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)
“Most wounds inflicted in battle are to the head or chest.” Lailah’s forehead creased. “Quick strikes. Not to say there aren’t ones that do more bodily damage.”
“But on the whole, those are injuries a Revenant would quickly recover from.” My gaze shifted to the snowcapped mountains. “What about the other Courts?” I asked, my attention snagged by those training on horseback. They, too, had slowed or stopped.
“Hard to tell for sure,” she said. “Many of the Primals keep their true numbers hidden.”
“But you have guesses?”
“We do.” She sent me a quick grin. “But first, I think you’re about to experience something I have a feeling will make you uncomfortable.”
Bewilderment surged. “What do you mean?”
“Look down into the valley,” Ash urged.
I did as he instructed and locked up.
On the field below, all the soldiers had stopped, and those on horseback had dismounted. They stood in endless rows, facing us.
“What…what is happening?” I asked.
“They’re about to do your new favorite thing,” Ash said, his voice heavy with amusement.
My eyes went wide. “They don’t—”
The soldiers kneeled, row after row of them in a wave that stretched the valley, one hand on their chests, and the other on the ground. My lips parted as I took them in.
I jumped when a loud thump echoed through the valley. The soldiers were slamming their palms against the packed ground, over and over, until the valley was filled with the sound.
“This is different,” Ash said, speaking into my ear. “They are not just paying homage to their Queen. They are telling you that they are yours, and that, if it comes down to it, they will go to war for you.”
My breath caught. “For us.”
His lips brushed my cheek. “For us.”
Then the pounding stilled, and silence came. Their heads lifted. They waited.
“I…I don’t know what to do,” I admitted, my cheeks warming. “Yelling to them that they may rise doesn’t seem fitting.”
Ash chuckled. “You can just lift a hand.”
“Oh.” That was far easier. I raised my hand and then gave a little wave because holding it still felt awkward.
It worked, though.
The soldiers rose, and after a few moments, they returned to their training. Seeing thousands of people I’d never spoken to, had likely never even crossed paths with, willing to go to war for me—for us? It rattled me.
“So, about the armies,” Lailah said as Ash gently took hold of my still-raised hand and lowered it. “Phanos has the second-largest army. Around forty-five thousand.”
All thoughts of awkward displays of loyalty fell away. My stomach dipped. “And what type of soldiers does he have?”
“Mostly those on two feet,” Ash answered, gently squeezing my hip. “But he rules the seas with the ceeren.”
I felt my heart clench at thoughts of more ceeren dying.
“Among other things,” Rhain muttered under his breath but continued before I could question that. “Embris has slightly less than we do. About forty thousand.”
Lailah straightened the strap of her baldric. “With the exception of Bele’s, the rest of the Courts have about five thousand.”
I nodded, running my hand over Odin’s glossy mane. “Do we have any idea how many Cimmerian Kyn has?”
“No more than a thousand,” Rhain answered. “And that likely includes those who returned to Vathi after Bele’s Ascension.”
That surprised me. “I would’ve thought there’d be more.”
“Lucky for us,” Ash drawled, “the Cimmerian’s love of fighting equals a very short lifespan.”
I snorted at his comment. A thousand senturion warriors that could summon the night to cloak themselves in battle was still a problem.
“Any Court that wants to move their armies against us would have to do so by foot,” Lailah shared. “And none of the Courts are likely to give such permission because it could be perceived as a pronouncement of their loyalties.”
I considered that. “So, any Court outside Vathi will have to travel the Lassa Sea, which is good news since we would see them.”
“Except for the Thyia Plains,” Rhain interjected. “But they cannot cross the Disus—the sea between our Courts and to our north. The waters there are part of the Vale, and as such, protected. Not even Kolis would dare travel those. That leaves the Bonelands.”
“The gods could shadowstep from their ships to land,” Ash said, “but they risk destroying their vessels in the process.”
“True.” Rhain’s lips pursed. “And they would also have to travel the length of the Bonelands with no cleared lands and no roads. If any come, they will do so by the Lassa.”
For now, went unsaid.
“This could all change if a number of Courts decide to support Kolis.” I stated the obvious.
“Yes.” Ash gently squeezed my hip. “It would all change then.”
“If that happens, they will come for us by land, sea, and air,” Lailah said, her brow furrowed. “Fighting a battle on two fronts is not something anyone wants to do—let alone three.”
A sudden awareness echoed through me. I looked at the sky, squinting until I could make out the distant shape of a draken.