Page 91 of An Honored Vow

I turned to Pirmiith. “Where are the scouts?”

“At their posts.” He stood up from the rock. “Except for two who are watching the squadrons led by Arsenal members.”

“Who?” I asked.

“The Dagger and the Arrow.” Damien had already replaced his dead with new.

Riven grabbed my arm. “They’re traveling separately or together?”

“Separately.”

My chest tightened. That meant twice as many villages could burn.

I wiped my eyes. “Call in as many as you can.”

Elaran scoffed. “You could send the scouts to warn them. Instead, you’d have them leave the Halflings for dead?”

“No.” I crossed my arms. “But we have to have a plan or they will die too. We’ll decide which villages can be evacuated the quickest. Some of Victoria’s contacts are still harboring Halflings.” I turned to Dynara. “You will send word, ask them how many they can help escape if we can’t get there in time.”

Dynara nodded and ran.

I turned to Gwyn. “Are you ready to test your powers?”

“Absolutely.” She grinned.

“Good.” I nodded her off the field. “Go get rest. We’ll fetch you when we have a plan.”

Gwyn looped her arm through Fyrel’s. “If I’m going, then she is.”

Fyrel’s cheeks turned pink but she didn’t shrug Gwyn off.

My eyes narrowed. “No transformations. No bravery. You must follow orders.”

Fyrel’s back straightened and she nodded.

“Then get to bed too.”

They took off, giggling as if I hadn’t just given them permission to risk their lives.

“And what about the cities?” Vrail asked, her face flushed with rage. “There’s hundreds of Halflings in Volcar, and Damien’s fleet is right there. He could kill them tonight if he wanted.”

My mouth tightened. “Then we pray that he doesn’t.”

None of the Amber Fae had enough control over their powers to fight—that was what Damien was placing his bets on, no doubt. He wanted to force our hand, to make us play, before our magical numbers grew too high and their gifts too strong.

Vrail’s voice cracked. “We could evacuate Volcar too.”

I shook my head. “We aren’t ready. It would spread our resources too thin.” I turned to Syrra. “He may not attack the city. He has no way of knowing if we would come to Volcar’s aid or use the opportunity to attack the capital.”

“A risk.” Syrra nodded. “But a balanced one.”

Her approval didn’t loosen the knots in my stomach.

“So, we just wait?” Vrail scoffed. “Like ducklings along the river knowing there are foxes about?”

“Villages are one thing, cities another.” Vrail’s disappointment stung, but I knew this was right. Damien wanted us to run in, unprepared, so he had the chance to smite us. We had to fight against that instinct, or we would lose. “We’ll send word and supplies, but until Damien does otherwise, we have a responsibility to protect the people already here.”

Vrail stomped her foot on the grass, scattering Gerarda’s shadows. “I hate this.”

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