“What orders? When?” Pax demands.
Seth groans. “The Sabers in Rengurra mentioned it, but we had bigger problems at the time.”
“It’s true,” Jada says. “I live in the Black Castle with all the other SealSeeds when not on assignments. And I make sure I’m in all the right places at the right times. The kingdom may think Kyra is there – an abnormality still in training – but she’s not. Maybe that’s where Logan went?” Jada offers.
“To hunt his own sister? Not likely,” Teegan says.
“Very likely,” at least three of my Elorsins deadpan.
Rose shrugs. “Let him kill her. Problem solved.”
No one seems to have anything to add to that.
“Why would the Crown shut down the last Saber castle in existence? Where would he send us all?” Teegan asks, which seems like a more pleasant line of discussion than a brother hunting down and wanting to kill his sister.
“Right here,” Roarke answers. “If the magic is failing, he’ll send the Sabers to keep things from escaping until every last one of us not a hundred percent loyal to him falls to either released prisoners or Ximena.”
“Prisoners,” Rose demands.
“Tanakan is empty,” Killian answers.
At the same time several voices echo, “Ximena?”
I try to smother my smile as Roarke rushes to add, “The border.”
The smile saves me from falling into the pit of information. Tanakan is empty. Bigger and badder things are after us, Logan and his sister – whoever she is – are who knows where, and my bubble is shrinking.
“What do we do?” Teegan asks.
“About the prisoners? Watch your backs. About the border? Leave it to us. I want you focused on Logan and taking back the White Castle. We keep Logan busy, we eliminate our enemies, and we reclaim our freedom first. Then we reclaim our Kingdom,” Pax says.
“Your plan has holes,” Jada declares. Forget putting a dart in Rose’s nose, I want to put them all in Jada. “First, taking control of the castle could take months or even years. Our Masters and our border might not have that kind of time. Not with Lithael hunting down Masters and executing them. You think you can pull that off without getting heaps of people killed, and while babysitting a mortal?”
And, apparently, with a whole prison worth of bad Seeds against us. When were they going to fill me in on this? But this isn’t my meeting, so I’m not about to open my mouth about anything.
“It won’t take years. This is a multifaceted strategy,” Pax says. His tone is cool and controlled, but I wouldn’t describe it as calm. “You have to trust that there are other factors in play. Do your part, and the pieces will fall together.”
“When Commander Pax and his team return to the castle, we’re going to restrict the flow of assignments that are being passed directly from Lithael, and increase the flow from a trusted source. Then we can move more pieces into place around the realm,” Jada says. “But that will take time.”
She emphasizes that last word, and I get the distinct impression that no matter what Pax says or does – Jada is in no rush to play her part. The breeze must have just picked up over the dying fire because there’s suddenly an ashy quality to the air – along with murmurs of agreement from the Sabers.
It’s a dangerous game she’s playing, first making the Sabers second guess Pax, then coming to his rescue, only to end her rescue with another reason why they shouldn’t trust him.
She may be some family friend from a few hundred years ago, or whatever her excuse is, but she can’t be trusted.
“Once we have control of the White Castle,” Roarke begins. “Orders will come in from Jada to secret some of the more powerful masters to the springs we know we can save. There are four Springs, from Eydis’ notes, that can be saved. Stars, Wood, Aether, and Sound. She’s tried potions, even mortal magic, and it’s worked on some of the smaller power sources but not these. Without a trusted Master in the domains, the border will bleed the Springs dry. We can save them.”
“We will take control of the White Castle,” Rose declares.
I twist enough to see Pax incline his head. Part in a nod, part in appreciation, and all rather more regally than I’ve ever seen. He looks like he belongs there, in front of everyone. Which is not my idea of fun. My idea of fun right now would be flicking something very small at his ear and watching the look on his face as he tried to ignore me and maintain composure.
I sift my fingers through the dirt and pick up a pebble, but Killian kicks my bare toes with his boot before I can toss it. I drop the stone and yank my knees up to my chin, glaring at him.
“When will you return?” Teegan asks, drawing both our attention.
“Not until we’ve finished our business here,” Pax says. “Elite teams who are currently on Release Seal assignments over the next few days will make their way here before they return to the White Castle. We’re hoping for at least five teams, but we can’t be sure. They will all have orders, but they may not all have the same orders as you. Trust each other. At this stage the risks are too high for all of our plans to be shared among all of us.”
“Can we trust you?” all four Elorsins suddenly stand and ask.
The synchronicity is spine tingling.
There is barely a pause before the phrase, “As it should be,” choruses around the group.
And that’s it. End of meeting. Formalities over.
The Sabers stand, and a sense of excitement settles over the group.
I rest my elbows on my knees and run my fingers over the thick shackle scar on my left wrist. If I can deal with Lord Martin, I can deal with anything. Right?
“What do you
