“There’s only one way to find out,” Britt said, eyeing him steadily. “I’m going to lead a scouting party into the city to check out the damage.”
“I’m coming with you,” Max instantly replied.
“No,” Britt said. “You should stay here with the ships. If Merglan’s the cause of these fires in Aquina and the dragonriders come back, you and Sanka are the only ones who could protect our ships. Those long ships are our quickest escape if things go bad.”
“You realize that Sanka and I have only practiced with this magic, right? We haven’t been tested, so unless something miraculously changes, we won't be able to hold off a dragon by ourselves. I think I’d be of more use if I came with you,” Max said with some empathy.
“Those crystals are our only hope if it comes down to fighting by ourselves,” Britt said.
“Sanka has had just as much practice as I have. Let me come with you and have Sanka stay behind with the ships. I’ll even give him my spare crystals. Britt, you don’t know what could be lurking in there,” Max said firmly.
Britt chewed at the inside of her lip. She didn’t want to see Max get hurt by coming with her, but she also couldn’t help but consider their conversation on the ship. “You’re right. We should stay together, to the end.”
Nodding, he said, “We must be crazy.”
Britt turned back to the crowd of Rollo Island warriors who continued to scramble up the riverbank. They were three thousand strong and Britt knew they could hold their own against orcs and kurr. They’d done it before. If dragons came for them, they would be exposed without much protection. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, she thought as Red strolled up to her and the rest of her crew.
Strutting with a swagger that Britt had learned to hate, Chief Red asked, “What do you make of this situation now, Captain?” Without giving her a chance to reply, he spoke loud enough so the other warriors surrounding them could hear, “I would expect you'll be wanting to retreat back down the river and wait to take any action until your elf and dwarf friends arrive?”
Britt clenched her jaw as Red looked around to gauge the warriors’ response. He obviously thought his comment would win them over at her expense. Several harrumphed, but no one gave him the satisfaction of a laugh. “This might defy your expectations, Red, but as a leader I believe we need to do the opposite. Clearly things have not gone to plan, but our primary objective has not changed. We were sent ahead of the foot soldiers to secure the city. I thought this was explained to you, or have you forgotten why we’ve come here?”
Red's cheeks showed a dark crimson through his tan skin. He planted his hands firmly on his hips, “I’m Chief. I know our objectives better than anyone. Our army will sweep through the city and take control of it by force.”
“And abandon the ships?” Britt asked. She could see the wheels in Red’s head begin to turn as he realized that would put their people in the same situation as they’d been in Eastland where they were surrounded and their ships burned, leaving them without a quick escape route. “Wouldn’t it be better to send a scouting party into the city first? That way our army could defend the ships if needed.”
“Yes,” Red grasped onto the idea as if it were his own. “I will send a scouting party into the city while our warriors create a perimeter of defense around our ships. We do not want to leave them alone if orcs or worse are near.”
“I’d like to volunteer to lead the scouting mission,” Britt said, standing tall and puffing out her chest.
Red narrowed his eyes and considered her offer for a moment, then relaxed and said with a nod, “I agree that it should be you. If the rumors of wraiths and demons are true, you are best suited to sacrifice yourself for our people.”
“What about the crystal bearers?” a warrior behind Red asked.
Red eyed Max and said, “We need Sanka to stay with us, but the Westland boy will go with you. It would be a shame to lose a Rollo warrior with such skills before a major battle.”
“But we’ll be better guarded, too,” the warrior behind Red said.
Red frowned, turning to see who was questioning him. “I do not see any dragons in the sky. The one will be fine for our magical protection.” Red looked back at Max, “I’ve seen what he’s capable of in a fight. If he’s as good with the crystal as he is with the sword, then you’ll be,” Red scratched at his beard, then smiled, “well protected.”
“Max has seen more action since you saw him last,” Britt said, lowering her voice.
“Take a handful of my crew with you and make sure you’ve searched the entire city before coming back. I’ll be wanting people I trust to keep an eye on you.”
Britt glared at Red, infuriated that he seemed happy to risk her life and Max’s for this mission. “We’ll return if the riders come,” she said and then strode away from Red and the group of warriors as she led her crew back down toward their ship.
“That went about as well as I expected,” Max said, joining her. “But I thought he would want to come. He seemed to love being the first to fight before.”
“Now everybody will see what kind of leader he really is. In our culture, the Chiefs are the ones who put themselves in harm’s way before anyone else. We value strength above all else. By volunteering myself and leading his men, we are proving to anyone who still thinks he should be in command that he was the wrong choice.”
“Surely he realizes that his people will see him as a coward,” Max asked.
“I’m sure he thinks we’ll die and he can be rid of us without having to do it himself,” Britt said.
“I wasn’t listening that closely, but I heard him say that I would protect you,” Max said.
“Max, I love you, but everybody knows you’re about as skilled as a child when it comes to the sword. By comparing your magical abilities to your sword fighting skill, he was mocking you,” Britt said.
“He can say what he wants; I know the truth,” Max said with a grin.
“You’re ridiculous,” Britt said.
“You know it better than anyone else,” Max replied.
After explaining their new mission to those among Red’s crew who would come with them, Britt and the others gathered out in front of the rest of the Rollo Islanders. While inspecting her new crew before departing on their expedition, Britt found Max saying a brotherly farewell to Sanka. She saw Sanka take the pouch of crystals from Max, leaving him with only one for the mission. When Max finished his farewell, Britt could see he wasn’t smiling. “Are you nervous?” she asked as he joined her and the crew.
Max shrugged, “I’m not used to it yet.”
“What, risking your life?” Britt asked.
“It's not the thought that I could die that scares me. I’ve risked my life a hundred different times in a dozen different ways.”
“What is it then?” she asked.
“There's something about putting on armor and strapping on a sword that makes my skin crawl.”
“Despite what everyone thinks and what Red said, you are getting better,” Britt said.
“Thanks, but it’s not that I’m a novice that makes me nervous. What scares me is the loss. Not that I might die, but that the people I love could be taken away from me. It's basically why I almost walked away from the battle before.”
“Remember when we were pinned down against those rocks in the Glacial Melt Bays?” Britt asked.
“I had my bow then,” Max said.
“You didn't seem nervous then,” Britt said.
“There wasn't time to be nervous,” Max said. “That time the fight was sprung on us and I was a little more willing to be brave because I thought I'd already lost Bo. Now, though, things are way different.”
Britt eyed him suspiciously, “How are things different?”
“I have more of a sense of self-preservation.”
“That didn't seem to slow you down when you were risking your life to taste potions for Kirsten,” Britt said.
“I would’ve done the same for Thomas. Seriously, she's just a friend.”
Britt nudged him with her hip and smiled, “Just making sure.” She knew there hadn’t ever been anything between Max and Kirsten. Whatever Kirsten had thought was there had been solely on her end. Britt, however, still had a hard time believing anyone would be so loyal in a relationship with her. “You know I do that as a joke right?” she asked.
Max nodded.
