When I had determined every weakness I intended to destroy in my attack, I withdrew all of the extended energy into a small pool in the ground just past the secondary checkpoint, and then extended it out to the same points again. The first few repetitions were an exercise in tedium, but I quickly felt the benefits manifest as I was able to complete the cycles faster and faster. Soon, the mana seemed to know where to go without my conscious direction, branching out like a spider’s web along the ground to snake its way directly through the scaffold to the dozens of suffusion points I had mapped. It’s going to work. It has to.
I pulled back all of the mana from the Mountain Gate with a contented sigh and turned my attention to the Corells’ wagon. Marin had successfully reached the main road and was a few hours from reaching the traffic jam caused by the aggressive defensive measures at the gate. Lia sat with her eyes closed, nodding now and again as Marten gesticulated excitedly in the midst of another story. I pressed my mana gently against the edges of her consciousness and saw her smile in acknowledgement of my attention. With my message received, I climbed back into the saddle and started my trip back.
Marin waved me down as she saw me approaching. “How did it look?” she asked, somewhere between excited and terrified.
“It’s about what I expected,” I answered with a reassuring smile, matching pace alongside the wagon. “There’s a long line of carts waiting to go through. Apparently, the guards are checking every wagon from top to bottom to make sure we don’t try to sneak across the border unnoticed. That works out well for us, though; the more people there are, the easier it’ll be for you to blend in.”
Her face relaxed with palpable relief. “And I just drive right through when you give the signal, right?” She froze in place as her eyebrows contracted in suspicion. “You never told me what the signal is.”
I laughed. “A loud series of explosions, plumes of smoke, and lots of confused screaming.” I pointed down the road towards the gate looming in the distance. “The ground is nice and flat until you get to the checkpoint, so do what you need to do to get around the traffic. Make sure you follow the road after that, though. They dug some trenches that you won’t be able to drive over.”
“Got it,” she nodded. A forced smile spread across her face. “I’m ready.”
“I know that it’s scary, Marin, especially after what you went through with Savitz and his men,” I said softly. “I hate to have to ask you to do this for us, and you’re being incredibly brave to accept. I promise that, no matter what happens, I’ll make sure you get through this safe and unharmed.” Her eyes widened, and she turned her face away and mumbled something inaudibly under her breath. “Sorry, I didn’t catch that.”
“I said don’t mention it!” she shouted suddenly. “Marten’s going to pay me back for all of this work, with interest!” From within the wagon, I heard a loud bark of laughter. “Don’t you laugh, Marten! I’m serious!” I chuckled quietly and removed myself from the conversation, slowing my horse until I came to the back of the wagon. I grabbed the loose length of rope attached to the hitch and looped it through the reins, then gave the horse an appreciative pat on the neck before hopping down and entering the wagon.
“I was beginning to think you ran off and left us!” Marten joked, waggling his eyebrows at me.
“No, you didn’t,” Lia shot back, rolling her eyes.
“Well, no, I didn’t,” he said, chuckling to himself. “You’re still sure about all of this, then? Still confident that you can do...whatever it is you do?” His humorous expression faded to a more serious one. “There’s no shame in turning away from a fight, especially one where you’re clearly outnumbered.”
“We can do this, Marten,” I reassured him, nodding to Lia. “There’s no doubt in my mind that we can do this.” I paused for a moment, rubbing my chin. “I’m not sure if it would ease your mind or bother you more, but I can tell you what exactly we’re up against now that I’ve seen it and what I plan to do.”
He looked to Hana, who gave him a small nod. “Alright,” he sighed, “tell us. If we’re really doing this, I’d rather know what we’re headed into.”
I recounted what I had seen on my scouting mission in full detail, from the expected amount of guards to the types and positioning of their defenses. As I went on, Marten’s face grew paler and paler until I was worried he might faint. Hana’s expression had grown solemn by the time I finished, and she held her husband’s hand tightly.
“Lux, I...I want to believe you,” Marten said eventually, his voice scratchy and low, “but what you’ve described is an army. An army in a castle that knows we’re coming. I’m not sure the Trinity Guard and their company could get through this. With just the two of you...it’s just not possible.”
“It is possible,” I insisted. “Lia and I will ride out ahead of the wagon and catch them unaware. She’ll take out the guards there while I destroy the gatehouse. From there, I’ll collapse the extra fortifications, which will remove their artillery support. With that—”
“You’ll collapse the fortifications? From the ground? How?” He shook his head in disbelief.
“With magic,” I answered. Scanning around the wagon, my eyes settled on a plank of wood about the size of a loaf of bread lying in the corner. “Watch,” I said, holding it out in front of me in both hands. Focusing my mana down the board, I suffused
