Page 45 of Knight's End
Chapter Twelve
We hovered in the clouds as a new day dawned. We peered down on the kingdom that had given birth to my Declan, on the kingdom that was supposed to be our greatest ally. A kingdom that was building a giant seawall out of magical crystal that stretched as far as the eye could see. It looked as though the inside of a geode had been planted on the beach and then enchanted to grow eighty feet tall. The wall was slightly purple in color, and the sun’s gentle rays bounced off it and made me squint.
The sight of the monstrosity made my stomach sink down to the sea below. "They’re preparing for a siege from the sea."
Declan hugged my middle. He’d ridden over with me on Pony, since Sedara only knew of two mounted gargoyles in Evaness’ possession. "Typical mother. Honor means less to her than her personal preservation."
Ryan pointed at some shadows at the base of the wall. “Look at those. Do they look like shipwrecks to you?”
I tried to see below the water, but I couldn’t tell what the shadows were. “Perhaps.”
“I think Raj and Isla might not have left her as untouched as you’d thought.”
“Still not enough.”
“Of course not,” Ryan agreed. “But every loss makes them a little weaker. Down there are several hundred soldiers we don’t have to fight.”
That was true. But truth and vengeance aren’t always brothers. And my need to drag Diamoni into this, my need to make her feel as ripped apart as I was feeling, was stronger than any logic. I turned and simply stared at Ryan.
Ryan grinned back at me. “Diamoni is a fool. And like any fool, her own actions are her downfall. She’s putting a lot of trust in us to fight that war for her.”
I nodded. "Too bad my mother always told me to trust my allies only slightly more than my enemies.”
The war still raged on our borders. Reports had come in last night that Lady Agatha’s northern province was completely lost to Raj. Malia’s province looked like it was next on their list. If I didn’t get my enemies to focus on other locations … if I didn’t get Raj and Isla to divert their attention from Evaness … if I didn’t get Sedara and the other kingdoms of Kenmare involved, I had no chance. Evaness couldn’t win this war alone. If we had to plunge other countries into this bloodbath, so be it. All the better if it was Sedara.
“Speaking of enemies, I’m going to go get our enemy forces ready.” Ryan flew in front of me with his gargoyle. He gave me a cocky nod that had my core tightening with anticipation. Then he flew off toward the remaining gargoyles, which were hovering in place a mile back, each one blood bonded to one of Ryan’s commanders.
We had a fleet of gargoyles. And we finally knew how to use them.
I grinned over my shoulder at Declan, whom I’d fussed over before dawn, dressing him in a vest and cape that showcased Evaness’ burning rose. I wanted to walk into Queen Diamoni’s castle and have Declan’s attire be a punch in the face to that old hag of a queen. Her son wasn’t hers anymore. He was mine.
He’d laughed when I’d said that, pulling my hand down from where I was straightening his cape. “Of course, I’m yours.”
I’d stared at him long and hard. “First of all, she thinks I’m dead. Which means she’ll think I’m weak.”
“You’re not.”
“Which means she’s going to accuse you and the other knights of failing to protect me. Which means she’s going to try to undermine your confidence and ultimately convince you that she’d be better off protecting all of us. She’ll try and convince you to stay there and keep me there so she can control us more easily, and she’ll want to use you for your old powers—”
Declan had laughed. “Bloss, that’s ridiculous.”
I’d shaken my head. “No. If she thinks she can annex us—take credit for protecting Evaness and take it over like she did the Isles of Peth, that’s what she’ll do. She’d enslave us like she enslaved the elves. I stayed up most the night, thinking about it, talking with Connor. We think that’s what my mother would have done.”
Declan’s face had paled, and he hadn’t said a word after that, just let me fuss over his clothes and then helped me with my own black gown. The gown was layered to look like rose petals, and the under layers were orange and red. Declan and I were dressed to match. And though Gennifer was still frozen and my hair was only in a simple plait, I knew our solidarity was going to be important.
I turned on my gargoyle and stared at Declan. He looked a little ill, but I chose to believe that was from riding—which he hated—rather than what we were about to face. “Almost time,” I told him.
Declan nodded.
I faced forward again and looked down at the palace, “I can’t wait to hear her every thought."
Connor interjected, "You might not like them."
I gave a vicious grin. "I just hope they’re useful. But she doesn't know about Blue."
Satisfied smirks went around the group.
My thoughts went to Quinn. He’d stayed behind with Donaloo to guard the palace.
