Both of them are ends of the same venomous snake.
I feel the eyes of those below watch us as we fly ahead. My goal is to be the first to make it to our campsite so that the elves and I can coverdrathorinna’sshine. Then Ulla and I can help those sick or mildly injured from long travel. This trip has also already forced me to heal animals, which is surprisingly enjoyable.
When we settle down for the night, everyone does their best to be light of spirit and vibrance. Elves talk animatedly around the fire while the Enduares sing songs of each other’s people and show off their different brands of magic.
Stone shards fly through the air, birds flap in formation, and Thorne makes himself disappear and reappear. Apparently, the assassin is also quite the singer. He joins Ulla more than once in a tune intricate enough to bind even the most monstrous beast.
A hundred of the ocean-dwelling Enduares came along with a hundred of the Enduvida dwellers. Ka’Prinn and Ner’Feon were happy to retrieve them under the condition that they swear a blood oath to Teo and me. Their fealty is not something they take lightly, even if I feel uneasy about them occupying space next to the others. Sometimes they spend hours blowinghot breath over campfires with harrowing tales of the creatures that live in dark water.
Tonight, everyone finds ways to entertain themselves, but for me, the act of setting up camp again is… somber. I feel slow, knowing that every second spent resting is a second Rholker gets further ahead.
Long after the dancing and the songs end, my anxieties still mount. Teo holds me close in our tent and speaks peace to my mind, but I can feel the same nerves fluttering under his skin. We curse ourselves by sharing emotions too heavy to speak aloud.
When we areone day away from the mine’s location, the joviality is reduced to quiet focus. It is as if we are a group of skeletons.
As planned, we break into four groups, one for each side of the mine.
I worry over Dahlia. Her magic is powerful, as are the cold ones her sisters controlled in Enduvida. When we left home, I had wondered if they would attack us along the way or spy as her eyes, but there have been no attacks.
In fact, it might be the longest we’ve gone without seeing one while traveling.
In the center of the main camp, we have set up an elaborate battle map in my and Teo’s tent. We lay on cushions perched on top of rock beds, surrounded by stone silk and pillows.
After the elves and I coverdrathorinnain trees and supplies to hide her glow, I return to Teo’s side and sit on seats pulled up from the ground by my husband. Vann sits next to us, as does Mrath, Thorne, Ayla, Liana, and Ner’Feon. There are a handful ofother leaders in the elvish armies, and they all listen with their sharp ears and glinting eyes.
Mrath watches Teo intently. “I still believe that attacking at nightfall is the opportune choice.”
Teo frowns. “I still feel that daybreak would be wiser. They will still be fresh and unassuming. Though, I know how you enjoy killing under the cloak of night.”
Mrath grins, but it is Ayla who says, “Darkness is an assassin’s greatest friend.”
I swallow and look down to the mapping of the giants’ mine. It shows two towers connecting to a wall that holds a large area of slave pens. There is one structure inside the compound, presumably where Rholker is, and then there is the entrance to the mine.
The wooden manor built for higher officials’ visits is not so big that it would take more than an hour to explore all of it, but Rholker is a scheming creature. The witches he harbors even more so. There are many ways that this could end poorly.
Since I already know the plan like the back of my hand, my thoughts race as the others go through the strategy once more, moving pieces across the hastily drawn battle map.
Vann has an excellent strategic mind, and it’s his hand that dances across the table.
“So, the first leg includes our stone benders. We’ll tear down the towers, and then throw everything to the elves and remaining Enduares to ambush the sides of the mine. Once the towers come down, the wooden walls will fall, too.” He knocks over the pillars made from crudely carved stone. “Then, we’ll lure as many of the giant warriors out as possible.”
The figures for giants look more like rounded blobs than towering warriors, and my heart sputters at the thought of seeing them in battle.
“We have to slaughter them all,” I say, reaching out on impulse and knocking over the figures.
Mrath stands, leaning over the figures. “Agreed. There should be no survivors. I want my involvement in this to be kept quiet, at least for now.”
“Someone always escapes,” Ner’Feon says, with his gruff voice.
Mrath grins at him. “Not with my sisters.”
Vann clears his throat, “With the giants occupied on the ground, the remaining assassins will be settled on top of the mountain.”
I watch his hands point to the entrance to the mine, and wonder just how long this mine has been functioning. The giants know to be that close to stone is a mistake with the threat of the Enduares.
Mrath says, “Give me the bender who can animate stone armies.”
Ner’Feon frowns. “Si’Kirin should be one of the benders helping with the towers.”
