Page 202 of Onyx Cage: Volume II
“We can assume he has forces from Eagle and Viper,” I said, adjusting their corresponding pieces into place where they were most likely to support Iiro’s troops.
“Ram?” Lord Bolshoi asked. His tone was brisk, near panicked, but that made sense considering his family lived close to the border.
He shot Lord Vysotsky a pointed glance and the latter shook his head.
“We haven’t heard from our spies,” Vysotsky said with a nod toward me.
Since my father’s death, I had placed Mattias in charge of communications with our official spy network. As an established lord with a loyal history to our clan, I knew that even those loyal to the former duchy would continue to work with him.
“And now we know why,” I replied thoughtfully, gesturing toward the red ram-shaped pieces. “Mikhail is a coward, so if he’s joining Iiro’s forces, it won’t be until the last minute. He won’t pit them directly against Bear. That will buy us time.”
“And Elk?” Rowan asked, picking up one of the navy pawns.
I could hear it in her tone, see it in her features. She didn’t want to believe that Korhonan would use his army against us.
Storms, I didn’t believe it either, but this time my doubt wasn’t because of my history with Theodore. It was because I didn’t believe for a second that Iiro had actually relinquished his power there.
“Iiro is likely in charge of Elk forces,” I said evenly.
She nodded, her expression going a little more somber.
“And what about our allies?” she pressed.
I sighed, sliding several of the yellow pieces back to the center of Crane’s borders.
“Crane’s forces are clearly depleted, but they will step in once they aren’t walking into a slaughter,” I said, considering our other options. “Lynx is...less militant than some of the other clans, but their size will be an attribute. Still, it will take them time to mobilize.”
A glance at my cousin had him dipping his chin in confirmation.
Rowan examined the map, her focus on the gray pieces now.
“Wolf?” she asked.
“Their forces aren’t as well positioned to help.” Especially since Iiro was coming in from the west, attempting to avoid them entirely. “But they will be crucial in holding the eastern line at the border. And Bison is still anyone’s guess.”
They hadn’t signed off on the new monarchy, but they hadn’t yet chosen to stand against it, either.
I took another moment to study the map before moving more of our black Bear pawns to intercept Iiro’s forces.
“We’ll send a sizable contingent to the Ram border to intimidate them into staying out of this fight,” I said, moving more pawns into place, accordingly, holding on to a single piece. “The troops we sent to the south should be sufficient for now, but we’ll mobilize a cavalry to bolster them and leave the western forces where they are to guard the border and the estate.”
It was the best I could do, but I didn’t like how sparse the color black was on the map or how the clans were still clustered together by comparison.
“When do we leave?” My cousin’s question cut through my thoughts, effectively silencing them.
He stared at me with an icy determination, but there was something in the rigid set of his shoulders that told me he already knew my answer.
I trusted Taras more than any of my other soldiers, trusted him to lead our men if I couldn’t. To care for our clan in my absence. To protect our people and to make the best decisions for them.
But more than that, more than every tactical reason I could think of, I couldn’t bring myself to put him on the front lines knowing he was going to be a father.
“We don’t,” I said flatly, my thumb digging into the groove of the Bear pawn. “I do.”
Bitterness flashed in his eyes as I continued.
“I need you here to guard the estate.”
His lips parted to argue, but he quickly closed them again, a gesture for which I was grateful, considering my role as Duke was still on shaky ground.