CHAPTER ELEVEN #4
“Either way,” Brea interjected once more, “it’s worth it. Three days early or right on time, we’d still have the Space Relic. We could still beat him.”
“And what if you’re right?” Deckard asked. “What if Blount’s entire plan is to go for the Space Relic first while we head for the Terrae Keep?”
Brea turned to Ilain. “How long would it take for Blount to arrive in Ephria City from Carrickbrack?”
Ilain’s brow furrowed in surprise, but it only took her a moment to calculate. “Oh . . . About eight days.”
“Thank you,” Brea said, turning back to Deckard. “So if he left for Carrickbrack today, arriving there on the third of next month, then he wouldn’t arrive in Ephria City until the eleventh, which is when we would be heading for Olbury.”
“At the worst,” Thom added.
She smirked at him and repeated, “At the worst.”
“What if he doesn’t go to Carrickbrack at all?” Ethenn asked.
They all looked at him in shock.
Flushing, Ethenn ducked his head but kept speaking.
“He knows he’s being watched now,” he explained.
“With Highlady Freye’s betrayal, he’s aware that he has spies amongst his ranks.
What if this is all a lie, another of his schemes?
What if this supposed regrouping in Carrickbrack is a trick, and he’s actually going straight to Loclight from Keale? ”
Instantly, everyone turned to Ilain for an updated timeline.
She stared at Ethenn even as everyone stared at her.
Tugging on the collar of her dress, she fumbled only for a second.
“Keale to Loclight would be roughly a ten-day journey. Meaning that if he left this morning, he’d arrive on the eighth.
Which puts him either at the same time or . . . possibly a day ahead of us.”
“So our true worst-case scenario,” Ethenn said, “is that Blount gets both Relics before us.”
The tavern fell silent as the facts weighed on them all.
There were too many variables, too many potential pitfalls, and too many risks.
Whatever choice they made could end in victory or defeat.
They either obtained the Relics in order, risking the loss of the Space Relic and their inevitable defeat, or they went out of order, hoping to gain their ultimate victory through the Space Relic while risking Blount’s complete subversion.
Yet, despite all the variables, Evylin thought the choice was clear.
She took Deckard’s hand, drawing his attention. His green-blue gaze met hers with an uncertainty that pinched in her chest. “Brea’s right,” she said. “Blount isn’t going to follow the rules. Thus, we can’t either. We have to go for the Space Relic.”
“We can’t be sure it will work,” he argued. “And we’ll be risking our lives.”
“We can’t be sure any of this will work,” she returned. “And we’re risking our lives either way.”
He continued to hesitate.
“Jonn,” she slipped her fingers through his, “we need that Relic. Our odds of defeating him with Terrae alone are minimal. Our odds with Space are great.”
Deckard continued to frown. “And if Blount is headed for Loclight as we speak?” he asked. “If he beats us there and takes the Space Relic? What then?”
“Then we would have lost either way.”
His thumb brushed along the back of her hand. A moment later, he sighed. “I don’t think it’s a good idea,” he said. “I’m sorry, but we should stick to the original plan.”
“I disagree,” Evylin insisted.
“We’re doing this for the Alliance, right?” Rafferty said, an impish glint in his eyes. “Why don’t we do this their way?”
“What way is that?” Thom asked.
“With a vote.”
Vayden, Isla, and Brea chuckled lightly while the rest remained stoic.
“There are ten of us,” Ethenn said. “What happens if there’s a tie?”
“Same thing that happens during the ministers’ votes,” Isla said. “Tie goes to those opposed. Just make sure you phrase the question correctly.”
Rafferty swung his legs up and hopped to stand on the bar. “A vote, then!” he exclaimed, clapping his hands as though to call them to order. “All right, the stunning Lieutenant Lohen proposes we skip the tedious Highlord Calder’s plans—”
Brea snorted while Auden’s face scrunched in disapproval.
“Saving our lives from the horrors of the Night Keep and going straight for the Space Relic before scurrying on down to retrieve the Terrae Relic. All those in favor of subverting Blount by being clever, please raise your hand.”
“That’s a rather manipulative way to phrase the proposition,” Deckard remarked.
Rafferty ignored him, one hand in the air while he counted the others. “Brea, Vayden, Isla, Thommy, Eve, Ilain, Ethenn, and I stand in favor,” he said, and then they all dropped their hands. “All those opposed?”
Evylin gave Deckard an apologetic look while he raised his hand along with Auden.
“Ministers Colonel and Audy stand opposed,” Rafferty announced. “That’s eight in favor, two opposed. The motion passes!”
“Very well,” Deckard said with good-natured acceptance of his defeat. Then he gave Rafferty a pointed look. “Get down off the bar.”
Rafferty jumped down, and Deckard turned back to the group.
“So the new plan is this: We leave tomorrow morning at first light and, using the Alliance’s secret mountain pass across the border, head to Ephria City, where we’ll meet with Ephren and retrieve the Space Relic.
” He leaned against the counter, his arm brushing Evylin’s.
“From there, we’ll continue to Olbury and the Terrae Keep, taking a short detour to release Hewitt near Virwoud.
We’ll be moving fast, so let’s keep the load light.
Essentials only. Are there any questions? ”
Evylin scanned the room with Deckard. Rafferty sipped his ale, resting against the counter placidly.
Ethenn glanced at Ilain, who sat with her chin raised with its usual cavalier tilt.
Auden shifted in his seat, sending surreptitious looks toward Brea—either in vexation or hope.
Crossing her legs, the lieutenant sat back casually while Isla and Vayden smiled at each other.
Last, Evylin met Thom’s gaze a second before he looked directly at Deckard. “We’ll follow you to the end, brother,” he said.
Deckard’s expression pinched despite his appreciative smile.
Evylin knew he felt the weight of command stronger than most. He was good at leading; he was meant for it.
But he didn’t trust himself to do it well.
Something she thought she ought to reassure him of.
Perhaps not here, not now. But later, when they were alone.
For now, she knew she needed to bring levity to the moment.
Smirking up at him, Evylin said, “I have a question.”
Hearing the sarcasm in her tone, Deckard’s face relaxed. “How may I be of assistance?” he asked.
“I’d like to know when we can eat?” she teased. “I’m starving.”