Their expressions twist in confusion.

I stand. “Listen, we don’t have time to strategize. For three days we’ve been hunkered down in this forest with no clear consensus of a plan, watching his movements, studying him. I’ve got to get out there. Before it’s too late.”

“We’ve learned a lot about his movements these past two days,” the Ghizoni says.

Crack. I suck in a breath, glancing at the barrier. The spiderweb of cracks I’d just seen has doubled in size. “I’m not trying to minimize that and I’m sorry if it came out that way. I’m just saying, the Chancellor wants me.” I hold out my golden arms. “These. And they outnumber us greatly. I’ma fight him one-on-one. That’s our chance. Our only chance.”

Heads turn in silent conversation with one another.

“Jelani,” Jhamal starts. “Don’t do this. What is the full plan? Lay it out.”

All eyes on me.

I step back. “To get out there. To fight.” They’re wasting time. I leave the huddle and creep closer to the task at hand.

My Ghizoni people are like collateral damage to the Chancellor. He’s razing the land where our Ancestors grew their food, the chakusas where my father’s father raised his family and buried our dead, where aunties and their daughters picked kaeli berries for their turning out ceremonies. Anger moves through me in a rush of heat. I don’t want to sit and talk about a plan for another minute. That barrier is going to fall. And I need to be in position to end him.

“And what would you have us do while you’re out there?” someone shouts at my back. I don’t know. I just know they can’t die for this. They’ve suffered enough at the hand of the Chancellor. The Ancestors gave me this magic. My parents died so I’d have it. So I could do this. So I could fight.

Crack.

I summon heat to my fingertips, keeping to the edge of the tree line so I can see him, but he can’t see me. A flicker of hope thuds in my chest mangled with fear. I can do this. I have to do this.

My people call for me, but I jet off. The Chancellor’s narrowed eyes search for me at the edge of the trees. Patrol snaps to attention. Magic flies through the air, slamming into the glass dome overhead. It shutters.

I can’t stop them from shattering the barrier, but I can be ready when they do. The second before the barriers opens up wide enough for him to step through, I’m going to reveal my position and fire at him before he can fire at me. I’m counting on catching him off guard. I blow out a breath. It’s gon’ work.