Page 55 of The War of Wings
This man reeked of arrogance. But he’d shown fear. Only a flash of it, a momentary lapse in his distrusting, rough façade, but fear all the same. He feared a future where Malosym was victorious.
I could do this.
“Katia and Rhedros have been imprisoned by Malosym. I am no expert in military strategy, but I do know I need the entirety of your military as well as any civilians willing to fight.”
His eyes widened so much I was shocked they didn’t fall right out of his head and roll onto the table. “Are you out of your Saints damned mind?”
“The Saints aren’t the ones who are going to damn us. It’s going to be Malosym. I need every possible person I can get if we want any chance of stopping him.”
He glared at me, his chin jutting forward and nostrils flaring. I glared right back, then decided to take advantage of his silence. “Don’t think I didn’t see the terror on your face when Adorex landed in front of you. You were two breaths away from pissing your pants.” He straightened, outrage sending a red flush from his cheeks to his neck. “AndIcommand these drivas. Imagine the terror you’d feel facing down an Occulti driva commanded by Malosym.” As quickly as the red had risen in his face, it drained.
Queen Irli’s hands flew over her mouth, her eyes wide as saucers. “Does he have drivas?”
My mouth was a thin line as I looked to Cal. He leaned forward, staring down Laion. “We encountered an unknown driva over the Widow’s Sea,” he started. “It attacked us, and Katia’s drivas managed to take it down. We believe it was created by Malosym. The Occulti can take on any form, but it should take a considerable amount of power to conjure a driva. If he has that power now…” Cal didn’t finish, letting the unfinished sentence hang in the air.
Miles straightened, staring King Laion directly in the eye. He paused for just a moment, inhaling deeply as if it would make the words easier to say. “He’s getting stronger.”
I nodded gravely. “We have all five of Katia’s drivas. Three here and two in Taitha. We have command of the kelpies and soulhags, as well. We have a small army made up of both trained soldiers and civilians who answered my call. And we have me and my powers, but I’m still learning their extent and how to control them.” I took a deep breath, letting the words settle over the table. “Malosym has the Occulti and a bottomless well of power.”
Laion remained silent. Seconds felt like hours as he continued tapping his finger against the table. When he finally spoke, just enough raw worry strained his voice to break through the practiced exterior of a cold king. “You truly think he will return?”
“I know he will return. It’s a matter of when, not if.”
“And you plan to free Katia and Rhedros?” he asked.
“I do.”
“How?”
“I’m working on that part.”
A deep inhale preceded a nod. “Very well. I will arrange a meeting with our military officials tomorrow.”
I nodded, releasing the breath I’d been holding for too long. Cal’s foot brushed against mine under the table.
“Thank you, King Laion.” One country down, dozens to go. The prospect was daunting, but at least we had something, and something was better than nothing. “We’ll depart tomorrow after the meeting.”
Queen Irli’s brows lifted, her mouth popping open. “Depart? To where?”
“The next kingdom on our list is Eddena,” I said. “We’re planning on flying into every capital city–”
“And terrorizing their citizens with your drivas?” King Laion cut in, his brows furrowed. The fear and humility he’d shown just seconds ago was gone. “That will do nothing but create widespread panic as words travels. Not to mention how long it will take you.”
Helplessness surged in my chest. I had no control over the distance between countries. I had no control over how long it would take. I squared my jaw, doubling down on our plan even though it felt impossible. “Do you have a better idea?” I asked, hoping I sounded doubtful.
King Laion was silent, but Queen Irli seemed to burst to life beside him. “A ball,” she offered, her voice far too loud and far too excited.
Cal raised a brow, a sharp exhale leaving his nostrils. “My apologies. But, a ball?”
He was right. A ball seemed trivial at best, and a massive waste of time at worst. The clock was ticking.
“It’s the perfect way to get the leaders of every kingdom in one place,” Queen Irli prattled, nodding her head frantically. “They all love any excuse to show off their wealth. The timeline will be tight, but we can have it arranged in two weeks.”
“Two weeks?” I blurted, far too loud. “Malosym is building up his power as we speak. We don’t have that kind of time.”
“Going from kingdom to kingdom will take you months,” Laion said, his tone short.
My mouth opened and closed. Two weeks here in Araqina, sitting on our asses, waiting on the leaders of other kingdoms tobless us with their presence. A load of bullshit. But I could either shovel that bullshit myself or dress it up in gold and finery and wait for the other kings and queens to come shovel it with me.
