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Did I already mention how dangerous Kymora is?

Did I tell them my name?

Twins, I’ve forgotten everything I just said.

The silence drags on again, and I want to rip off my own skin.

A voice from the crowd says, “And we’ll be compensated for fighting against this warlord?”

“Yes, damn you all!” Skiro snaps. “How hard is it—”

I cut him off. “You will be paid. You will receive armor for you to keep. And I will fight at your sides.”

Stupid, I think after I add that last bit. What do they care that I’ll be there?

But then someone says from the front, “I’m in.”

“Me too. I want the free armor.”

“Think of the stories we’ll get to tell. Fighting side by side with the magical smithy herself!”

“A payday is a payday.”

“Maybe they’ll reschedule the tournament for after. Might as well stick around.”

One by one, we get their assent. Except for Asel, who simply takes a stance at his father’s side.

I glance around to the newest additions to the army in disbelief.

I did that.

“Wonderful,” Skiro says to the crowd. “Now let us prepare.”

Marossa and our soldiers arrive three days later. Their numbers? Four hundred and ninety-eight. With all the mercenaries added (whose numbers have increased as more have arrived for the tournament), that puts us at five hundred and forty-one.

Against nearly two thousand.

The last battle saw far worse odds, but Lirasu isn’t like Skiro’s Capital. There’s no castle, no walls to encase the people. No high turrets to defend.

The enemy will have a much easier time surrounding us and overwhelming our numbers.

Not to mention the fact they’re now led by Kymora, who is the fiercest strategist.

At the first war council in Lirasu, with Marossa, Skiro, and their advisers, Petrik shares his thoughts.

“I’ve gone over diagrams of the city. Coupling that with all the reading I’ve been doing on warfare, I have some ideas on how we can make the fight as fair as possible. We want the high ground. I want us to use the mountain. Set up a vantage point for most of our forces and set traps for Kymora’s men as they try to climb up to us. The warlord’s forces will be weary from marching. We want to tire them out even more.”

Temra narrows her eyes. “What’s to stop Kymora from ignoring us entirely? Why would she take such a risk when she can traipse right on past us and hit up Marossa’s Capital now that it’s undefended?

The princess flinches at that.

Petrik grins. “We have something that she wants.”

I gulp. “Me.”

Petrik nods and lays out the plan.

The prince and princess send scouts ahead to check the enemy’s progress. When they return with the news that Kymora’s army will be here in two days, a blanket of fear settles over the city.