Page 74 of Of Blood and Fire
“It is if the smiths and the alchemists have refined the new spray and constructed a viable means of using it.” He glanced across the placement board. “Jarin, has Franklyn sent in a report yet? Did he not promise an update by today?”
“He did, Commander. With your permission, I’ll message him now.”
Garran nodded, then walked over to the map we’d attached to the wall. “The Rayabar said the barges’ new position was an hour northeast of the Sheer. That should put them somewhere around this area.”
He stepped forward and circled an area underneath what was simply designated Ice Shelf on the map. Our ships hadn’t sailed in that direction in eons, so whether the shelf gave way to more hospitable lands was anyone’s guess.
“And they were originally building their main force here.” I circled the area where we’d encountered the barges. “Now, given the little we do know of the birds and their stamina, they’d have to keep the barges within flying distance from both Ezuandthe Sheer. That would put them somewhere here.”
I circled a large area midway between the small chain of islands we’d retreated to after our barge attack and the Ice Shelf area.
“That’s a damnably large area to cover,” Neera commented. “It could take days, and if they see you coming?—”
“It would be better to attack the islands first,” Garran cut in. “We know they’re holding soldiers on Jakarra and using Ezu as a jumping-off point for the riders, so why not wipe out the reinforcements there first? With that done, we could then hit the barges?—”
“The location of which we have no clue. We could be flying uselessly about for days,” I growled. “Be reasonable, Garran.”
Annoyance briefly flared in his eyes. “If we hit the islands without hitting the barges, they could sweep in and overwhelm you. We have no idea what numbers remain on the Sheer or how many those barges currently hold, remember.”
“All the more reason fornotattempting to hit all three at the same time,” I bit back in the same tone. “It spreads us too thin and leaves Esan without drakkon protection.”
“But notunprotected. You forget the air mages.” His gaze switched to Damon. “And you and the Prioress can shield the fortress if necessary, can’t you?”
“Within reason, and not for long.”
“Two extra drakkons still doesn’t give us the edge in numbers, Commander,” I snapped.
Garran’s gaze returned to mine, his expression flat and determined. “I’ll give way on the barges, but we still need to attack their forces on the islands if we’re to have any hope. Of the two threats we face, the riders remain the most dangerous. You know that; I know that.”
“I’m the one up there fucking fighting them, Garran, so yes, I’m well aware of the threat they present. But I’ve seen the magesin action multiple times now, and you have to trust me when I saytheirthreat remains greater.”
But even as I said it, I knew there would be no dissuading him on this course of action.
“Commanders,” Neera said into the brief silence that followed. “At the present rate of progress, it will take at least three days for the mages under that fog to reach their encampment outside our gates. We have time to do both.”
I wasn’t so sure but sighed wearily and rubbed my temples. “Fine. We do it your way.”
Amusement flared briefly in Garran’s eyes. He knew, as I knew, that in the end the decision was his to make, not mine. He was king and grand commander, not me.
“Jarin,” he immediately said, “what say the smiths?”
The older man glanced up, though the quill was still moving. “The liquid successfully burns through both feathers and armor, but they haven’t yet perfected a means of spraying it.”
“Why not use tubes, like the riders and now the Mareritt do?” I asked.
“They want something that can be used by not only the military but also upon drakkon back. The liquid remains volatile, and the tubes are not precise enough, given the length of our drakkons and the span of their wings.”
And the last thing any of us wanted was the liquid blowing up drakkons rather than our enemies. “How much of the liquid have they got?”
Jarin relayed the question and, after a few seconds, said, “Five barrels.”
“How fast can they make more?”
Another pause. “Not very. The stuff is, as they said, volatile. They would not in general recommend its use except in extreme circumstances.”
“Can they make the barrels transportable?”
Another beat. “Yes.”
