Page 73 of An Archer's Reckoning

“That is the wrinkle in the Regent’s plan. It has been all along. We only have a few Mages with offensive capabilities. They have dozens, probably more. The way Thorn describes their tower in the Mages’ Guild . . .”

I grunted.

It was about all I could think to add to a conversation about magic. My own Gift enhanced my memory, but I didn’t envision soldiers running up to the gates of Saltstone quoting historical trivia at the enemy. The Melucians, however, had the Gifts of Fire, Air, and who knew what else? If their tower really did magnify their strength and endurance, this fight would become far more difficult, despite what Isabel claimed.

“Has the Council come up with anything beyond a conventional siege? Any way to neutralize their magic?” I whispered, not wanting the others to hear the doubt in my voice.

“Shesays to leave them to her.” Bril didn’t have to say whoshewas.

“Let’s hopesheknows what she’s doing, or this could turn ugly fast,” I grumbled. “Any word from Jessia?”

Bril’s eyes darted around the room, then he leaned toward my ear and whispered urgently. “Don’t youdaremention Jess around the Regent or any of the men here. I don’t know who’s left we can trust. She has teams out looking for the Que—I mean, Jess. Murder squads. If she even gets a whiff of you asking about her, you’ll be next.”

I peered at Bril out of the corner of my eye and nodded.

The Regent had changed over the past months. She had always been headstrong and bent on accumulating power, but she was never wantonly evil. Her display with Sheriff Wilfred had only been the first. Since then, she had burned or boiled dozens of men she suspected were more loyal to Jess than to her. It was a miracle I hadn’t been targeted already.

I chided myself for being lax around the Council. Bril was right.

The air in the room seemed to shift, and every head snapped to the door.

The Regent had exchanged her riding leathers for an elegant gown. Her hair flowed loosely down her back.

“Gentlemen, why are my troops not moving?” The congenial tone of her voice made the question more menacing than if she’d shouted.

The men shuffled. All eyes settled nervously on Bril.

He inclined his head. “The orders were handed to messengers not twenty minutes ago, Your Majesty. The forward units should be moving within the hour. Three cavalry units were dispatched two hours ago to harry supply convoys headed into Saltstone. Everything is proceeding according to your plan.”

“How many days to get the perimeter secured?” she asked.

“A week to get forward units into place. They’re mounted and should move quickly along the road. Another three or four weeks to move the entire army and siege equipment. Probably four weeks. We have to ensure the supply lines remain secure as we advance.”

She looked pointedly at me. “Do you agree with that timeline, General?”

I studied the map a moment, then nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty. Four weeks assumes there is no more snow, that wagons do not break down, and our enemy allows unharried passage. Each is an optimistic assumption.” I noticed the scowl on her face and quickly added, “But the Minister is correct about the forward units. They should be in place within a week.”

She stared a moment. “Fine.”

As she turned to leave, I ventured one last question. “Your Majesty, what abouttheirMages? Our forward cavalry has no way to counter magical attacks. I’ve ordered a perimeter three leagues out, but their tower . . .”

“General Marks, I really hate repeating myself. Leave their Mages to me.” She spun and disappeared through the doorway, leaving the War Council speechless—until they erupted in heated debate over how she would deal with Melucia’s Mages.

Chapter 26

Declan

Ireined in my horse and sheltered my eyes as Saltstone came into view over the horizon.

Rings of barricades well beyond the palisade made of logs and pikes aimed sharp points outward. Between each ring, the land was marred as if some monster’s nails had gouged deep ruts in the earth. The walls surrounding the city now stood more than twenty feet high.

One guard tower had always stood vigil beside each gate. Now, towers dotted along the wall as far as I could see. Navy banners with gold trim snapped in the wind high above each tower.

Someone had beenverybusy.

After our summoning at Grove’s Pass, Órla had suggested we Travel to Saltstone to cut out a month of travel and avoid running into the massive army headed toward the capital. Unfortunately, as with my attempts at Telepathy and Dream Walking with Ayden, I was unable to Travel much further than a few hundred yards. I wondered if my magic needed some sortof recharge, or if it was struggling to adapt to the mainland, but Órla offered a simpler explanation.

“Your emotions are interfering with your Light. I can see it dimming with each stride. When we stood amid the dead of the town, it appeared as a candle flame struggling to stay lit,” she said as we approached one of the many farms that began only a few miles outside the mountain village. “Your magic will strengthen when you regain your will.”

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