I’d explained to my general and to a few others that Ragan had the same gifts that Jovis did, and I knew some of them were making the connection between the ossalen and the magic. They’d assume he had just the earth-shaking abilities, but as soon as he used his magic on water, there’d be more questions to answer. If only there were more time. I might seed the more positive Alanga legends back into the cities and towns of the Empire; I might remind people that the Alanga didn’t just destroy – they had also protected. But my father’s rhetoric still flowed among the islands like the waves of the Endless Sea, lapping up to shore and wetting the sand.

“With Jovis gone, you’ll have to help me,” Ragan said, as though he could tell what I was thinking. “If we want to win this.”

“Do what you’re able to for as long as possible,” I said. “I’ll help in the ways I can.”

A shout went up in the dark, lamps waving around like scattering fireflies. I straightened. “What’s happened?”

Both Ragan and I peered into the field below, trying to make out what had caused the panic.

The door into the palace burst open, a soldier standing with a lamp held high, her face fearful. I remembered then how fresh these recruits were, how they’d been rushed through the training. “The general says the construct army is approaching now,” she said, her breath short. “They aren’t waiting until morning.”

“That doesn’t make any sense,” I muttered.

“Sense or not, it is happening.” And then she seemed to realize who she was speaking to. She lowered her head and bowed. “Apologies, Eminence. But they are here.” She whirled, her coat swirling behind her as she retreated back into the palace.

Attacking in the morning, when the light was better, would make more sense. They were laying siege to a palace on a hill, replete with its own defenses.

My construct. They must have caught him. Nisong wouldn’t know how many I’d sent; she didn’t understand my reluctance to use bone shard magic. She would have used all the shards at her disposal. She would have sent fifty constructs.

So she’d decided to take the losses and to attack now.

There hadn’t been enough time. My construct would have turned perhaps twenty-five others at most. It would have caused more than just a small scuffle, but Nisong had so many constructs at her disposal. She would have been able to put down this miniature rebellion quickly and with force.

My plan had failed.

There was only my handful of soldiers, Urame’s guards, Chala’s guards and Ragan and me standing against Nisong now.