Total pages in book: 362
Estimated words: 347293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1736(@200wpm)___ 1389(@250wpm)___ 1158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 347293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1736(@200wpm)___ 1389(@250wpm)___ 1158(@300wpm)
I rolled my eyes.
“And King,” he continued. “But we want a quadrant of draken on those cliffs.”
“Can do.” Nektas drew his thumb over his chin. “When the ships are sighted, you want them lit up?”
“Yes,” Ash answered without hesitation.
I shifted in my seat, uneasy with the knowledge that those ships would be packed like sardines and also that I wasn’t all that uncomfortable with the plan. Considering what I was, I kind of felt like I should be.
Oh, well.
I removed my hand from my stomach and propped my elbows on the table. “I doubt Kolis will put all his forces on those ships or in any one area.”
“It would be really nice of him if he did.” Lailah sat back, twisting a braid between her fingers.
Attes smirked. “The Bonelands’ eastern mountains border Dalos,” he said, referencing the mountains that’d once been the prisons. “And I know damn well that…Kyn would’ve put regiments there.” He cleared his throat. “We’ve had eyes on the Bonelands’ side, but there was no way to monitor movement into the mountains without being seen.”
“So, you think Kolis has regiments there already?” I asked.
“It’s what I would’ve instructed him to do.” He picked up his glass. “So, Kyn would have told him the same if discussions of the Bonelands arose.”
“They did while I was there,” I said. “With that in mind, I think it’s safe to assume he may have shared strategy plans with him.”
Attes took a drink. “Kyn would’ve moved them through the mountains and into the Bonelands when the decision was made to meet there. And he would’ve done so on foot. It will be faster than attempting it on horseback.”
My gaze shot to Ash’s. “That means Kolis can be doing that right now.”
“We have forces closer,” Ash reminded me. “Theon has been stationed not too far from there.”
“Below the Temple is an open area, bordered by the cliffs on one side and the forest on the other.” Theon circled his finger over an area of the map near the Temple. “I would suggest,” he said with a heavy sigh, “creating a first line of defense by moving the forces already there to the eastern forest. They can be there in an hour. It’s dense and dark. Enough that our soldiers would be hidden. A second line could be in the caves. The third line, near you and Sera. The trees are thickest there, so the strongest should be up there.”
Ash’s jaw tightened. “And because of how dense the eastern woods are, Kolis’s regiments will also be well hidden as they move westward. Those in that first line will get hit the hardest and suffer the most casualties.”
Theon inhaled deeply. “I know, but they are the closest, and we need to secure that open field to limit access to the Temple.”
Ash didn’t like it. Neither did I. But Theon was right. “Thierran, you’ll be up with us, nice and hidden. You need to stay out of all the fighting until Sera summons you, or you don’t have a choice.”
“That’s not much fun,” the God of Dreams remarked.
“Bele, you will be up with us.” Ash’s gaze flicked to Attes. “So will you.”
“I need to be on the second line,” Attes argued. “That’s where the fighting will be the heaviest. If our line breaks, the Temple will be overrun.”
“Good point.” Ash let out an aggravated breath.
“I’ll take Kars and you two.” Attes nodded at the cousins. “Rhain should be with you all.”
My gaze darted from Kars to Rhahar and Saion. While the latter had been Ascended, none of them were Primals. They were gods, which meant they could be killed with shadowstone and eather. Thinking that made my heart race, even though none of them looked nervous. Kars was actually smiling.
“I don’t think Saion should be on the second line,” I said. “Or in the Bonelands.”
Saion stiffened. “What do you mean?”
“We need Phanos taken out, and when that happens, you will finish your Ascension,” I reminded him—and everyone. “You’ll be vulnerable in those moments, and we may be unable to get you out.”
“Fuck,” he muttered, rubbing his brow. “I didn’t even think of that.”
“Good call.” Ash smiled at me, and I felt like clapping myself on the back. Somehow, I managed to refrain from doing so. “The Shadowlands still need to be guarded in case Kolis attacks here to draw our attention. You will be needed here.”
Saion wasn’t happy, but he nodded.
“I am ready,” Penellaphe said, drawing our attention. “I know I haven’t been Ascended for long, but I am ready to join the fight.”
“As am I,” Ione joined in. “I have trained as a guard and can wield a sword.”
“Penellaphe,” Ash began.
“I know I may not appear to have had any training.” Penellaphe’s chin lifted, sending long, honey-hued strands cascading over her back. “But I, too, once trained as a guard.”