Page 85 of Flameborne: Fury
Ashthorn was a frigid, brutal landscape that bred resourceful, callous people. Fyrehold and the other central kingdoms had no inclination to attract Ashthorn’s wrath. Having us at their back gave them some protection against the cold, northern forces. But aligningtooclosely with Vosgaarde would pique Ashthorn’s suspicion.
And so, the political dance continued for generations.
But in recent months, the whispers had begun.
One spy claimed Draeventhall secretly schemed with Fyrehold—but was had been unable to determine whether the plan was to stand against Vosgaarde, or Ashthorn.
Another was certain Fyrehold only toyed with Draeventhall, with a plan toaidVosgaarde by providing intelligence on the plot and winning goodwill.
But then, a third suggested the rumors around Draeventhall were a distraction. That the true threat came from Fyrehold planning to take both the other central nations, to present itself as a much greater threat—or asset—to either Ashthorn, or Vosgarde.
The possibilities were as plentiful and complex as a child’s imagination—but no matter what was true, it all added up to a murky picture of political schemes and plots, without any certainty of the true heart of the threat.
The day Bren had been Chosen, I’d sent off a team to infiltrate Draeventhall to sniff out the truth of the whispers we’d heard. It was a risky strategy, breaking up established squads to select young, inexperienced Furyknights who could pass as reckless mercenaries and hopefully be snapped up the King of Draeventhall, who envied our dragon forces and held few of his own.
Unfortunately, our team’s reports were irregular, and there hadn’t yet been enough time to truly infiltrate Draeventhall’s royal society. It would likely bemonthsbefore even one of them would get close enough to real power to provide detailedintelligence of this magnitude. But in the meantime, those men were in position to be called to action if Draeventhall moved—we wouldn’t be ambushed from that quarter.
But that didn’t solve the problem that we believed there was a threat appearing to the north and west, and we were running out of time to figure out who moved against us.
Alexi was the strongest ruler in the territories, and Vosgaarde the most powerful nation. Our King had done a masterful job over the past four decades of growing our trade and keeping lines of communication open on all fronts. But even our forces couldn’t stand against an alliance if Fyrehold and Draeventhall truly allied with Ashthorn. And worse, eithernation was in perfect position to distract us from any subterfuge from the other.
Then again, could it be true that Fyrehold—its ruler an adept negotiator and political player—truly was attempting to uncover the plot, to solidify our alliance?
Everyone’speace with Ashthorn was tentative. But Vosgaarde’s brittle truce with the nation creaked under the pressure of conflicting cultures and near-equal wealth.
Given Ashthorn’s brutal landscape and position, without the aid of the central nations, they’d never reach us before we were able to turn them back.
But there was also a chance that the King of Ashthorn—referred to asAshthornin the person because the arrogant prick believed hewasthe nation—had the same reports we did that the three nations between us were building an alliance. If he believed that, he’d scheme to wait until we were locked in battle against the others, then move in behind whichever nation could overwhelm us.
Or had he somehow orchestrated this scheme to make it appear Vosgaarde should turn its defensive focus to its neighbors?
Ashthorn couldn’t conquer the other nations alone. And every ruler in the territories was aware of the ruler’s brutality and ruthlessness. No one was eager to poke that particular bear.
Alexi’s diplomacy and intelligence in reminding other nations of Ashthorn’s brutality was a safeguard for us, and incentive for our neighbors.
Or, it had been.
Had Fyrehold or Draeventhall finally been convinced to work against us?
My head spun trying to keep it all straight. We’d been debating the clues for months. But there was no longer time for speculation or investigation.
Bren had unwittingly identified a small army of warriors with Ashthorn banners on the unclaimed lands between Fyrehold and Vosgaarde. At first glance, that meant either the reports of Fyrehold’s betrayal were true, and he’d let them march across his Kingdom to reach us—a very,veryrisky proposition if those same troops decided to take Fyrehold while they were there.Or,Fyrehold remained loyal and Draeventhall had let them cross to the east, and they were now drawing north through the unclaimed lands to separate us from the aid Fyrehold would offer.
But pinning themselves between our nations? And with a small force? It made no strategic sense.
Unless they weren’t from Ashthorn at all, but another nation, carrying banners to divert attention.
The only thing we knew for certain was that whoever these soldiers were, they’d been able to keep their troops hidden, and we’d only stumbled on them in the unclaimed lands by the grace of God.
There were no answers. Except this: Thereweretroops within a day’s travel by dragon from the Vosgaarde border. Troops that at least appearedto have originated from a distant state.
While I stood there, silently considering all of this, the Captains and King’s Advisors around the table muttered, debating the options, but their conversations continued to run in circles. It was only hours until dawn and we’d made little progress.
I leaned into Alexi’s ear. “I’d request a private word when this is done,” I muttered, our pre-agreed signal to be used when others could hear us, indicating that one or the other of us was about to divert attention from the truth.
Alexi’s eyes cut to the side, to me, then back to the table. “Speak here. Your men can be trusted. And mine would go to the grave for me.”
A signal that he agreed we had reason for caution in this room.
