“I recommend slowing. In all likelihood, the canisters we left in the water will destroy Kacha’s boats. If they do make it through, they will go slowly, assuming we have left further traps.” Saxu considered the map for a moment longer before looking up and meeting Tallu’s eyes. “Kacha himself will not be on the boats. Which means we have a slim hope that the men on them are smart enough to value their own safety over the heroics Kacha would demand.”
“A very slim hope,” I muttered. I thought of the lion I had once seen at Kacha’s party in the Mountainside Palace, held fast between two servants because Kacha demanded his men hand over their lives to him without the promise that he cared for them more than he enjoyed bloodshed.
Tallu looked at me. “What do you think?”
“How did we know the boats belong to General Kacha?” I asked Saxu.
“They were flying his flag—the same one he used as general,” Saxu said.
I blinked. “They were flying his flag?”
“One of our lookouts spotted it,” Commander Rede said. “On the last ship. Although it was confirmed by others.”
“We need to slow down,” I said to Tallu. “As soon as we can.”
“Why?” Tallu asked.
“Kacha sent boats flying his own flag to try and catch up with us. When hunting in the wild, it’s common to send wolves into a patch of forest and scare your prey straight into a hunter’s trap.” I looked at Iradîo, feeling my lip quirk up. “My father’s wolf, Spoiled Brat, was particularly good at it. We feasted on many a buck because he startled it into running to its doom.”
“Slow the ships,” Tallu ordered. “Send scouts ahead.”
General Saxu and Commander Rede stood, both bowing before they hurried out of the room to give the orders.
“You think Kacha will use the same techniques as your father on a hunt?” Tallu asked.
“He may be looking for different prey, but he is after you.” I glanced around the room, letting my eyes linger on Lerolian.
The blood mages had been quiet on the journey. There was little to report on a boat so much smaller than the palace they were used to.
With the exception of a few soldiers who had made intimate friends with some of the sailors, there wasn’t even gossip to report back.
“Nothing,” Lerolian said. “Empress Koque has had her servants barricade her doors. She understands the position they are in and has asked her servants to prepare a poison draught for the prince should Kacha take the ship.”
Tallu went pale and looked away. He couldn’t argue.
The ship slowed, going a fraction of the pace we had been keeping. Through Tallu’s window, we could see the scouting boats were little more than canoes run by motors. They skipped down the river, speeding toward the delta.
When there was no sign of general Kacha’s ships, Sagam finally let us aboveboard. We traveled for nearly half a day before the last ship caught sight of Kacha’s men.
“So they are faster than us,” Saxu said. “More mobile, too, if they were able to avoid the canisters.”
“We will have to prepare for an attack,” Sagam said. “Your Imperial Majesty, please.”
The Kennelmaster hadn’t been seen once since we boarded the boat, although anytime I passed his cabin, I heard a racking cough. I wondered if he still advised Sagam on how to handle His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Tallu.
Tallu hesitated, and Asahi stepped forward. Nonthreatening, but putting himself in Tallu’s line of sight. The boat swayed under our feet, and I leaned against Tallu.
He relented, and Sagam and Asahi ushered him below. Hopefully Tallu could comfort Koque and prevent her from making any impossibly bad decisions.
The boats came closer, and I was reminded again of wolves in the wild, circling their prey. They slowed, clearly readying their weapons.
“Let us take care of these nuisances,” Naî said. Her voice was directly in my head, but I saw Iradîo whip her head around, her eyes going wide.
I couldn’t reveal my magic, but I could support Naî. I glanced at the dragon, thinking about our options before a thought occurred to me.
Leaning down, I whispered into her ear. “Grow bigger. Fly above the ships. Everyone will be so distracted, they won’t notice me.”
Even in her dragon form, Naî seemed to smile, her mouth opening to reveal razor-sharp fangs.
