Chapter 30 #2
“Thank you for joining me today,” I greeted.
My nerves sizzled and popped as I addressed the leaders that had filled the great hall.
Early morning sunlight cascaded through the towering windows, bathing the hall in a light that didn’t permeate my mood.
Cal was all king beside me, exuding an air of confidence I tried to siphon into my own body.
They doubted you , I reminded myself. “I would apologize for inviting you to last night’s ball under false pretenses, but I find I do not feel apologetic at all.
” It seemed as if everyone shifted uncomfortably.
Good. Let them be uncomfortable. Let them feel a quarter of the dread that had been plaguing me since the start of this journey.
“Now we face the question of how to move forward. We know that Malosym will be returning with the intention of destroying the realm. We don’t know when or where, which means we need to be ready for anything. So, what is everyone able to offer?”
“What if we don’t want to offer anything?
” a portly, red-faced man shouted from the front row.
His question was innocent enough, but it was said with an air of entitlement, as if drivas and Saints and a war against evil were below him.
“What if we want to close off the borders of our kingdom and shelter in place?”
“And you are?” I asked.
“King Nelsen of Ostad.”
I scanned through my brain. Nope. Never heard of Ostad.
“Well, King Nelsen of Ostad,” I started, a tight smile on my face.
“What you saw last night? The Occulti demons that managed their way inside the ballroom? There were no more than a dozen, and look at the carnage they left behind, even with the aid of the drivas. Malosym has an unlimited well of power and can form the Occulti into any shape or form. Including a driva.”
A murmur rippled through the crowd, and I could almost smell the panic as it rose.
“Yes, he has created his own drivas. We encountered one on our flight from Astran to Nesan.” I looked down the table to where Tyrak sat, stone-faced.
“That was just one, and it took three of our drivas to bring it down. You all saw what Adorex, Obitus, and Gehenna did to the castle’s exterior last night.
They easily could’ve reduced the whole thing to ash.
That should alert you to their true power, and the power held by Malosym’s drivas, however many he may have. ”
King Nelsen’s red face had gone white, his eyes wide.
“So, as I said last night, it is ultimately up to you whether you lend your forces to the cause. You can fortify your city walls, line them with watchmen and archers, and fill your harbors with warships. But this is now a war of wings, and death may come from the skies. ”
Nelsen swallowed hard, his only answer a weak nod. Silence fell over the hall as the words settled. Throats bobbed. Fingers rung together. Blood drained from faces.
“I cannot guarantee victory against Malosym,” I started again, my voice measured.
“I cannot guarantee safety or survival. But I can tell you I’d much rather hit him with all the power we can than sit in a castle praying to the Saints that death will come swiftly.
Your prayers mean nothing. The Saints are listening, but they can’t do shit.
Not against Malosym.” I took a steadying breath.
“I understand your fear. Believe me when I say I know it well. But letting fear take over is a luxury we simply do not have anymore. So,” I repeated, “what is everyone able to offer?”
A barrage of shouts sounded from around the crowd. Cal’s hand squeezed mine under the table as I fought a smile. Finally , I had people willing to fight. I had a room full of leaders willing to stand behind me. They grew louder, and I could only catch snippets of their shouts.
“I have forty trebuchets!”
“I have fifty, and they’re of a far higher quality than any other kingdom!”
“I have a fleet of warships!”
“I have two separate fleets, and each ship is outfitted with ten cannons!”
“I have a specially trained brigade of assassins!”
“Mine have even more training!”
Miles’ chair pushed back from the table suddenly and he rose to his feet. “This is not a fucking dick measuring contest!” he bellowed, and the crowd quieted. He righted his leathers and took his seat once again. Gone was the starry-eyed Miles of last night. Lieutenant Langrave was back.
I nodded my thanks to him before looking back to the hall of leaders.
“Lieutenant Landgrave is right. This is not a matter of me choosing the best supplier. If you have trebuchets, we need them. If you have cannons, we need them. If you have warships, we need them. Soldiers, civilians, anyone able-bodied. We need them. We need everything.”
It took over an hour for each leader to stand and list the assets they could provide.
Tyrak hastily scribbled line after line, keeping track of who had what and how long it would take them to get supplies and soldiers here.
I conferred with Nesan’s military leaders about the logistics of hosting such a large mass of people.
The inkpot ran low, the hall slowly emptied, and I had a fucking army.
I stared down at the small stack of parchment filled with line after line of script. Maybe I wouldn’t have Katia and Rhedros. But I had soldiers, ships, and steel.
“What a fucking miracle you are,” Cal murmured in my ear as the last leader filed out the doorway. “You’ve done it.”
But the feeling of victory was short-lived, squashed when two guards burst through the doorway, followed by…
“Nell?” I asked, shooting to my feet. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Her chest heaved, tears brimming on her lashes as she stared at me. “He attacked Taitha.”