Free Target Of The Orders (Book 3) by Ron Collins Page B

is not as bad of an idea as it might sound,” Sunathri said.
    “You can’t be serious.” Darien said.
    “Yes, I am. If Garrick can control the confrontation, he might be better off than if he lets the orders set the table. The bigger problem, though, is that I don’t think Garrick can get either of their god-touched mages to go anywhere without their armies.”
    “Like that makes a difference,” Darien said.
    “It means Garrick needs an army to make his idea happen.”
    They sat in silence.
    “What’s your plan, Garrick?” Sunathri said.
    “Holy gods, woman,” Darien replied. “His plan? His plan? Are you listening to yourself? This is Garrick. He has no
plan
. I mean, beyond calling out to the orders so he can fall on his sword. It’s not happening. Garrick is not facing either of the other god-touched mages one-on-one.”
    “Actually,” Garrick said. “I need to face them both at the same time.”
    Darien threw himself backward on the grass, spreading his arms out wide.
    “First we can’t get you to join us, and now you’re off the cliff and talking about combating every mage on the plane at once.”
    “They don’t work well together, Darien. Their approaches are different. Each time I’ve encountered mixed groups their whole has been less than the sum of their parts. On the other hand, Elman had only Lectodinians in his party, and he nearly destroyed me. I think I stand a better chance one on two than I do if I address them alone.”
    “All right,” Sunathri said again. “What’s your plan, Garrick?” Then, clearly interjecting before Darien could reply, “How do you intend to neutralize their god-touched?”
    He surprised himself by laughing. He didn’t expect Sunathri to treat his plan with such earnest thought.
    “I have no idea, but I expect I’ll have to draw them out.”
    “See?” Darien replied, sitting up again.
    “We’ll definitely want to control the time and place of the meeting,” Sunathri said.
    “It’s too risky,” Darien said.
    “What isn’t?” Sunathri replied. “I say we stop complaining about it and set to helping our friend.”
    “I’m sorry, Suni,” Garrick said. “Darien’s right. I can’t join the Freeborn.”
    Sunathri chuckled.
    “I really am sorry,” Garrick said.
    “Don’t mistake my laughter, Garrick,” Sunathri said. “I’m not asking you to join the Freeborn. I’m saying that if you won’t join us, we’ll join you.”
    “I don’t understand.”
    “We’ve worked too hard to fail now. You mean everything to this House. You don’t have to accept us for us to accept you.”
    “I’m not telling anyone what to do.”
    “I’m giving the directions, so you’re only taking command if you don’t let us help you.”
    Then it was Garrick’s turn to chuckle. “I’m speechless.”
    “That’s not exactly a first,” Darien said.
    “The Freeborn is not an army, though,” Sunathri said. “We can’t stand up against two full armies of mercenary men enriched with god-touched wizardry. We’ll need help.”
    She stared at Darien.
    “Can you convince your father to support Dorfort joining the fight?”
    Darien cleared his throat. “I don’t know.”
    “Darien has not spoken to his father in some time,” Garrick said.
    Sunathri simply stared at him.
    “I can try,” Darien finally said.
    “It’s all we can ask,” Sunathri replied.
    She ran her hand through her thick hair and looked at Garrick. “I think we can name the time and place of your clash—as long as the orders are as serious about getting rid of you as they appear to be.”
    “How?” Garrick asked.
    “You offer yourself as bait—challenge them to a duel neither can turn down without losing face.”
    “I can see that,” Garrick said. “And we choose a place where the god-touched mages have to leave their armies.”
    “Exactly.”
    Sunathri’s eyes burned with eagerness.
    “It could work,” Garrick replied.
    “Is there such a place?” Darien