Chapter 780: Mobilizing Forces
When Ashlynn declared that she intended to see the Lothians fall by year’s end, the expressions of everyone present grew solemn. Toppling the forces of the march by the end of winter felt achievable to everyone, but to achieve victory in just a few short weeks was another matter entirely.
"Tell us what you need, Ashlynn," Thane said, dropping the formality as his amber eyes met her emerald gaze. She’d taken a seat at the table instead of taking her place on a throne above them, and she had come to ask for help instead of issuing commands. The end result might be the same, but looking into her eyes, Thane didn’t see a hurt and wounded woman who would use her forces like a lash to whip her enemies.
Instead, he saw a woman who trusted them enough to be vulnerable and to ask for their help. He hadn’t been entirely sure she would make it back this far in just five short days, but clearly her time with both Sybyll and Nyrielle had done wonders for her mental state, and he wasn’t about to put up walls of formality when she made it clear that she wanted to lower them.
"We’re here for you," Thane said in a pure, earnest tone. "Every one of us is. Just tell us what you need."
"Thank you, Thane," Ashlynn said with a deep sigh of relief and a frail smile. "The next week will be demanding on everyone," she said as she turned to address the group. "And there are some things that we need to move on very quickly if we hope to capture all of our objectives. Marcel," Ashlynn said, turning to the dark-haired vampire who was still leaning back in his chair and cleaning his nails with a small, sharp knife.
"Your report mentioned that Lord Liam was likely to return home to the Town of Dunn this morning," Ashlynn said. "My guess is that he’s made it to the Village of Maeril by now, and he’s spending the night there before crossing the River Luath and heading north. What do you think?"
"I think that’s very likely," Marcel agreed as the knife in his hands vanished into his lace sleeves and he set all four of the chair’s feet back on the floor. In an instant, the idle playfulness fell away from the youthful-looking vampire, and a dark gleam appeared in his eyes as he looked at Ashlynn. "Has young lord Liam offended you? If you want him dead, I can likely arrange an accident on his way home."
"Not dead, I want him alive," Ashlynn said firmly. "He’s too useful to allow him to slip through our fingers at a time like this. Besides, since the Lothians have seen fit to abandon the Dunns and their barony to us, I see no reason we can’t extend an offer of safety in exchange for collaboration."
"You want to use Liam as your messenger," Marcel said as the playful smile returned to his lips. "He may not come willingly," he pointed out. "And once I snatch him, his men are likely to raise a cry about his kidnapping."
"You can’t let that happen," Ashlynn said, shaking her head and frowning at the Black Merchant. "I hate to send you to slaughter, but if the only way you can ensure his men’s silence is to kill them, then do it. We only have a few days before his father notices he’s missing, and not long after that, the Lothians will know that he’s vanished. I need as much time as possible before they learn that we have him."