Page 101 of Silver & Smoke
Wren came forwards then, brow furrowed. ‘I remember him. Paden was the name he gave us.’
Farissa nodded. ‘That was him. His daughter made a full recovery, and he decided to switch sides. He’s working for Regent Liora now. When he heard us asking after you, he told us where you were.’
Thea clapped Wren on the back and laughed with a note of disbelief. ‘Sister, you knew what you were doing, even then...’
‘Hardly,’ Wren murmured before addressing Kipp. ‘Now, shall we talk strategy?’
Torj looked to where Kipp was standing by his horse, his expression deadly serious. ‘Absolutely.’
In Lucian’s war tent, they gathered around a map and Kipp pointed to three locations. ‘Silas has divided his forces – here, here and here. Intelligence reports that the bulk of his army fortifies the capital ruins, giving them both elevation and natural defences. But what was already our most challenging target now presents an additional complication...’
Kipp’s gaze swept across them all.
‘The silvertide roses. A field of unprecedented size stands between us and Dorinth. Make no mistake – we need both. The capital secures our military advantage and legitimizes Wren’s claim through proper coronation. The roses provide our only hope of countering the Kingsbane’s dark alchemy.’
‘So what do you suggest?’ Lord Lucian asked, eyeing the strategist with keen interest.
‘We need to lure them away from the capital,’ Kipp replied. ‘If we can draw a significant portion of his forces away from both the city and the fields...’
‘We can fight them on our terms,’ Wren finished.
‘Better yet – we might not have to fight them at all.’ Kipp’s eyes gleamed. ‘Wren’s poisoning skills give us an advantage. If we can lure them to a camp we’ve prepared...’
‘We eliminate a chunk of their army without risking our own,’ Thea said.
‘And create a gap in their defences,’ Torj added cautiously. ‘But the bait has to be convincing.’
Wren met his eyes. ‘Who better to serve as bait than the very queen they’re hunting?’
‘Absolutely fucking not.’ The words were out before Torj could stop them, sounding more like a growl than a sentence. Wren’s eyes flashed to where the poison had darkened the veins in his arms.
‘Tell us how you really feel, Bear Slayer,’ Kipp muttered.
There was a tinge of red to Torj’s vision as he stared down the strategist, fists clenched at his sides. ‘You’re insane if you think—’
‘This is happening, Elderbrock,’ Wren snapped, her tone all business. ‘I’ll lure them out with storm magic – Silas won’t be able to resist trying to capture that power for himself. He’ll send a decent force, which we can obliterate. It’s more than worth the risk, especially as we’re yet to be joined by Tver and Aveum’s forces.’
Torj’s body was tense, his fists clenching at his sides.It’s not worth risking you, he argued through the bond.
But Wren didn’t spare him another look; her gaze was fixed on Lucian Devereux. ‘I can’t ask others to risk their lives for me if I’m not willing to do the same for them.’
‘For once, Princess Elwren, we are in agreement,’ Lucian replied.
‘What happened to not risking your future daughter-in-law?’ Torj bit back. ‘It wasn’t all that long ago you were against using her “like a worm on a hook” – wasn’t that the phrase?’
Darian shot Torj a warning glance before reproaching his father. ‘Do we really think sending my bride-to-be out on her own like this is a good idea, Father?’
‘Yes,’ Lucian replied. ‘It shows your allies that she is willing toput their lives first, that she is not afraid to rise to a challenge. When I want your opinion, Darian, I’ll damn well ask for it.’
Torj’s heart hammered against his sternum as he scanned the group desperately for someone who was willing to speak up. But no one did. And he could say no more without risking the ruse between Wren and Darian.
Wren continued smoothly. ‘Zavier and Dessa can continue work on the cure in my absence. And I won’t be on my own. Kipp and Cal will accompany me.’
‘Not to state the obvious,’ Cal said slowly, ‘but you’re suggesting that only three of us take on an entire unit of Silas’s army? How?’
‘A brilliant observation, Callahan,’ Kipp said with a winning smile. ‘You leave that to Wren and me.’
‘This seems ambitious, Snowden,’ Wilder interjected. ‘Even for you.’
