Page 19 of A Flame of the Phoenix

“Did Rhyenelle lose many warriors in the Battle of Ellium?” Nik inquired.

Kyleer answered. “Not enough to severely dent our numbers. Given that it was an inside job, it was over before it began. Rhyenelle doesn’t earn its esteemed military reputation merely for effective training. Our city may have never fallen, but our kings have never been arrogant enough to believe it could never happen. If the city ever did fall, our armies and our armadas know where to go to await further instruction.”

Nik mulled over that information for a solitary moment.

“You’re a great leader for your people,” Nik said to her. “I must be a leader for mine too, and that includes Fenstead now. I don’t want to take away from what you need, but Tauria’s armyis among yours, and I must call for them to join me in taking back their kingdom.”

“Then we won’t be enough to take back ours,” Faythe argued.

“I’m sorry, but they’re not yours to command anymore.”

“Fenstead would have no army if it weren’t for my father. You would make them abandon Rhyenelle in its worst moment when it gave them everything during theirs?”

Nik sighed deeply. Faythe hated this tension. In this conversation, friendship had to come second to the monarchs they were.

“There has to be a way to help each other,” he said in a grumble of frustration.

Kyleer said, “I hate to admit this, but Rhyenelle isn’t under immediate threat right now. With Malin still alive, and with no one knowing of his role in the battle, our kingdom has a reigning Ashfyre, so the civilians should be safe. We don’t need our armies right now, but I’m not in favor of sending them to Fenstead without any sure strategy we’re a part of either. You’re both motivated by grief for your mates. Much as you are the queen and king of your respective kingdoms, you have to lean on our judgment for this.”

Lycus said, “I agree. Though I want to call upon every army I can to storm Fenstead for Tauria, that’s an emotional response that will lose us precious resources. Our best course of action is to continue on alone, to scout and keep checking whether she’s managed to discover anything pivotal from the inside.”

Nik wasn’t pleased with the idea, but he knew the generals were right.

Nik said, “If it’s all the same to you, we’d like to sit in on your next meeting with your generals. I figure they must be frequent while you’re figuring out your next movements.”

Kyleer nodded. “Of course. I think we could all benefit from keeping track of each other and figuring out a plan to join together again once we have Reylan and Tauria back.”

Nik slung an arm around Faythe, defusing some of the tension building in them.

“How are your abilities coming along?” Nerida asked.

“Firewielding is easy. I can somewhat Shadowport. And I think I can summon lightning now, but it’s the most unpredictable.”

“Lightning, huh?” Nik hooked a brow toward her.

Faythe twitched a smile. “A lot has changed. More than just pointy ears,” she said.

Nik’s smile widened as he flicked the tip of her ear. It triggered a smile long forgotten on Faythe’s mouth too as she batted his hand away.

“You met Zaiana again?” Nerida inquired, her interest brightening.

Faythe nodded, wondering what Nerida saw in Zaiana to think of her so fondly despite having traveled in the dark fae’s company against her will.

“The dark fae?” Nik inquired. She’d forgotten the glimpse of Zaiana she’d shown him in a memory of the fire mountains. “She’s a Stormcaster?”

Faythe supposed his wonder was justified since the ability was rare. She nodded in answer, and Nik seemed to travel somewhere with the knowledge.

“How do you harbor so many talents?” Lycus asked.

“When I feel someone’s ability, I can learn them. Some are far harder than others.”

“Like Reylan?” Nik asked.

“I can…keepthe ability,” Faythe admitted.

“Well damn,” Tarly said. “You’re a whole arsenal.”

Faythe didn’t know much about the prince, having only seen and not interacted with him during the kings’ meetings in High Farrow that felt in another lifetime now. He seemed changed from that prickly prince. Not entirely, but as though layers of him had shed since then.

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