“At this point I’d prefer ‘no force required because everyone decided to be reasonable.’”
“That seems unlikely.”
“A girl can dream.”
We discussed exit strategies if things went wrong, rally points if they got separated, signals to indicate danger or success. By the time we finished, my head was spinning with information and my hand hurt from taking notes.
Gregyor prepared to leave, stepping toward the portal that I’d kept open this whole time. The drain was constant but manageable.
“When you know when you’re attacking,” he said, his expression serious. “Do please open a portal for me to come here so I can support you if anything goes wrong. But for now, I will begin preparations to take control. My supporters are ready.”
“Got it. But if we fail?” I asked, voicing what no one else wanted to say.
His smile was grim and cold. “Then we all prepare for war. And may the gods have mercy on us all.”
He stepped through and disappeared. I closed the portal, the drain on my energy easing like a weight lifted from my shoulders.
Then Tyreen grabbed my arm, her grip surprisingly strong. “Come. If you are going to portal Mal and his team into enemy territory, you need to be precise. We train. Now.”
***
“Feel the location,” Tyreen coached for what felt like the hundredth time. “Not just the general area. The EXACT spot. Every tree. Every stone. Your magic willfeelit.”
I tried. I really did. I closed my eyes, focused on the clearing Gregyor had described, pictured it in my mind.
I opened a portal. It showed someone’s barn. A confused cow stared at us through the opening, chewing cud placidly. It mooed.
“That’s not it,” I said unnecessarily.
“Again,” Tyreen said, her patience apparently infinite.
I closed it and tried again. This time I got what looked like a merchant’s stall in some town square. Fabric everywhere, bright colors hanging from racks. A woman shrieked and dropped a bolt of silk.
I slammed it closed, face burning. That poor woman was going to have nightmares about portals appearing in her shop.
“Again.”
A chicken coop. Chickens scattered in every direction, squawking like I’d personally insulted their ancestors. Feathers exploded everywhere. One chicken attempted to fly through the portal before I snapped it shut.
“Again.”
Someone’s bedroom. An elderly man in a nightshirt screamed and threw a pillow at the portal. “DEMONS! DEMONS IN MY CHAMBER!”
“I’m so sorry!” I called out before closing it. “Not a demon! Just terrible at magic!”
“Again.”
What appeared to be a very fancy bathroom. Two people were in a tub. Together. Having sex. They screamed when they saw me. I screamed. We all screamed.
I slammed it shut so fast I nearly pulled a muscle.
“That was the worst one yet,” I announced to no one in particular.
“Again,” Tyreen said, unmoved.
“I know I sound repetitive, but you need to stop thinking,” she instructed after my next failure, a portal that opened into what looked like a pig pen. “FEEL. You are in your head too much.”
“I AM feeling!” I snapped, my frustration boiling over. “I’m feeling stressed! I’m feeling terrified! I’m feeling like I’m going to get Mal killed because I can’t open a portal to the right place!”
