Page 117 of The Bones of Benevolence

Those gemstone eyes widened as he wrapped his hand around its worn filigree grip, the rubies inlaid beneath the guard glinting in the light. “I thought it was gone forever. Where did you get this?” he asked in disbelief.

“It was in Castemont’s quarters back in Taitha,” he answered with a shrug. “Figured we’d take a little look around, see if we could find anything embarrassing. No such luck, but we did find that.”

My heartrate quickened, thinking about my dagger that Miles handed over to Castemont. “You didn’t happen to find a dagger, did you?”

Whit shook his head. “No dagger. Just the sword.”

I tried not to let the disappointment sink in as Cal offered a hand to Whit. “Thank you,” he said with a smile so genuine, I couldn’t help but mirror it. But Whit grabbed his hand and pulled him into a hug, one of those hearty hugs between men where they slap each others’ backs and laugh the whole time.

“Enough of the love fest. Come on, Whit,” Nell chided, yanking him away to set up camp with the other arriving soldiers.

“Your Majesty,” Commander Summercut said with a bow as he approached, staking the crimson banner in the ground. “I had the seamstresses in Taitha sew your banner. I hope you’re satisfied with the design.”

It billowed against the blue sky, the gold-stitched symbols of Katia and Rhedros reminding me that was all I had of them — symbols. I wouldn’t have them to lean on tomorrow.

I mustered up a nod and smile. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”

“I’d like to review the strategies for the battle with the other leaders. We brought tents for you and your court, as well.”

I nodded, thankful for the thought behind his gestures. “Thank you, Commander.”

He raised a hand, a mess of soldiers jumping into action to erect the tents where Nell and Whit directed them. Soldiers continued to file down the Pass, my stomach churning with each one that arrived.

“I need to speak with you,” I murmured to Summercut, leaning in slightly. I stared at the distant walls of Eserene rising in the hazy distance. “As soon as the first tent is up.”

? ? ?

“They’re just gone?” Nell breathed, shock in her words.

I nodded, fighting to keep my face straight, the sound of the crowd of soldiers outside the tent a constant reminder of my fucking inadequacy. “I have no powers. Not even residual power. Nothing. I’m so, so sorry.”

Summercut’s face was grave, his cheeks sucked in as he thought, staring at the map of Eserene that had been sprawled across the table in front of us. “No apology necessary. But it’s going to take some manipulation to make it look like you still have powers.”

“We tried to convince her to stay toward the back of the charge,” Miles said flatly.

“I can’t do it. I understand why I should, but I can’t.” My eyes traveled through the tent. “I’ll be in the front, leading the charge. I’m not going to cower in the back.”

“It’s not cowering, your Majesty,” Summercut answered cautiously. “The soldiers can’t know that your powers are gone.”

“She offered tocarry a torch,” Miles scoffed.

My mind grappled for something, anything, when an idea hit me. “We’ll tell them I’m saving my strength for when I come face-to-face with Castemont. They have to know my well of power is not unlimited. I need to conserve it.”

Cal’s gemstone stare was on me, I could feel it. Summercut pursed his lips in thought. “You really want to lead the charge?”

“I have to.”

“It’ll be easier for you to make it to Castemont if you’re in the back,” Summercut explained. “The frontlines will weaken Castemont’s forces and give you more room to run.”

I shook my head. “I know my way through the city. I know it sounds crazy, but this is what I need to do.”

He nodded, running his tongue across his lips as he thought, looking to Miles and Cal. “Okay. We’ll make it work.” His finger hit the map, at a point on the wall just west of the city gates. “Trebuchets hit here, yes?” He placed a tiny wooden trebuchet on the map, behind the cavalry and footsoldier figurines. “Castemont will no doubt be stationed in the castle, and this is the closest point to his anticipated location. His army is most likely no larger than ten thousand strong, but they’re Vacants, so even their weakest soldier is more powerful than our strongest soldier. They also have the advantage of the walls.” He looked to me, his expression lined with severity. “We must breach the wall and keep the battle inside the city. It’ll be easier for us to overpower them in the narrow streets.”

“Wait,” I cut in, walking to the other side of the table, zeroing in on Inkwell. “We want to hit the weakest part of the wall, right? That’s our best chance of bringing it down quickly. If the wall has a weak point, it’ll be the portion surrounding Inkwell.”

Cal looked to Summercut. “She’s right. And the streets are narrower, which could give us an advantage as not too many of his Vacants will be able to get through. Easier for the frontlines to manage.”

I slid the figurines from one side of the map to the other, arranging them outside Inkwell’s walls, letting my eyes trace the path I’d take to Castemont.

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