ear to ear. “You can count on us. I will send word to the nearby clans. Together we will make a distraction they won’t be able to ignore.”
Aaric nodded. “Good. Adaryn comes first, though. After I free her, I will head to the Tower. Once I’ve shut down the controls, I will send her to find you, giving you the signal to fall back, and get your people to safety. During that time I will set up the explosives.”
“What about yourself?” Kenroc asked. “I haven’t seen these ‘explosives’ you speak of, but will they give you enough time to get out?”
Aaric nodded. “They won’t go off until I flip the switch that triggers them. It should be fine.” He looked at Bran. “How soon can you gather the other clans?”
“Give me three days.”
“You have one day, before I go for Adaryn.”
“Give me two days, then. There’s no way I can get them gathered for battle in one.”
Aaric hesitated a moment. “Fine. But I expect you to attack the very morning after.”
As the morning progressed, the three of them discussed the details of their strategy. It sounded good. Lives would be lost, but with the sky jewel, the odds were at least even. Aaric clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. Kingsley would rue the day he’d ever set eyes on Adaryn.
33
Bran
T he nomads stood on the plains, facing Ruis. The city loomed dark and forbidding on the horizon. Bran sat silently on Star. He had five hundred men with him, the most he was able to gather in just two, short days. It wasn’t a scratch on the population of Ruis, but then, the Oppressors didn’t have a sky jewel. If Aaric was successful in destroying the Tower, they would have their numbers doubled.
Of course, he had to remind himself, the nomad warriors were only to serve as a distraction. It looked like they were going to battle, but their real purpose was to distract the guards from Aaric’s mission, and to get the slaves out.
Kenroc rode up to him, surveying the men. “Will it be enough?” he asked quietly. His eyes creased with worry.
“It has to be.” Aaric hadn’t given them enough time to gather more men, but speed was essential. He held his hand up, and the low murmur of voices died off.
“Remember,” he shouted, using the magic to amplify his voice. “We’re to get in and get out. You’re to fight until I give the signal to leave. When you see it, go! Don’t continue battling. We want to return with as little loss to our people as possible. We’ve suffered enough.”
Men yelled and cheered their agreement. Bran urged Star forward. “For our people! For our families, and for our freedom!”
With a shout, the clansmen surged forward, galloping toward the city, hooves thundering across the plains.
As they drew closer to the city, Bran could see the guards scrambling to close the gates. He laughed aloud. The sky jewel’s power pulsed through his veins. Nothing could keep them out. Reaching through it, Bran pulled power from the sky and earth, from the very stones of Ruis itself. With a dull roar, the walls of the city crumbled. Nothing would stop them.
34
Aaric
B last, that hurt! Aaric rubbed his hands on his trousers. They still stung from trying to climb the tall iron fence that encircled his mansion and grounds. Bran hadn’t been kidding when he said that Kingsley had them reinforced with magic. He chewed his lower lip, considering his options.
It was nearly dawn. Bran and Kenroc would be leading a charge against the city then, and would expect Aaric to have freed Adaryn at that point. He obviously couldn’t climb the fence. The gates were locked tight. He had his glider, slung over his back, but there wasn’t a higher point than the gates, from what he could see. The glider had been his original plan, and he was disappointed that it wasn’t going to work.
Aaric grunted with irritation. This was a fine kettle of fish he got himself into. He couldn’t even open the stupid gate.
“Do you have an appointment with
Aaric nodded. “Good. Adaryn comes first, though. After I free her, I will head to the Tower. Once I’ve shut down the controls, I will send her to find you, giving you the signal to fall back, and get your people to safety. During that time I will set up the explosives.”
“What about yourself?” Kenroc asked. “I haven’t seen these ‘explosives’ you speak of, but will they give you enough time to get out?”
Aaric nodded. “They won’t go off until I flip the switch that triggers them. It should be fine.” He looked at Bran. “How soon can you gather the other clans?”
“Give me three days.”
“You have one day, before I go for Adaryn.”
“Give me two days, then. There’s no way I can get them gathered for battle in one.”
Aaric hesitated a moment. “Fine. But I expect you to attack the very morning after.”
As the morning progressed, the three of them discussed the details of their strategy. It sounded good. Lives would be lost, but with the sky jewel, the odds were at least even. Aaric clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. Kingsley would rue the day he’d ever set eyes on Adaryn.
33
Bran
T he nomads stood on the plains, facing Ruis. The city loomed dark and forbidding on the horizon. Bran sat silently on Star. He had five hundred men with him, the most he was able to gather in just two, short days. It wasn’t a scratch on the population of Ruis, but then, the Oppressors didn’t have a sky jewel. If Aaric was successful in destroying the Tower, they would have their numbers doubled.
Of course, he had to remind himself, the nomad warriors were only to serve as a distraction. It looked like they were going to battle, but their real purpose was to distract the guards from Aaric’s mission, and to get the slaves out.
Kenroc rode up to him, surveying the men. “Will it be enough?” he asked quietly. His eyes creased with worry.
“It has to be.” Aaric hadn’t given them enough time to gather more men, but speed was essential. He held his hand up, and the low murmur of voices died off.
“Remember,” he shouted, using the magic to amplify his voice. “We’re to get in and get out. You’re to fight until I give the signal to leave. When you see it, go! Don’t continue battling. We want to return with as little loss to our people as possible. We’ve suffered enough.”
Men yelled and cheered their agreement. Bran urged Star forward. “For our people! For our families, and for our freedom!”
With a shout, the clansmen surged forward, galloping toward the city, hooves thundering across the plains.
As they drew closer to the city, Bran could see the guards scrambling to close the gates. He laughed aloud. The sky jewel’s power pulsed through his veins. Nothing could keep them out. Reaching through it, Bran pulled power from the sky and earth, from the very stones of Ruis itself. With a dull roar, the walls of the city crumbled. Nothing would stop them.
34
Aaric
B last, that hurt! Aaric rubbed his hands on his trousers. They still stung from trying to climb the tall iron fence that encircled his mansion and grounds. Bran hadn’t been kidding when he said that Kingsley had them reinforced with magic. He chewed his lower lip, considering his options.
It was nearly dawn. Bran and Kenroc would be leading a charge against the city then, and would expect Aaric to have freed Adaryn at that point. He obviously couldn’t climb the fence. The gates were locked tight. He had his glider, slung over his back, but there wasn’t a higher point than the gates, from what he could see. The glider had been his original plan, and he was disappointed that it wasn’t going to work.
Aaric grunted with irritation. This was a fine kettle of fish he got himself into. He couldn’t even open the stupid gate.
“Do you have an appointment with
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