“One of those risks is far greater than the other,” Cullan said, his deep voice taking on the serious tone that he only seldom used. “For my own part, I would rather take the route we can be sure of, and avoid the risk of losing them altogether.”

  “Which is precisely why we’re having this conversation,” Silver said. “To make sure that we come to an agreement on this. The dangers and risks are great, so I want us to be sure that we are acting as one.”

  Kurgane muttered something that sounded insulting, but didn’t push matters when Silver gave him a quelling look.

  Verdan could feel that Silver was about to push for a vote, but there was something about this that was bothering him.

  Discarding his preconceptions, Verdan listed out what he knew.

  The Cyth lived only to despoil and destroy.

  Each Host had been heading straight for the nearest city, and more accurately than he would have expected.

  The Brotherhood were involved in all this, just like they’d been involved in the schemes he’d come up against in the north.

  From a description that Vanarr had given him, Verdan was confident that the Cyth Scerrd he’d fought outside of Hobson’s Point was in command of this Host.

  It was less certain, but Verdan was confident that the Brotherhood were using all this chaos as an opportunity to do something.

  Finally, and most importantly, it made no sense for the Cyth to backtrack, not when they’d shown such great knowledge of where their targets were.

  Unless, that was all they’d known. Unless they’d been given targets and sent out to cause chaos and destruction to hide a greater scheme.

  “The Cyth are retracing their steps because they’re looking for something specific,” Verdan said, speaking his realisation aloud right as Silver was about to continue.

  “That would explain why they aren’t roving the area,” Ada said musingly, eyeing the map consideringly. “But what would interest them enough to act out of character?”

  “They’re clearly returning to Ramoria to finish off the defenders,” Kurgane said with just as much confidence as Verdan. “The rumours that Ramoria has fallen are just that. Our Stormlord brethren are no doubt fighting for their lives. If this Host gets back, they will be crushed.”

  The surrounding group murmured and shifted at the proclamation, while Verdan and a few key others stared at Kurgane in abject disbelief.

  They hadn’t spread the knowledge of the corruption within the Stormlord Sect, mainly to keep morale high, but Kurgan knew full well what the situation was.

  “We should move to take this shortcut as quickly as we can, then,” Morag said decisively, and Verdan saw a few people nodding along with her.

  Verdan winced, his mind working furiously as he tried to think of a way to argue against this. He knew that the Cyth weren’t heading back, that just made no sense with creatures like these.

  Then again, he’d said the same thing about the backtracking. There was a chance he was wrong.

  Pushing that thought to one side, Verdan leaned forward to stare at the map. If the Cyth weren’t going back to Ramoria, then where were they going?

  That thought echoed in Verdan’s mind as he followed the path they’d be taking, but there was nothing there that would warrant any interest.

  Past those two lakes, there were villages and other settlements that might have been bypassed the first time, but until then, the only thing of note was that the path split off into two.

  Out of curiosity, Verdan followed that other path, realising as he did that it cut almost directly west. There were a few impediments to travel going west, but this particular path ran right past all of them.

  In fact, Verdan recalled crossing it on the way to Gerann in the first place.

  “Where does this path go?” Verdan asked Ada, interrupting a discussion about where to send their scouts.

  “It goes all the way to the coast, I think,” Ada said after a moment of thought. “That’s right, it crosses the Imperial Line and then keeps on going until it skirts between Hobson’s Point and some forest. I’ve only taken it once or twice.”

  “Miyaka Forest,” Verdan said with dawning horror, looking up sharply. Kai and Gwen caught the motion and looked over, their own faces paling as Verdan repeated the name.

  “It can’t be what it wants, surely?” Gwen asked, though she sounded far from convinced.

  “It would explain its direction,” Kai said with a grimace.

  “What exactly are you all talking about?” Ada asked, looking between them with a confused look.

  “I’m saying that I think I know what their target is,” Verdan said, his voice carrying throughout the group and cutting off a number of small arguments.

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  “Please, explain,” Silver said, gesturing for Verdan to continue.

  “I believe that, much like we’ve seen before, the Cyth are acting as agents of chaos to cover actions from the Brotherhood. We’ve seen evidence that they had fed the Stormlords incorrect information in order to let this problem grow far beyond what it should have.”

  “Do you have proof of that?” Kurgane interjected, folding his arms and adopting a dismissive pose.

  “Only from the confession of one of the traitors who abandoned us during our final battle. A betrayal that cost the life of many valiant Steel Custodians as they fought to make it right.”

  Ada’s expression tightened, and Verdan wondered if she’d known Macannan personally.

  Thinking of the fallen warrior left a pang of regret in Verdan’s gut. He wished the affable Sorcerer was here now, a staunch ally among the Sorcerers was exactly what he needed.

  “We will wait to argue or question until the end,” Silver said before Kurgane could reply, giving the Sorcerer a hard look until he nodded slightly. Turning back to Verdan, the Commander made a subtle motion for him to continue.

  “Thank you, Commander,” Verdan said before tapping on the symbol for Gerann on the map. “The direct route the Cyth have taken to both Gerann and Dresk makes me believe that they were targeting these cities on behalf of the Brotherhood. Then, with the city destroyed, the Cyth Scerrd for this Host has moved on to its next target. Miyaka Forest.”

  “You mentioned that forest before,” Ada said. “What is the relevance here?”

  “Prior to all this, a Cyth Scerrd was attempting to corrupt Miyaka Forest. I understand the forest is steeped in magic, so it was likely an effort on its part to access that magic and corrupt it. We drove the creature away, but from what Elder Vanarr describes, it is in control of this Host.”

