Change of Darkness (The Change Series Book 3) by Jacinta Jade (best new books to read txt) 📕

Atalia’s arms dropped free from their folded position as her spine stiffened further. ‘We already considered this strategy, and it was deemed that the best attack was a divided one.’

Chezran’s eyes snapped to his spymaster’s. ‘What was the most recent intelligence we had on the council’s deployment of the peace-keeping troops?’

Renhed’s eyes locked with her lord’s. ‘We haven’t really had any further intelligence on this matter, since our source went quiet back in—’

Chezran waved Renhed to silence and, rising from his seat, approached the map. ‘They tried the same approach in the last war,’ he said quietly, ‘and they lost.’ He spun to face Siraay, close enough that the edges of his cape brushed her dress as he wheeled. ‘The three cities converged their troops upon the Xarcon army back then. Why would this time be any different?’

Siraay made herself returned his penetrating look calmly. It was amazing how clearly she could recall in-depth detail from her former self’s memories. But there it was, the memory laid out like a picture book that she could examine at her leisure—the pages that had been spread across the Resistance commander’s desk when the old Siray had taken a seat before her, her eyes wandering uninterested over the documents that had meant nothing to her at the time. Yet even upside down, even green as she had been, the words had jumped out at her: reallocated … troops … new defence strategy … concentration … capital …

She could also recall other pages, but none of them were directly relevant to this conversation.

‘If you have learned from your past failures, then don’t believe for an instant that the Ruling Council has not.’ Siraay flicked her fingers towards the map and where she knew the capital to be marked on it. ‘If I were them, I would do exactly the same. Who would ever expect you to try the same tactic a second time after it failed in the first instance?’ She shook her head. ‘The intelligence is good—they expect you to try to divide and conquer by attacking them on multiple fronts.’

After she finished speaking, there was an intense quiet, until it was broken by the drawling tones of the spymaster.

‘Our agents haven’t made any progress in this area, my lord—it seems that only one or two of the council members know of the defence strategy … and are unlikely to share.’

Siraay’s toes curled slightly in her boots, the only way she could privately express the tension she was feeling. She knew this was a key moment. Either Chezran would accept her advice, and demonstrate to the others that he valued and trusted her opinion, or else he would demonstrate his lack of trust in her and irreparably damage her standing with them. And himself.

But Renhed wasn’t finished with her update.

‘Yet, our agents have reported increased supplies heading to the capital, which might indicate an increased defensive presence there.’

Chezran twisted away from Siraay to glance at Archon Renhed. ‘But you don’t have a count of any actual numbers?’

The spymaster’s dark eyes didn’t flinch from the gaze of her lord. ‘No,’ she said, and Siraay could feel the weight of regret and annoyance that the archon felt over her lack of information in that area. ‘But I think, in this case, small indications are the best we have to deal with, if the council is indeed gearing up their defences.’

Chezran nodded once, then turned and took his seat again at the divan’s apex. He scanned the faces of everyone in the room, including Siraay’s and Atalia’s.

The tense silence hung for a moment more.

‘Tell the second division to relocate, discreetly, to a position closer to the capital. We’ll hit them with everything we have.’

Siraay’s toes uncurled and her lips parted just slightly in relief, even as she heard the head tactician expel a breath in frustration.

But neither of them showed their feelings above those minor gestures, unless you counted the look of dislike the female archon shot towards Siraay.

For her part, Siraay merely looked back at Atalia as she resumed her seat by Chezran’s side, the gesture reminding the tactician just where her own seat was—farther away from that apex. Siraay felt the corners of her lips and eyes turn up minutely, twitching the scarred tissue around her left eye, as she controlled her amusement at the almost childlike pose Atalia had assumed.

Next, there were updates from three of Chezran’s other archons—words of warning from the spymaster about intelligence her spies had uncovered about a new Resistance camp; new protocols being enforced by Archon Onan to increase security for the city; and updates from Nisos, the head technologist, on the production of some metal linked to the bands the army wore.

Siraay paid particular attention as Nisos continued his update.

‘I’m having my technologists turn out a new batch as quickly as possible so we can fit them to the new additions as soon as their training is completed.’

Chezran nodded and glanced at Raque. ‘Where are they up to in the program?’

Raque’s smile was satisfied. ‘Further ahead than we were anticipating. It seems the departure of one of their own’—and here he nodded at Siraay—‘has broken some of them faster than then even our best methods could.’

Siraay found that piece of information interesting, and, apparently, so did Chezran.

The lord’s head angled in her direction. ‘Seems like you were more valuable to your group than you knew, my lady.’

Siraay nodded slowly. ‘Maybe that is something that can be used to our advantage.’

Chezran raised one eyebrow slightly. ‘Explain.’

She gestured to Raque. ‘If, as the captain says, there has been a quickening in those who are breaking since my departure, then perhaps a showing of my return, as one loyal to Xarcon, would help break more of them. Show them the futility of any opposition to their new role.’

Chezran looked at her steadily. ‘You mean, show them the stronger, more confident and capable you, the one who has no doubts about our cause and is willing