Page 89 of Veinblood
“We have it.” Corwin’s quiet voice cuts through the tension. “We’ve been watching their movements for years. Guard rotations, patrol routes, supply schedules. We know them all because we’ve had to, just to survive living under their eyes.”
Relief makes me lightheaded. They’re not dismissing my idea. They’re considering it.
“It wouldn’t be difficult to identify the weak points in their defenses,” he continues, moving to spread a more detailed map across the table. The parchment crackles as he unrolls it, revealing Ashenvale in detail. “The question is whether we have the coordination to exploit them all at once.”
I lean forward to study the map. The city is laid out in three concentric rings, with the Lirien Spire at its heart. Guard towers mark regular intervals along each wall. It looks formidable … but not impossible.
“We would need more than guard schedules.” Jorana studies the new map. “We need to know who might support us inside the city. Who remembers the old days. Which guards might turn if they knew Veinbloods have returned."
She’s talking about finding allies inside Ashenvale itself. People who remember what the city was like before the Authority claimed it for their stronghold.
“There are people who remember,” Bessa says quietly. “Those who lived through the transition. Some of them hated what they saw.”
“Sereven has increased patrols throughout the city.” Jorana’s finger traces routes on the map. “Tighter security around important buildings. More checkpoints. Ever since the proclamation was sent out confirming the Vareth’el’s existence … and yours.”
Her reminder sends a chill down my spine. The bounty. The wanted notices. But also the hope. People now know Sacha is alive and free.
“Is Sereven there himself? In the city? The last time I saw him was at Thornspire. That’s where I lost contact with Sa—with the Vareth’el.”
“He hasn’t been seen publicly, but intelligence suggests he returned to the city, yes.”
He didn’t go to Stonehaven, but returned here instead … why? Did Varam manage to get everyone out? Did Sereven find Stonehaven empty? Or did he kill everyone?I wish I had some way of finding out.
“We need to identify potential allies before we act.” Corwin’s voice drags my attention back to the discussion. “We need to know who we can trust.”
“And we have to get that information without revealing ourselves,” Jorana warns. “One wrong person, one whispered rumor, and Sereven will know we're coming.”
“I want to be a part of this.” The words leave my mouth before I can stop them, but I don’t regret saying them.
The room goes quiet again, and Vorith’s expression hardens.
“It’s too dangerous. With the bounty on your head?—”
“I know about the bounty!” My power flares, lighting up the room. Gasps echo through the crowd. I shove it down again. “I can’t just sit here while everyone else does the work. There has to be a way that I can help.”
“The risk is too great,” she insists. “If you’re captured?—”
“That isn’t going to happen.”
The silence stretches until Bessa breaks it, her voice thoughtful.
“With her power, she would be useful to have inside the city. She could send a signal to those waiting outside when we need them to act. Light that could be seen from the walls.”
“How do you smuggle someone with a price on their head into the Authority’s most heavily guarded city?” Vorith’s voice is clipped.
“The same way Corwin got her out. With her eyes shielded and identification papers.”
“Whatever it takes.” I meet each of their gazes in turn. “I won’t watch from somewhere safe while everyone else risks their lives to reclaim what belongs to Sacha.”
The debate that follows is intense but brief. Arguments about risk, about the value of having someone with my abilities inside the city versus the danger of losing me to capture. But underneath it all, I can feel the momentum building. Theywantto do this. They want to strike back. And eventually, it’s agreed that I can go.
We spend the rest of the day planning. The messengers are sent back to the settlements with instructions to bring the Veinbloods who agreed to fight back to the village.
“When do we leave for Ashenvale?” I ask during a break in the planning.
“Tomorrow morning,” Corwin replies. “Early, before the village wakes.”
Tomorrow. By tomorrow night, I’ll be back in Ashenvale, but this time as part of something larger than survival. This time I’ll be working to change everything, instead of just hiding.
