Page 162 of Death of a Mortal

Drayce read through it twice before crumpling the small scroll in his hand. “We need to move fast. Gather the captains. Meet us in the war room in ten.”

Bramick nodded and left with haste, leaving Drayce and me alone once more.

But now, in the span of just a few seconds, everything had changed, our moment all but forgotten.

“We need a plan fast. To get to Ashenholt and into Ashthorn Castle,” Drayce said, as I fell into step next to him and we headed toward the main building. “None of this stops so long as Caedryn is breathing. I don’t want to put you in danger, but I want to offer—”

“Shut up. Count me in.” My heart was pounding for an entirely different reason now.

He stared at me in awe for the briefest moment before he smiled and said, “Okay then, let’s go make a godsdamned plan.”

* * *

We walked intothe familiar, cramped, and messy council room, with a large round table that comfortably seated ten, to find it full, save for two seats reserved for Drayce and me.

Aerie and Bramick were here as the army’s air and ground battalion captains, respectively, plus Sevrin representing the Arcanums, Kellan as the Pathfinder leader and mortal forces commander, Brennor as the Guild leader, and the Hearth and Vanguard leaders. A few other junior commanders that I’d seen but didn’t know the names of were standing, lining the wall.

“We knew this day was coming,” Drayce said. “It just came sooner than anyone could anticipate. We need to leave for Ashenholt within the week.”

Discussion erupted, too many voices to pick out anyone specifically.

Drayce and I glanced at each other before he yelled, “One at a time! This is the time for organization and precision, not chaos and emotion. Everyone in this room is a leader. I expect everyone to act like it.”

The room went silent, all eyes on him.

Gods, it wasn’t the time, but it was so hot when he commanded attention and respect and received it.

Maybe our moment wasn’t completely forgotten.

“We can’t use the underground tunnel to access the castle anymore. We collapsed that after our last mission there, and we’ve heard Caedryn has extended the wards underground. We’ll have to find a new way in.”

“I can have a scout team ready to fly tomorrow and provide real-time aerial intel,” Aerie said. “If we bring Noxie, we can communicate back to base through Naci.”

All eyes turned on me.

“We’ve never tested that distance with our bond, but if it can stretch that far, then I consent, if Noxie does.”

“Thanks for signing me up...”

“Sorry, Noxie, but…it’s go-time.”

“It doesn’t have to be the entire distance,” Aerie refuted. “I propose we take a ship into the Elyssar Sea, positioned far enough off Ashenholt’s coast that it can’t be seen but close enough Noxie can be stationed and communicate with me, and Naci can relay to command on the ship.”

This was the beginning of a solid plan, setting my heart racing with excitement.

“Alright, we propose to have one ship stationed for the communication of aerial updates. I need more justification for sending a ship into enemy waters,” Drayce challenged, rolling up his sleeves and placing his hands on the table.

“I’ll take the ship too,” Bramick said with a swallow. “Some of the aerial scout unit can…carry me to the wards. So I can feel out the weaknesses in the magic’s vibrations where we can exploit and break through.” His distaste for being carried in the claws of the avian vey was very apparent.

“Denied. I need you with the ground unit to guide our team from the ship to the Ashthorn entry point,” Drayce said.

Bramick wasn’t convinced. “So then, how do we find our entry point from just the aerial scouts?”

Drayce looked at me, followed by everyone else.

I cleared my throat. “I can, um, fly in with the aerial unit. They can carry me in, and I’ll check the wards for weak points. I’ll relay what I find to Noxie on the ship, who can then pass it along to Aerie to share with the rest of the team. Then you guys can make a plan from the ship.”

Drayce’s stare bored into mine, wanting to protest but clearly holding back.