The more we discuss the idea of going to Frostfire, the more Little Bean’s energy seems to jolt and jerk inside me. I can only assume she’s protesting a plan that involves my traveling to the Ice Plains north of Fisa and drinking a vile potion to unlock my magic. To be honest, it doesn’t tempt me much, either. But what choice do I have? Magic wins wars. Magic is the only thing that can intimidate Mother.
Unfortunately, we can’t spare anyone from their current posts, Griffin categorically refuses to let me go alone, and I categorically refuse to take Bellanca. I don’t know all that much about the hermit of Frostfire outside of her legendary potion-making abilities, but if anyone can make a hermit shut the door in your face and lock it ten times over, it’s Bellanca Tarva. There’s no way I’ll risk being turned away because Bellanca does something too loud, flaming, or abrasive.
Which leaves Griffin and me. Beta Team, and especially Carver, can take over his responsibilities to the army, but we can’t trust just anyone with a secret mission to shore up my magic. Soldiers will help us invade Fisa, but my lightning is what we really need in order to face my mother.
Of course, we get constant arguments from the people we’re leaving behind.
“You don’t need me here,” Bellanca insists, glancing around our impressive new army encampment on the outskirts of Kitros.
“We do,” I say. “You’ll help with organizing, recruiting, and training. The army is Beta Team’s main responsibility now.”
“Alpha Team,” Bellanca corrects, although she looks pleased that I included her in the group.
I shrug. It’ll always be Beta Team to me.
“You and Griffin are our main responsibility,” Kato argues.
Griffin shakes his head. “We need you here. Too many people are arriving daily.”
The ranks keep swelling with new soldiers, both Sintan and Tarvan. Even a few Fisans are starting to trickle in. Thalyrians.
“Then take some other people. Good, trained soldiers,” Flynn urges.
Griffin and I both continue to balk at the idea.
“I really don’t want anyone to know about this,” I say. We haven’t even brought Anatole, Nerissa, Jocasta, and Kaia into the loop, even though we visit them regularly. They’re at Castle Tarva, spearheading civilian projects and working in tandem with Egeria to bring Sinta’s new benefits east into our expanded territory.
Griffin agrees with me. “If word gets out that Cat’s magic is unreliable, it could rattle the army, and even undermine confidence in our rule.”
“Or Mother could hear of it,” I add. “The last thing we want is her getting wind of our destination.”
There are general grunts of agreement. Bellanca sparks a little brighter, too.
“I should be going with you,” Carver says, staring broodingly at nothing at all.
That would be ideal, but that’s not possible anymore. Just one more thing we can lay at Piers’s feet. If Piers had chosen to support us, he would have headed all martial operations during any absence of Griffin’s. Now that responsibility falls to Carver, which means he can’t come with us.
Out of the corner of my eye, I watch the dark-haired swordsman, my brother by marriage and by choice. Carver has the kind of quick wit, razor-sharp smile, fighting talent, and teasing manner that make people want to stand out in his eyes and shine. Unfortunately, Carver’s eyes also have an increasingly hard and unpredictable edge to them that makes those same people wonder what in the Underworld he’s really thinking. If you don’t know him already, it’s getting harder to tell if he’s joking with you or about to run you through. Not surprisingly, the new recruits are nervous around him, and nobody wants a bunch of jumpy men and women with weapons.
Which is just another reason that neither Flynn nor Kato can come with us. Flynn is a solid, unflappable presence for the troops to look up to, and Kato has a gift for inspiring ease and camaraderie, something we sorely need when faced with integrating two forces that recently saw each other as enemies and still aren’t quite sure how to interact.
Bellanca can just be Bellanca. If anything, the troops will be reassured that we have intense Fire Magic on our side.
Not having a better option, Griffin and I choose a day to leave, get ready, and then strike out on our own for the first time ever.
It feels strange to set out on a journey without our usual group, and its newest member almost refused to stay behind. Bellanca’s determination is admirable, if exasperating. She trailed us for an hour until I ultimately told her about Griffin’s magic rope, pulled it from his saddlebag, and then threatened to turn around and tie her to Carver until we got back. I wouldn’t actually do it, but she’s not the one who can detect lies.
Snarling, sparking, and spitting mad, the red-haired ex-princess cursed us both for idiots, wheeled her horse around, and then went back on her own. Threatening her with Carver worked like a charm.
Finally alone on the road, I don’t know if we made the right decision or not.
Apparently, Griffin doesn’t, either. He glances at me from under lowered brows, concern etching small lines around his mouth. “Maybe we should have let Bellanca come, or taken Kato or Flynn after all. I’m not sure it’s wise to be out here on our own.”
His thoughts echo mine, and the fact that we’re so in tune warms me. That we both wonder if we made a mistake is less heartening.
I know what he’s thinking, because I’m thinking it, too. I have no combat magic stored up, my lightning comes and goes in unpredictable explosions I have no control over, and half the time these days, I’m dragging physically, either tired or sick.
Griffin tugs gently on Brown Horse’s reins, taking the road forking to the right. Panotii takes his cues from Brown Horse and follows. It’s the road to Fisa. There should be warning signs. Continue at your own peril. Danger. Are you sure this is the road you want? This way lies Andromeda, the Great and Terrible. TURN BACK!
“What choice did we have?” I ask. “This potion could change everything. Having lightning I can control could stop an entire army in its tracks. It could stop Mother.”
Griffin looks pensive. “I know. I just hate going alone.”
I reach over and squeeze his forearm. “Carver’s head seems to be screwed on backward lately, but we can’t deprive him of his rightful place or take away something he’s actually very good at. And with the army growing so fast, we need Kato and Flynn where they are, helping Carver.”
“And you think Bellanca will scare off the hermit.” It’s not exactly a question, but Griffin doesn’t seem entirely convinced.
“Partially.” I bite my lip. “I also think she’s a good influence on Carver.”
Griffin looks at me, his eyes cool and hard under the overcast sky. A chill caterpillars down my back at his flinty expression, even though I know his lack of warmth isn’t directed at me. He’s worried about his brother. “How so?”
“She’s the only one who tells him the truth about himself anymore.”
Griffin turns back to the road. I think we both know it’s time to intervene with Carver. But Griffin isn’t acting like his usual self, either. Since that day with Piers, I’ve seen him avoid things he never would have before.