The Rising (The Rising #4) - Kristen Ashley Page 0,19

my prince,” the woman, her name Elsa, replied.

“I’m fully aware of that,” Cassius retorted. “That is not at issue. At issue is the renegade part of my earlier statement.”

Elsa looked uncomfortable.

“Where is she?” Cassius demanded.

“I am not in the know of that,” Elsa answered.

“It’s my understanding you’re her ranking general here,” Cass replied.

“Her mission is top secret,” Elsa shared.

“From her Regent?” Cass bit out.

“Sire—” she began.

“Find out where she is. Find out what she’s doing. And report it to me,” he clipped. “We are at war, Elsa. As such, I am not only your Regent, I’m your commanding, gods-damned officer. And there is one thing I do not countenance in my troops. Going rogue.”

Elsa stared up at Cassius in shock before her face split into an enormous smile.

For a moment, I did not understand her reaction.

And then it struck me she was delighted to be considered, and treated, as a soldier.

“Right away, sir,” she stated crisply.

“Dismissed,” Cassius muttered.

She nodded, began to curtsy, stopped herself, instead saluted, and hurried away on her booted feet, wearing trousers, and it was a ridiculous notion on my part in that moment, but she made me want a pair of trousers.

Cass turned to True and I, as well as Mars and Silence, who were standing with us.

“They had three hundred and twenty-two women here. They lost three yesterday,” Cassius said. “Bloody three.”

“You did say they entered the battle closer to the end,” Mars noted.

“All told, we stood approximately fifteen hundred against twelve thousand. And they lost only three,” Cassius returned, and I knew his comment was not about disappointment (obviously), but surprise…and respect.

“Apparently, one must not underestimate the concept of right equaling might,” my husband murmured.

“Three dead, True. But one hundred and seven were injured,” Cass told him.

“I will assign Luther to them,” True offered. “They’re motivated and they’re organized. If they hone their skills, they could be formidable.”

Cassius appeared to think for a moment, before he replied, “This might appeal to Nero. He needs something to turn his mind. He can work with Luther.”

True nodded.

Mars broke in.

“This is a good idea, but in the now, we must decide the course for us all,” Mars said. “With your warriors, you and Elena heading to The Enchantments, mine coming up from Firenze to do the same, resources would be too concentrated there if True’s men and mine accompanied you.”

“I’ve called for more men from Wodell to go to Sky Bay. I can take Farah and Silence and we’ll add to your numbers there,” True put in. “Mars and his men can go with you, Cass.”

“Lahn shared that things had deteriorated in Dunlyn, and reports from my men verify it. I sense it might be a stronghold. Aramus has sent ships there and—”

Cassius stopped talking when we all turned to a clamor happening in the makeshift horse corral close by.

In it were a number of battle mounts.

But also, Sky and Star, Cassius and Elena’s unicorns.

Both were fretting.

Star, the mare, was cantering this way and that, as a human would pace.

Sky appeared to be charging the gate, turning at the last moment before he’d break it, as if saying he wanted free.

“Open the gate, let out the charmed ones!” Cassius called to the page who it was clear saw to the corral.

The boy rushed forward to do as told, and I wondered—when the unicorns could magically leap through space, and in a trice, land hundreds of miles away—why they didn’t not-magically leap the fence of the corral.

The page let them out, swiftly running the gate closed before any of the other horses could get free.

However, the unicorns did not rush away to find exercise.

True crowded me and Mars pulled Silence close as they rushed Cassius.

The stallion paced a circle agitatedly around the five of us as the mare went right to her prince, dipped her neck and butted his hand with her nose.

“What is it, love?” he murmured, stroking her muzzle.

But it was the stallion who answered, tossing his head back and braying.

“What are you saying, Sky?” Cassius called to the stallion, still rubbing Star’s nose.

True suddenly tucked me close when Sky reared up, striking the air with his hooves.

This, just as Elena came running.

“Diana!” she shrieked to the page. “Saddle my mount!”

The boy rushed into the corral.

Cassius rushed to Elena.

“What?” he barked, instantly on the alert.

“The Enchantments,” she said, her voice naught but a pant. “Cassius, we have to get to The Enchantments!”

Oh no!

Sky came up behind her, and before Cassius, or anyone, could ask that first