“Oh.” Raywen stands there, the pig Phin in her arms.
“Come in.” Silmaran waves her inside and closes the door behind her.
“Welcome back.” She sits beside Clotty, who reaches over to pet Phin.
“Knock it off,” he grunts.
“You speak!” Beth claps.
“I was able to restore that much, but the rest …” The pixie shrugs, her gaze downcast.
Beth gives her a sympathetic look. “You’ll get it. Don’t fret.”
“Don’tfret?” Phin snorts in a very piggy fashion. “I’m apig! I can’t fight. I can barely think. I can’t even—”
“We have bigger worries, old friend.” I hold up a hand. “Cenet is bringing an army to our door.”
“Oh no.” Raywen clutches a squealing Phin to her chest. “Even more bad news.”
“More?” Silmaran leans on the door. “You mean there’s other bad news I don’t know about?”
“Yes.” Raywen’s tone is soft, sad. “We had a visit from one of your friends.”
“Ravella.” Phin’s voice is Phin’s voice, but now with more piggy squeakiness. It’s disconcerting, yet familiar. “She came to deliver a message from Leander. Queen Aurentia’s forces are heading south. They’re cloaked, but close enough to strike within a day, two at most. She’s warned him that if he sends any winter force to our aid, she’ll consider that an act of war.”
The worst-case scenario is shaping up before my eyes—Cenet’s forces attacking at the same time as Queen Aurentia’s. The city will be leveled, the slaves’ freedom cut painfully short.
I rub my jaw. “Leander can’t send help. It would be rash and foolhardy to—”
“He’s sending the Phalanx.” Phin grunts.
“What?” I’m on my feet. “He may as well send our entire army. The queen will take this as open warfare and close the borders, at the very least!”
“You know our king.” Phin jumps from Raywen’s lap and paces along next to the ever-pacing Chastain. “If it’s rash, then that’s what he does.”
“What’s a phalanx? Some kind of bird?” Parnon’s been sitting quietly near the door.
“It’s the winter king’s fiercest warriors,” Beth says. “Gareth is their leader, of course.”
Leander’s heart is in the right place, but he’s gone too far. This is an act of war, no one can doubt it. I close my eyes and send a prayer to the Ancestors for understanding and patience. “When will they be here?”
“Ravella is trying to bring them through the vale, and that obsidian witch is helping. Her power is formidable.” Phin shivers. “Witches are the worst.”
Raywen frowns and crosses her arms.
“So, we have help coming in the form of the winter king’s most trusted warriors?” Silmaran shakes her head. “That won’t be enough. Not against Cenet and the queen.”
“It’s all we have.” Chastain is wearing a line into the floor. “We have to make it work.”
“And don’t forget the wyverns,” Beth adds helpfully.
Chastain glowers at her but continues his incessant pacing.
“We need to alert the city, get them ready.” Silmaran’s gears are turning, her mind trying to solve an impossible puzzle.
“I’ll go.” Parnon gets to his feet. “Get the word out.”
“I can help.” Clotty stands, her eyes on the sand man.
