Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 112089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
His stare bored into Sebastian. He clearly wasn’t impressed that Sebastian had assumed mages—even just one—would come but had failed to pass on that information. Thank God nothing had gone wrong with the mage’s capture.
“Except if we leave the territory, we won’t have forces with which to combat the threat,” Nessa said. “We can’t be sure exactly what will come, but we should expect a handful of decent mages and a crowd of experienced mercenaries or trained ground troops. Sebastian and Jessie are powerful, but they are only two, and one of them isn’t very experienced. The shifters count for several fighters each, but still…if we leave the area, we won’t have the numbers.”
Niamh looked the basajaun’s way, something Nessa noticed. Almost on cue, the basajaun spoke. “My family is fierce, and we are the masters of our lands. The mages in our wood would not even see one of us before they were killed. It would be great sport.”
His smile stretched, showing his large teeth.
“I also agree,” he went on, “that this new family of mine needs to show its strength to the basajaunak. The basajaunak have listened to my stories with great rapture, the younger basajaunak especially. I do weave a good yarn. But they have no proof of my claims. Battle is the best place for a demonstration.”
Almost everyone nodded.
“With the other basajaunak on our side, the battle will be nothing,” the basajaun went on. “The basajaunak would not even need your help to cut out the threat. But with shifters and mages and gargoyles adding to our numbers, it will be the best way to show our prowess without much danger. The perfect plan.”
Nessa stayed unnaturally still, and Sebastian fidgeted. They didn’t agree with him. Not wholly, anyway.
I voiced what they hadn’t. “Mages can use spells to suss out what lurks in the woods. If a few of their people suddenly went missing, or they saw or heard something to make them nervous, they’d use magic to reveal their attackers.”
“Bah.” The basajaun waved that away. “They would be dead before they could.” He adjusted in his seat. “The only issue is the village elders, I think. They do not tend to have a sense of humor. They do not have patience for the younger basajaunak, like me, who want to get out and see the world.” He put his hand on his chest smugly. “I am somewhat rebellious. I left to follow my stars, and I have found my purpose. I felt the calling. That is the only reason they didn’t try harder to keep me put. But the others do not have such a strong conviction. They are told they will starve, and they believe this. They do not have stars to follow. They have no guidance. No protection away from their lands.”
“But we can offer them protection,” Niamh said. “Have ye mentioned that?”
The basajaun held up his finger. “Yes, and it is part of why they have invited our Ivy House crew for a visit. Once they meet you, they will not be so worried about the outside world. They will be more inclined to venture out, with or without the elders’ blessing.”
“Except that means we’re a threat to the elders,” I said.
“Once they meet you, they will understand,” he replied, though I didn’t see how. “The only issue I anticipate is that the elders might not take kindly to us bringing danger into their lands. On principle, of course. They would see that as a slight.”
“And as we all know,” Mr. Tom said, “a slight means certain death.”
The basajaun shook his head. “I am confident I can lessen the punishment from death to mutilation or a sound beating. It will not be so bad. They can be reasonable.”
I now stared with my mouth agape.
“And that is if we do not talk them around,” he continued, much too chipper. “Given how easily we will defeat the mages, I see no trouble there.”
“I hadn’t realized he was prone to overconfidence,” Ulric murmured to Jasper.
“I’m not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing in this situation,” Jasper replied.
“I’d have to agree with them.” Sebastian pointed at the gargoyles. “It might not be as easy as you’re thinking. I mean, I’m all for getting their help. We probably need it. But I don’t want to win a mage fight only to get killed by basajaunak.”
The basajaun didn’t seem to hear him. “My family has heard stories of the skirmishes we have been in, as I said. I tell them all. They know you walk within a cloud of danger, and yet they still invited you.” He leaned back, getting comfortable again. “It will be okay, I think. As long as we follow the rules of the lands and village, the lead basandere should be lenient with any punishments. We cannot help if someone attacks us there, after all. Besides, if the mages do not apply for the right to pass through the lands, it is a basajaunak problem, anyway. We will be tied together in this skirmish, and through it, the basajaunak will get to remember the ways of old. Yes, this is a good plan. I feel it. The stars are guiding us. The timing is too perfect. As long as we do not mention that we knew about the trouble beforehand, I think it will all go smoothly.”