Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 235897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1179(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 786(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 235897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1179(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 786(@300wpm)
“I don’t know.” Garrick scratches the stubble along his chin. “She said to bring Violet and your brother, and they’ll let Draithus stand.”
Stand or live? Anca was standing when they left it, too.
Xaden tenses. “She said ‘brother’?”
Garrick nods. “Everyone knows you were raised together.”
“It’s certainly the fastest way to wipe out Tyrrendor’s ruling line,” Trissa notes.
“Right.” Two furrows appear between Xaden’s brows, and his mouth tenses.
“What are you thinking?” I ask.
“Venin don’t care about succession.”
“You have another who calls you by the name,” Sgaeyl chimes in, her words sharper than her teeth.
“Another—” I frown. The only other person who would have qualified for that title was Liam. Wait. The very first time I met her, she didn’t kill me, but she didn’t achieve her rescue objective, either. My stomach hollows. “She wants Jack.”
“That’s my guess.” His gaze darts to Kaori, who’s solely focused on his projection, then jumps to Garrick. “You up for a little walk?” he asks quietly.
Garrick glances at Kaori, then nods.
“Use me,” I whisper to Brennan so Xaden won’t hear. “Once I rescue Mira, I’ll station myself between the pass and Draithus. I can wield in both directions if wyvern get past me.”
“That’s it.” Brennan’s eyes slide shut. “Everyone but the seven of us out. Now,” he orders, his voice booming through the room. “Stay in the hallway for quick recall.”
“We don’t have time for this,” Felix argues as the crowd moves into the hallway.
“You’re the variable I’m missing, and worse, you make Riorson one, too.” Brennan swings his gaze to mine as the Assembly chamber empties.
I draw back. “I’m sorry?”
“Tread carefully,” Xaden warns.
“That right there, for starters.” Brennan stares at me while pointing at Xaden, and I don’t think he’s just talking about this discussion. He gestures to the model. “Violet, pick one objective to win.”
“People will die if we only choose one.” My heart starts to pound.
“Yes.” He nods. “Welcome to leadership.”
“Why me?” I stare at the model. Mira has to come first, but the thought of leaving civilians to be desiccated, our own riders and fliers to die with their bonded ones? It’s too much to fathom. Losing Liam was battle. Mom was her own sacrifice. Trager was…luck. Being responsible for the deaths of thousands?
“Because I don’t think you can,” Brennan answers gently. “Theophanie knows you’ll try to save everyone like you did in Resson, or at Dunne’s temple, or Basgiath before Mom…” He swallows. “That’s why we’ll fail. Because you will choose everyone over yourself, and he will choose you over everyone.”
My stomach hollows.
“You’re not playing fair,” Xaden replies, his voice sliding lower.
“In all the years we’ve known each other, fair isn’t a term I’ve ever heard you argue.” Brennan holds up a single finger. “Prove me wrong so we can go get our sister, Violet. The only way we’re walking out of the trap this dark wielder designed for you is if you don’t fall for it. One objective. One path.” He lifts his brows, and the words hit me square in the stomach.
Tairn would select one in a heartbeat.
Andarna would choose them all.
But she’s gone. What’s the objective with the biggest impact? Setting Xaden aside…Draithus will only hold as long as we can defend it. The same goes for the pass. And if I rescue Mira, there’s every chance Theophanie will—
This isn’t about Mira. She’s hunting me.
“Theophanie.” I take a steadying breath. “I guess I would kill Theophanie.”
“I’m impressed. That was not on my list.” The table creaks as Brennan sits on its edge. “And if Cadet Sorrengail is abducted while securing her objective?”
Shadows spread at Xaden’s feet. “Bodhi will make an excellent duke.”
“At least one of you can be taught.” Brennan rubs the scar on his palm. “Do you trust your squad leader to hold a position this time?” he asks me.
“With my life,” I answer instantly.
“All right.” Brennan nods. “I have one idea.” He looks at us all in turn. “I’ll unlock the armory. Trissa, we need you to open up that little cache you keep of runes and maorsite arrowheads. Xaden, we need you to trust Violet not to get herself killed.” He doesn’t wait for Xaden’s response before staring me down. “And above all else, we need you to understand that you cannot save everyone and you cannot stray from your orders.”
I’ll do whatever it takes to save Mira. “Fine.”
Most cadets believe their ability to recite historical fact will usher them onto the adept path, but it is actually the ability to observe and recount it that separates the librarians from the scribes.
—Colonel Daxton’s Guide to Excelling in the Scribe Quadrant
CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
Tairn can fly to the nearest edge of the Cliffs of Dralor in two hours, but it does us no good to leave Sgaeyl, Cuir, and Marbh behind, so by the time we reach the ten-thousand-foot drop, we’re cutting it close to Theophanie’s deadline.