Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 235897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1179(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 786(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 235897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1179(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 786(@300wpm)
Aaric glares past Sloane and Baylor, then faces forward.
“On to battle strategy,” Devera announces. “Where should we put our forty thousand troops?” she asks the room, then calls on a first-year from Second Wing.
“They should be stationed here to protect the wardstone,” the curly-haired guy replies.
“Yes, because that is where venin seem to be headed,” Imogen quips from above us.
“Next,” Devera orders.
“They should be sent to the south to hold the line so Cordyn doesn’t fall,” Cat says without being called on.
“That would be one excellent usage of them,” Devera agrees, “though I wonder if your bias comes into play with that kind of decision, seeing as it’s now the seat of power for your uncle.”
King Tecarus.
“What do our other travelers think?” Devera inquires, her gaze skimming over us.
I stare at the western line that’s creeping closer to Tyrrendor and keep my mouth closed so the same point can’t be made to me regarding bias.
“They should be split,” Dain answers from above us. “Half to the south to defend the new king and what’s left of the territory, and half to the western line.”
“You would deploy all the troops within Poromiel?” she questions, sitting back on her favorite spot on the table.
“It’s where they’re needed,” he answers with a certainty I envy. “And before the riders in here get defensive, remember that protecting Krovla’s western line keeps the dark wielders off Tyrrendor and Elsum, and we’re bound by our alliance to defend King Tecarus.”
“And it was a flier who paid the cost of that army,” Cat adds.
“Solid points,” Devera admits. “Personally, I’d divvy the troops into thirds, putting most along the lines Aetos suggested and the rest at our outposts.” My brow furrows. Why would the outposts need more troops within the wards? “If we start losing wards, there will be no safe harbor on the Continent.”
“Safe for who, exactly?” Maren mutters.
“Hard for outposts to fall or lose wards when they’re already protected,” Sawyer muses.
Unless they think the arsenals are at risk. All it takes is a disruption in the power supply and the wards will fail.
“We’ll see what leadership decides.” Devera pauses, and her hands trip on the edge of the desk. “It is not lost on me that today’s subject will be a sensitive one—I know many of you had family there—but it is critical that we discuss Suniva’s fall now that the intel reports are in.”
There’s an immediate hum of tension within the room, as if half its occupants can’t help but channel.
“How many of you know how it happened?” Devera’s gaze sweeps over us.
A second-year flier from Third Wing raises her hand, and Devera nods at her. “I don’t think any of us have all the details, but we know they were taken by surprise. I heard twenty venin—”
“I heard it was more like thirty,” someone counters from the right.
“Which is why we have this briefing.” Devera lifts her brows. “It does us no good to train with misinformation and rumors.” She looks back at the flier.
“They dropped out of the sky, which made Suniva’s fifty-foot walls obsolete,” the flier continues, “then started a…fire. Is it true most everyone burned to death?”
My stomach pitches. I can’t think of a more horrible way to die.
“Unfortunately, yes.” Devera nods. “The fire started in the famous textile district and, with the help of what we think were wind-wielding venin, quickly devoured most of the city, despite the efforts of the four drifts in permanent residence, all of whom perished. We had a riot of four stationed there to protect the queen. One rider and two dragons made it out alive, which is the only reason we have facts instead of rumors to build on. Estimated casualties are somewhere around twenty-five thousand lives.”
Holy shit.
A flier two rows down hangs her head, and her shoulders shake.
“The fire did most of the work for them,” Devera continues, “allowing their horde of approximately twelve wyvern to split into three coordinated units.”
“There’s no way twelve wyvern took out Suniva!” a flier to the right yells.
“Twelve wyvern. Twelve venin,” Devera answers without batting an eye. “Four to hold the perimeter, four to fly directly to the palace, and four to concentrate on the barracks and armory. Twelve of them took out twenty-five thousand people. Putting your feelings aside,” Devera instructs, raising her chin, “ask the questions that will allow you to hypothetically change the outcome of this loss.”
The room falls quiet, and not a single hand rises.
Twenty-five thousand people. We’ve never studied a modern battle with so many casualties before. How in Amari’s name are we supposed to dissect one that not only killed some of our classmates’ families but took the life of their queen? It hasn’t even been a week.
Devera looks to her right, and Professor Kiandra moves from the edge of the room to the desk in the center of the stage.