The rebellious Gale glares at Gus, and for a second I wonder if he’s going to turn and walk away. Instead he bends and recovers his spike from the ground, shoving it through the belt of his uniform, right next to his windslicer.
“That is a smart place to store it,” Gus tells him, turning back to the others. “In fact, the best way to use these spikes is to think of them like a windslicer.”
“You expect us to engage in hand-to-hand combat with these Storm beasts?” an old, tall Gale with a braided beard asks.
“Why not? I did. And I won.” Gus’s voice holds no arrogance. Only assurance. “I understand that things feel bleak—and I wish I could promise that no lives will be lost today—but that is no different from any other battle we’ve faced. And this is our chance. Raiden is coming to us, desperate to prove that he’s the invincible king he claims to be. But he is not invincible. I’ve seen him bleed. I’ve made him bleed. And the weapon that sliced him was one of these.”
He holds up his spike and this time there are cheers.
Halfhearted and fleeting, but still, cheers.
“Guardian Gusty is right,” Os says, like he’s just realized that Gus is doing his job. “The tide is turning, my friends. If we stand strong against it, we could mark this day in our histories as the day this war swung in our favor. Perhaps even the day we end Raiden’s reign forever!”
Louder cheers this time, mixed with applause.
Gus moves back to my side as Os continues to prep his soldiers.
“Do you really think Raiden will come here?” I ask, keeping my voice low so that only Gus hears.
Raiden may crave power and prestige, but he usually stays away from the action. And I saw the fear in his eyes when Gus’s wind spike sliced his arm. I can’t see him risking further injury in a battle with this many variables.
“I don’t think he’ll be able to stay away,” Gus whispers back. “Though I wouldn’t be surprised if he hides in the mountains. And you can bet I’m going up there to find him.”
His grip tightens on his wind spike, and I have a feeling if Gus gets another shot, he won’t miss again.
If only it could be that easy.
Os switches to discussing their strategy and I try not to cringe. It sounds like he’s reciting straight from the basic-training guide. Divide and conquer. Clean, direct attacks. No one works alone.
“This isn’t a time for basics.”
I don’t realize I’ve said it out loud until everyone turns to look at me.
“What was that, Ms. Eastend?” Os asks.
I notice that he doesn’t call me Guardian Audra. Though at least he doesn’t call me Your Highness.
I clear my throat, hoping my cheeks aren’t as red as my ridiculous dress as I say, “I’m sorry—I didn’t mean to interrupt. But I’ve seen Raiden fight, and nothing about his method is basic.”
“Ah, I see,” Os says, and the circle parts as he stalks closer to me. “So perhaps you think you should be captain?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“And yet, you thought it was perfectly acceptable to secondguess me in front of my guardians.”
“I didn’t mean—”
“I agree with Audra,” Gus interrupts, earning himself a death glare from Os—and a grateful smile from me. “The plan you explained to me earlier was a stronger plan. Just because Raiden’s coming from a different direction doesn’t mean we should abandon it.”
“Another person thinking they’re an expert on battle strategy. Tell me, Guardian Gusty—how many battles have you actually fought?”
“Three,” Gus replies without a hint of apprehension. “And one of those was against a Living Storm.”
“Yes. One Living Storm, Gus. Which is entirely different from facing down an army of them—something you would know if you understood anything about battle tactics. But Feng was the brilliant strategist in your family, and from everything I’ve seen, you take more after your mother. A strong fighter and a loyal Gale, but far too impulsive and reckless—and we all know how that turned out.”
“Ravenna didn’t die because she was reckless,” Solana shouts, surprising everyone with her fury. She wraps her arms around herself, staring at Gus as she whispers, “She died because I failed her.”
“What do you mean?” Gus asks, but Solana shakes her head and looks away.
Os puts his hand on her shoulder. “Ravenna was your guardian, Solana. Her job was to protect you—and the fact that she left any part of her strategy up to her charge only proves my point about her recklessness.”
Gus’s hands curl into fists, and I can feel mine doing the same. Trusting your charge is the hardest call a guardian can make. No one would ever make it recklessly.
“My mother was not—”
“Now is not the time to be debating the past,” Os interrupts, pointing to the coming storm, which is growing larger by the second. Any minute now it will block out the sun.