Page 111 of A War of Three Kings

“It is a deception.” Drake’s distant murmur cuts through the tension in the room. We all lean in toward him.

“They burn the eastern villages to draw our attention.” Zinnia’s toneless voice is a little louder. “Three warbands. A party of thirty soldiers on horseback in each.”

My heart clenches painfully as sorrow floods me. The people of those villages have no training, weapons or warning, and the townships are so far apart in that region that they would have no chance of grouping together.

“The main army is attempting to pass us without our detection,” Drake intones. “To take a strategic position and wait in the North, then muster more forces from the South. Many in their command are speaking of it.”

“Do you know where they are heading?” My father’s knuckles turn white where he grips the edge of the table.

“No.” Drake’s eyes move rapidly beneath his closed lids, as though he is scanning something. “A fortress. One that is both near and unoccupied. In ruins.”

My father glances at Lord Adalwolf, then to me.

“Wenchwick Hold,” I say, and Adalwolf nods in agreement. “It has to be the remnants of Wenchwick Hold. The outer wall and the moat are still intact, even if the main building is not.”

“It was never repaired after the fae destroyed it and slaughtered the human occupants in the Great War, if I remember correctly.” Lord Tomas tries to send Aldrin an accusatory glare, but shrivels up as soon as their eyes meet again.

A strong temptation overwhelms me to pluck the apple out of Caitlin’s hands and throw it at his head, but she is constantly hungry because of her pregnancy and I wouldn’t deprive her of food.

“Sure. Hold us personally responsible for something our ancestors did five hundred years ago.” Aldrin turns his back onthe man, facing me. “How long would it take the enemy to get there? The last thing we need is a pincer attack between two forces.”

“It’s a three-day ride from here, unencumbered.” I glance at Lord Adalwolf, who agrees.

Aldrin doesn’t take his eyes off me.“Drake, where is the army now?”

“Recouping, just south of here,” Drake murmurs. “They will take a route that swings far to the west, circumventing the city, believing we look east.”

“It is settled, then.” My father drains the wine from his goblet. “We travel north to harry the main army and pick them off before they can reach Wenchwick Hold.” He slams the cup back down and the sound echoes through the room.

“We do not have enough soldiers! They bested us when we had an entire fortress.” Lord Tomas glances around the room, and my stomach sinks as others mumble their agreement.

“They merely outsmarted us,” Caitlin snaps, pointing at him with the blade she is using to cut her apple. “But they have played their hand now and we know what we are dealing with. There will be no time for them to tunnel or set up explosives if we catch their tail immediately.”

Icy dread runs through me at the idea of another battle.

Aldrin and Cyprien whisper beside me, then Aldrin ventures, “We can pledge more fae.”

Cyprien scrutinizes each person around the table before elaborating. “When I left my realm, Lord Cedar agreed to muster one hundred fae to cross into this land to join the war, held in reserve. If we force a battlefield of our choosing, I can meet you upon it with reinforcements.”

“And what would this Lord Cedar want in compensation for his help?” Lord Bradford asks.

“Lord Cedar is a shrewd businessman.” Cyprien raises his hands out to his sides. “The mere opportunity to negotiate with humans would be enough for him. Besides, he will take any opportunity to get himself back into Lord Aldrin’s graces.”

The gazes of the lords and countess fly straight to Aldrin, as if realizing for the first time that he is a powerful man in his realm. My heart flutters at some of the appraising looks he receives.

“If you are inviting in more fae, make sure they have water magic.” My grandmother’s voice has us all turning in our seats as she enters the room late with a druid in tow. She pins a hard gaze on him. “Tell the council what you told me.”

The druid wrings his hands as his eyes dart from one noble to another. “I have been testing the muskets and black powder taken from the enemy. We found the guns do not fire when the black powder in their barrels gets wet. The same applies to their bombs. It is very interesting alchemy.”

“That is enough, Goddrick.” My grandmother snaps her fingers at him and points to the door. “We will find you if we have more questions.”

She takes the empty seat beside my father while the druid scurries out.

“Now, Aldrin, you spoke of bringing in more fae?” she says. “There are hidden portals to the fae realm a day’s ride from Wenchwick Hold. They can be used to get the new recruits into position before the battle.”

We spend an age mapping out battle tactics. How we will harry the enemy until they fall into the exact valley we select for the fight, carefully planning the three attack forces we will squeeze them between and the line of retreat to the south we want to force them down.

A heavy fatigue falls upon all of us as the meeting draws to a close, the details of our next attack firmly set. Many start to rise as my father finally clears his throat. My heart begins torace, because I know exactly what he is going to say. It was a passionate conversation with him, to say the least, to get him to accept and agree to this.

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