  “So you think it will return and finish the job,” Ada said, looking down at the map thoughtfully.

  “How sure are you that it’s the same creature, Verdan?” Kai asked, voicing the question that Verdan could see building in those around him.

  “Absolutely certain,” Verdan said firmly, trying to project as much confidence into his words as he could. “The creature was a corrupted Maevir, and wielded a bone staff. Exactly as Vanarr described his opponent.”

  “Concerning, very concerning,” Silver said softly, his gaze falling to the map between them. “If you’re right, then our shortcut is pointless, we would be going the wrong way.”

  “And what if he’s not?” Kurgane asked sharply, taking a step forward as he lifted a hand to point at the map. “That shortcut is our only way to stop this Host from reaching Ramoria. The only way to save our brethren. This nonsense about a forest is just that, the ramblings of a man desperate to make this about him!”

  “Pathfinder Galstar,” Silver’s voice rang out in a commanding tone. “Can you say with certainty where the Host is going?”

  “No, I cannot,” Galstar said.

  “Then we cannot risk the shortcut,” Silver said, his tone making it clear that he would brook no dissent. “If they head west and we go east, we will lose any chance of catching them. It is an unacceptable risk, especially when we are the only force in the region that can deal with the Host.”

  “How convenient,” Kurgane said, his voice thick with disdain. “How convenient that your pet Wizard has suggested this, giving you an excuse to avoid the shortcut and save Ramoria. You betray the alliance we’ve all agreed to, and I won’t stand idly by any longer.”

  “I have made my reasons clear, and though I happen to agree with Verdan’s reasoning, he does not act at my request. I understand that you would prefer to take the chance and cut the Host off, but the risk is too high.”

  “The risk is too high, but only when it is for non-Sorcerers,” Kurgane said, curling his lip at Silver. “You hate Sorcerers, and this is finally a way that you can strike back. Will a city of innocents dying for your vengeance be enough?”

  “You are out of line, Disciple Skarv,” Silver snapped angrily. The Commander was a restrained man, not given to bursts of emotion, but Verdan could see the true anger in his eyes. Kurgane had crossed a line with those accusations, and they all knew it.

  “Hah, you simply don’t like being called out on your own disgusting actions,” Kurgane said, waving aside Silver’s anger with an idle gesture.

  “I think you’ve done enough talking,” Cullan said, his deep voice holding a gravelly undertone as he turned toward Kurgane. “Why don’t you and I go have a private conversation.”

  The big Idrisyr took a single, heavy step towards Kurgane, every inch of his body exuding a menacing aura.

  Kurgane took an involuntary step back before standing his ground and sneering at Cullan. “I don’t have the time to waste on you. I invoke my right of challenge, and I demand that we address it immediately.”

  “Are you sure you wish to do this, Disciple Skarv?” Vaijon asked, his voice cold and unfeeling.

  “I do. The time has come for this alliance to do what it was meant to do!” Kurgane lifted his chin as he made the declaration, but he didn’t seem to realise how little support he was getting.

  Commander Silver might not be a Sorcerer, but he was well-respected by everyone else present. Even those who thought it was right for a Sorcerer to lead them would be foolish to back Kurgane’s mad accusations.

  This was exactly the sort of thing that could split them all apart, right when they needed to be as unified as possible.

  “Commander, as you are not a Sorcerer, I shall explain,” Vaijon said, his voice a touch warmer as he spoke to Silver. “The rite of challenge allows for a leader of any Sect within the alliance to duel the leadership of the alliance if they believe they have strayed from the mission. In this case, by accusing you of abandoning Ramoria and prejudice against Sorcerers. Do you understand?”

  “I do. What are the terms of the duel?” Silver asked calmly.

  “As the challenger, Disciple Skarv may set the terms.”

  “To the death,” Kurgane said without hesitation, flashing Silver a smug smile.

  “Commander Silver, do you wish for any restriction on magic or weaponry that can be used?” Vaijon asked in a formal tone.

  “I do not,” Silver said levelly, something in his bearing telling Verdan that the Commander had a plan of some sort.

  If Verdan could realise that, he was sure that Kurgane did, but, to his surprise, Kurgane didn’t seem worried in the slightest. Something which didn’t bode well for the Commander.

  “Very well,” Vaijon said, the ice in his voice belying the hate in his eyes as he stared at Kurgane. This was everything the Elder had wanted to avoid. “The terms will be to the death, with no restriction on magic or weaponry. Commander Silver, you may elect a champion to fight on your behalf, but they must not be from any other Sect within the alliance than your own to prevent Sect infighting.”

  “They must also be a Sorcerer,” Kurgane said, his smug expression only growing as he saw Verdan’s frown. “I’m afraid the Wizard doesn’t count.”

  Verdan realised that Kurgane was expecting the Commander to be relying on Verdan’s support for victory. Silver’s expression didn’t so much as flicker, though, which told Verdan that Kurgane had missed the mark.

  “Verdan might not qualify, but I do,” Kai said, cutting off anything else Kurgane had to say. The Defiant Flame Sorcerer looked a little uncertain now, and Kai turned to Silver with an eager look in his eye. “Please allow me the privilege of fighting on your behalf.”

  “I gratefully accept your offer,” Silver said, the slightest hint of a smile touching his lips. Ignoring Kurgane completely as the Sorcerer tried to say something about Kai not being eligible, he turned to Vaijon. “I believe we are ready.”