He moves to stand beside me. Again, he stands much closer than anyone else would dare. If I reached out my arm, I could brush his. I’m close enough to feel his body warmth. He seems completely unaware of how many rules he’s breaking, and it’s distracting in ways that send shivers through me.
He’s focused on the map. “The mountains on the border behind Rath land have always been our weakest point.”
I nod. It’s one of the reasons that all descendants of the House of Rath are trained mercilessly for battle—even if they don’t want to be. While other Houses indulge their children’s interests, sons and daughters of the House of Rath were never given a choice.
For a moment, I remember Baelen sitting at the edge of the cliff behind his home, legs dangling over the edge like it wasn’t thousands of feet into the air, pencil and paper in his hands. He’d turned and given me that half smile that lifted only one corner of his mouth but somehow lit my world like sunshine. He’d handed me his drawing book. “You may as well see it before my father burns it.”
Now, Baelen’s forehead is creased in concentration as his hand sweeps the map, pointing at various spots in the mountain ranges. “We’ve known for a while that the gargoyles are nesting on the western side of the peaks—inside their own border and as far from our side as possible. We’ve tolerated their presence there because they kept away from the east. But in the last week there have been sightings as close as Baldor Peak.
I frown. “But that’s on our side of the border.”
He nods and points at another mountain that rests within the boundaries of Rath land. “Last week, a full nest was found here.”
I can’t stop the shiver of surprise that shoots through me. “That’s only fifty miles away from us here in the city. What are the chances they’ll form an attack?”
“Unlikely in the next six moons. Reconnaissance across the border tells us the encroachment into our territory is sporadic right now. They aren’t swarming behind their border and the nests so far are fledgling and spread too far apart to indicate that an attack is imminent.”
“But it’s possible… when? Within the next year?”
“Yes. Which is why the Elven Command decided it was time to appoint a permanent Commander of the armed forces. I know this is the last thing you want to hear right now, but we need to prepare for war.”
He pauses. “Youneed to be ready for war.”
His gaze returns to me. He’s frowning again. Fierce, this time.
Is it because I kept him waiting? With news this important, I can understand that the delay must have been frustrating. I try to find my voice as his gaze burns the sound right out of my throat.
“I apologize that I was late. I understand this is very important.”
His frown remains. “Mai Reverie was ill. You did the right thing attending to her. ”
I chew my lip. “Then… I’ve done something else wrong.”
“It’s…”
I wait for him to finish his sentence. “Commander Rath?”
“I wasn’t expecting you to be so unguarded. When you came out of the Storm Vault you were prepared for battle. You were as I expected you to be—the Storm Princess—but now…”
I frown, glancing left and right at the swarm of warrior elves around me. The War Room is big enough to accommodate a hundred guards. Five of the Storm Command have already moved to stand behind me while the other five remain watching us from the other side of the table.
I say, “I’m always guarded.”
“No. This.” He gestures. I try to ignore the fact that he stretches his hand out far enough that it almost brushes my arm and he’s still standing much too close to me.
He says, “The storm’s power is gone but you aren’t wearing armor. No body shield. You don’t carry any weapons.”
It’s true that I look like I could be out for a stroll. It’s a far cry from the storm suit he saw me in earlier and I already know I’m underdressed. Still, I frown. “You expected me to come here prepared for battle? You’re not my enemy, Baelen.”
His expression becomes even more concerned. “Of course not. But you’re too trusting. What if I meant to harm you?”
I blink at him in surprise. “Do you?”
“No.”
“Then I’m glad we got that out of the way. In future you will refrain from commenting on my choice of clothing.”
“No, I will not.”
