Chapter 10 #2
“The distance to either Jakarra or Ezu makes any sort of assault with such liquid an extremely dangerous ploy,” Damon immediately said. “One that could, quite literally, blow up in our faces.”
“If we carry the barrels in a long harness, we can at least detach if anything happens,” Garran said.
“Except if the ‘anything’ that happens is an explosion and it hits drakkon and kin before they even have a chance to react,” Damon growled back.
I touched his arm lightly. His gaze leapt to mine, those bloody depths rich with concern—a wash I could feel through my soul. “If we have to do this, then it’s a chance we’ll have to take.”
And he knew that. He was simply thinking with his heart rather than his head, and while that melted my heart, it didn’t alter the fact that, one way or another, whether I thought this was the best course of action or not, we were going to carry the fucking stuff out there and do our best to erase these bastards.
“Any suggestions as to how to maximize the effectiveness of the liquid?” Garran asked. “I’m thinking it would be better to have a heavy rain of liquid rather than a single dump.”
“We could use seeding bins,” Neera said. “They may not be perfect, but they’re readily available and built from metal rather than wood. If the earth mages can fortify the metal against its volatility, it should survive being carried for longer.”
Seeding bins were large, rectangular metal bins with a bottom channel along their base that could be opened and closed via a lever to allow the distribution of seeds. They were smaller than the cages Kaia and Yara had carried, but filled with liquid, probably heavier and more awkward.
Garran glanced at me, his eyebrows raised in query. “They feasible?”
I hesitated and reached out to Kaia. Can you carry something like this?
I mentally pictured a seeding bin. She said, Is heavy?
It will be with liquid inside.
Two carry?
That’s a good idea. It would at least stop some of the heavy swinging and make them a little less likely to blow us all to smithereens.
Am queen. All ideas are good.
I snorted mentally and returned my attention to Garran. “Kaia says they can carry one bin between two drakkons. Just ask the smiths to make damn sure the filling tube is heavily secured to prevent any liquid washing back up it and hitting the drakkons’ underbellies and tails.”
“Of course. Neera, organize for bins to be sent across to the smiths. Jarin, let them know what we’re planning, and get an earth mage down there.”
“Also ask how long we’ve got before they’re ready,” I added.
After a moment, Jarin said, “It’ll take them three hours to transfer and secure the liquid.”
“Lunchtime, then,” Garran said and glanced at me. “How long will it take for the drakkons to fly over there?”
“Carrying the seeding bins? We may well be pushing to reach them before dusk.”
“Which is an unacceptable risk,” Damon immediately said. “It would be better to wait until tomorrow, when the skies are all but clear of riders.”
I totally agreed. The trouble was, the longer we delayed, the more chance we gave the riders and their mages to put their plan into action. The Rayabar had given us a timeframe, and the clock was running down fast.
“What if we run a diversion?” Garran once again circled the area where the barges were most likely to be.
“What if our air mages created a storm out over this part of the sea? Given we used such a storm to cover your attack on the Sheer, it’s possible they’ll think another one is coming at them.
That should draw their attention long enough for you and the drakkons to hit the islands. ”
“That could work,” I said.
“Then we have a plan?—”
“One that’s not quite finalized,” I cut in. “Given we’ll have to fly out of Esan with the seeding bins, we’ll need Damon and the Prioress to work up another of their smoke screens.”
“Which is easily enough done if it is merely a screen rather than a full shield.” He paused, gaze narrowing thoughtfully.
“We could possibly—once you and your drakkons have lifted off and are clear of the area—project it over toward the Beak. Not only would it prevent their watch stations seeing you, but it could also well enhance the riders’ suspicion that an attack is coming at the Sheer or the barges. ”
“Excellent idea,” Garran said, and glanced at me again. “I’ll inform your team?—”
“One of my team remains in the hospital,” I cut in. “I’m not sure if she’ll be in any condition to fly.”
“Can her drakkon?”
I hesitated and reached out to Kaia again.
Can , she said. Is furious.
Kele’s injuries haven’t affected her at all?
Kin live but in pain. Yara needs vengeance.
And will she obey the orders of her queen?
Will. No want to risk kin’s life by being hurt.
That remained a danger, even if she obeyed every single command Kaia gave. If we all returned alive and intact from this attack, it would be a miracle.
