Guardians of the Boundary (Book 3 of The Conjurors Series)

Chapter 31

Valerie expected to find pandemonium when she reached The Horseshoe, but instead, the Knights who had defected from the Guild to stand against the Fractus were keeping everyone organized as they traveled to the rendezvous point.

After Rastelli had escaped from the Justice Guild, Valerie had quietly instructed the Knights to move the location of where they would meet from the Lake of Knowledge to the tree in the woods that led to Arbor Aurum. She told them not to reveal the location to her army until the day that the seed began to grow, in case there were any Fractus spies in her ranks.

Valerie had no illusions that the Fractus would have any trouble finding them at the new location, but she hoped that they wouldn't be lying in wait for them to arrive. Reaper wouldn't hesitate to slaughter them if they weren't prepared.

Oberon, Gideon, and Henry all traveled with her, and Kanti, Thai, and Cyrus silently joined them in The Horseshoe.

"Cyrus brought me up to speed on the plan," Thai said as he walked next to her. "I have a suggestion. You shouldn't be with the wave of Conjurors on the ground level. You should be in the trees, in Arbor Aurum."

"Why, so I'll be safer?" Valerie asked, unable to hide her annoyance.

But Thai only grinned. "No. I'm not stupid enough to suggest that. It's so that you'll have a better view of how the battle is unfolding. You'll be able to direct it better from that vantage point."

"You will also be more protected, which is not a sign of your weakness," Oberon added. "Do you think your army will find it motivational to see you wounded, or worse, to fall?"

An uncomfortable heat made Valerie remove the light jacket she wore. Her instincts told her that Thai and her dad were right, but the idea of being removed from the front lines of battle led to an almost overpowering guilt.

"Separate yourself from the decision," Gideon said quietly, so only she could hear him. "Imagine that Henry were directing the battle. How would you advise him?"

"I take your points," Valerie said, pushing her discomfort aside. "I will begin the battle in the trees, but will come down if the ground fighters of the Fist need to be rallied. If I'm a symbol, as you say, Dad, then my army needs to see me fighting."

"They need to see you winning," Oberon corrected her. "But your strategy is sound."

They reached the large tree that led to Arbor Aurum, and Valerie's eyes widened as she took in the crowd of Conjurors who had gathered there.

"It's more than two hundred, isn't it?" she asked no one in particular.

"It's two hundred and fifty on the ground, and we'll send up another fifty to the trees, in case the Fractus break through our ranks. I'll start sending them up as soon as the seal around the cities breaks," Dulcea said. Her curly hair was pulled back in a severe bun, and even with a smudge on her cheek, she was more businesslike than Valerie had ever seen her. Jack was by her side, helping her organize.

"This is excellent," Valerie said to her friend, who beamed in response.

Skye galloped through the trees, and the Grand Masters who had opposed Oleander followed him, visibly relaxing as they noticed the turnout.

Skye approached Valerie and gave her a low nod before speaking.

"We will spread out to the battle stations we discussed," Skye said, speaking for the group.

Valerie had met with Skye and Calibro twice in the past few days to discuss the powers that each of the Grand Masters possessed. Valerie then carefully integrated the knowledge with her strategy to ensure that they would be located in the places where they would have the most impact during battle.