Last Stand (The Black Mage #4)(15)

“I expect you to tell them whatever it takes. If anyone harms a hair on his head, I will turn this entire regiment over to the king.”

“You would sentence thousands to die?”

“You would sentence thousands to die. If you cannot control your men, it would be their blood on your hands, not mine.” I was bluffing, but she couldn’t read my expression in the dark. “You will not be able to stop this war without me. You need me.”

“All for him?”

“All for Jerar.” I folded my arms. “But I will not let Darren be the cost.”

Nyx was silent. I knew she would say yes; she had no other choice. She couldn’t afford to walk away.

“Very well.” The woman drew in a resigned breath, and then another. “I will report everything you have told me to my men and send word to the Caltothian king. Horrace needs to know about this new development. How can we assist?”

“Darren believes the rebels reside north and that the southern attacks were feigned to lead the Crown astray.” My tone was flat. “I need you to give him a reason to believe he is wrong. The longer we remain at the keep, the less time I have to search the palace and the higher the chance the whole keep is exposed.”

“You want me to stir up activity in the south?”

I shook my head. “Blayne has Marius and several patrols combing the Red Desert as we speak. No one would be safe. I want you to have one of your own put on a good show here. Make Darren believe he has discovered one of the rebels. Have the man claim he was paid to recruit for a leader in the south, and that there are rebels hiding among the palace staff, biding their time, waiting for their chance to murder their king.”

“I would be sentencing this man to certain death.”

I took a shaky breath. “Darren will not kill the rebel, not right away, not if he believes he has information that can help him identify the ones in the palace. Have the man bargain with his life, claiming that without him it will be too late for Blayne.”

“And then?”

“I will find a way to help him escape.” My mind was already made up.

“A rebel escape under the Black Mage and twenty of his closest guards? That’s an impossible feat.”

“Just prepare the man.” I folded my arms resolutely. “Make sure he knows the hideouts your people keep in the Iron Range. And whatever you do, do not send him south. That’s where Darren will look.”

“How much time do I have?”

“At least a week. Darren would be suspicious if he came across a rebel too easily.”

“And after you return to the palace?”

“You ready your men, and you wait.”

“I have one of our own stationed in Devon.” The commander paused and her tone grew somber. “She was the one who was able to inform us the day your brother was caught. We didn’t have enough time for a rescue. The only group we had on standby were not enough…” She cleared her throat quietly. “Saba will keep watch over the palace. Should you need to reach us, visit the lower city blacksmith. I will send word you are working with us. Any communication can be sent through her. The palace envoys are watched.”

The two of us continued to talk strategy.

“Everything depends on Pythus.” The commander’s brow was furrowed. “I could send word to Horrace to contact King Joren himself, but their countries’ ties were severed after the New Alliance. Do you have a plan?”

I bit the inside of my cheek. “No, and the Pythians are set to arrive in six weeks.”

“I would not trust a letter. Not even an envoy. You need to approach their ambassador in person. Duke Cassius will be traveling to oversee the warships?”

I was certain.

“Good.” Her response was terse. “And whether or not you find proof, you need to convince him to turn. That will be your only opportunity to stop the alliance. After, it will be too late.”

She wasn’t saying anything I didn’t already know, but that didn’t stop the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, the anxious fear squeezing at my lungs and choking me out from the inside.

“The Pythians might not be swayed by justice.” Nyx said this as an afterthought. “Promise them whatever it takes. Give them a reason to pick us. Even in their greed, they have never sought to stage wars on their own people. Any rule is better than that of a corrupt king.”

I nodded.

“The Pythians might not be enough.” The commander placed a firm hand on my shoulder. “The Crown’s Army is twice the size of their own. Even with the rebels and Caltoth standing united, we still may lose.”

I was silent. I didn’t want to think of an outcome in which we lost… what the world would be like if we did.

“Your twin and his wife arrived at my keep a couple months back.” The commander sounded apologetic. “They made it very clear they wanted a part in my cause. I have them as part of Sir Maxon’s squad. Would you like me to send word before they arrive?”

“Yes.” My voice caught and I shook my head, shaking away the sudden emotion at the mention of my brother and best friend and the last time we had crossed paths. “Tell them everything,” I croaked. “I can’t keep sneaking away to meet like this. It will raise too much suspicion. I had to risk tonight because… because I was afraid of—”