Iron Flame (The Empyrean, #2)

by Rebecca Yarros

“We have over sixty injured pairs, be it dragon or rider that’s wounded. That horde right there will take us as spread out as we are now.” “Then why not move every cadet to the Vale?” Xaden challenges. Melgren narrows his beady eyes. “You might lead a revolution, Riorson, but you know nothing about winning a war.” At least he called it a revolution and not a rebellion. “You’re using them as a distraction.” Xaden drops his arms. “A delaying tactic. They’ll die while those in the Vale have time to prepare. Prepare for what, exactly?” My jaw drops. “You can’t do that.” I pivot, putting myself in front of Mom. “You won’t need to. Brennan has mended the wardstone.” “Even Brennan can’t mend magic, Cadet Sorrengail.” There’s no give, no room to stray from the course in her eyes. “No,” I admit. “But he doesn’t have to. If the stone is mended, it could hold power. We could still raise the wards. I know how.” A curious caress of shimmering shadow slides down my shields, but I don’t let him in. “You weren’t entirely successful in Aretia, were you?” she asks, lowering her voice so only I hear. “‘Could’ isn’t good enough.” That part is for a wider audience, and the rebuke heats my cheeks. “I can do it,” I whisper back just as quietly, then raise my voice to be heard. “If you put Xaden and me in the Vale, you leave the wardstone unprotected, and that is the only solution to keep everyone on this field alive today.”