CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX ISI
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
ISI
The next day, dawn light filtered through the corridor windows as Trew and I made our way to the healers’ wing. My body still ached from all we’d been through over the past few days, but I needed to see Addie before we left.
Pherin perched on my shoulder, unusually subdued. Gavelle flew ahead then waited, scouting to ensure the passage was safe.
The healers’ wing smelled of medicinal herbs I couldn’t name. Meren looked up from her desk as we entered, her expression softening when she saw us.
A curtain had been pulled around Addie’s bed.
“How is she?” I whispered.
“Improving.” Meren rose, gesturing for us to follow her over to the bed. “The treatment is working. Her body is accepting the healing magic even better than I’d hoped.”
Meren pulled back the curtain, and I came to a halt, tears prickling in the backs of my eyes. Addie slept and it looked like a peaceful one.
Her silver drake curled protectively at her side, his scales catching the morning light. The creature’s eyes opened as we stepped closer, and I caught a touch of warning in his gaze.
He’d protect her as fiercely as I would.
I reached out my hand, and the drake sniffed my fingers before dropping his head back onto his outstretched front limbs.
Addie’s breathing appeared deeper than yesterday, and her skin no longer held that translucent gray that had horrified me. Color had returned to her cheeks.
“A week or two until she’s herself again,” Meren said from beside us. “She’s strong like her mother was.”
Meren stepped away, striding into the adjacent room, leaving us alone.
Trew cast a ward to keep our conversation private.
Addie’s eyes fluttered open. For a moment, she looked disoriented, then her gaze found mine and her eyes widened.
“Isi.” Her voice came out rough. “You’re here.”
“Where else would I be?” I sat on the edge of the bed, taking her hand. Her grip on mine felt stronger than yesterday, and I had to swipe away the tears that were determined to fall.
“Fenmark.” The name came out desperate. “Did they find him? Is he—”
“Our friends are searching,” I said. “They’ll bring him back.”
“I hoped you might’ve heard.” Her eyes closed, tears slipping down her temples. “I can still feel him. He’s alive, but he’s in pain.”
Trew stepped closer, his hand finding my shoulder. “On my crown and my life, I swear we will.”
Addie’s gaze shifted to him, studying his face with the same intensity she’d always used when evaluating people’s sincerity. Whatever she saw there must’ve satisfied her because she nodded.
“You’re leaving soon,” she said in a low voice. “To rescue some of our people.”
“In a short while. We have four days before the Day of Mercy. It’ll take a full day of travel to fly there, leaving a few more for the infiltration and escape.”
“Take me with you.” Addie tried to sit up, but her arms trembled. Her drake chirped in alarm. “I can help. I know the castle, and I know—”
“You can barely lift your head.” I pressed her gently back against the pillows. “You’re staying here where Meren can keep you alive.”
“While you walk into a fortress and risk everything.” Her jaw set with familiar stubbornness. “I should be there.”
“You should heal so when we return to meet up with our friends and Fenmark, you’re strong enough to actually hug him instead of collapsing at his feet.”
Addie’s expression crumpled, grief and frustration shifting across her features.
“I hate being weak,” she whispered. “I hate that you’re doing this without my help.”
I wrapped my arms around her and held her like I’d done after our mother died. “You survived torture, veil-sickness, and a wasteland full of Skathes. You need time to recover from being impossibly brave.”
Her laugh came out wet with tears, and she gripped my hand. “Promise me you’ll come back. Both of you.” Her eyes found Trew. “Promise me I won’t lose you too.”
We both knew the rescue could go wrong in a thousand ways, that my father’s forces might overwhelm us. That a traitor could be waiting to spring a trap.
“I promise,” I said anyway, because what else could I offer?
I reached beneath my tunic, pulling out our mother’s pendant. The metal warmed against my palm, thrumming with power I could barely perceive.
Unclasping it, I held it toward her. “Take this back.”
“No.” Fear flitted through Addie’s eyes. “You need it for protection.”
“I’m taking Trew with me.” I sent him the best grin I could drum up because I didn’t want her to worry. “He’s all I need.” I settled the pendant around her neck. “You need it more than I do right now. It’s yours.”
The pendant settled against Addie’s chest, the blue stones matching her eyes. She lifted it and traced her fingertip across the engraving.
“To my fierce star,” she read. “Shine bright.” Her gaze met mine. “Our grandfather loved her.”
“So shine like he’d want you to do,” I said. “Get strong. Be ready to fight when we return.”
