Alliance (7 page)

Glaevahl carefully pushed his chair back and rose with a delicate grace to walk around the table. “May I?” He held his hand out for the pointer, and Ryneq handed it over. “Thank you.” He drew the end of the stick along the wall that ran around the lower villages of Torsere. “We can infuse the wall with magic, much like we do the trees in Alel. It won’t be as strong as the one surrounding Alel, nor will it stand up to more than one or two attempts if the witch tries to breach it. But there are enough of us here”—he waved a hand around the table, indicating the other elves present—“with enough power to at least give the appearance of a magical border. It should hold them off for a while and give us a chance to come up with something better. As you know, it will take a while for the magic in the Hervathian Forest to recognize Cerylea as one of its own, and Torsere won’t come under elven protection until then. I very much doubt it will hold them that long.”

He handed the pointer back to Ryneq and returned to his seat. The wall enclosed the upper and lower villages in Torsere, but many more of his people lived outside it. “Peros, I realize you’ve only just returned, but as second-in-command I need you up to speed as soon as possible. Are you aware of the plans in place to protect the outlying villagers?”

“Yes, Sire.” Peros snapped to attention. “Talis already gave me a brief explanation before this meeting, and will do so in greater detail after. But as I understand, two patrols, including Nysad’s, left yesterday afternoon, and one more this morning. The rest are leaving as we speak. All preparing to return to the palace as soon as soon as the sun sets.”

Ryneq rubbed the back of his head. He could feel an ache starting up just behind his ear and pressed at it for a moment, hoping to prevent it from getting worse. “Glaevahl, how long will it take to put the protection in place?”

“Two hours at the very least. It’s a complicated spell and will take great concentration.”

Ryneq glanced out the wide glass doors at the sun shining high in the sky. It was only an hour or so past midday, and the sun would be up for a good few hours yet. “We believe it safe to assume Seran has men watching the border and beyond. Maybe he can see even farther into our lands with the aid of the witch, I don’t know.” He hated the thought of leaving his people so vulnerable while they hurried to get back behind the relative safety of Torsere’s walls. The small patrols would provide little defense if Seran chose to investigate.

“Eldin, I realize it’s dangerous for you and your riders to fly too close to the witch, but I’d like you to provide cover for the soldiers and villagers. You will be under the protection of darkness, but even so, there will still be an element of risk. I want to give the patrols as much support as we can while still trying to go unnoticed.”

“Of course, Sire.” Eldin then turned to address Glaevahl. “Does she need to see us to cast her spells?”

Glaevahl pondered the question, a slightly pained expression on his face. It was the first time Ryneq had seen him look anything other than composed, and it did nothing to calm his nerves. “I’m afraid I can’t be sure.” He clasped his hands and set them carefully on them table. “Ordinarily I would say that she would have to have line of sight to cast her spells, but either she or the other one managed to cause the storm at sea from miles away. I suspect she can somehow sense the dragons as they can sense her, but I have no idea if that would be enough to use her magic against them. She hasn’t tried anything yet, after all, but that may be because they aren’t ready for an all-out attack yet.”

Ryneq clenched his fists in frustration. They had no way of knowing when that might change, and his men and the villagers would be easy targets until they were behind the palace walls. But he also didn’t relish bringing his dragon riders in range of the witch. The other witch had mentioned dragon’s blood, and this one with Seran probably wanted it too. If she got her hands on a dragon….

“I’d like to volunteer.” It was the first time Nykin had spoken up during the meeting, and the look of open challenge on his face made Ryneq wince. “Fimor and I will protect them.”

Again Ryneq wished he’d thought before he’d spoken the day before. As far as Nykin was concerned, he’d as good as implied that the dragon riders weren’t a valuable part of the Torserian Army, and this was obviously Nykin’s way of proving they were. Ryneq wanted to shake him and tell him he had nothing to prove—this mission would be risky enough without that. He struggled to think of a way to answer without making things worse, but Eldin beat him to it.

“Nykin.” Eldin shot Nykin a dark look, making Nykin hunch back in his seat a little. “Unless I am misinformed, I believe I’m still the lead dragon rider. You would do well to remember that once in a while.” His words were harsh, but he had a sparkle in his eye that Ryneq didn’t miss, and Ryneq’s stomach sank as he realized what Eldin was going to say. “However, in this instance you are correct. Sire, we would
all
be honored to provide protection for our people. No matter the risk.”

Ryneq bit back his protests. No matter how much he hated the thought of Nykin being near the witch, and despite what Nykin may think, the riders
were
part of his army, and risk was an understood part of war. “Very well. Choose ten of your riders to accompany the soldiers. Leave the rest to guard the palace.”

“Yes, Sire.”

Ryneq met Nykin’s gaze as he rose from his seat to follow after Eldin, and his heart stuttered at the way Nykin’s blue eyes shone with fierce pride. Nykin nodded, a thank-you for Ryneq not interfering, and a small smile tugged at the corner of Nykin’s mouth.

“I’ll see you later, Nykin, before you leave.” Ryneq may have asked his riders to do this, but he would not let Nykin go on patrol without some time alone with him first.

“Yes, Sire.”

The guards withdrew with the riders, leaving Ryneq alone with the elves. “We need that barrier up as soon as possible. With Lerran having left with Nysad, are there enough of you to get it done?” The thought hadn’t occurred to him before now, and Ryneq hoped he hadn’t jeopardized anything by agreeing to Lerran’s request to go.

“Yes, Your Highness. Although Lerran’s magic is powerful, we have sufficient magic between us to complete the task.” Glaevahl stood and beckoned for the others to do the same. “With your permission we will get started on it now.”

“Of course. Let me know when it’s done.”

