I hurried forward and sat near Aiden on a green cushion stitched with an image of wolves chasing a deer. I heard the dog-like creatures howling most nights.
“How’s training coming along?” Frieda asked with a strained smile.
I answered her, hardly knowing what words I used. I kept glancing at Aiden. Why did he want to send out runners? To ask the other clans for help?
Frieda kept up a steady stream of polite questions about training, chores, and the weather until everyone else had arrived. Ruru darted to the purple cushion next to me.
Nikella lit a few more lanterns until the whole lodge was bathed in a sleepy glow.
“Let’s hear the plan, Aiden,” Frieda said.
Aiden cleared his throat. “Before I begin, I want to make something very clear.” His sharp gaze pierced each of us. “Renwell is not just my enemy. Or even our enemy. He is Lancora’s enemy. He’s a murderous madman who will stop at nothing to get what he wants, as we have all experienced.”
The scar on my cheek throbbed in time with my racing heartbeat.
He will not have me.
“I don’t know his plans,” Aiden continued. “And I doubt he wrote them down and left them lying around Calimber for us to snatch up. But if Renwell is building more of those warships and forging more indestructible weapons and armor to clad his Wolves and bloodthirsty army, then we must destroy him before wecan’tstop him.”
The horror that filled me was swift and vivid. Burning villages. Massacred rebels. Executions in the square. Shadow-Wolves devouring the world.
“Destroy his resources,” I whispered. “Then destroy him.”
Aiden nodded, his face grim.
“I thought that’s what we all bloody signed up for?” Maz growled, his muscular arms folded over his chest.
Jek dipped his head, his silver hair gleaming like snow at night. “We know the risks, Aiden.”
Aiden shared a glance with Frieda. Her brow was still puckered with worry, but she nodded once.
“You’ve made your point,” she said. “Now state your plan.”
Aiden relaxed infinitesimally. “It takes five days to reach Calimber. We’ll likely run into border patrols before then, which may add time to our journey. We’ll scout ahead and avoid them the best we can, but?—”
“Sometimes the quickest way is through them,” Sigrid declared. She wore a dark brown fur cowl, the creature’s claws still attached and draped over her shoulders like it was caressing her.
I hadn’t been thrilled when Maz told me she was coming, too, but I supposed it made sense. Yarina was joining as well.
Aiden’s lips thinned. “Yes, but we want to avoid that, as I said. I want everyone getting in and out in one piece.”
Sigrid snorted as if there wasn’t an alternative.
“We’ll have to keep moving camps,” Jek spoke up. “Those patrols are always on the move, even if they stick to designated patterns.”
Aiden nodded. “Yes. It will be difficult, but we’ll only be in Calimber long enough to assess what Renwell is doing there. Then we’ll regroup somewhere safe.”
“Regroup? Are we splitting up?” Yarina called out. She’d brought her dinner with her, balancing soup and bread in her lap.
Aiden took a deep breath, as if gathering strength. His gaze flicked to me for a heartbeat. My stomach sank. I wasn’t going to like this answer.
“Maz and I will infiltrate the mine,” he said finally.
“Absolutely not,” Sigrid growled.
Yarina nearly upended her soup, shifting forward to glare at Aiden. “I’m coming, too.”
Maz shook his head. “Not happening, little sisters.”
