“I couldn’t stop to heal,” Delano said. “The moment the arrow hit me, and I saw that Dante was dead, I ran. I would’ve gotten here sooner but I was weakening.”
“It’s okay. You got here.” Casteel unfolded his arms and placed a hand on the wolven’s shoulder. “That is what matters.”
Delano nodded, but I knew he didn’t believe that. I could feel it. The anger—directed at the Ascended and at himself.
“You ran how many miles?” I asked. “With a wound that most likely punctured a lung. You did more than most could ever think to do.”
Delano’s eyes met mine. “And you healed me with the touch of your fingers.”
“And that was nowhere near as difficult or as impressive as what you did.”
The centers of Delano’s cheeks pinkened as Casteel added, “She speaks the truth. And you’re the first person to ever impress her. I’m jealous.”
I rolled my eyes.
Casteel squeezed Delano’s shoulder once more and then asked, “Did you see any sign of Elijah? Or anyone from New Haven?”
With a shake of Delano’s head, a heavy, somber pall settled over the room.
“There are other ways they could’ve traveled—routes that would take significantly longer. But that doesn’t mean Elijah and the people didn’t get out of New Haven,” Kieran said, speaking for the first time. “They could’ve headed north and then come down through the foothills of the Skotos to avoid the Ascended.”
“I know.” Casteel crossed his arms. “Did you see any Ascended? Any knights?”
“No, but there were windowless carriages and wagons with high walls, completely sheltered. It’s possible some are with them.”
“That’s one bit of good news then,” Casteel said.
“How is that good news?” Alastir turned to him. “There are hundreds on their way here. An army.”
“It’s good because hundreds of mortals means Spessa’s End has a chance,” Casteel answered.
“A slim chance.” Alastir returned to his seat. “You may be optimistic. I respect that, but even with the Guardians we have here, that will not be enough to hold back an army of hundreds.”
A chill settled in my bones as I looked around the table, around the room and the stone walls that had already witnessed one city fall. “We can’t let Spessa’s End fall.”
Several pairs of eyes turned to me, but it was Casteel’s gaze that I met. “And we won’t,” he said. “Nova?”
The tall Guardian with the braided blond hair stepped forward. It was the one who’d watched us the day I saw them training. “Yes, my Prince?”
“Remind me of how many people we have that are capable of defending the town?”
“Less than a hundred who are trained or capable of physically fighting,” she answered, and Emil let out a low curse. “Our older population is trained with the bow, though. We would have about twenty archers.”
Twenty archers was better than nothing, but it wasn’t enough. Everyone knew that.
“We have an additional twenty-three from my and Alastir’s groups.” A muscle flexed along Casteel’s jaw. “When do you think they’ll reach Spessa’s End?”
“They’re in two groups,” Delano said. “The smaller one is closer, about a day’s ride out. I imagine they could be here by nightfall.” The tension in the room intensified. “The larger group will take longer to arrive. Probably two days, but those guesses are based on whether the first group waits for the larger group.”
“And how many are in the first group?” Jasper asked.
“Two hundred? Maybe three.”
That was the smaller group? Dear gods… “There is no way they don’t know what has been happening here if they’ve sent nearly a thousand or more soldiers,” I said. “They’re coming, ready for a fight.”
“Someone must have talked,” Emil said as he pushed off the wall. “They had to have forced the information from someone. Possibly a Descenter who traveled here or was aware.”
“Or someone at New Haven,” Alastir said, and my chest seized with dread.
“They’re probably not entirely aware of what has been rebuilt here, but they know with it being this close to the Skotos, they’re not coming unprepared. The size of the army could be more show than force in hopes of scaring us into giving them what they want.” Jasper, seated a few empty seats down the table from me, twisted in my direction. “Which I assume is you.”