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CHAPTER FORTY THREE

P atience had never been my virtue, and I called on the strength to keep it now as we crept along the narrow line of the Blackthorn Canal, easing ever closer to Cinder Vale.

Clouds hugged the imposing form of Ironwraith, hiding us and the Cascadian fleet which sailed beneath us from view.

I’d stationed General Imona on the boat with the esteemed Commander Rake to be my eyes and ears among my enemy and he in turn had gifted me with his own son to watch over me.

The blathering fool talked incessantly, making boasts of both his own prowess and that of the ships his father led beneath us.

Ransom Rake was a muscle-bloated imbecile who clearly hadn’t seen real battle yet despite his bragging.

I was almost intrigued to find out what breed of beast he truly was once the blood started spilling.

“My father’s fought in more battles than any other commander in our entire army,” he said proudly, his chest puffed up like a preening peacock.

We stood at the windows of Echo Fort, looking out at the nothingness of the clouds which surrounded the flying island and I could tell that being up here with us was making him nervous despite his bluster.

“He was the champion of Brissale Beach, the master of the iron waters and hailed a hero at-”

“The last time the Commander and I met on the battlefield I sent him scurrying back to Cascada with half of his forces dead and his tail tucked firmly between his legs,” I said, my voice icily cold.

“Or does he only tell you of his victories and spare you the details of his defeats? Because if that’s the case then he has done you a disservice.

It is a fool’s game to believe only in the possibility of victory when you ride out to war.

We all lose as many battles as we triumph in.

The only win that matters to someone of your rank is the one you claim by continuing to draw breath. ”

“I’ll have you know that I am one of my father’s most trusted and important men,” Ransom growled.

“You’re disposable to him until you prove otherwise,” I countered.

“Don’t go thinking that he is showing you any form of favour by placing you upon my island and making you head into battle among my warriors.

He is just as wary as I am of this alliance and he knows well that if it falls apart, yours will be the first head I claim as proof of that. ”

Ransom shifted on his feet, seeming torn between the urge to step back or hold his position beside me.

“You wouldn’t dare,” he breathed, a hitch to his voice which told me plainly enough that he knew I would.

I gave him a hollow smile, my fingers twitching with the desire to draw my dagger and call his bluff then and there.

I exhaled slowly, forcing my gaze back onto the clouds ahead of us. Cinder Vale was out there, closer with every moment. The brief thrill of this boy’s death wouldn’t compare to the prize I would claim by sticking to this tenuous alliance.

Out there in the mist lay a prize we all coveted.

Of course Abraham Rake knew it just as well as I did.

We converged upon the Void though none of us would admit to such, but that was why we were here.

Not for The Matriarch, no matter how pretty her head would look upon my mantlepiece, though I wouldn’t hesitate to claim it too if the opportunity allowed for it.

If my plans came together the way I intended, I would leave this place with the Void and Cinder Vale would burn alongside Rake’s fleet in our wake as we stole our prize back to Stormfell.

Closer and closer we crept through the mist. And all the while, Cinder Vale had no idea we were coming.