Page 102 of The War of Four Winters

"The cost would be high," Ieduin objected. "Those bridges are designed to be defended by minimal forces against superior numbers. The first waves would be cut down before reaching the other side."

Khulan's hand descended to squeeze Ieduin's ass, this time with clear pride. "My little flame understands the risks but forgets we have little choice. Sometimes blood must be paid."

Ieduin swatted the hand away. "Boundaries," they hissed, though the corner of their mouth twitched as if suppressing a smile. "We discussed this."

"You discussed. I listened. There is a difference." Khulan's unrepentant grin suggested this was a familiar exchange between them.

I redirected their attention to the maps. "There are no other options. The river is too deep, the currents too dangerous for any crossing except at the bridges. We cannot reach Tarathiel without taking at least one, and the more we take, the better."

“What if Tarathiel simply destroys the bridges once we're committed to the assault?" Aryn asked. "He could trap us on the approach while eliminating our path forward. It's what I would do."

A shocked silence fell over the war council. Katyr looked at Aryn with barely concealed horror while Ieduin shifted uncomfortably. Even Niro, hardened by decades of warfare, seemed taken aback by the cold calculation in Aryn's voice.

"You'd sacrifice your own soldiers so completely?" Ieduin finally asked.

Aryn shrugged, unmoved by their reactions. "The Shikami taught that victory justifies any cost. Losing half your forces to ensure the enemy's total defeat is mathematically sound."

I studied my half-brother. The Shikami's training methods were notorious even among elves. They bred perfect weapons, not soldiers with consciences.

Captain Seagrave cleared her throat, breaking the uncomfortable silence. "Regardless, he would never risk it. Those bridges are the Assembly island's lifeline. Without them, no supplies reach the island, no reinforcements arrive. He would be trapping himself as surely as stopping us."

"Besides," Niro added, "destroying the bridges would kill as many of his own soldiers as ours. He's positioned his elite forces at those chokepoints. Even Tarathiel isn't that ruthless toward his own men."

I nodded in agreement. "My father is cold, calculating, but he's not suicidal. The bridges stay."

"Our forces outnumber his considerably," Niro observed, tracing potential routes. "If we concentrate our strength on two bridges simultaneously, it would force him to divide his defensive forces."

"The eastern and western bridges then," Katyr suggested. "They're farther apart, making it more difficult for Tarathiel to quickly reinforce either position if pressed."

I nodded. "We'll use our numbers to our advantage. Multiple waves of attackers. The first will absorb the initial defenses, creating openings for those who follow."

"A costly approach," Aryn noted quietly. "The first waves will suffer tremendous casualties."

"I know," I said, the weight of those future deaths settling heavily on my shoulders. "But there is no other way to reach the Assembly island. Tarathiel has made sure of that."

Khulan straightened to his full, imposing height. "My warriors volunteer to lead the first charge at the eastern bridge. The Yeutish are accustomed to paying blood prices for victory."

"And my Broken Blades will take the western approach," Niro added firmly. "They've trained for this kind of assault."

I studied the map once more, committing the details to memory. "The Craiggybottom fleet will secure the river once we’ve taken the bridges," I decided. “Have them moved closer to the city. I want them to be seen approaching the walls to draw fire.”

"It might thin his reserves slightly," Elindir acknowledged. "Every defender drawn away from the bridges increases our chances."

"The losses will be severe," I said, meeting each of their eyes in turn. "Make sure your warriors understand what we're asking of them."

"They know," Khulan answered simply. "They fight for a future worth dying for."

As we finalized the initial assault plans, another messenger arrived, slightly breathless. "Queen Taelyn's party has been sighted approaching the eastern gate. They should arrive within the hour."

"I should greet them personally," I decided, rolling up the maps we'd been studying. "Elindir, will you join me?"

His expression lightened immediately. "Of course."

"I've never seen Ieduin so thoroughly outmaneuvered," I observed once we were alone, allowing a smile to break through. "Usually they're the one causing discomfort, not experiencing it."

"They appear well-matched," Elindir replied diplomatically, though amusement danced in his eyes. "Khulan seems to genuinely adore them."

"In a very... direct way," I agreed. "I never thought I'd see Ieduin, of all people, so scandalized."

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