning a little, crying a little, begging a little idea. They are already afraid, why not use it.”

My eyes drew shut and I let out a long exhale. Not the two sisters and their capitalising endeavours.

Something touched my lip and I opened my eyes to find Snow putting a cashew on my mouth. “They are nice and salty,” she said, licking her fingertips. “Want another?”

“Is this an attempt to lower my blood pressure?”