Page 27 of The Blade in the Ashes
Kent shifted his weight, putting all of his strength into turning his body to meet Nikolai’s gaze and hold it. Something passed between the two of them, some level of silent understanding that left the rest of the group on the edge of our seats.
“Yes,” Kent said to him after an uncomfortably long pause. “You have.”
Nikolai’s grip tightened on the stem of his glass, the water inside swirling into a tiny cyclone.
A muscle in his jaw feathered before he inclined his head. “Very well.”
My brows lifted. I hadn’t expected him to give in that easily.
Kent’s gaze flickered to mine for the briefest of moments before flashing away again all while Rankor’s head seemed to be on a constant swivel, looking from Kent to me to Nikolai and back.
My jaw ached as I pressed my teeth together and forced more magic to hideanotherblush.
“Alright then,” Clay drug out the words before nodding to Nikolai. “How many men do you have?”
Nikolai’s gaze hardened, as if he didn’t quite want to disclose that information. “Three thousand on the estate and surrounding area.”
“And outside the surrounding area?” Rankor questioned.
A heavy pause. Another glance to me.
“I can gather ten thousand total,” Nikolai ground out, as if the confession pained him.
More than I expected. Less than we needed.
Rankor sighed, all humor fading away as he focused on Clay. “We have two thousand that survived the battle. It’s not enough.”
“We need allies,” Kent agreed.
Clay nodded. “I’m aware. That’s why I’m going to fly to the Republic of Inanis. The President was no friend to my father, but he’s a good man. I’m hopeful he’ll rally to our cause.”
A smart enough plan. After all, this wasn’t just an Athenian war. If we were going to defeat Hyrax, then all the Mortal Realm would need to stand with us. We would need to join forces with the other nations.
There was only one problem with that course of action, though.
“You’re the king,” Camilla said to him, once again reminding me of her unwanted presence. “You can’t be the one to go.”
“And who would go in my stead?”
“I will,” Rankor volunteered.
Clay shook his head, tucking his hands under the table to hide where the claws were emerging. “Rankor, you’re a warrior, not a politician. I need you here. I need you building an army and making sure they’re efficient.”
Well, if not Rankor then…
“Elaina and Camilla have already been tending to the injured. The people are looking to them for support. I need them managing the healers, overseeing the common folk. I need them keeping everyone calm,” Clay reasoned aloud, his eyes staring aimlessly at the ceiling above us.
Right. So, not Rankor. Not Elaina nor Camilla.
That left Kent.
He was still healing, but he was by far the most level-headed of our fledgling government.
Kent nodded his understanding, moving to stand. “I’ll begin preparing.”
“Sit,” Clay ordered, the command undeniable.
Next to me, Nikolai leaned back, draping an arm over the back of his chair and watching us in that silently assessing way he did.
