Page 19 of Realm of Crows (Wings of Ink #5)
“Let’s pretend Ephegos spreads his Crows evenly between Erina’s troops.
” The crow figurines flutter to the map and settle on it beside the Tavrasian markers, one bird for each.
“The same with the Flames,” Tori glances over his shoulder at the Fairy King, who flicks his fingers, making miniature torches appear next to each crow figurine on the map.
Over the map coming to life between them, they share the look of two males having worked alongside each other and trusted each other for centuries.
“In this scenario, Ephegos distributes the risk. He protects each human unit with several magical players and tries to minimize losses in each of those units. It allows him to drive agile maneuvers and move fast until all of his legions meet in a large battle formation.” On the map, the figurines move north, merging into one big cluster with the Crows and Flames spearheading the formation.
“He’ll probably have the magic-wielders lead.
With their strength, they have the highest chance of hitting us hard with the magic-nullifying weapon, be it arrows or other means of showering us with the serum. ”
I don’t want to think about it, but there is no way around this war, so I keep my focus on the map, on the black-and-gold tipped markers that symbolize our legions moving to meet Tavras on a battlefield at Aceleau’s doorstep.
“We can’t let them get this far.” I couldn’t agree more with Sanja, who has gotten up from her seat beside Rogue to join Tori by the map.
“They still have the magic-nullifying drug up their sleeves. If they reach the city gates, there is no telling what will happen. Our people are still mourning the loss of an entire district. We can’t allow them anywhere near this city.
” Her voice is shaking, her hands protectively placed on her belly, and her amber eyes glow with conviction.
Rogue disappears from the sofa, popping up right beside his mate, one arm sliding around her shoulders.
“We won’t let them,” he says with the tone of a promise that could bind him to the thread of all bargains and promises ever spoken.
“And if we fail, I’ll make sure you and our child make it out of here alive; our little one may come into this world and one day hear the stories of the court who fell so he may live. ”
Tears glimmer in Sanja’s eyes as she buries her face in Rogue’s shoulder.
We all know Tata was right about finding an escape route for the pregnant queen.
The fairy soldier might not care to see the rest of her court die and her people be enslaved, but she respects Sanja enough to want to save her .
“We should get you out today,” Clio says, shifting in her chair. “Ephegos breached the city once. Who knows what other surprises he will come up with.”
With a deep breath, Sanja lifts her head from Rogue’s shoulder. “I won’t leave my people until the last possible moment.” There is no room for discussion in her words, and Rogue’s hand wraps around hers on top of her belly.
From the tortured look in his eyes, I can tell he very much agrees with his sister, but he doesn’t have it in him to send his mate away.
Not when darkness is pulling up on the horizon and we have less than three weeks before we march into battle.
I don’t want to spend a single day without Ayna—until the very end.
And if she was pregnant, I’d hold on to her and protect her with every breath I take until our doom was certain and the only way for me to protect her was to send her away.
For a long time, we all stare at the map, unwilling to think of a scenario where we might not have another option than to bid the Fairy Queen goodbye, all of us lost in our own thoughts.
Mine circle around what Tata said about Erina’s whereabouts.
He supposedly received Ayna at an old outpost north of Meer.
For all that Tata knows, Ephegos fulfilled one of his tasks, and the King of Tavras is on his way to Meer with his bride.
A shudder creeps up my spine at the mere thought of it.
“Where will Ephegos be in the battles to come?” I address Herinor because he knows the traitor Crow best.
All eyes turn to me, Ayna’s burning particularly hot on the side of my face .
“That depends on what he wants most out of this war.” Herinor’s response is as brief as it is logical.
Before any of us can challenge him or accuse him of holding back information, he continues, “He wants an empire to rule over. And he wants revenge. Ayna can give him both. Having her ensures him a Tavras loyal to the joined Jelnedyn-Milevishja line. The same as it ensures him at least Myron’s compliance and, with that, the compliance of the rest of his court. ”
My chest tightens, my power collecting in my palms in the form of black smoke at the mere mention of it.
“Well, he doesn’t have her.” My voice is too calm for the way my emotions churn and toss inside of me. “So he’ll do everything to get her.”
Tori nods. “He’s gone to incredible lengths to separate the two of you, and I doubt he’ll let a battle stop him.
So wherever Ayna shows her face is where Ephegos will choose to show his.
” I take a quick glance at the map, at the legions sitting in position to destroy each other.
“It might be the only variable we can truly control.”
I’m not certain why this feels like a relief, but it does.
I don’t realize my shield has slipped from around my mind until Kaira speaks straight into it.
“Because it means we have the power to lure Ephegos wherever we want. The only thing the fairy general failed to consider is Shaelak’s bargain with the Crow traitor.
His best shot at getting his hands on Ayna is to kill you. ”