Page 60 of Songs of Retribution

"You were supposed to not be an idiot," I seethed, ready to strangle him.

Kirsi turned towards us, shifted sharp eyes to me, then reared her arm back and punched Orman square across the jaw.

CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO

SAI

I leanedon the table that glimmered in dappled sunlight. Wind blew with the promise of a different season lingering along the eddies. Leaders stood around a map of the continent. More Prasanna soldiers had arrived with the morning so the meadow had turned into a war camp, thousands of tents erected over still soggy ground. Another group was supposed to arrive by mid-morning. There was no more running from the inevitable—war had arrived despite every measure we'd taken to avoid it.

I pointed towards the markers that showed Carrington's troops. "We can't be certain if this is where the King has soldiers stationed, or how many he has. He's used glamour to fool us before."

Lira, who stood at my side and was like a pocket of warmth in the most brutal winter, crossed her arms and frowned. On my other side, Shaan stood beside Lennox who leaned closer to the map, his finger following the river’s curving lines and the peaked edges of mountain ranges.

Eldrick, who'd arrived with the other soldiers that morning, shook his head. "The King does not have his forces there."

The Prasanna’s army leaders looked at him but remained quiet. None of us had much insight into what Carrington might do.

"Care to elaborate, Sir Eldrick?" I didn't trust the man, exactly, but I'd vowed to get along with Lennox and would try to treat his advisor with respect in order to achieve that aim. He had guards assigned solely to watch him, to make sure he didn’t send thrushes or leave the camp. If it bothered him, he didn’t show it.

Eldrick stretched a finger along the bend of a river on the map. "It's unlikely many Prasanna have seen this area in person as it's close to the Seelie border, however this map doesn't do justice to this body of water. It's deep, too deep to ford by foot and difficult to manage even with kelpies."

"Making it easy to defend," General Daksh said from his spot at the end of the table.

"True," Eldrick replied, his gaze focused on the map. "However, Carrington's aim isn't to defend. He wishes to attack. He's likely stationing just enough troops there to draw our attention, while glamouring his actual army at another location. If he can lure us to that river, they'll have the advantage. He'll pick our soldiers off while he moves his actual troops quickly past our defenses."

"But here," Shaan said, tapping a mountain. "They could cross there."

Eldrick shook his head, his eyes gleaming with sunlight that bounced off the map. "No. The passes through that section of the mountain are treacherous. It would be nearly impossible for an army to move through it without suffering casualties, and they'd certainly not achieve it quickly. Carrington is a master strategist above all else." Eldrick lifted his face and met the glaring eyes of Prasanna leaders without shifting his expression. "He knows we have the advantage with inborn magic, the Amentium notwithstanding. He'll want to hit us decisively and unexpectedly before we rally. Chaos and brute force will be his approach."

Some standing around the table grimaced. Eldrick spoke truths we'd all suspected but didn't want to hear, didn't want to imagine as reality. Especially with the way Eldrick shared them, slow and steady, as if they were inevitable. Eldrick thunked a finger farther down the map. "If I had to place a bet, I'd say his army is somewhere along here."

Lennox's lips twisted but he didn't speak.

"Why?" I asked.

Eldrick smoothed the parchment out on the spot he indicated. "The river is shallow there, easy to pass even for the humans and fairies on foot. Plus, there's a valley nestled between the mountain range, easy to defend and well suited to stow an army. He wants to lure us higher up the river, pick us off, and unleash his forces as we retreat, catching us by surprise."

I played out the scenario in my mind and a chill ran down my spine. The plan was nearly flawless, especially if they used those Amentium cannons on us. They'd circle us in like helpless prey, stealing our magic and destroying us. My careful expression was hard to keep in place. I didn't want the soldiers and generals standing around the table to realize how shaken I was by this idea. I had to remain strong for the Prasanna as the senior representative of my family.

But physically and mentally I felt the weakest I had in my entire life. My body throbbed from the scar at my stomach, I wasn’t at full strength from the poisonous metal, and exhaustion and worry rumbled through me. I longed to pull away from these troops, take Lira with me, and hide. Goddess, what if we couldn't pull this off? What if we'd done everything just to die?

"Then we don't let them stay in that valley," Lennox said, his voice far firmer than my thoughts.

Everyone shifted to look at him, and Shaan leaned in closer so their shoulders brushed. Lennox met his gaze for a moment before he pointed to the mountains surrounding the valley. "Prince Sai, Princess Lira, Prince Shaan, and I, with a small group of soldiers”—he tacked on the last part at the looks of concern on the leaders’ faces—“can travel here." He placed his finger over the peak. "Lira and I can use our magic to mimic a monsoon and flood the valley. In the meantime, half our troops should travel here." He slid his finger over to the original target. "Distract my father by making him believe we've bought into his trap. He's not the only one who can use surprise and brute force."

Eldrick's eyes sparkled with approval, his lips pinching up at the corner. A glimmer of hope seemed to spread through everyone present.

"We'd force them farther south." Lennox moved his hand closer to our side, along the Alegre borders on the map. "Here where our troops understand the territory and have the advantage. He wants us to fight on his terms, but we can change the game."

"What about the Amentium?" General Daksh asked, breaking into thoughtful silence. "Even if we have the advantage of knowing the territory, what defenses can stand against it?"

"I've thought of that as well. When the four of us"—Lennox lifted his gaze to meet my eyes, and I nodded—"travel to disrupt his troops, we can try to steal some to study."

Pink rose to Lira’s cheeks as she cleared her throat. "I've spoken to the sirens in my troupe, and they've agreed to try to use their powers in the next battle to stop anyone holding the cannons. We'll need Luz to verify they are trustworthy, and I'm uncertain how far their voices can carry in a battle—we'll have to use wind to help move the sounds. It might not work, but it's something." Her voice grew quiet, and I snagged her hand, giving it a squeeze.

"I've also sent a thrush to Rainoe," I said, a bit begrudgingly. A part of me hated drawing the sirens on the coast into violence when they stood for healing and peace. "I've asked for any sirens who'd help—either with compelling or healing—to join us. She's spreading the word."

My gaze dropped to the map. It was beautifully drawn, with a colorful border and curling script. Our court was known for our art and culture. So much faced potential doom with the decisions we made today. I considered Lennox's plan to funnel the troops farther down the continent and I leaned forward and touched Kali's caves. "Do you think we could draw the forces this far?"

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