Page 47 of Triplets for the Barbarians

This only serves to underline the urgency of our reaching Opal City first.

Once the skies are clear again, we jump back into our buggy and rumble farther south. To my surprise, Diamond City seems particularly quiet, even from afar. There are no plumes of black smoke rising from its slums, no buzzing of rogue marauders traipsing around the city’s outer limits, and not even a traveling merchant headed to or from along any of the dirt roads we’ve crossed so far.

“They must’ve mobilized all of their troops,” Jewel says, somehow guessing my thoughts. “It’s way too quiet for that place.”

“The question is, where are they sending those troops?” Fadai asks.

We all know the answer: Sapphire City.

“They’re spread thin, even if they do concentrate the majority of their forces in Sapphire City,” I reply from behind the wheel, shaking my head slowly. “On top of that, Shaytan and Blaze know we’re not stupid enough to go there after everything that has happened.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Jewel says. “They want Sapphire City back. And they’re mounting a big enough operation to keep the Fire Tribe distracted while they focus their most precious resources—namely their engineering techs—on launching the starship. And they’re probably sending whatever smaller contingencies of troops they’ve got left back up north along the river just to make a point to any Fire Tribe chieftains who didn’t move to Sapphire City with the others.”

“They’re planning one simultaneous strike across the board while they launch the starship,” Fadai mutters. “They’re clearly determined to see this through.”

“But so are we,” Jewel says. “I’ll manage the long-range laser guns. We just need to figure out where they’re launching the damned thing from.”

“We’ll have to focus whatever resources we can on Opal City’s defense,” I say. “Shaytan will spare the brunt of his nastiest fighters for that, not for Sapphire City. He’ll send the larger numbers there, but he’ll bring the prolific killers down here. He’s no fool.”

Upon arriving in Opal City, we can tell the atmosphere has changed—and not for the better. The locals are even more fearful, choosing to stay indoors and away from us as we make our way through the main streets leading to the palace.

There’s no welcoming committee this time, although the guards all nod politely and allow us passage wherever we wish. Our Kreek soldiers are manning their positions, too, but they’ve clearly heard the news about what happened to our settlement.

Their grief is almost palpable, as is their muted fury. We’re all out for blood, yet we cannot attack Shaytan directly because it wouldn’t end well. If anything, it could cost us the war.

Solomon’s widows are particularly aggrieved as we meet inside one of their more private council chambers. All three are wearing bright red velvet robes and have spun gold woven around their horns. Rubies and diamonds twinkle around their slender necks and dangle from their pointed ears.

“Please accept our condolences,” Leela says, her brow furrowed while her hands rest on an open map of the continent. She and her sister-wives have been scanning the whole surface of the map, marking various territories in different colored ink.

My guess is that they’ve been trying to devise a way to protect their people if the Sky Tribe descends on the city in greater numbers.

“May the suns carry your fallen soldiers to brighter flames and endless glory, Kreek brothers.”

“You are far too kind,” I say as I politely bow and take a seat beside my brother and Jewel. “Thank you for allowing us to return.”

“You are always welcome in Opal City, Yossul,” Sarin replies. “For as long as our doors remain standing, they will be open to you, especially in these trying times.”

“Thank you; you’re taking a great chance with us here,” I say.

Sarin offers a soft smile. “We are allies. We swore our allegiance to your cause in return for the freedom to choose our path once we win this war against the Sky Tribe. The enemy would never grant us that. The risks we take are worth the sacrifice. How are the three of you doing? It is my understanding that the Pearl City mission did not go as planned.”

Jewel, Fadai, and I exchange nervous glances. “We hit a few snags,” Jewel says. “But it’s done. One starship remains. We just need to find it.”

The widows have already learned about the attack on our settlement and how it may have come to pass. The more we talk about the events of the past couple of weeks, the clearer it becomes that the Sky Tribe is making bolder moves than ever.

“Word is coming from your spies through that telegraph point,” Neya says after the teas and biscuits are brought in. “There are troops headed for Sapphire City by land and air. Your scouts estimate there are about five thousand Sky Tribe warriors going that way.”

“Sapphire City will be under siege in less than a week,” Sarin adds. I don’t know how that will go, considering your own troops are scattered across the continent. Will they make it back in time?”

“One can only hope,” Fadai says. “We’re not letting anyone leave Opal City in the meantime, however. Our Kreek boys will stay here and man the labyrinth walls. Have you seen increased activity in Sky Tribe drones in the past day or so?”

The sister-wives collectively nod. “I assume they’re close to figuring out where the laser came from,” Sarin sighs, lowering her gaze. It was bound to happen.”

“We should consider evacuating the civilians, at least,” Leela replies. “It’ll give the soldiers less to worry about when the Sky Tribe mercenaries do arrive.”

“It will be less trouble for any support troops that we might be able to bring down here from across the realm,” Fadai says in agreement. “With Sapphire City under siege, we’re spread thin.”

“So is the Sky Tribe,” Jewel says, then looks at the widows. “Is there any news of the last starship?”

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