“Layla and Zayde are with the combined Weldsbane and Lydel force?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said. “Zayde’s fired up to fight, of course, and even Layla picked out a dragon to ride, but I’m sure Zayde will hold back if for no other reason than to protect her. Which . . .” Her gaze dragged away from mine.
Layla was my heir and needed to be protected at all costs. They might make it through this. As for me? Only time would tell.
Sorry I didn’t have more time with you, sister,I called out to Layla in my mind, though I knew she’d never hear me. I still had to speak the words.I love you, and I’m glad I found you again, my Layla.
“Dragons and Lydel riders also arrived from the island,” Reyla said. “But I can’t find Airia anywhere.” Her brow knit. “I’m worried.”
“She won’t be joining us.” She’d already helped, and I’d owe her forever. I hoped wherever she was now, she was safe. “It’s just us three now, plus our allies.”
“Fuck.” Reyla’s feral smile grew quickly, shoving aside her flash of fear. “Love the odds.”
“We just need to distract him,” I said.
Vexxion squeezed my hand.What are you planning, tiny storm?he purred in my mind. Whatever it is, Iwillbe a part of it. No arguing. No demanding I remain behind.
My task must be done alone. But as he’d said, there’d be no arguing about it.
I just wouldn’t tell him.
“Who’s commanding the riders now?” I asked. “I need to speak with that person.”
Reyla grunted. “Airia set up a solid chain of command with one top general ready to step in and replace her at any time. I can go to her for you. What do you need?”
I hefted one of the many sacks I’d filled with bone coins. “Every single rider needs to take a handful of bone coins and fly above Ivenrail’s dregs. I want them to drop the coins down onto the dregs and flee the area as fast as possible.”
“No way,” Reyla said. “Remember? We were told never to let dregs near bone coins. That’s part of the reason we take them from the Lieges.”
“Why do you think we were taught not to let dregs near bone coins?”
She shrugged. “Bone coins make them more powerful.”
“They’re thepowerless. They have no power other than what the king cast upon them.”
Yes. Vexxion’s hand swirled up and down my spine.This is why you’re leading this army. Your storm is waiting, Fury, poised to blast across this world. I can’t wait to see it happen.
Reyla’s face scrunched. “Are you saying we were tricked?”
I shared the mirror vision of the powerless, each wearing a bone coin around their neck. “I don’t have confirmation, but Isuspect if they have their coins back, it’ll block the king’s power.”
“And they’ll no longer be dregs?” She scratched the back of her neck. “What if your theory’s wrong and it only makes things worse?”
I swept my hand toward the king’s vast army. “Do you think things can get worse than they already are?”
“I’m willing to try it.” Reyla’s gaze met Vexxion’s. “We only have two hundred and fifty or so dragons and riders. That’s not enough to cover this many dregs. We need everyone.”
“I can’t go with you,” I said. “Take whoever is willing to fly. Pair people up if you have to. If this works, it’ll strike a devastating blow to the king.”
“And if it doesn’t?” she asked.
“We’ll try something else.”
“Alright.” She grabbed the bags from the ground by my feet and spun to run toward the dragons.
“Love you, Reyla,” I said.
Pausing, she turned, studying my face. “What are you planning?”
