Page 29 of Of Scale and Blood

We came out a few steps later. The small valley that lay before us was pitted with rocks and covered in long, yellowish grass. It had also been partially deforested, the trunks of the old ghost trees now piled beside several forges, ready to fuel the fires that burned within. Thick columns of smoke rose, staining the underside of the fog wall, which was undoubtedly the reason for its yellowish color when viewed from above. Hammers clanged as smiths worked metal into long rounded forms that looked far too similar to the tubes the gilded riders used to fire their liquid shit, while in other sections of the valley, a good dozen smallish catapults mounted on wheels sat in various stages of production. Beyond that were a series of temporary shelters and kitchen facilities.

We ran low and fast down to the nearest outcrop of rock and hunkered down behind it.

“They’ve been here for a while by the look of things,” I whispered. “So why haven’t any of our patrols ever noticed the fog or come to investigate the noise?”

“There’s probably some sort of redirect woven through the magic creating the fog.”

“And yet we heard hammering on approach and weren’t redirected.”

“No, because they’re still in the process of revitalization.” He pointed to three red-robed gaze men standing, hands linked, on a wooden platform that had been constructed midway up the other side of the slope. “You might not be able to see it, but there’s a triangular vortex of power flowing from those three.”

“Then they need to be the first thing we attack the minute we get that barrier down.”

“Agreed.” His gaze met mine. “Though the odds are greatly against us, no matter how capable your squad is.”

“Then we don’t use the squad. We use our ace.”

What ace?came Kaia’s thought.

I hesitated, then simply said,The reason we win.

Am queen. We always win.

Not always, and certainly not against better armed foes, but she knew that as much as I did, even if she wasn’t admitting it.

“That is a dangerous ploy for us all,” he said grimly. “We have no idea what weapons they have here, and if theyhavegained the cylinder construction details from the gilded riders, that’s more than capable of bringing Kaia down.”

“Only if they get the chance to deploy it. We need to make sure they don’t.” I met his gaze. “Will destroying the pin behind us result in the same sort of explosion that happened in the blue vein tunnel?”

“Unlikely, given the scale of the barrier. It’d take out a good chunk of their own encampment.”

“So it’d simply retract?”

He nodded. “But given its triangular nature, it’s likely only two sides will fall, not the three.”

“Two sides is more than enough.”

I quickly explained what I had in mind, and his expression darkened. “You’ll end up trapped.”

“No, because I’ll call in the team the minute those ballistas are ash. And if I can’t get back here, then Kaia can grab me on the fly.” I placed a hand on his arm. His muscles tensed under my fingers, making it feel as if I was gripping warm steel. “I can’t throw flame from here, Damon—it’s simply too far away.”

He took a deep breath and released it slowly. The man definitely wasn’t happy with the plan but all he said was, “Keep low and as close to the fog wall for as long as you can.”

I studied the sweeping line of the barrier for a second, seeing plenty of areas that provided good cover, and plenty of areas that didn’t. But a good portion of the smoke coming from the smithy fires drifted over this half of the valley, and that at least gave me a little extra cover. I drew my sword and exchanged it for his. It had been carved from stone of the Blue Steel Mountains, and while it was prized for its strength and imperviousness to weather, it simply didn’t have the capacity to cut through steel and stone that the Ithican blade did. “I’ll head for the privy block—once I’m in position, take out the stone.”

He nodded. “Best give me your bow and arrows. I can take out anyone who gets close and give you time to run if you flame out.”

If I got to the point of flaming out, I wouldn’t have the strength to run, but I wasn’t about to mention that. I handed him the weapons. “If they charge you, you run. Don’t wait for me—Kaia can get me out.”

His expression suggested him running was not going to be an option. Not until I was safe, anyway. “Don’t get dead.”

I grinned. “I can’t get dead because I haven’t finished playing with you yet.”

He scowled, though amusement danced briefly through his eyes. “Begone, woman, before I do something I might regret.”

My eyebrows rose. “Like what?”

“Like kiss you senseless and run the risk of discovery.”

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