My gaze tracks his finger as he outlines the path he came up with twenty years ago across the map. It takes us around the outskirts of the Abandon.
“It’s by far the safest option. I planned it that way for our benefit, but it’ll take longer than I’d like.”
“How much longer?”
“Hours longer.”
“Yes, Amick, but I’ve already explained to you, no matter which route we take, we want to get into Seductions at the wee hours. That’s when everyone’s at their most disoriented. So we’ll have to wait in hiding somewhere until that moment, anyway. It makes no sense for you to throw out a solid plan because you think you can save time. No route is going to get us there by tonight.”
“Whoa, what the hell do you mean no route will get us there tonight?”
Kyzen sighs as he drops his glare from Amick and frowns at me.
“These routes will take at least a day on foot, little goddess. Amick’s original route for our own escape will take over a day, but we could stop to rest tonight, walk all day tomorrow into the night, then regroup before we infiltrate.”
“Gods.” I stumble away from the table and lace my fingers on top of my head.
My lids slam shut as I focus on breathing.
“I had it in my head we’d be leaving in the hour and be there in like no time. What the fuck?”
The question is rhetorical, but it still sends them into silence. I place my hands on my knees and attempt to calm my racing heart.
Over a day…
A lot can happen in a day.
It’s glaringly clear to me now that I really wasn’t grasping the whole we can’t use our power and keep the element of surprise on our side thing.
No power means no speeding up time, no snatching souls out of the bad guys we might pass, no losing my shit, and no starshooting.
I also had no fucking clue the Abandon is as big as it is.
“If I may put my perspective in.”
A relieved sigh passes through my lips with Lambrit’s offer. His tone is confident, which means he sees reason that I obviously can’t.
“This route gives you the most coverage and the least likelihood of running into trouble. Virtually none if the information Creed has gathered is still relevant. On top of that, it’s clear that you’ll be fighting once you arrive at Seductions. I don’t see any way around that other than sending in individuals they wouldn’t recognize.
“As someone who isn’t going but looking at it from the outside, yes, this way may take longer, but it provides you with more than just safety. You can rest, recoup some energy spent on the trek, and it gives you time to deviate or re-plan if need be. I know that isn’t what you want to hear, but I believe it’s the most successful route.
“Them waiting all day today and tomorrow with no retaliation will confuse them. You don’t tell anyone you’ve left, not even us, in case someone in the Godsdawn runs their mouth or comes around asking us questions. Rose, Havar, and I are going to leave now and let you all make your final decisions.”
Shit…I didn’t even think about that.
I wouldn’t put it past the High Chancellor’s ass to blab or pitch a fit that he didn’t orchestrate our plan for us.
My shoulders slouch as Lambrit pulls me in for a hug. I scoff the realm’s smallest scoff into his chest when he firmly whispers, “You better come back unharmed or else.”
No one else says much of anything other than goodbyes as Havar and Rose also make their rounds of hugs between Yemi and me. Sevryn refuses to return Havar’s affection until Yemi elbows him with a vicious scowl on her face.
She’s become quite sassy since he’s arrived.
I wonder what it’ll be like when she meets the rest of her Valtrue.
She’s going to be fine coming along.
Sevryn seems a little obsessive, so he’ll protect her, no doubt.
