Page 51 of Queen’s Gambit

Chapter 15

Reynard

I’d never been so close to losing control. The long table in the War Room held a large model of Dagome. Everyone in the room leant over it, reaching out to throttle each other. Figuratively at the moment, but I wouldn’t bet against it turning bloody soon.

My gaze drifted to the bookshelf at the far end. Large and carved from solid oak, it held all the military knowledge I’d gathered since becoming Lord Marshal, then the King.

Today, those tomes offered no answer as to how I could convince the other rulers to leave me in charge. How could I? A major threat blossomed right under my nose, almost wiping out everyone still opposing Tangra.

And all because I let hope blind me to Prince Iasno’ta’s true intentions.

‘What are you planning to do now? What if those bastards left more Void Cubes?’ The Wind Master shouted, his voice carrying over the squabbling.

‘You’ll have Dark Brotherhood observers at your disposal. All paid for by Dagome. They are trained to recognise and destroy the artefacts.’ I waited for their tempers to settle.

‘We don’t need observers. We need Roksana,’ Arean suggested. Despite the Dark Fae’s support, I wanted to punch the consort for even proposing it.

‘You’re expecting Lady Roksana to do what, exactly? Jump every time there’s an attack? She can’t be everywhere at once. The only way to destroy this threat is to remove Tangra from the table,’ I answered.

‘Even if I enhance the winds and make crossing through the sea nearly impossible, Tangra still has the gate to transport their army.’ The Wind Master hammered his fist on the table. He acted angry, but the blown pupils failed to hide the panic in his eyes.

The quiet click of the door latch drew my attention from the arguing nobles. Roksana and Annika stepped into the room, and the men who’d been screaming at each other for the last few hours fell silent.

‘The gate’s not for the army,’ Roksana said, standing beside my chair.

She was paler than normal, her ivory skin looking almost translucent, except for the dark circles under her eyes. I stood up to surrender my seat, but she pressed on my shoulder until I sat down. My mouth gaped like a fool when I realised her wings were gone.

‘You’re worried about invasion, about soldiers passing through the gate. Let me tell you what Tangra really wants.’ She nodded to Annika, and the conduit mage wove an illusion over the table.

Sana relayed what she learned from the Tangrian Prefect and her own experiences while passing the active pillars. I added mine.

Annika mapped the location of the pillars, and Tova added the gate’s triangulated location—right in the centre of Tivala’s dukedom.

‘This isn’t a war of conquest or ideology. If the Hierophant succeeds, the land we live on will be drained of its Aether to revive Tangra’s desert,’ Sana said.

‘We can go to the gate and destroy it, but we can’t do it alone. We need a distraction big enough that they’ll need to move troops away,’ Annika said, and both women looked at each other as if they already agreed to this most dangerous and ridiculous plan.

‘You intend on going?’ Orm looked at his wife, his fists gripping the table so hard it cracked. ‘You? The child is due anytime now. Have you thought about what would happen if the baby comes while you’re on enemy soil? Out of the question, Annika. I won’t hear of it.’

I sent my brother a thankful nod for ending this plan before it became reality. Annika opened her mouth to argue, but Roksana spoke first.

‘He’s right, Ani. You can’t go, but I can,’ she said from beside me.

I turned to look at the woman I loved. Still shaken from her ordeal, wet strands of hair curled around her neck as she held the back of my chair with a trembling grip. Yet she stood tall and proud, announcing her decision to this council of leaders.

‘No,’ I breathed.

Her hand slid to my cheek. She stroked it as her lips curled into a sad smile. ‘I’m not asking for permission, my love. Someone has to destroy it, and I’m the only mage who has passed the pillars and can resist the Void portal’s power.’

‘That was before they were fully active. Now, even Cinared couldn’t pass them,’ I reminded her, hoping to end the discussion when Tova chimed in.

‘If we have the key, that wouldn’t be a problem. Give me a couple of days. I’ll work with Lilliana—’ He stopped when I raised my hand.

‘The key killed its bearer. It’s not a viable option, even if this plan could work at all.’

‘So, what do you propose, King of Dagome? Wait for them to come to us, to turn the steppes into a lifeless desert?’ Gniev asked, yet his eyes never left Sana. He studied her as though calculating the odds.

‘My army is garrisoned on the eastern border of Tivalaran. If you allow us to march through the steppe and the Wind Master provides the ships, we can attack from the sea. There are no pillars there, and as long as our soldiers and mages avoid their influence, Tangra won’t be a problem,’ I answered, outlining my strategy.