The enormous stone walls of Ith came into view as they descended the last tall hill. A few more bumps of land stood in their way, but they were nearly there. Kazra looked across the valleys at it, and let out her breath at the sight. If she had been in a good mood for the sight, it lasted only as long as that breath, then she kept on walking. Renado paused a little more for Virn, Sarno, and the others. They had never seen anything like it, and they were not in the same scowling state as their leader.
Renado had learned nothing more about Virn, but he had noticed how erratic Kazra’s emotions could be. Today was one of the bad days, and she didn’t joke around with them or make light of their strange alliance. Today she was on a mission; it was fine with Renado, because they were here.
They reached the gate of Ith just before midday, when the overhead sun was not blocked out until they stood beneath the huge walls. The gate still looked like just a hole punched in the slab of earthen rock. The same guards lounged there, their gambling table overflowing with coins and dice. When Kazra marched through, they grabbed their spears and sword belts. “There’s a toll,” called their captain. “Stop, at once.”
Kazra did not stop, so Ren, with a smirk on his face, did not either. Only one of the guards actually started to draw his sword. Virn, striding by him at that moment, shoved the guard into the wall with enough force to break bones. The man was only dazed, thankfully, though he had dropped his blade.
The rest just watched as Renado’s and Sarno’s men marched through, free of charge.
As they crossed the Low Dales, Kazra waved Renado to her side. Ren quickened his pace, and only caught the second half of what she was saying, “… here before, you should know a good place to stay.”
Renado nodded. “The Verdant Drinkhouse,” he said. “It’s a middle-class spot, nothing too fancy, but not in the slum either.”
“Lead the way,” Kazra said, but she didn’t slow her pace. They made it to the inn without issue, thankfully, and Sarno promptly transformed one of their rented rooms into a meeting space, with walls lined by chairs, bed tipped up and out of the way.
“So Ren,” Kazra said, as the troop sat in a circle. “You and your men did reconnaissance for this mission. Do you have a plan?”
Ren blinked. He had pondered a few ideas, but he hadn’t expected to be in charge of the operation. He folded his arms and gathered his thoughts. “I think we need to kill all eight remaining Mage Kings at once,” he said. A murmur went through the two unified teams. “Not necessarily in the same place—that could be too much for even you two.”
Kazra’s mouth slanted but she gave him a nod. Virn, like usually, only muttered beneath his breath.
“We spend a few weeks now to determine where the Kings will be and when. What their schedules are. What the openings are,” Ren listed. “We kill as many as we can, at once. If even two survive, they could ruin the city. They could find us, and eliminate us. We have to act in the span of a day, at the very most.”
“So, spying first?” Virn asked, quietly. “We’ll sit that out.”
It wasn’t a question. A statement. “Very well,” Ren said. “Sarno? Good, you and your men will be invaluable—it’s a lot to cover with only my three.”
“Bribes?” Sarno asked. “Questionings?”
“Keep interaction with others to a minimal,” Ren said. “Only if absolutely necessary. If the Mage Kings smell what’s on the fire, they’ll douse it. And Karsef, I want you with me tomorrow. We’re going to determine if Lotha is still alive.”
“Lotha?” asked Kazra.
“One of—” Ren realized, nearly biting his tongue, that he couldn’t speak Gravagan’s name in this company. The Tether would not let him. “One of Irrith’s magicians,” he said, carefully, while Kazra raised her eyebrows at him. They knew of the Conclave, Gravagan’s group. By process of elimination, Renado knew they hadn’t heard his name yet, and had not been on the Isle of Dusk.
Virn cleared his throat. “Is this Lotha a priority?”
“If there’s a chance in the aftermath, only,” Ren said. He looked at Woodro, then back at the warriors of the Circle. “Now, if you’ll excuse me. I need a drink.” Woodro grinned, and followed him out of the stuffy inn room.