“Which is why the bulk of your forces won’t be marching on Sanctuary.”
He froze. Everyone in the room seemed to hold their breath.
“You can’t possibly mean—” Roman started, eyes bulging.
“Pavos.”
“Impossible.”
Kseniawas already shaking her head as Roman’s fury rose to the surface and he slammed his fist on the table between them.
“I will not sacrifice our men to theGeist,” he shouted. “And Prince Leo would never agree. I know you think you're superior with your magic and your immortal blood but we're every bit as deserving—”
“We don't intend for you to takePavos,”Primainterrupted, holding up a finger in an effort to stem the rising tide of the Captain’s fury. “We only need them distracted long enough to fail to send aid to Sanctuary. Just until we can get everyone out of the city and moving across the desert.”
“A distraction. That’s all we are in this battle? Sacrificing mortal blood so you can be the heroes? Again?”
“It will be an even split. We expect some of your forces to march on to Sanctuary to aid us in our battle. Meanwhile, every rider we can spare will accompany you to Pavos. Rainier and his crew will be among them. TheGeistare terrified ofZverabove anything else, save perhaps Adrian. Seeing the beasts in the sky will likely be enough to keep them holed up in their precious city. All you have to do is kill anyone who comes out or attempts to go in. We cannot risk word of Sanctuary getting in or out of that city.”
Roman fell silent at that. The legendary Rainier under his command. I could practically see the excitement in his eyes at the prospect.
“How will you move so many people through the desert without being seen?” I asked.
Every eye in the room turned to me. Some even seemed surprised, having obviously forgotten my presence entirely. I could hardly blame them, chained like a criminal and sat in the corner like I was. But my question was valid and IsawKsenia’stiny smile of pride before she turned away to hide it.
“We have our ways,”Primareplied with a grin. “Let us worry about that.”
Roman looked from me toPrima. Everyone seemed to hold their breath while the Captain considered the plan, brow furrowed in concentration. Finally, he opened his mouth to speak.
“When do we leave to present this plan to Leo?” he said.
Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.
***
“You’re alive.”
I turned to findKseniacatching up to me outside ofPrima’stent. I'd been walking away, rubbing my wrists where the chains had been beforePrima decided Adrian’s choice to let me live was good enough for her and had freed me, muttering under her breath all the while that she didn’t have time to look after me anyway.
“Guess so,” I replied with a shrug. “Though I’ve been firmly reminded to be on my best behavior under threat of being chained in the caves with the rest of thePavosiansoldiers they managed to capture.”
“That former partner of yours is much more forgiving than I would have been.”
“Me too,” I replied quietly.
Kseniamet my gaze and I turned away, watching ahead of me as I stepped further into the encampment.
“Are you going to march with them?” she asked, nodding to where the strange brooding man from Adrian’s side before, the general, was strolling through the camp, hand selecting men to travel back to the human city with us, to treat with Prince Leo.
I shook my head.
“There’s nothing left for me in Sanctuary,” I said. “Pavoseither.”
“So where?”
I stopped, looking around at the children running back and forth from tent to tent, the women washing and hanging clothes or tendingcook pots, the men at their craft, making weapons or packing supplies or arming themselves.
“I don’t know,” I confessed.
