Storm Born Page 0,122

another heist turned out to take a fair bit of planning and didn't actually unfold until later the next day. We assembled all three of my minions in one of Dorian's lounges. They waited patiently for orders, each watching me as their minds undoubtedly stirred with their assorted neuroses. As Volusian had once pointed out, they had little to lose. They couldn't die. When Dorian called in Shaya to join us, I couldn't help an exclamation of surprise.

"Remember the distraction we discussed?" he asked me.

I did. Before getting out of bed, we had come up with the tentative outline of a plan. Part of it had included a major distraction near Aeson's home, enough to draw the attention of his guard so we could enter undetected. My spirits had long since verified that the siege tunnel had been blocked off.

Shaya, he explained, would be our distraction. She had the power to command small ranges of vegetation. In particular, she could summon and order around trees - something she'd apparently done before to great effect. Dorian's thought was that Shaya would have a small regiment of said trees attack the western side of Aeson's hold. On the eastern side, we knew there was a servants' entrance we could slip into. Normally, that would be too exposed but not if the castle's security was preoccupied elsewhere.

I nodded, thinking it was a good plan. Shaya crossed her arms and looked thoroughly displeased.

"You got a problem with it?"

"I don't think it's our place to interfere with Aeson's affairs, nor do I feel this is worth risking my king's life over."

I glanced between her and Dorian uneasily. "So you won't do it?"

"Of course I will. My king gives a command, and I obey. I am merely expressing my honest opinion first. I would be doing a disservice otherwise."

Dorian touched her cheek, smiling at her stern expression. "And that is why you are so valued."

"It's a bad idea," said Finn suddenly.

We all turned to him.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"What's a few trees? It screams, 'Hey, look at our obvious distraction.' It'll make them suspicious. You want to really get their attention, send him in." He inclined his head toward Dorian. "A little bit of that rock mojo, and they'll think there's an all-out assault going on."

"We can't. I need him as my backup," I argued, "and protection for Jasmine. Shaya can do her thing and get out of there quickly. If I go in without him, then we're in exactly the same situation as before."

"Except without the army waiting for you," said Finn.

Shaya shook her head, glossy black braids swinging. "I don't like the idea of my king left alone."

"He'll be in and out, no problem. And if he has to face off, he can take anything Aeson's people throw at him."

"Unless it's Aeson himself," mused Dorian.

"Is he stronger than you?" I asked.

"We're very evenly matched."

"Huh. That surprises me. I mean, Kiyo walked away alive from a fight with him."

"King Aeson wasn't using his full power then," said Nandi. "Most likely he feared burning down his home." Seeing my startled look, she continued. "It would have created a terrible inferno from whence you would not have escaped. Your skin would have melted, only your bones left behind."

"So you're saying he wouldn't have to worry about that outdoors. He could unleash as much as he liked." Something struck me, and I turned back to Dorian. "What about you? Are you limited indoors?"

"Hypothetically, no. Realistically? Well...I still have to operate in a way that won't bury us alive." He smiled, seeing my consternation. "Don't worry, my dear. I'll still be of use to you."

"More use outside," said Finn. "We won't even need extra backup, not if nobody's inside to find us."

I sighed and rubbed my eyes. I'd walked into Aeson's with a lot less planning last time, and foolish or not, it had been a hell of a lot simpler than this. I turned to the room's darkest corner, which had been silent thus far.

"Volusian?"

He straightened up from where he'd slouched in the shadows. "I will be very surprised if we emerge from this without any sort of confrontation, regardless of who creates the initial distraction. If I must honestly answer what will keep you alive" - he sighed, obviously unhappy about that outcome. I suspected Nandi's horrific description of my death by fire had kindled warm and fuzzy feelings in him - "then yes, bringing the Oak King affords more protection for you and the girl,