I returned my attention to Garran again. “Yara will fly without Kele if necessary.”
He nodded. “I’ll get an update on her condition from the medics; they’re in the best position to make the decision as to whether she’s fit enough to fly or not.”
They certainly were, but if Kele was conscious, she’d be wanting to be up and on drakkon back, no matter what her condition.
“Could you inform Halka and Miri of our plans, and ask them to remain in the aerie after they do the morning flyover?”
“Do you think it’s wise to still do that?” Neera asked.
“The Mareritt may well become suspicious if we don’t,” I said. “Let’s not give them any cause to be on alert.”
Garran nodded and glanced at me. “I’ll inform the rest of your team to meet in the courtyard, ready to fly out by twelve?—”
“And after you do that, can you contact Jakarra and ask what the situation now is over there in regard to rider and soldier numbers?”
He nodded. “In the meantime, you and Damon should get some rest. It’s going to be a long day for you both.”
That was certainly an understatement. I saluted, then turned and walked out, heading for the stairs and our suite on the upper floor, Damon a step behind me. Janis opened the door; Damon ordered her out, then closed and bolted it.
I raised my eyebrows. “The action of a man who has no intention of being interrupted.”
“They have knuckles. They can knock.”
“And have you shielded the entrance to the rodent run?”
“I have indeed.” He caught my hand, drew me into his big warm body, and kissed me, long and slow. “We have six hours before you depart. I believe we should use them wisely.”
“Wisely would mean sleeping.”
“Unwisely, then.”
I laughed. “Why don’t you, dear husband, go get that bath you so desperately need, and I shall wait for you in our bed.”
“Deal. Be naked.”
“And ready?”
“It is my job, wife, to ensure you are ready.” He kissed my hand, his eyes twinkling wickedly, then turned and walked to the bathroom,
I remained where I was, watching him strip off and climb into the bath, sighed in appreciation, and then walked over to the bed platform, undressing and climbing in.
He joined me ten minutes later, smelling faintly of the warm, woody soapweed he’d used.
He didn’t say anything. He just gathered me in his arms and kissed me.
From that point on, there was no talking. Not for the next few hours. We explored each other’s bodies with lips and touch, teasing and caressing and loving.
Because we both knew, even if we never acknowledged it, that these precious moments together might be our last for days to come....
Or perhaps even a lifetime.
The feeder bins were smaller than I remembered, but the three of them nevertheless dominated the courtyard.
I stopped beside Garran and Franklyn and examined the bins critically.
They were all mounted on low-to-the-ground flat carts so they could be moved about, and were all newish looking, not having much in the way of the rust or dents that came with regular usage in the fields.
The long chains that had been attached to either end of the bins were looped at the free end, which would allow the drakkons to get a better grip.
There was another, smaller chain attached to the lever on the left side of the bin—the one that would release the liquid—that was also looped, and tied to this was a long rope I suspected would be tossed up once we were mounted so we could haul up the release chain.
The feeding funnel had been folded back toward the bin’s bulk rather than sealed with fire—a necessity, given the flammability of the contents.
“Nice work, Franklyn,” I said, glancing at the older man.
“I would have preferred more time to ensure everything is secure,” he said, his voice even raspier than usual. Tiredness, no doubt. “But I’m aware that is a luxury we don’t have in wartime situations such as this.”
“But the chains will hold up to the stress of being carried aloft by drakkons?”
“I believe so, yes. And we tested the flow on a separate bin using water. The feeder slots are a good inch in width, so you’ll likely only have one pass over with each bin. I also recommend flying into the wind rather than with it, just to ensure no backwash.”
One pass would be more than enough. It wasn’t like any riders who survived the first flyover were going to allow a second.
I glanced up, studying the smoke rapidly forming over the secondary wall.
Damon had promised it would take no more than half an hour for the full length of the mountain behind us to be curtained, but at the speed he and the Prioress were creating it, it would be completed in half that time.
“We’ve also oiled the entire length of the release chain except the gripping loop,” he added.
“I have no idea how tough a drakkon’s wing membrane is, but we’re thinking their flight speed should push the bins back at a far enough angle that the oiled chain will slide across rather than cut into their wings. ”