“Our plans?” Murin queried. His eyes were a fascinating color—sea glass. “I was unaware that plans had already been made, Your Highness. Then again, we were also unaware that you’d seized Massene.”
“Which is why I hope none of you are too fatigued from travel so we can discuss these plans,” I replied, his answering annoyance prickling against my skin. I met his stare. “This upsets you, which I can understand,” I told him, now tasting his icy surprise. He’d either forgotten what I could do or hadn’t expected me to use the ability. “But we could not wait to take Massene. They were turning innocent mortals, and they killed three of the wolven. Not only that, the Blood Crown has your King. We don’t have time to waste.”
“No, we don’t.” Valyn lowered his glass as Murin’s jaw hardened. “What are these plans?”
“We know that Oak Ambler is a vital port city for Solis. Goods are shipped there and then transported to most of the northwestern cities since it’s far safer to move with such large cargo by sea rather than attempting to cross the Blood Forest.” I kept my hands clasped to stop them from trembling as I glanced at Hisa. The commander gave me a small nod of encouragement. “It’s also the largest city in the northwest, next to Masadonia and Three Rivers.”
“It is,” Valyn said. “Oak Ambler is a lifeline to the eastern regions of Solis.”
“We want to make sure they cannot use the ports for their armies. If we secure Oak Ambler and the coast along the Wastelands, they will be forced to take the slower route to defend any of their other cities,” I began. “Admittedly, I don’t know much about battle strategy, but I imagine that the Blood Crown will attempt to move their forces from Eastfall,” I said, referencing a district within Carsodonia where the soldiers and guards trained. “And from the Willow Plains, where the bulk of their armies are stationed.”
“But thanks to the Blood Queen, we know that they have several thousand Royal Knights,” Kieran tacked on. “Vamprys that will not be able to travel during the day. Because of that, it’s likely they will keep the knights at the capital, moving forces consisting of mortals and possibly Revenants through Niel Valley.”
Approval hummed from Lizeth as Hisa said, “Other than Pensdurth and Masadonia, which have ports, we will be able to control supply to the cities and prevent their fleets from entering. It will be far harder for them to launch an attack from sea than it will be for us to defend on land.”
Cyr nodded. “Agreed.”
“You say control supply,” Gayla said, creases forming between her brows. “Would we not be cutting off supplies to those cities, as well?”
I focused on her. “Cutting off supplies such as food and other necessities does nothing to aid us. We cannot starve them out. The Ascended are secure within the Rise with their food source. All that would do is harm the innocents, and I don’t believe any Atlantian wants that.”
“We don’t,” Sven confirmed as a deepening pinch to Gayla’s features appeared.
“But would that not create instability in the cities that we could then exploit?” Aylard suggested, and that earned sharp agreement from the changeling, Murin. “Force the mortals to stand up for themselves and turn on the Ascended?”
“How many mortals do you know who have lived the majority of their lives under the Ascended’s rule?” I asked.
Aylard frowned. “I don’t believe I know many, but I don’t see what that has to do with wanting the mortals to fight for their freedom as fiercely as we will fight for them.”
“Perhaps you believe the mortals won’t fight the Blood Crown.” Murin’s gaze moved over my features, lingering on the left side of my face—on the scars. It used to bother me when someone saw them for the first time, but that was before I’d come to understand that they represented strength and survival—two things far more important than flawless skin. “I imagine you would know, as you spent the majority of your life as one of them.”
An acidic burst of irritation rolled off Vonetta as I carefully considered my response. I decided that honesty was the best approach instead of telling him to shut the hell up. Which I wanted to do. “There was a time when I didn’t doubt what the Ascended told me. Not enough to take notice of the inconsistencies or to truly question any of them. I didn’t even realize that the veil I wore and the chambers they kept me in were nothing more than a cage,” I said, aware that Valyn watched me closely, his drink forgotten in his hand. “But I did begin to question things, even before I met your King. It was all these little things that didn’t add up. It was how they treated their people and each other. It was how they lived. Questioning these little things began to unravel everything else, and it was not only overwhelming but also terrifying to begin realizing that everything I believed in was a lie. That’s not an excuse for not opening my eyes to the truth sooner, or for not being brave or strong enough to do so. That’s just reality.”