Page 74

I looked at Tiber, widening my eyes. What was he doing? It was his turn.

“Herrick knows what we’re capable of, what she’s capable of now,” Tiber said, and then looked at me as if to say,Best I can do.

“Iknow,” Kaden said. He was looking out at the people all practicing together.

“Kaden, the situation will never be ideal,” I said. “If we sit and wait, he might move on us here. We don’t have that much time. There’s no advantage to waiting anymore.”

“She’s right,” Farrow said, coming up to join our little group, his cape flaring in the wind.

I was beginning to think he wore it just to be theatrical. He was a tad less annoying when he was in the process of agreeing with me, though.

Kaden didn’t respond to him at all. He stood there for another few minutes, long enough for me to want to pull him off to the side and try to scream some sense into him. Just as I was about to crack, he did.

“Everyone,” he yelled. “Meeting at the schoolhouse.”

“What are we doing?” I asked as everyone started to walk past us.

“You want to move on Herrick. We’re moving on Herrick,” he said, and then started walking as well.

I wanted to jump up and down, pump my fist in the air, and scream some war shit. Problem was I didn’t know any war screams, and I didn’t want to be the only one jumping around like an idiot. These people didn’t know what was going on yet, and they might not be excited about it. This was definitely a “wait and read the room” situation.

We walked into the building used for the school a few minutes later. It was the largest in the community, and with all the kids off today, it was perfect.

Kaden walked over to the chalkboard. “If you put your name on this board, it means you’re ready to go to war. You’re ready to fight and die for Nowhere.”

The group erupted in cheers, me included. People began heading toward the chalkboard, but Kaden held up his hand.

“Just know that even if everyone wants to fight, not everyone can. We need to prepare for the possibility that we lose. Some people will have to stay behind to make sure that the children are cared for and this place can continue on.”

It didn’t seem to slow anyone down. They all flocked to the board, waiting for a chance to get their name counted.

I moved toward the side so as not to block anyone, and the others followed me.

“And so it begins,” Farrow said.

“We need to pick the place of the fight. Closer to the fortress is better,” Kaden said.

“Why is that?” I asked.

“I’d rather try to limit the damage to the city,” he said. “If the fighting happens within the city, those structures won’t hold, and those civilians aren’t prepared. The loss of life could be extreme. The fortress can take a beating. It’ll also be harder to get him out of.”

“Herrick set up camp there for a reason,” Farrow said.

“Then we lure him out.” It might’ve come out glib, but it wasn’t. It was a matter of fact. If it was hard to get to him, we had no choice but to draw him out.

“That won’t be easy,” Kaden said.

“He’ll come out for me.” I shrugged. Ever since I sat down across from Herrick, I’d been itching for a redo. Watching him walk away still burned like chewing on a hot coal.

“You?” Luisca said, putting her hand to her chest.

Kaden didn’t say a word but was staring hard enough to make things uncomfortable.

Farrow nodded. It wasn’t a flat-out endorsement, but at least he saw the reasoning. The old guy was starting to grow on me.

“Yes. He wants me more than anyone else. I’m the best bait.”

“If she goes first, and draws him out, then you follow covertly behind her,” Tiber said, motioning to Kaden. “I’ll lead the rest in shortly afterward.”