Bastien motioned and led Heph out of the tent. Kieran followed.
“You think she wants her for reasons other than to gain the throne?” Bastien asked.
“I don’t think she wants to kill her,” Heph replied. “Because if she did, she’s had opportunity to do it. Those soldiers who kidnapped Thalia were bringing her back to Ferelith for a reason. So I did some research in the Conclave’s library.”
“But they don’t have tomes on blood magic,” Kieran said.
Heph shook his head. “I wasn’t looking at magics but rather history. More specifically, the history of House Clairmont. They’ve been the ruling monarchy over Kestevayne from the start. Their magic was the original from the druid daemons that founded Vyronas. The largest ley line sits under Kestevayne, but that line is tied directly to the Clairmonts. They are powerful because the magic is sourced from, and answers to, them. More specifically, to their blood.”
Bastien nodded in understanding. “And killing Thalia won’t change the history. The magic won’t work for Ferelith the way it does for a Clairmont. She wants Thalia’s magic, not the throne.”
“But why would she need it if she managed to take over using her own powers?” Kieran asked with a frown.
“Because history will bear out that she won’t maintain power with those blood magics. Others will learn how to wield it. Power-hungry factions that have no moral qualms with human sacrifice will make a play for her throne. There is a good chance others will have as great a power as she has, and that will not make her sovereign over all. But if she commands the ley lines, she could hold power. She’s either going to try to control Thalia to control the Clairmont magic, or she’s going to work out a spell that will transfer the Clairmont magic to herself. Either way, chances are she needs Thalia alive for the time being.”
Bastien pondered and could not find any flaws in Heph’s reasoning. However, he didn’t want to share it with the others. “If they think there’s no urgency in marching on Kestevayne, they’ll put this off a few more days. I intend to move out within the hour.” He looked to his brother and asked, “Do you agree?”
“I do, and I have your back on that,” Kieran replied.
Bastien nodded and looked to Heph. “Continue to try to reach Amell.”
“He can’t help our side,” Heph said.
“I know, but he could at least help protect Thalia. He’s our most powerful tool, if he’ll come.”
“I’m on it,” Heph said and disappeared. Bastien didn’t know where Heph would go to spill blood to call on Amell, but he couldn’t worry about that.
He pivoted and walked back into the tent, arguments still heated and ongoing. Bastien moved to the table, pounded his fist on it, and barked, “Silence. Now.”
It went quiet and all eyes were pinned on the commandant of the Clairmont army. “Every minute we argue, Thalia could be suffering gods know what. I am marching my army within the hour. I expect all who have pledged to stand behind the Clairmonts to be ready to go with me. If you don’t, consider our allegiances at an end.”
No one said a word. It seemed that everyone held their breath.
Bastien looked around the room, almost daring every person in there to stand against him so he could unleash his frustration. When no one did, he nodded and called all the heads of the various armies forward so they could proceed to assemble troops for transfer through the Rosethorn Valley and straight to the doorsteps of Kestevayne.
Twenty minutes later, the tent cleared out and everyone moved to assemble their forces. They would begin transferring with Thalia’s protection amulets, which would allow them to advance en masse and hopefully deflect deadly blood magics.
Bastien sighed, rolling up the map and tossing it into a trunk. He took a moment to don his battle armor—chest plates, shoulder guards, and wrist cuffs.
When he turned for the tent door, he saw Kieran standing there, already dressed in his own armor. “You good?”
“Yeah,” Bastien muttered.
“She’ll be okay,” Kieran said.
Bastien’s jaw tightened, his fists clenched. “You don’t know that.”
His brother smiled. “I know that I have faith in you, and I know that because you love her so much, there is no way you’re going to let her die.” Kieran walked toward Bastien and put a hand to his shoulder.
“What makes you think I love her?” Bastien grumbled.
“I note you don’t deny it,” Kieran countered.
Bastien smiled. “No. Not denying it.”
Kieran grinned. “Good. Now let’s go kick that evil bitch’s ass.”
CHAPTER 31
Thalia
My lungs heave with the effort to drag in oxygen. I’m in a heap on the stone floor, unable to stand from the pain in every joint. It seems like it’s been hours that she’s been torturing me, but I’m so disoriented, I’m not even sure what day it is.