Page 68 of Frost Like Night
I didn’t tell them what exactly I have to do to destroy magic. And I won’t, for as long as I can avoid it.
“We know now who has the keys,” I say, not lingering on the issue. “Angra presented them to Theron when we were in Juli. Which poses a number of problems, namely that hewantsus to know that Theron has the keys—he’s hoping we’ll try to get them. Which we have to do. We have to figure out some way to get close to Theron.”
When I finish, Caspar has a hand on his chin, hismouth pursed in thought.
“All right. We can work with that.”
“What are you thinking?” I ask.
It’s Nikoletta who answers. “According to our spies, Angra has split the armies stationed in Winter—half he sent to fortify Jannuari and half to increase protection over the Tadil Mine. Which makes sense now—he’s making sure you won’t be able to easily access the entrance. Spring’s army is at this moment marching toward Winter; the Ventrallans are boarding ships, and every missive we’ve intercepted in Summer has mentioned their own armies readying to leave. We suspect, then, that he is sending them all to focus his power in Winter.”
My mouth drops open. When Angra took Winter last time, he at least left our land empty. Now, though, he has endless resources, and he knows that the only way to stop him lies under my kingdom.
Of course the final battle against Angra would take place in Winter.
“So we turn our focus to Winter too,” I say. “But surely you can’t mean to attack him, not directly?”
Caspar meets my gaze. “Perhaps not.”
Nikoletta spins on him. “So we should let Angra gather his full strength?”
With a cocked brow, Caspar smiles. “Yes.”
“What?” I frown at him.
“We have to assume that Angra will anticipate whateverwe plan—but if weexpecthim to get the advantage, we may be able to manipulate the outcome. Once Angra’s armies are united, if we show our position, he’ll know we’re trying to draw him out on our terms. It’s a risk, but I believe Angra will come after us himself and leave Theron to deal withyou, thinking you will use the battle as cover to get the labyrinth’s keys. It’ll be a trap, but we can still control when and how it happens.”
I mull over his plan long enough that the silence in the tent tells me everyone else is too. So when I speak, I know I’m throwing yet another twist into their swirling worries. “And if I present myself as leading the army, Angra will definitely come after us himself.”
Nikoletta frowns. “Who would we send to retrieve the keys?”
“If Angra is occupied by the battle, I can use my magic to get myself and a few Winterians to wherever Theron is and then to the mine in minutes.” I find Mather on the edge of the tent. “Mather and General William will accompany me—we’ll get the keys from Theron, then instantly go to the Tadil. With a smaller group, we might even get the keys and get out before any traps can take hold.”
“Where do you think Theron will be?” Mather asks, his face blank.
Caspar answers. “We’ll have our scouts locate him for this. Though I suspect—”
“Jannuari,” I say, as if from a distance, my voice low.“Angra will put him in Jannuari.”
If Angra truly does mean to use Theron against me, he’d put him in the one place that would most thoroughly unravel me: the heart of my kingdom.
My eyes stay on Mather. This isn’t just a simple mission. This is everything I’ve been working toward from the first moment I heard of the war between our kingdoms: Angra’s defeat.
For a moment, Rares and Oana flash through my mind, and I almost ask Caspar to send a scout to Paisly. But by the time anyone could travel there and back, the war would be long over, in whatever outcome.
I shiver. It’s all happening too fast, yet too slowly.
I pivot back to Caspar and Nikoletta before glancing at Ceridwen. Their people are the ones who will suffer most in this, and though I don’t know how many warriors Autumn has in this camp, I know it isn’t nearly enough to actually win against Angra.
“As soon as the magic is destroyed, Angra will be powerless,” I assure them, unable to keep the plea out of my voice. “I’ll find the keys, then get to the chasm as quickly as I can. You won’t have to hold him off for long. I promise, I’ll make this battle as short as possible.”
With as few deaths as possible.
The thought batters at me. People will die for this. Forme.
Caspar puts his hand on my shoulder. “This war belongsto all of us. We are all well aware of what will happen if we don’t stand against Angra. You bear too much of the weight.”
I almost dissolve under his comfort. But I nod, step back, and fumble with the hem of my shirt. The threads are entirely held together by dirt now, and the distraction gives me something easy to think about.
