Last Stand (The Black Mage #4)(39)

“Surprise is not enough. You are asking for a takeover on your own soil. Jerar has the greatest army and your warriors are twice the caliber of our own.” The man cracked his hands together. “Pythians are bred for trade and the sea. Caltoth enjoys its beauty and chases after precious gems. Boreans are concerned with the scholarly arts; they can barely wield a sword.”

My stomach sank with every word he spoke.

“You need to offer me assurances.” The duke sighed, and it was hard to tell in the shadows, but I suspected he was disappointed. “I would love to take you up on your proposal, Ryiah. You offer me far more than that boy king ever could.”

“Then help us,” I pleaded. “I’ll do anything—”

“I told you not to beg.” The man’s reprimand was softer than his words. “A Pythian plays to win. If it were just me, for my niece, I’d see your cause to the end. I know you tried to save her that night of the attacks. Wren was never meant for a world like this…” His tone grew coarse. “But it’s my brother’s nation, and I can’t place them at risk because of personal sentiment.”

“Tell me how.” I was desperate. “What will it take to win?”

The duke tapped his fingers against his wrist in thought. A minute later he spoke. “If all that you tell me is true, the north is comprised of rebels. That leaves the central plains and the southern desert. How much does that leave us?”

“Around fourteen thousand.” It was the same as the north. Give or take a couple thousand if Blayne called on the smaller city regiments.

“How many in the desert alone?”

“Four thousand? It’s Ishir Outpost and some of the trading ports.”

“That certainly helps our odds. But the Crown’s Army is still too big. And it’s the best of your best.”

“It doesn’t always reside in the capital.” I thought fast. “Commander Audric’s regiment travels wherever the kingdom needs more help. The Crown doesn’t dispatch the whole, but—”

“I would suggest my warships as a distraction,” the man said dryly, “but I doubt that would hold their attention when rebels and Caltothian soldiers start making a stampede for the palace.”

“If we had time—”

“It’s not enough of a guarantee. I need assurance.”

I was at a loss for words. For a moment… for a moment, I had thought he would help us.

“I tell you what.” The duke cleared his throat. “I am not ready to play my cards, not just yet. You’ve impressed me in the past. I’m going to give you that opportunity again.”

My eyes started to water, but I fought back the tears. The last thing I needed was for the ambassador to see me cry.

“We have two days of rest before we break for war. The prince claims the Crown’s Army is amassing in the capital for a march north as we speak.”

I nodded along, everything he said I already knew.

“Your king waited this long for Pythian ships. Who is to say he can’t wait a bit longer?”

“How?”

“I will insist on speaking with the young king in person.” Duke Cassius leaned forward. “I will insist Horrace offered better terms and that we need to renegotiate our alliance. Blayne will be furious, but he will eventually meet my demands. I will buy you two months from today, and not an hour longer.”

My knees were wobbly as I thanked him, grateful the shadows helped shield the desperation from my face.

“That’s two months to bring me a solution to our problem.” His warning was clear. “I need an assurance that we can win and I will not risk my kinsmen for your cause. If you fail, I won’t hesitate to reveal your secret. Pythus needs to be on the winning side.”

“I understand.” The words came out a rush. “Thank you for—”

“Don’t thank me yet.” The man stepped away from the column, his expression dark. “I am almost certain you will fail.”





9





“We played our hand too fast!”

Wood splintered on impact, bits of furniture splaying across the chamber. I watched as Darren threw another chair, half-drunk in rage. The ambassador had made his announcement that morning. The prince hadn’t taken it well.

“Darren—”

“Don’t.” His eyes flashed garnet. “Don’t you dare tell me to be calm when that gods’ forsaken villain is out there toying with us all like a fat cat and his mice, showing us ships only to call for more talk after all that we’ve done!”

“I wasn’t.” I reached out to place a hand on his shoulder, ignoring the surge of guilt as I watched. “I am with you.”

“What kind of man,” he seethed, “does something like this?”

The kind that wants to win. I bit down on my tongue. At least Darren’s bad news came in the morning.

Mine had come the night before. This was supposed to have been it. The final instrumental act to solve all of our problems—an alliance that would convince Blayne to surrender and give me time to talk Darren around to the truth.

I should have known I had strung too much of my hope on this. Now I was supposed to pray the “opportunity” paid off. And the irony was, had Darren’s and my roles been reversed, I was sure the prince would have found a way to solve it. Darren had always been better in strategy and command. It wasn’t my fault. Lowborns and mages weren’t raised to be leaders of men; princes preparing to be knights and the head of the Crown’s Army were.