RETH

Behryn, with Hollhye at his side and Tobe who had joined them when Reth started giving orders, Aymora, Suhle, and Charyn all sat at Aymora's table, watching him pace and mutter to himself, waiting for him to decide the next step. But he was mentally reviewing first, to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything.

The Sentries on the mountain had been told not to sound alarms for any landings they saw, but instead to mark the locations and send runners with directions.

The archers and scouts had been sent to positions just outside the City to catch any wolf forerunners.

Reth had secretly called in the Master of the Wood, who oversaw and managed all the shared resources of the Tree City. When Reth had described the risk of fire, the male—a highly dominant Ram—had immediately dispatched his teams with instructions to be as quiet and unobtrusive as possible. Currently all water sources and bodies that weren't essential for the Citizen's survival, were being diverted to soak as much of the ground surrounding the Tree City as possible—and some of the people had been tasked with soaking the buildings that lay near the edge of the City.

All families with young, or those who were very old, had been moved to the center of the City. The Market was chaos, but the children were loving the excitement of being up when it was still dark, while their tired parents attempted the impossible task of settling them back to sleep.

Reth hadn't yet been able to bring himself to visit the Market personally, to see exactly what it would cost them if he measured the coming day wrong. Or if Lerrin was setting a trap.

He still swung back and forth on that point.

As Suhle had assured them, there were already reports of bird clusters circling the mountain and dropping loads, but often with limited visibility. Only on Sentry had marked individual wolves, and locations were going to be hazy between the dark, and the lack of scent trails—though Behryn had called for their maps, and was comparing the sentry reports with known clearings and crags large enough for the birds to drop Anima.

The Tree City guards and soldiers that weren't on shift had all been roused from their beds, quietly and without fanfare, gathering just inside the City limits in fists and herds, ready to move and engage at a moment's notice, though Reth prayed it would not be necessary.

No matter what information they had, no matter how they might anticipate their enemy, the truth was that war cost lives.

He did not look forward to reading the lists of the dead in the days to come, and sent up prayers that somehow they could avoid a massacre.

But now… now was the crucial moment. Now he had to decide what to do with the wolf himself.

"Remind me of the plan one last time?

" he asked Suhle quietly.

Everyone turned to watch her. She took a deep breath.

"He's to be dropped on the mountain with the assassin fist, and Firestarters. They plan to infiltrate your cave through the… there is a cavern entrance on the mountainside?

"

Reth nodded, and caught eyes with Behryn, whose frown was deep. He hadn't known about that vulnerability until recently months, and he was still sore about it.

Reth wondered whether the wolves had already known, or had learned since he appointed guards there. There had been no attack there until they attempted to take Elia—which was after Reth had shared its location.

He still wasn't convinced they didn't have a mole in the guards.

"The Firestarters will move through to the wood on the western side of the City while Lerrin and his fist take you personally. When they give the signal that they have you, the fire will be allowed to burn towards the Royal meadow—to draw your forces to that side of the City. And when you are fully engaged there, the forces will come in from the East, hoping to overwhelm whoever, or whatever has been left to guard the rest.

" She hesitated.

"They will burn the City, Reth, if it is what is needed. If they cannot attack, bring their forces close, they will burn it. Although Lerrin has not given that instruction, those who are in a position to lead the fight have called for it more than once. You must let them believe they can come in to fight. They must be allowed to believe the forces have been drawn away.

"

Reth growled and looked at Behryn.

"I know you would never create such a destructive plan, but if you were to attempt this… how would you do it? What would you need to see to move on foot, rather than fire the City?

"

Behryn's lips twisted in distaste, but he rubbed his chin. Hollhye watched him, concerned.

"If the choice is to attack, or burn, I would have posted scouts around the city to watch the forces drawn away from it—to make certain that enough bodies were engaged on the other side, before I entered. I would have to see the guards and soldiers leaving the City, flooding to fight the fire or attack the King, to be certain that my forces to the east were greater than what was left behind.

" He paused, then shook his head.

"And I would send something—forces, or more fire—in behind them once I was certain that the bulk of the fighters had moved out of the city.

Reth looked at Suhle. She sighed.

"I did hear something about pinning them between flames, but… I'm sorry, I don't know.

"

"It only makes sense,

" Reth growled and turned on his heel, pacing again, raking his hand through his hair. But that meant that no matter what he did, he was lining his people up to die.

How could he move his forces into a trap to trigger when it would only allow his enemy greater freedom in the City?

And yet, if he didn't, they would be forced to fight fire instead of warriors—then be left exhausted and depleted, then fight the warriors afterwards anyway.

Overwhelmed with visions of his people, fighting, burning, dying… Reth staggered to a halt with a groaning huff, fighting tears.