Page 75 of Of Blood and Fire
“The distance to either Jakarra or Ezu makes any sort of assault with such liquid an extremely dangerous ploy,” Damon immediately said. “One that could, quite literally, blow up in our faces.”
“If we carry the barrels in a long harness, we can at least detach if anything happens,” Garran said.
“Except if the ‘anything’ that happens is an explosion and it hits drakkon and kin before they even have a chance to react,” Damon growled back.
I touched his arm lightly. His gaze leapt to mine, those bloody depths rich with concern—a wash I could feel through my soul. “If we have to do this, then it’s a chance we’ll have to take.”
And he knew that. He was simply thinking with his heart rather than his head, and while that meltedmyheart, it didn’t alter the fact that, one way or another, whether I thought this was the best course of action or not, we were going to carry the fucking stuff out there and do our best to erase these bastards.
“Any suggestions as to how to maximize the effectiveness of the liquid?” Garran asked. “I’m thinking it would be better to have a heavy rain of liquid rather than a single dump.”
“We could use seeding bins,” Neera said. “They may not be perfect, but they’re readily available and built from metal rather than wood. If the earth mages can fortify the metal against its volatility, it should survive being carried for longer.”
Seeding bins were large, rectangular metal bins with a bottom channel along their base that could be opened and closed via a lever to allow the distribution of seeds. They were smaller than the cages Kaia and Yara had carried, but filled with liquid, probably heavier and more awkward.
Garran glanced at me, his eyebrows raised in query. “They feasible?”
I hesitated and reached out to Kaia.Can you carry something like this?
I mentally pictured a seeding bin. She said,Is heavy?
It will be with liquid inside.
Two carry?
That’s a good idea.It would at least stop some of the heavy swinging and make them a little less likely to blow us all to smithereens.
Am queen. All ideas are good.
I snorted mentally and returned my attention to Garran. “Kaia says they can carry one bin between two drakkons. Just ask the smiths to make damn sure the filling tube is heavily secured to prevent any liquid washing back up it and hitting the drakkons’ underbellies and tails.”
“Of course. Neera, organize for bins to be sent across to the smiths. Jarin, let them know what we’re planning, and get an earth mage down there.”
“Also ask how long we’ve got before they’re ready,” I added.
After a moment, Jarin said, “It’ll take them three hours to transfer and secure the liquid.”
“Lunchtime, then,” Garran said and glanced at me. “How long will it take for the drakkons to fly over there?”
“Carrying the seeding bins? We may well be pushing to reach them before dusk.”
“Which is an unacceptable risk,” Damon immediately said. “It would be better to wait until tomorrow, when the skies are all but clear of riders.”
I totally agreed. The trouble was, the longer we delayed, the more chance we gave the riders and their mages to put their plan into action. The Rayabar had given us a timeframe, and the clock was running down fast.
“What if we run a diversion?” Garran once again circled the area where the barges were most likely to be. “What if our airmages created a storm out over this part of the sea? Given we used such a storm to cover your attack on the Sheer, it’s possible they’ll think another one is coming at them. That should draw their attention long enough for you and the drakkons to hit the islands.”
“That could work,” I said.
“Then we have a plan?—”
“One that’s not quite finalized,” I cut in. “Given we’ll have to fly out of Esan with the seeding bins, we’ll need Damon and the Prioress to work up another of their smoke screens.”
“Which is easily enough done if it is merely a screen rather than a full shield.” He paused, gaze narrowing thoughtfully. “We could possibly—once you and your drakkons have lifted off and are clear of the area—project it over toward the Beak. Not only would it prevent their watch stations seeing you, but it could also well enhance the riders’ suspicion that an attack is coming at the Sheer or the barges.”
“Excellent idea,” Garran said, and glanced at me again. “I’ll inform your team?—”
“One of my team remains in the hospital,” I cut in. “I’m not sure if she’ll be in any condition to fly.”