She nodded, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I love you, Isi.”
“I love you too.” The words caught in my throat. This could be the last time I saw my sister, the last conversation we’d ever have.
I refused to let that fear show on my face.
Instead, I kissed her forehead and stood, forcing myself to step away from the bed. Trew’s hand found the small of my back, steadying me.
“Rest,” he told Addie. “When we return, I expect you to be well enough to slay a few Skathes.”
A ghost of Addie’s old spirit flickered in her eyes. “I’ll destroy them all.”
“I’m looking forward to watching that happen.”
As we left the room, I didn’t turn around. If I looked back, I might not have the strength to leave.
We strode to his council chambers, finding Coralee and Grayson already working, looking like they’d slept as poorly as we had. Maps covered the table, their edges held down by paperweights, and they had taken extensive notes on how to handle my father’s upcoming invasion.
Grayson’s left eye twitched more rapidly than last night, a constant flutter that showed either exhaustion or anxiety. His hands trembled as he pointed to marks on the map.
“Our advance team returned with new information a short time ago.” Grayson laid it all out on paper. “King Cyril’s mobilization is extensive. He’s not planning a quick strike. He’s bringing a siege force.”
Coralee traced the map with one finger, her expression grave.
“If they leave immediately after the Day of Mercy, they’ll reach Syllavar’s borders within a week, perhaps less if they force-march.
I’ve recalled the rest of our scattered forces to consolidate our defenses, leaving enough to handle any Skathe intrusion.
Our battalions are tighter than I’d like, but it’s the best we can do while fighting on two fronts. ”
Trew frowned as he studied the map.
“While you were gone, we evacuated Cliffweld, Foremand, and Zellon.” Grayson pointed.
“The three towns closest to this part of the border where our spies suggest the Skathes might attack next. We’ll watch the villages.
If the Skathes pass them, a scouting team will send news.
I’ve arranged for one small battalion to handle all three areas.
With dragons, they can fly to intercept the Skathes. ”
“Excellent.” Trew ran his finger down a page of their plans, stopping at one area. “What about Direburg?”
Coralee grunted. “I sent word with a companion to have them continue fortifying their wall.”
“Very good.” Trew lifted his gaze to meet mine. “Direburg is built on the top of a cliff with steep embankments on all sides. It’s nearly impossible to get there outside of dragon, but we can’t trust the Skathes won’t find a way.”
I nodded. “Will they need reinforcements?” I asked Coralee. “We could send some of the newer warriors with companions on dragons.”
“A savvy idea.” Coralee shot Trew an approving glance that made my pulse sing. Maybe she would finally see I was more than just a foreign princess clinging to Trew’s side.
“I think we should call back Bryson,” Trew said. “I was impressed with his tactical mind. The new front will need good leaders.”
“I’ll send word to bring him back from the eastern border,” Grayson said, making a note on the paper in front of him. “Would you put him in command of the main battalion or leave that to General Prentiss?”
“Let’s put him directly under Prentiss,” Trew said. “Tell him to utilize Bryson as he sees fit.”
Grayson nodded, making notes. “What of the northwestern front? We’re spread thin there.”
“Pull back to defensible positions. I’m sure they have their own spies.
Let them think we’re retreating.” Trew’s finger tapped a narrow mountain pass on the map.
“When they arrive, hit them here, where they’ll have to thin their advance to get through the narrow opening. We can pick them off easier.”
I studied the maps, seeing my father’s strategy laid bare. He wasn’t just attacking Syllavar, he was trying to crush it completely. The scale of the mobilization suggested he may have been planning this for months, long before the body I took for my sister was deposited on the ballroom floor.
“This is actually the perfect time for a rescue mission,” Coralee said, her gaze finding mine. “When we steal those they intend to kill, it’ll leave disarray.” Her slick smile rose, though only briefly before she resumed her usual neutral mask. “Cyril will be furious.”
“Which means we need to be careful.” Trew’s jaw set. “We’ll get in and out and flee, leaving him to pick up the pieces.”
Grayson’s eye twitched again. “The timing makes this extra dangerous.”
“I see it more as fortuitous because Cyril’s army will be split. Their focus will be on their planned invasion.” Trew’s voice carried through the room. “They won’t expect us to attack them. We’ll be back at Syllavar with the freed prisoners before Cyril’s forces can rally.”
The math was tight. Too tight. But we had no choice.
Trew settled into the chair beside mine. “As for my team, I’m taking Naveah.”