“Our odds of survival rise to over fifty percent. Fifty-three or maybe fifty-four,” she finally said. “I don’t know enough about the enemy or this new technology.”

“You are in the correct ballpark, Elder Mausya. My own calculations bring the number to fifty-six. That is based on direct knowledge that I have of the enemy’s doctrines, philosophy, capabilities, and general appetite for conquest. They seek to expand and absorb, but despite their overwhelming resources, they are surprisingly frugal with what they are willing to spend in terms of those resources to obtain a new world. Witness the planet of Fairie holding them at bay for centuries. Also, they play a long game, time being generally on their side.”

“What about Fairie itself?” Tzao asked.

Senka turned and looked to Tanya.

“Fairie has been fighting off the Vorsook for ages, and the Queens have chosen to exhaust many of their best weapons. Now they are attempting to claim the last region of their world that still harbors potent elementals, to use against the Vorsook and against each other. But that region is out of their control. Hence their interest in Declan,” Tanya explained.

“How desperate are they?” Atta asked.

“Enough that we think the Summer Queen has made an agreement with agents of Hell. She gets the witch kid and Hell gets access to Earth,” Lydia answered.

“What are you doing to stop that?”

“Why do you think Tanya’s Chosen is absent instead of vaporizing all of you old relics with a wave of his hand? Where do you think Tanya would be right now if we hadn’t had to lance this boil of opposition?” Senka asked.

“Why not reveal this information earlier and reassure the Coven?” Lison asked.

“Because to continue with my analogy, sometimes you have to bring the boil to a head before you can effectively lance it, not that any of us remember having a boil. This upwelling of distrust within the Coven came from somewhere, but we didn’t know where. Now we understand that the seeds were planted by agents of Fairie, and we are plucking those weeds from the ground as we all stand here in this dank chamber so far underground. Perhaps next time we can hold court in something a bit more refined and maybe five stars in comfort?” Senka said.

“Next time?” Gault asked.