Vi had heard of Logan Gyre, of course, but seeing him was altogether different. He was perhaps the tallest man she’d ever seen, and perfectly proportioned. In his white enameled plate armor, gilded with a gyrfalcon with wingtips breaking a circle, he was the perfect picture of an energetic young king at war. He was muscular, his carriage erect, and though he walked with the knowledge that eyes were on him, he didn’t seem to revel in it. There was also something odd about his right forearm. It seemed brighter than the other, somehow. “My lady,” he said, nodding. “Is there something I can do for you?”

She stopped staring. “I’m Vi Sovari of the Chantry. I bring three hundred magae, and seven thousand more by tomorrow. We have come to help you.”

“Thank you, I dare say we will have need of healers, but so many . . .”

“Your Majesty, we’re war magae.”

“War magae.” The king’s eyes widened.

“We have withdrawn from the Accords, that we may help you.”

He scrubbed a hand through his blond hair. “This changes things. . . .  They may have two thousand meisters, two hundred Vürdmeisters among them. We have ten magi. How can you help me?”

“Two thousand?” Vi despaired. “If they bring two thousand meisters against us before the rest of my Sisters arrive, we’ll be worm food in an hour.”

“I may have drawn off half of them. How long could you and your three hundred hold out against a thousand?”

“We might make it, and some of the Sisters should arrive during the day. My war magae are mostly good at defensive magic, Your Majesty.”

“Good, then I want half of you to hold Black Bridge and the dam. Spread the others out through the lines.” A messenger trotted up and Logan held up a finger, forestalling the man. “Oh, and thank you, Sister. Your aid is desperately needed and greatly appreciated. I hope to speak more with you this evening.”

“You’re welcome, and . . .  Your Majesty, I know you were a friend of Kylar’s. He’ll be here.”

Logan got a strange look on his face. “Yes,” he said, “I’m sure he shall.”

Vi was stationed with a hundred and fifty of her Sisters at Black Bridge, almost in the shadow of the great dam, when she realized what that look meant. Logan thought Vi meant Kylar would be here in spirit. Logan still thought Kylar was dead. Stupid, Vi, stupid.

Logan and Garuwashi were astride their mounts in the Great Market as the first rays of dawn revealed the God-king’s armies arrayed across from their own. “They fell for it,” he said. “They must have sent fifteen thousand men to Reigukhas. Last night, they had six thousand more men than we did. Now they have ten thousand less.”

Lantano Garuwashi grinned. “Only two things can undo us now.”

“Magic?”