Page 77

Chapter 22

Reynard

Three gryphons swooped down, stumbling as they landed. The lead rider leapt down and ripped off their salt-crusted visor to reveal Larena, the Wind Master’s wife. Her knees buckled, but when I rushed to help, she stopped me. Her outstretched hand trembled, but she straightened to meet my gaze as dread washed over me.

‘You must hurry,’ she croaked, taking a waterskin from my sergeant. ‘We can’t hold them off much longer.’

‘How many?’ I asked when she’d taken another drink.

‘Hundreds. Armed with ballistae. Bastards shot our gryphons.’ Her jaw tightened. The sight of this proud woman fighting tears cut deep. ‘Ectheon is burning through his Aether. My husband is dying to keep his word. Can you at least tell me you’ll win this fucking war?’

She choked on the last words, voicing the same question that had weighed on me since taking my men onto the Orcish Steppe.

‘How long do we have left?’

‘Two days at most. Some galleons have already passed the blockade. He was on his knees when I left. Your ships are waiting in Trader’s Cove. I’ll guide them to the smugglers’ island. That’s all I can do.’

‘That’s all I need. Rest, my lady. I’ll get my men ready,’ I said, turning to my adjutant. ‘Fetch the Lord Marshal and my brother.’

‘Where is the Vivamancer?’ she murmured when we were alone.

‘On her own mission,’ I answered. When her eyebrow raised, I added, ‘in Lumivitae. We found a way to shut down the pillars and the Gate. That’s her task. She’s not hiding, sheltered in the palace.’

‘I never implied she was. Lady Regnav seems to have a mind of her own,’ she said with a smirk, and I sighed.

‘She does. One day, she’ll give me grey hair.’

The fae chuckled. ‘And yet she fights her own battles. That’s why I’m guiding your men. For her.’

‘You wanted to see me?’ Ormond’s voice interrupted our conversation. I looked up at my brother, his black cloak billowing behind him.

‘Tangra arrived. Their ships have dragon ballistae.’

Orm bit out a curse, and his nostrils flared. Without Annika and Alaric at his side to keep his berserker at bay, he spent his time with Vahin. Now the gold ring of wild magic overtook his pupils.

‘How many ships?’

‘How many ships are there, or how many have ballistae?’ she asked.

‘Both. I need to know how to position the dragons.’

‘About a hundred ships; a quarter of them are war galleons able to carry a thousand soldiers. Those have ballistae. The others… I don’t know. They almost shot my gryphon before I could examine the rest.’

‘Fuck!’ Ormond’s fists tightened, and he started pacing.

‘Yes, exactly.’ I ran a hand through my hair. The strands were greasy, another unpleasant reminder of how long we’d been on the road.

‘Your Majesty?’ Ivar approached and hesitated before his brows knitted. ‘What’s happened?’

‘Tangra’s ships are almost here. Break camp. We’re leaving the moment everything’s packed. Send orcish riders to scout the way. I don’t want any surprises.’ I turned to my brother. ‘Take your dragons to the smugglers’ island. Defend it at all costs. I need a safe harbour to land in.’

They both snapped to attention just as they had during the Necromancer’s War. I huffed at the painful reminder. Once again, I led my men to slaughter.

The War King of Dagome, forever destined to fight wars not of his making.

‘Larena, when can you return to your ships? I want to set sail as soon as my men arrive.’ Ivar opened his mouth to protest, but I raised my hand. ‘They’ll rest on board. Even with Larena’s help, it’ll still be a long voyage.’

He lowered his head and stopped objecting.