“If there’s one thing I know about you, Adrian, it’s that you’ll protect your friends.”
“I almost couldn’t save him,” I murmured, turning my attention back to the tents. I didn't have to say his name. I was sure Gryfon remembered Hugh's cut throat and bloody chest just as well as I did.
“Chassina’sa bitch,” he replied, practically growling. “She didn’t give you time.”
“And they will? When we go to Sanctuary, when we fight, they’ll give me time to call the Dark?”
“No. But you’ll be better at it by then.”
I turned to face him again, but he was already stepping forward.
“Come on,” he said, not even looking back as he strode toward the tents. “It won’t get any easier the longer you stay away.”
I hated that he was right. So I went.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Dante
“We found father in his study this morning, face down on his desk, cord wrapped around his neck. We tried to ask him if it was self-inflicted but he wouldn’t answer us.”
— From The Official Record of House Avus, As Recorded by Atticus, Son of Eximius
“Sanctuary,” the Captain repeated, staring across the table at Prima and a strange council of three humans who almost seemed to have been assembled for his benefit, as if to remind him of their shared heritage.
Our, I reminded myself.Our shared heritage.
“You’re serious,” Roman added, looking away from Prima to Ksenia.
The spy only narrowed her eyes atPrimaand the council as if she could figure out whether or not they were bluffing just by looking at them. I wouldn’t put it past her if she could.
“And how do you propose we take an entire city that has stood underGeistcontrol for over two millennia?” Roman asked, leaning forward. He almost seemed amused, if the Royal Captainof the Guard was capable of being amused. Weeks spent in his company didn't seem to indicate that he was.
“Adrian,”Primasaid simply, shrugging as though it was the most obvious solution in the world.
Roman just blinked at her.
“Is she capable of that sort of power?”Kseniaspoke then, her voice measured and calm but still wary. Her arms were crossed, a clear show of mistrust, but she was trying. Harder than any of them, I realized.
“We believe so,” Prima answered.
“Youbelieveso,” Roman repeated with a scoff, collapsing back into his chair, all hope evaporated. “I cannot ask Prince Leo to march his armies outside of the walls for the first time in two thousand years on a hunch.”
“It’s the best hunch we’ve ever had,”Primareplied, glaring. “And one we’re not likely to get a second chance at.”
Roman stared back at her, obviously trying to decide how much he could trust the fabled leader of the Fallen.Prima seemed to be sizing him up in much the same way. The rest of us were no more than outside observers, not really privy to the discussion taking place but here nevertheless.
I eyed the members of the council whomPrimahad demanded be present. How much say did they actually have in matters of the camp?Primaseemed to be in charge here. She seemed to be running the show entirely, but these were elected leaders, or so she'd told me. The humans in this camp preferred to elect their own to lead beside the immortal Fallen. But I hadn’t seen much leading from them so far. It was a strange system they'd devised here. One that my friends, my family, and everyone I'd ever known would be joining soon enough if Adrian and her accomplices got their wish.
Sanctuary.Taking back Sanctuary, going home, seeing my grandfather again. Seeing my mother, my cousins,Bria. It feltimpossible. We weren’t supposed to go back. No one ever came back from the tenth Trial. That was what I'd been taught since I could understand the words. That was how it had always been, but no more.
Adrian andPrimawould abolish the Trials. They would free the Underground and empty Sanctuary. They would set aside the religion everyone we'd ever known had always served. But that was a good thing, wasn’t it? Adrian seemed to think the people deserved the truth. I thought they seemed rather happy with the lies.
“A full offensive on the city, that’s your plan?” Roman was asking as I snapped back to attention, listening to the conversation taking place in front of me once again.
“Once Adrian drops the wards, yes,”Primasaid, nodding. “Though I don’t imagine we'll meet much resistance. Not at first. TheGeistwill have left a squadron or two for security after the breakout from the Underground but they’ll be expecting scavenging parties of half a dozen, not the full force of our combined armies. We can take out a couple of squadrons no problem. Then we’ll enter the city. I don’t expect any resistance from the citizens there, nor from the ones in the Underground. If anything, they’ll be shocked to see us.”
“Even if Prince Leo agreed and our forces left today, it would take a few weeks of marching with a full army to reach Sanctuary in time to join you,” the Captain countered, leaning forward as the details of the plan began to emerge, losing himself in the strategic planning of battle. “The human cities are much farther from Sanctuary where they are and it'll take some time to rally our armies.”
