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“A very small one. She would have to be patrolling the section I worked on and I don’t see that happening. According to the servants, Margetta rarely left the fortress itself. She spent most of her time either with her husband, Gustave, or working in her chambers below ground. Although, there was some talk she’d built a communication network similar to your centers, one in each realm.”
At that, Ian scowled. “Are you saying somewhere in Camberlaune, the woman operates a center of her own?”
“I think so, but I don’t know how sophisticated her system would be. Remember, this was fortress gossip.”
Of everything Ian had ever heard about Margetta, including her ability to organize the Invictus into a fighting army, centers of operation in each realm disturbed him. Margetta had tremendous natural powers and all the fae gifts including mist-making spells and enthrallment. But these alone wouldn’t command the Nine Realms as a whole. Communication centers, however, were a different matter and spoke to the woman’s long-view.
“Sweet Goddess.” He felt his heartbeat drumming in his neck. Now was the time to do battle against the woman’s ruthless ambitions. He’d never been more certain of anything in his life or more confident in the nature of his plans.
Regan was right to tell him to trust his gut. Everything she’d said supported both his timing and the way he wanted to handle the upcoming engagement.
His battle energy vibrated down his arms, ready to explode from his hands. He needed to dial it down, but a sense of urgency was on him.
He drew Regan close to his side once more and contacted Ben telepathically.
Hey, Ben responded. Good to hear from you. Everything okay?
Yes, absolutely. Then he concocted his lie. I have Regan with me and we’ve been working the mist but not having a lot of success yet. Regan will keep trying. Are you at the Communication Center?
I am.
How’s the Invictus activity so far?
Very low, but I have squads scattered all over the realm.
These were Ian’s standard orders. Good. Excellent.
What’s going on, Ian? You seem different.
Shit. A minute out of the gate and already Ben could tell something was up. He wasn’t much for dissimulation anyway.
For another few seconds, he debated bringing Ben in on his plans. He trusted Ben with his life. He always would.
But given he was in the Communication Center with a number of ears ready to listen in, Ian retreated back to his original intention of keeping his plans hidden from everyone.
Answering Ben’s question, he said, It’s having a blood rose. I’m revved up because I’m out of pain.
I can only imagine. Ben was a mastyr and had lived for almost as many centuries as Ian with chronic blood starvation and the accompanying constant discomfort.
Are the troops out at the usual locations?
By the book.
Ian began to breathe a little easier. He wouldn’t have to hunt his men down; he knew where the squads would be. I’ll be roaming the realm tonight with Regan in tow. We’ll probably drop down to Winnick for a midnight meal. Other than that, path me if you need me.
Will do.
He felt Ben end the communication.
Mentally, Ian laid out the same grid of Camberlaune as at the center. Having preset points of arrival and set areas for hunting for Invictus sign would make Ian’s job of reaching each squad a much simpler task.
Regan suggested she use her cell to map the misted area and create specific geographical points for each squad. She had strong homing abilities, as he did, so he knew she’d get the coordinates right.
With his plan in place, he headed to the closest region first, which was the long stretch of foothill communities at the base of the Dauphaire Rim. The Rim was the place where the mountains dropped five-hundred feet to the Leberion Plain.
When he found his first squad of eight, he addressed the team. “I have a recon mission for you at three o’clock. We’ve sighted an Invictus outpost near the location Mistress Regan will provide you. The area is hidden behind a shielding mist, but the Ruby Fae,” here he inclined his head to Regan, “will perform a spell removal function as she did for Swanicott. What we need to know is the size and dispersal of Margetta’s army camped around the Ancient Fae’s fortress. Can I rely on you for this task?”
He smiled when a shout went up. He loved the heart of the warrior, always game.