With a nod of understanding, Glaevahl and the others left the room, and Ryneq slumped back in his chair with his head in his hands. It would be a miracle if they all got out of this alive.

N
YKIN
HADN
’
T
meant to speak out of turn in the hall, but the words had slipped out before he could stop them. Eldin was clearly both annoyed and frustrated with him. As a dragon rider, he answered to Eldin and should wait for his orders, not bypass him altogether as he’d just done.

Eldin stayed quiet all the way to the Eyrie, and his silence made Nykin nervous. Selene shot him a few worried glances, but he just shrugged in response. He had no idea how much trouble he was in. As soon as they reached the top of the steps, Eldin pulled him aside as the others went into the entranceway.

“A word, Nykin.”

Nykin swallowed down his apprehension and turned to face him. “Yes?”

“I know it must be difficult for you sometimes, being the king’s consort as well as a dragon rider.” He sighed, looking skyward for a moment as though trying to find the right words. “But
by the Gods
, Nykin, you need to learn to hold your tongue.”

“I know. I’m sorry.” Nykin hung his head and scuffed the ground with his boot. He hated disappointing Eldin, and he felt about twelve years old with the way Eldin was looking at him now. “It won’t happen again.”

“Make sure it doesn’t. I need to trust you’ll follow my orders without hesitation.” He clapped Nykin on the shoulder, taking some of the sting out of his words, before heading inside.

Nykin followed after him, trying to console himself with the fact that Eldin wasn’t half as mad as he’d been expecting.

“Well?” Selene mouthed as Nykin walked over to stand next to her. She was waiting with all the other dragon riders now. They must have been called together as soon as they’d left the great hall.

“It was okay. Tell you later,” he mouthed back quickly. Eldin was about to speak, and Nykin didn’t want to get in any more trouble. Jaken stood next to her, smiling over at Nykin and giving him a small wave. Nykin hadn’t had a chance to catch up with him since he’d returned from Alel, and he smiled back, pleased to see his friend.

“The outlying villages are being evacuated tonight as soon as the sun goes down, and the people brought inside the palace walls.” Eldin’s words were followed by absolute silence as everyone waited to see what role they’d play in it. “Small patrols of guards have already ridden out to the villages, and we will provide aerial cover on their return journey in case King Seran discovers what we’re doing and decides to attack.”

A multitude of hushed voices echoed around the cave.

“What about the witch?” Jaken asked. “Won’t we be too close to her?”

“Yes. I won’t lie to you, it could be very dangerous. We have no idea if the witch needs a line of sight to use her magic against us, or how close she needs to be. For all we know, she may be able to see in the dark anyway.” He paused, looking at each of his riders in turn. “But we are dragon riders in the king’s army, and our duty is to protect the people of Torsere. No matter the risk.” A look of pride crossed his face, and Nykin immediately stood up a little straighter. “Five patrols went out, and there will be two dragon riders per patrol on their way back.”

He listed the ten riders who’d be going out. Nykin and Jaken were among them, but Selene was staying behind to guard the palace. Eldin divided the ten riders into pairs, going through the list of names until just two were left. Nykin fidgeted in his spot when he realized whom he’d been paired with.

“Nykin,” Eldin said, dismissing the other riders and heading over to him. “Get that look off your face. This isn’t a punishment.” He gestured for them to start walking, steering them toward the landing caves. “Vashek and Fimor are two of the fastest dragons, so it makes sense for us to take the village farthest out. We stand a better chance than the others of eluding the witch, should the worst happen.”

“So we’re joining the patrol at Miresh, then?” Nykin asked, his heart rate picking up at the thought. Miresh was the closest village to the Athisi border, and therefore nearest to the witch. If the attack was going to come, it would probably start there.

“Yes. Nysad and Lerran are already there, but we will catch up to them before they set off for the palace, and provide cover until they stop to make camp. It will take them at least two nights’ travel to make it back, so you and I will return to the palace to rest and join them again the next night.”

“Will we leave them unguarded during the day?”

Eldin shook his head. “Of course not. The other riders will take it in turns to cover them while they sleep. Now I suggest you and Fimor go out for a practice flight this afternoon. I have no idea how much flying you did in Alel, and we all need to be as sharp as possible tonight.”

He was gone, marching back down the tunnels before Nykin had a chance to reply that he’d ended up doing a fair bit of flying in Alel. But it couldn’t hurt to go out again. He needed to connect with Fimor anyway to soothe his nerves. He wanted to be part of the team protecting the villagers—it was their duty, as Eldin had reminded them—but he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t scared.

He’d seen firsthand what a witch could do, and he had no desire to experience it again.

“I
WILL
meet you here before sunset.”
Fimor gently rested his head on Nykin’s shoulder as soon as Nykin slid from his back and onto the ground. Fimor’s easy confidence had soothed him while they’d been in the air. They’d practiced turns and dives, talked about how best to evade the witch should she decide to attack. Fimor would be able to sense her to some extent, and Nykin hoped it would be enough to warn
them if she tried to cast.
“Try not to get too worked up in the
meantime.”

Nykin huffed out a short bark of laughter. “I’ll do my best, but no promises.” He felt Fimor sigh, his head leaving Nykin’s shoulder as he edged toward the cave mouth.

“Go see your king. Maybe he can take your mind off things.”

Nykin sighed at Fimor’s implication and felt the heat in his cheeks. Rough laughter echoed in his head as Fimor launched into the sky. “
I don’t find you funny, just so you know.”

“As amusing as your reactions are, Nykin, I was being serious. Ask Ryneq to relieve some of your tension. You need to be relaxed and focused for tonight.”

Nykin shook his head as he watched Fimor fade into the distance and grumbled all the way back to the storeroom. Gods, did all dragons behave that way, or was it just Fimor who had no concept of boundaries?