“Loelle,” Trina said. “If I can get him to Loelle—”
“I’ll help,” Basil added.
“Go,” I said. “And hurry.” Tenger had made it through tough scrapes before, but this time felt different, and I was worried.
Basil started to reach for Tenger, then turned back to me and said, “I was here when it happened. Tenger challenged Joth Tarquin to a duel, no magic, a fair fight. Joth just laughed and grabbed him with both hands, holding on until Tenger barely had a breath left in his body. He said that was what Tenger deserved for plotting to kill Kestra … that such an honor must be reserved for himself alone.”
I did a double take. “He what?”
“That’s what he said. I know it’s terrible news, Simon, but I think Joth might be planning to do the same thing to Kestra, and then to each of us. With his half-lives, it won’t be hard.”
The pit that had formed in my gut suddenly became heavier. I dismissed Basil and Trina, then turned as Gabe began sending orders to Huge, who was nearby.
“Gather in as many Alliance members as you can and send them to Woodcourt,” Gabe said. Then to Imri, he added, “Is there nothing more you can do? None of your technologies?”
She ran a hand over her close-cropped head, looking more unnerved than I’d ever seen her, or any Brillian. “Our vibrations worked as planned. But we did not anticipate the breadth of his magic, nor his willingness to use it.”
“How many did you lose?” I asked.
“Fifty-two, based on the most recent report. Simon, it happened so fast. And if his magic is like Kestra’s, then he just pulled the strength of all fifty-two of my people into himself.”
As Kestra had just pulled all of Endrick’s power to herself. And hadn’t Joth told me he and Kestra were sharing their powers now?
“Loelle’s medical station is set up at Woodcourt,” I said. “That’s where Tenger is going. If any of your soldiers are still alive, she can heal them too.”
“I will not accept that woman’s help,” Imri said. “And I cannot believe that you are letting her roam free.”
Sighing, I said, “What good is Loelle to us down in the dungeons? If you wish to save lives, get your people to her as quickly as possible!”
I started to walk away, but Gabe grabbed my arm. “Where are you going? Surely with Joth and Kestra inside the palace, we are sealed out of it.”
“I still have Rawk,” I said. “He can get past the half-lives.”
“And then?”
“I’ve got to find Kestra.”
“Harlyn is in there too!”
“Yes, and wherever Kestra is, Harlyn won’t be far away. Joth is going to kill Kestra, Gabe.”
“Maybe we should let him. What if Kestra is responsible for your sister’s death?”
He waited for my response, but I was frozen with anger. Or was it fear that was causing my heart to pound so violently against my chest?
When he saw how his words affected me, with a louder voice he added, “If you can get in, find Harlyn. I am right about this. How can you be so blind?”
“Right or wrong, I am in command.” I began searching the skies for Rawk’s approach, losing the focus I should have had on Gabe.
I caught movement from him just as he swung at me, hitting me square in the jaw. “Maybe you shouldn’t be,” he sneered.
I reeled backward, then launched myself at him, trying to pretend there weren’t stars in my vision. He easily grabbed my arm as I reached to hit him, but he never saw my other fist headed for his gut.
It was his turn to stumble back, though he refused to let me go, so I used my own weight to shove him. We ended up on the ground, each of us more than ready to continue.
“Stop this!” Imri yelled, running up to us. “We cannot fight each other—we must focus on the enemy.”
“Who is the enemy, Simon?” Gabe yelled. “Who is it?”