“We can’t leave our armies with hardly any generals,” Ava said. “With Casimir and Maeryn gone, that only leaves Roan.”
Quinn laced her fingers behind her head. “Jorrar and I will stay behind and help lead. I’ll have Pax too. He’s climbing the ranks and proven to be an excellent captain. We’ll also have Astrid, Aelerion and Thalia there. That will be enough. For stone abilities, I suggest you bring Imsel. They’re strong and seem to have a good head on their shoulders.”
Casimir nodded. “That’s a solid plan.”
Quinn grinned. “It’s why you made me second in command.”
“It is,” Casimir said with a low laugh.
“What if you all end up fighting while we’re gone?” Ava fidgeted in her seat. “What if they’re fighting now?”
Casimir placed his hand over hers.
“You all need to get the crystal regardless. If we end up in a battle, so be it. We’ll hold them off until you get back,” Quinn said.
“It’s all we can do,” Jorrar added.
“I hate this,” Ava said quietly.
“We all do, love. Unfortunately, that’s the nature of war.” Casimir gave her hand a squeeze.
32
Raine watched Thorne pace in the dining room from his seat at the table. His stride, the way he muttered under his breath…He and Ava were so similar sometimes, it was astonishing. Though he remained much calmer than her in most situations, their quirks and facial expressions were almost exactly the same.
Thorne paused, tapping his fingers together as he scanned the room. “The daemons are cominghere?”
“Yes,” said Raine.
“When?”
“We don’t know. The last intel we were able to gather was that they were meeting up with the remainder of their forces in Frosthaven.” Maeryn leaned over the table, examining the maps. Raine couldn’t help but focus on the way her triceps flexed with the movement. “It will take them a while to get organized…but they could arrive within a few weeks. Perhaps earlier. We must prepare.”
“Has anyone heard from my sister or the others yet?” Thorne asked.
Everyone shook their heads. The room was silent, windwhispering through the vines in the open windows. Birds sang their afternoon melodies as if they hadn’t a care in the world. As if a daemon army wasn’t marching straight for their capital.
“The only way in is through the mountain tunnels,” Thorne said, resuming his pacing. “They’re currently being guarded, but if their entire army is headed this way, I do not know if that will be enough to stop them. We must move our forces there immediately.”
“They can’t cross over the mountains?” asked Astrid.
Thorne sucked his teeth. “Well…technically they could. But it’s treacherous and would take significantly longer. The tunnels are much more direct.”
“Alright,” Raine said, rising from his seat. “We need to get organ?—”
The doors were flung open. In walked Quinn, Ava, Casimir and Jorrar.
Their faces were grave.
“We have information,” said Jorrar.
“Wait.”Raine threw his hands in the air, his voice rising. “You’re telling us Andras is agod? And we must journey to the Wastelands?”
“Yes,” Casimir responded.
“And while we’re doing this task, Mosshaven could be under attack?”
“It appears that way,” Thorne muttered.
