The Crow King's Wife (The Elder Blood Chronicles #5)(33)
“Merro is hard pressed to hold what they have with their numbers so few, and Jala is likely the single person they want dead more than any other.” Madren shook his head and settled back into his own chair. “What I don’t understand is why hasn’t Rivasa moved on us yet? We are sitting ducks before them with very few options and no allies beyond each other.”
“I’ve put thought into that and I’ve come up with two answers though I don’t know if either is right. The first theory is your witches. Your country was cursed for years because of the measures the witches took when it looked as though they were going to lose the war. Rivasa may be hesitant to prod them too far knowing the lengths they will go to. The second theory is they fear a trap. We are just too obvious of a victim right now, and with this much temptation there has to be a down side. Perhaps they think I have a few battalions of Flame Riders hidden in the cupboard. The Firym are being curiously quiet these days. Normally when wars are raging they are in the thick of it, but look at the map. They are all staying home right now.” Neph shrugged and propped one of his heavy boots on the edge of the table.
“Maybe they are just sick of fighting, and don’t want to take more losses than they have already. The Final stand was an embarrassment for Rivasa. What should have been a clean sweep and an easy victory turned into a total rout.” Madren offered with a shrug.
“Which is more reason for them to want to fight right now. They have to regain their pride somewhere and I’m afraid it’s going to be with us. They will have to move before the council. I’m certain that Symphony will enforce peace, so that means within the next month.” Neph objected mildly and let out a harsh breath. “Or maybe they are puppets and their master hasn’t given them the order yet. Look at Morcath. There is a scattering of forces near the border with Firym. Just enough to give the Flameriders something to watch, but otherwise Morcath is in a holding position too.”
“So what do we do? It’s either going to be Arovan or us if we just sit and wait.” Madren sighed and his expression was one of pure disgust.
“We kick them so hard they are choking on their own balls.” Neph declared quietly as he scanned the Rivasan forces once more. Far too many of the Rivasan numbers were near his border. He had to do something soon or he was going to lose his lands again, and he wouldn’t get them back if he did. He knew that with a certainty.
“How?” Madren choked and stared at Neph as if he had gone mad.
Neph was silent for a long moment as he contemplated what he was about to suggest. He was already in trouble for his actions in Arovan, and he could no longer claim shelter beneath Jala’s banner. If he followed through with the shell of a plan he was now considering he would have hell to pay from every other High Lord as well as the current Empress. “The Forbidden magic is the only way I see to end this in our favor. Given enough time I could unleash something on them that makes what happened to Veir seem pleasant.” He said finally in a low voice that wouldn’t carry beyond the room.
“And suffer twenty levels of hell and likely be executed by our fellow High lords for it.” Madren argued.
“So I name an heir, send you home, and end the threat from Rivasa. If I am the only one that can be found guilty, I am the only one they can punish.” Neph said with a heavy sigh and looked up from the map to lock eyes with Madren. “If I take this measure it falls on your shoulders to awaken the heroes in the crypt below. I haven’t decided if this is the path I will follow, but for now it’s the only one I see available.”
“Even if you end the Rivasan threat we still have the dragons to worry about.” Madren pressed.
“Do you think Lady Willameir will truly move after she witnesses a nation as powerful as Rivasa fall?” Neph asked dryly.
“Merro likely thought the same thing when they sent the plague to Veir. They ended up dying from their actions, don’t let history repeat itself Neph. The forbidden magic may look like the easiest and best option here, but that kind of magic comes with a very high price.” Madren cautioned.
“I consider myself priceless, and if I follow this path it will mean my death. That is the cost of saving Delvay as well as Goswin if I choose to use my magic.” Neph said softly. His mind was already formulating what spells would need to be cast if he was going to stop Rivasa fully. He didn’t have any doubts that he could eliminate the country, or at least weaken it to the point well past fighting, but it would take time. The process for such a large working of magic was tedious and very time consuming. He would need to decide by morning if he was going to act, they were already too short on time.
*
Noise rose from the dining hall behind him, and Neph smiled as he carried his plate of food to his own quarters. The sound of laughter was welcome in his halls, and it was something he hadn’t thought to hear again for a long while. Every man and woman in the dining hall behind him had suffered in the war, but they were moving on, and the sounds behind him were proof of it. He probably should have stayed behind to dine with them. If for nothing more than to reassure them that he was one of them, his self-imposed exile had been a long one, and they were still grudging with their acceptance of him as their leader. He knew his absence would be noted because of that, but he had a lot to think on, and it was best to do it without distractions.