Page 24 of Of Scale and Blood

Jarin’s tone was abnormally calm—almost monotone—under attack conditions, so the fact it held just the slightest edge suggested this attack was anything but normal.

“How great a force?” I asked.

“Five hosts.”

“Sixty-five warriors is not what I would call a true threat to either Esan or her wall,” Damon said with a touch of surprise. “Why the full alarm?”

My father’s expression was grim. “Because they tested a device we’ve not seen before, and it partially destabilized a section of the wall.”

“What sort of device?” I said in alarm. “Magic or mechanical?”

“A mix of both is our best guess at this point,” Jarin said. “The five hosts attacked immediately after the destabilization and managed to partially climb the wall before we could beat them back.”

“They also,” my father added flatly, “had some sort of protective spell shielding the destabilized area, protecting their warriors from our regular weaponry. It was only when our mages started healing the breach that they fell away and retreated.”

“How far did they retreat, though?” Damon asked. “It’s generally not in their nature to do so.”

“They’ve set up a forward encampment several miles out,” Jarin said. “Hard to see what is going on at the moment, though, because there’s a heavy fog currently sitting over the bogs.”

I automatically looked out over the wall, even though several miles out would have put them well beyond the range of normal sight. Nothing moved in the areas I could see, which in itself was bad news. As Damon had said, they were not a race inclined to retreat until most of their forces had been spent.

“The air mages haven’t been able to move the fog?” Damon asked.

“No.”

“Which suggests magic is being employed, however natural that fog looks.”

“Indeed.” Jarin studied him for a moment. “Would you be able to destroy the pin they’re using to anchor that fog spell?”

“My magic is protective in nature rather than destructive, but I should be able to find its location. Once found, it’s easy enough to destroy the pin using a sword.” He paused. “May I use one of the viewers to check the area out?”

Jarin immediately ordered the soldier at the nearest viewer to step aside. Damon walked over and bent to peer through the eye piece. After a few minutes, he straightened and stepped away. “Given the very slight current eddying through the fog, I would guess that there’s three pins—one at each end of the concealment fog and the third centrally located, probably within the barrier itself.”

“Would destroying one erase enough of the spell for the fog to dissipate and allow us to see what lies hidden?” my father asked.

“In theory, yes.”

“Then let’s go out and check,” I said.

My father glanced at me, eyebrows raised. “You’ve new riders to break in. We’ve other squads who are more than capable.”

“I’m aware of that, Commander, but we can’t fly out for a few hours yet, and I?—”

“Have your father’s curiosity and need to uncover firsthand what is happening out there.”

My lips twitched. “Indeed, Commander, I do. But it also gives the drakkons extra time to hunt.”

“Which is no doubt a good thing,” Jarin commented somewhat wryly. “I can’t imagine it would be fun riding a hungry drakkon.”

“They’d only ever eat us under dire circumstances; we’re far too gristly for their liking,” I replied and somehow kept my amusement in check at his expression, which was now a mix of disbelief and horror.

Truth, Kaia said.Rua and Yara take Gria to hunt. I fly with you.

You should be with Gria, not me.

You fight. I fight.

The Mareritt aren’t your fight, Kaia.

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