Meta Gods War 3 by B. Miles (the ebook reader txt) 📕

study the pages on the table. “I agree,” he said. “I don’t have exact figures or accounting of our strength just yet, but I’m working on it.”

“Good,” Haesar said. “The sooner you can marshal your forces, the better. We need to leave the Mansion, and we need to do it as soon as possible.”

Cam touched the table top. Gwedi’s breath came out short and sharp.

“Why?” Cam asked.

“The wolves are coming,” Haesar said. “Slowly but surely. They’re carving a path through this valley, intent on bringing their numbers to bear on us here. If we end up trapped inside the Mansion, we’ll be fighting a defensive battle, and defensive battles are never good.”

Cam considered. “If they came here, we’d have the defenses of the Mansion. But we’d also be trapped within its walls, unable to maneuver.”

“Exactly,” Haesar said, and turned a map toward him.

The vellum was old and yellowed. Lines were drawn in curving, graceful black ink. Land was shaded green, water shaded blue. It took up half the table and had more detail than Cam had ever seen.

“This is an old map,” Haesar said, “but it’s still accurate. The Mansion is here, and the bulk of the wolves are here.” He jabbed his finger at a point midway down the valley.

Cam studied the landmarks. He tried to picture trees instead of green marks. “We could meet them here,” Cam said, pointing at a position at the base of the switchbacks.

“I was thinking along those lines as well,” Haesar said. “We’d be at the top of the slope, close enough that we could retreat to the Mansion, but deep enough that we could still maneuver as necessary.”

“But the wolves are close,” Cam said. “Why haven’t they pushed closer?”

“I believe they’re worried.” Haesar rapped a knuckle on the table. “When you freed the army, I believe you scored a vicious blow. They’ve been in disarray ever since.”

“The packs are fighting?” Cam asked.

“They were. Order was restored, but it cost time and energy.”

“So they’re regrouping.” Cam nodded, eyes moving along the map. “And the longer we give them, the stronger they’ll be.”

Haesar nodded, his face ponderous. “Again, that is my thinking.”

Footsteps from outside echoed down the halls. Voices drifted along the stone. Cam smelled cooking from a nearby room.

“I don’t know how quickly I can put things in order,” Cam said. “I’m already coming against resistance.”

“And that resistance won’t stop.” Haesar took the map and turned it around to face him again. “Lord Remorn won’t let this pass.”

“I know it,” Cam said.

“Are you prepared to take it all the way?”

Cam tilted his head and studied Haesar. He had a hard time reading the Elf, but thought he saw genuine concern.

“I’m prepared to do what’s necessary,” Cam said. “I’ve come this far. If I turn back, nobody will benefit.”

“Good,” Haesar said. “You will have my support, for what that’s worth.”

Cam bowed his head. “I would appreciate that.”

“Do what must be done,” Haesar said. “The fate of this region will be decided these next few days. I fear that if we don’t march soon, the wolves will be too much.”

“We’ll march,” Cam said and pushed back his chair.

He stood. His shadow played on the far wall. Gwedi mirrored him, her movements smooth and graceful.

“I will be here, in this room,” Haesar said. “Send word if I’m needed.”

“Thank you.” Cam inclined his head again, turned, and walked to the door.

Gwedi followed him into the hall. Children darted between them, a skinny little girl cackling as she chased after a pudgy toddler.

“He’s taking a chance on you,” Gwedi said as they walked.

“I know,” Cam said.

“You flipped this Mansion on its head and people haven’t had a chance to decide which way is up yet,” she said. “And now my Lord is trusting that you can figure it all out before it’s too late.”

“I know,” Cam said again.

Gwedi turned to him, her eyes flint-sharp. “Don’t let him down,” she said.

“I don’t plan on it.”

“But you will.”

Cam stepped toward her, forcing her to take a step back. She bumped against the stone wall. He leaned toward her, feeling his anger spike.

“Why are you so against me?”

The children came again. The little girl held the toddler in her arms, who laughed as she rounded the corner and disappeared into a room.

“Because you’re like all the others,” she said, her face pulled into a sneer.

“How?” Cam asked. “You barely know me.”

“You’re Human,” she said. “That’s all I need to know.”

Cam put up his hands. “Why do you hate Humans so much? We’ve done nothing to you. We’ve done—”

“You have no clue,” Gwedi said, stepping forward. She came within inches of Cam’s face. He didn’t blink or back down. “You’ve been alive for a single breath. I’ve been choking on air forever. I’ve seen what Humans can do when they put their mind to it, seen them kill, slaughter, maim, destroy. You think Humans have done nothing to me? Humans have taken more than their fair share, and don’t deserve any of it.”

She breathed deep and hard. Her eyes sparkled in anger. Cam wanted to reach out and touch her smooth cheek.

“I’m sorry for what Humans did to you in the past,” he said. “Whatever it was, I know you didn’t deserve it.”

She snorted. “I don’t need your apologies.”

“But it seems like you do. We’re going to work together, Gwedi, whether you like it or not. If you keep acting like I’m the enemy, then we’ll never be able to get anything done. You heard Haesar in there.”

She opened her mouth. Her tongue ran over her white teeth. She bit down and took a breath, closing her eyes.

“I know you’re right,” she said.

“Then why do you push?”

“Because I’m angry.” She opened her eyes again. “Every time I see you, I’m reminded of him.”

“Of who?”

She turned her head and swept past him. Her shoulder brushed his chest. He hurried to catch up. In the rooms they passed, people cooked, laughed, shared bread, wove thread into cloth, sharpened metal.

“It doesn’t matter,” Gwedi said.

“It does