“How is she going to use water to claim power?” Brodine asked.
Reyla’s face creased with concern. “You’re not a great swimmer,Tempest. I’m not criticizing you, of course. We were much too busy with lessons and training to play in the river.”
Tempest placed a bite in her mouth and spoke around it. “I’ll be fine.”
“I want to go with you too,” Airia said softly. She shot a glance Vera’s way before focusing on her half-finished meal. “I think we should all go. We’re here for you, and we want to protect you.”
“Only Vera will go with me,” Tempest said. “I doubt it’s dangerous or courts would lose their high lords and ladies all the time. We would’ve heard about that. You know how word travels.”
“Perhaps you should take your own journey during this time, Vexxion,” Vera suddenly said. “I could help you with your quest as well.”
Could I take back my court’s core? The king had stolen most of it before I turned six, and he’d hoarded what he’d taken, though I’d slowly pulled some of it back. Not all of it, though. It wasn’t a physical thing so much as something that could be collected and felt. If I went to the core’s source, I might be able to take all of it back from him.
“We have water,” Vera said carefully. “And we have stone.”
My family’s pabrilleen pendant, she meant.
“Thank you.” I had the tools to claim my court’s core, but did I possess the strength needed to do it? I could almost feel the core’s throb, but part of it was missing.
It waited, calling to me.
“Alright,” I said. “I’ll do it.”
Vera smiled. “Very well.”
We finished eating and Vera magicked the empty plates to the kitchen where her magic would clean them and put them away. Rising, we all walked to the parlor. Tempest settled on a sofa, and I moved around Brodine to drop down beside her before he could do so himself.
Jealousy. That was all it was. And while I had no right to it, I welcomed it, because it showed me Ididhave feelings for this woman who loved me.
He didn’t grumble, but he did scowl before smacking his ass down on the cushion on my other side.
“There are plenty of other seats in the room,” I said as Zayde settled on a large chair and tugged Layla down onto his lap. Vera stood in front of the fireplace, and Reyla dropped onto a thick cushion on the floor near Zayde’s chair. Airia perched on the edge of a low table, facing us but some distance away, as if she felt like she didn’t quite belong.
“I need an army.” Tempest’s gaze landed on each of us in turn. “And I’m hoping you’ll help me come up with the best way to form one. Flying dregs are attacking the border villages already.”
“How do you know this?” Brodine asked, his face serious. “And I’m here for you, Tempest. You know that. You don’t even need to ask.”
The others murmured agreement.
“I can communicate with Jessia, the new commander of the fortress.”
“Jessia is the new commander? Good for her,” Reyla said with grim satisfaction. “She’s perfect for the job.”
“They’ve fought off a few flying dreg attacks so far.” Tempestleaned forward, bracing her palms on her thighs. “But they’re losing riders and dragons. Too many already, and it’s just started. And they’re coming for us. So . . . ideas?”
“I’ll make the perfect commander,” Brodine said. “But where’s your army? We need power and lots of it, plus weapons. Dragons.”
“Madrood is arranging for dragons,” Tempest said. “He said there are many who’ll come back to help us. They’ve been waiting.”
“What about riders?” Reyla asked. “If the fortresses are busy and losing them to flying dregs, where will we find enough to help us on this front?”
Airia grunted. “Four of us is nowhere near enough.”
Tempest swallowed. “I was told we’re surrounded by riders.”
Airia’s eyebrows lifted, and she peered around. “Where?”
“In the city and in the countryside, of course,” Vera said. “All Tempest needs to do is awaken them.”
