Page 32 of The King is Dead
“I haven’t forgotten,” I told Turo tightly. “But… I am not convinced we’re there yet. I need a few more days.”
Wellhurst interjected quickly, “Ma’am, no one expects you to return to the front after what you’ve endured. Please don’t burden yourself with—”
“That’s not what I meant,” I said, trying not to clench my teeth. “I want greater clarity on what is happening among the Nephilim before we rush in.”
Of course, that just sparked the conversation back to whether or not the Nephilim were already planning their advance, or if they were consumed by the challenges for rank among their numbers.
“Do we know if they have any magik wielders among them that could detect our traps?” I asked.
“We didn’t sense wielders. But it’s entirely possible that their skills and gifts allow them to detect weaves or gifts in others, without the use of magik,” Turo said flatly.
I made a mental note to ask Melek. “So… we have an army still east of the Shadows and engaged in a great deal of in-fighting. Have our neighbors been defeated or only… subdued?”
The discussion went around and around, but in the end, it was clear to me.
I raised both hands to silence the growing debate among the men and shook my head.
“We’ve done what we can. Our neighboring nations cannot be relied on to create more obstacles. But if the Nephilim are destroying themselves anyway. I say, hold the line. Watch the Shadows. Position ourselves for conflict, but do not move on them yet. Who knows, maybe they’ll kill each other and save us the trouble.”
“But Yi—Your Majesty, if they do advance suddenly, we are allowing them to choose the battlefield.”
“How so, when the Shadows protect us?”
“We have no records of Nephilim attempting to cross the Shadows before. We don’t know if that means they have tried and were turned back, or as Shen suggested, if they’re able to fly over the mists. Who knows how high they go? Or perhaps their angelic blood gives them some other trick? In the end, we can’t know for certain if the Shadows work against them. So, I’d rather becertainthese beasts never see Theynor soil. Let’s take them out while they’re still on the edge of the swamp and their retreat is hindered.”
I sighed. “I’m not saying never, General. I’m sayingnot yet.”
Turo’s jaw flexed, and I saw his desire to argue but in the end, he nodded, reluctantly accepting the order. Which meant the others did as well.
I was glad when Wellhurst immediately engaged Turo in conversation. It gave me a moment to excuse myself and get out of the chamber.
I hurried because I needed to check on Gall and Istral while there was a little time before dinner.
I wasn’t fleeing.
10. Unknown Allies
~ YILAN ~
I managed to get out to the cottage with only a handful of guards following at a distance. I ordered them to stay outside, reminding them that there was a perimeter around this house. No one would enter or leave without being challenged. But when I reached the little house the back door was wide open, the late afternoon sun streamed in, and no one was inside.
I just stood there, breathing. Taking in silence and solitude.
And the bondthrobbed.
I put my hand to that place at my chest thatwasMelek, and just held it there, feeling him. He was foggy and unclear, but… yearning.
“Oh, my mate…”I whispered.
Then I heard a laugh in the garden outside, and then Harris’s voice raised in caution.
Leaving my hand over that spot on my chest, I took a deep breath, raised my chin, and pasted on a smile as I walked out into the garden out back.
They weren’t far from the house. I found Harris first, standing aside, just watching. She glanced at me from the side when I stepped up next to her, and we shared a warm look. She nodded towards the trees.
What I saw made my smile genuine.
My sister, in a simple cotton housedress, crouched down to examine something on the ground. Gall, still massive, and still in his fighting leathers, stood over her, his shadow shading her as much as the trees behind them. He had the handle of a wide, flat basket over his arm, and he peered down at her, curious about whatever she was doing.
