And even sometimes those within them.
The oldest of theVigamor—a gruff, gray-haired man with a brutal scar bisecting his face—crossed his arms. “What does your queen want from us, boy?”
A muscle feathered in Andrian’s jaw. He’d felt Mariah’s urgent, resolved energy the moment she’d opened the letterfrom Ciana. He couldn’t blame her; he wanted to move on Kol just as badly as she did. It was long past due for the dark god to meet his end.
But Andrian had seen the army Kol had amassed from the Royal’s forces. He imagined it had only grown since he’d left Khento. While he and Mariah had two gods on their side—three, if they counted Mariah herself—they had no army. As much as it pained him, this wasn’t something they could do alone. They needed help, allies.
Hence, this meeting.
“I’m sure you are all aware of the threat to the south.”
“If you speak of the dark god, then yes. We are more than aware of him and the threat he poses to our people,” anotherVigamorsaid, a fierce woman who wore her hair in a thick braid, the handle of an ax peeking above her shoulder. “We also know that rushing to meet him with rashness is not in our best interests.”
“I don’t come to you in rashness,” Andrian said, holding his tone steady. “The queen has discovered something that can change the tide. She has a way to stop Kol—for good, this time. If we don’t move quickly, before he reaches Verith and fortifies his hold on Onita, then it may be too late.”
TheVigamorshifted in their seats. “And where is your queen? Why has she sent you instead of asking this herself?”
Frustration bubbled in Andrian’s chest. He fought to keep it quelled, to keep his shadows tucked beneath his skin. “The queen is occupied, but I speak for her in this.”
“The boy is not just an Armature,” said Merete. The council woman sat at the head of the table, a careful mask on her face. “He is the queen’s Consort, if I’m not mistaken. I trust his ability to speak for the queen.”
Andrian fought the urge to swallow. He remembered the conversation he and Mariah had shared the night before. The proclamation she’d made.
No. He had to focus on this room of warriors. Mariah had asked him to handle this while she reached out to the rest of her Armature. She would need them all, and if there was a chance any of them could recruit help before they came, then she had to ask.
When she’d asked for some privacy that morning to do so, he’d given it to her willingly.
“You are all great warriors,” Andrian said. “I know how long Leuxrith has fought against Kol’s darkness. But we finally have a chance to defeat him. It would honor us if Leuxrithian warriors would be by our side when we do.”
TheVigamorwere quiet, their hard stares assessing. Andrian fought the urge to shift under their gazes.
“When do you wish to move?” The thirdVigamor, a soft-spoken man in his middle years, scratched idly at his chin.
“As soon as possible. In the next few days, if we can.”
Silence answered him, before the scarredVigamorburst out in a booming laugh. The others joined him, some shaking their heads as they muttered softly beneath their breath.
“You are ambitious, boy,” the firstVigamorsaid. “I can admire that. But you are aware that Leuxrith has no standing force. There are no soldiers in barracks waiting to be deployed, no units of cavalry running daily drills. Our fighters are birthed from the mountains when they are needed. And when they are not, they settle back into their lives.”
Andrian ground his teeth. “Then how long will it take to muster the full Leuxrithian host?”
TheVigamorshared a glance. “Two months, at least,” the first said, wood groaning as he leaned back in his chair.
“Twomonths?” Andrian couldn’t hold the bite back from his words. He drew in a deep breath, fighting for control. “We don’thavetwo months. Kol could reach Verith any day now.”
“We are warriors,” theVigamorwoman said. “We are realists. We are not miracle workers. And what you ask is impossible.”
Andrian rested his hands on the back of the chair in front of him, leaning heavily on the wood. “Fine,” he said. “Two months to raise the full force. But what can be done in, say, a week? Are there any fighters who can be ready sooner?”
That piqued theVigamor’sinterest. Their gazes bounced between each other, speaking in a language honed by years on a battlefield.
“A battalion can be ready in two weeks. That would be five hundred men, mostly local to Eyarfell. Many would be unseasoned, but they would be skilled. The people of this city have come to know your queen. They know Callamus stands with you. They will step up if they are asked.”
Andrian exhaled heavily. “Two weeks,” he repeated, holding the scarredVigamor’sstare.
“Two weeks. If your queen wants Leuxrith’s aid before the end of the summer, then that is how long she will have to wait.”
Andrian openedthe door to their rooms, expecting to find Mariah curled on the soft couch.
