“They were impossible to miss,” Galloran said gently.

“I don’t . . . ,” she began, but couldn’t continue.

You don’t know what you’re fighting for if the people you most love are going to die, Galloran conveyed mentally.

Yes, she replied. And at the same time, I want to fight more than ever. I’ve never wanted to hurt somebody with Edomic before. I’ve hurt people in the heat of the moment, in self-defense, but I’ve never felt like I do now.

Leash those desires, Galloran cautioned. I understand how pain and grief can fuel rage. In this moment, riding this tide of emotion, you could wield Edomic as never before. But the effort would be wasted. You might harm yourself, and for what? To scorch a field? To lob a boulder toward the clouds? Store up the emotion. Save it for when you really need it. Don’t weaken yourself before the true battle.

His words brought her back. The urge to lash out diminished as her anger dissolved into heartache. She felt utterly helpless. “They killed Drake.”

“We can’t reverse what happened,” Galloran said. “But we will make them pay.”

CHAPTER 20

LANDFALL

I’m out of tricks,” Aram said, lowering the spyglass. Eight ships were visible along the seaward horizon, sails bright in the moonlight, the steady glow of lanterns illuminating their decks. “And we’re running out of water. There is no room left to maneuver. Taking the wind into account, I don’t see an alternative to the docks.”

Jason studied the ships converging from all directions. Not much had changed since he had sent the message to Ferrin a few hours ago. The enemy vessels had spread wide, driving the Valiant before them. As land drew nearer and escape options dwindled, the pursuing ships drew closer together, led by an interceptor called the Intrepid.

After the prolonged calm had finally subsided, the Valiant had sailed north. They wanted to stay away from Angial, the largest city north of the Inland Sea, because it had a garrison with hundreds of soldiers. They had been making for Jerzon, a fishing village well west of Angial, but with reasonably good access to the Fuming Waste. But before they could reach the village, lookouts had spotted a torivor on the water. It had not borne swords, but not long after the sighting, imperial ships had forced them to revise their plans.

Aram had led the imperial vessels on an epic chase. He had tried the same trick on the Intrepid that had sunk the Avenger, but the new interceptor had carefully avoided following directly in their wake. Apparently, word had gotten out.

Jason watched the drinlings prepping hot pitch for the little catapults. The Valiant would end her final voyage with a firefight. They did not intend to leave the interceptor seaworthy. Over the course of the chase they had lost the skiff and one of the launches, along with five drinlings and five orantium spheres. The drinlings in the launch had managed to hit one of the smaller ships with orantium before flaming pitch had set their open boat ablaze.

After days of desperate maneuvering, they were out of alternatives. They were now heading for the town of Gulba. Heg had apparently scouted the town a few months ago. He had assured them that the town should house no more than twenty soldiers, but it did boast a pair of sizable piers and a large livery stable. The idea had been to steer toward Gulba, but to watch for a chance to slip through to a more northerly town. The wind and their pursuers had not cooperated, so now their options were either disembarking at Gulba or staging a battle on the water against eight enemy ships.

“Imperial schooner at the docks,” came a cry from above.

“What?” Aram called, racing to the other side of the deck. He peered toward land through his spyglass.

“We can expect extra soldiers in town,” Jasher said. He wore a patch over his injured eye and a bandage on his arm.

Even without a spyglass Jason could make out the dark form of the docked ship ahead. They just couldn’t catch a break! Now they would be sandwiched between strong forces.

“Eight of you should take the remaining launch and land away from the dock,” Heg said. “Let the Valiant draw away attention. We’ll bombard the schooner, the dock, and the incoming ships with pitch.”

“Might be our best choice under the circumstances,” Farfalee said. “We’ll leave behind an orantium sphere.”

“Take it,” Heg urged. “You need them both more than we will. I’ll stay and lead the effort. We’ll make sure the Valiant burns. We’ll fight until you’re away, then make our escape into the wild.”

Considering the large number of enemy troops involved, Jason wondered how many of the drinlings would survive to escape. Once again, others would risk their lives to try to get him to Darian.

“Who will go ashore in the launch?” Aram asked.

“Jasher, Aram, Jason, Corinne, Nia, and I,” Farfalee listed. “And two drinlings. Who do you suggest, Heg?”

“Del is our best remaining swordsman,” Heg said. “And Zoo has shown great composure under pressure.”

“We could probably squeeze ten into the launch,” Jasher said. “We might need the extra swords to win through to the horses.”

“Thag and Fet,” Heg said. “Our hardiest fighters. Maces should serve as well as swords.”

“We had best prepare the launch,” Aram said. “The breeze is picking up. We’ll reach the dock swiftly.”

“Try to catch up with us,” Farfalee urged Heg. “Find horses if you can. It will be a long ride to the far side of the Fuming Waste. We can use all of the protection we can get.”

“If we win free, we’ll follow you,” Heg promised, “whether mounted or afoot.”

Jasher approached Corinne, holding Drake’s breastplate. “It cracked, but it will still serve. It’s light and will offer better protection than leather.”

“Thank you,” she said as she strapped it on.

Jasher turned to Jason. “I’ll carry one of our last orantium spheres. You carry the other. Don’t hesitate to use it.”

Jason accepted it gingerly. Orantium was a powerful weapon, but the prospect of an accidental detonation made him nervous.

Jason, Corinne, Jasher, and Farfalee all wore torivorian swords. Farfalee had offered hers to Aram, but the half giant had refused in favor of his own enormous blade. The ten companions climbed into the launch along with packs full of provisions. Thag and Aram manned the oars. The overloaded launch floated lower in the water than Jason liked.

As the launch diverged from the Valiant, Jason tried to pay equal attention to the coast and the enemy ships. The town of Gulba looked quiet, with only a few lit windows. It was neither a large town nor a tiny hamlet. The enemy ships were converging rapidly, chasing the Valiant into port like a pack uniting for the kill.