Page 242 of The Edge of Darkness

She didn’t finish.

“We will find him,” Niall said. “He’s human. He cannot cross The Veil, which means he’s still in your realm.”

The other option, the one that he wasn’t saying, was that the king was already dead.

Corinne stared down at the table, seeming to have already considered the unspoken alternative as well. “The guards are searching the realm.”

“What about the rest of your army?”

“Prepared. But word of the attack spread quickly, and with Broderick missing, the men are shaken. I’ve ordered every citizen living north of the capital to get as far south and east as possible, as a precaution. But like you said, we hope the war will not make it to our border.”

“I don’t expect it to. What Lyceius seeks is here. And Skadi wants what she believes I hold within these mountains. They would stretch their forces too thin by attacking on all fronts.”

One of the two soldiers Roirdan had been talking with spoke up. “What if they use that same strategy on us? If they send forces to every territory, including Belthria, they’ll expect us to meet them head-on, which will force us to spread ourselves thin.”

Niall considered it, then shook his head. “Lyceius is desperate. He’s waited far too long for this. I don’t see him making tactical moves. He has the numbers, but I’m almost certain he’ll focus on one location to overwhelm us right from the start. That is what I would do. He’s gone for strategy in the past, and lost. He won’t make that same mistake again. This time, he’ll use brute force.”

“I agree,” Roirdan said.

Niall lifted his chin to Silas and Nivelle next. “The Dionachs?”

“Are en route as we speak,” Silas answered.

“Good. Any word from Torin?”

Nivelle shook her head.

Niall didn’t press the matter further. He pushed a long breath out his nose. “All right. Everyone go and get some rest. These next couple of days, as you all know, are critical.”

Everyone around the room nodded.

“Folquin, take the queen back to the castle. Then, I want you to head north. Scour the northern border of Belthria for any sign of the king or Lyceius’s creatures. Report back as soon as you can.”

Folquin put a fist to his chest and dipped his chin, then offered his arm to the queen.

She took it and gave one last look between Niall and me. “I will search Broderick’s study and try to find the texts and any other evidence that he spoke of. Whatever I can uncover, I will give to Folquin to bring back to you.”

“You can bring it yourself, if you wish,” Niall offered. “I don’t expect our alliance to end after this war. This is only the beginning.”

A small, brief smile broke across the queen’s lips, and she bowed her head in agreement.

Folquin ported the two of them away.

The soldiers quit the tent to return to their units while the rest of us lingered and broke off into several quiet conversations.

“I’ll be back soon with an army in tow,” Breck stated, before disappearing as well.

I was just about to turn to Roirdan and ask him a question, when a severe pain struck my skull. I canted sideways, catching myself on the table and rattling the weapons that were laid across it.

Niall spun and was instantly at my side. “Auren? Auren, what is it?”

“It’s—” A cry of agony sprang from my throat, cutting my words short as Lyceius’s voice spread through my mind like a haunted whisper.

Auren. He said my name like a curse. It’s time for you to face your fate.

“Lyceius—” I managed to say out loud, but my words were cut off as the pain radiated through my head again.

I do not wish to wipe away the world in which I intend to rule, so I have terms to offer. How about we meet on common ground and discuss things like civilized beings? A place close to you, perhaps?