Free Destined by Aprilynne Pike Page A

and mobilise the active sentries.”
    Laurel took advantage of the Queen’s momentary distraction to lean close to Tamani and whisper, “Why wouldn’t Jamison listen to you about the circle?”
    Tamani shook his head. “There are some things even Jamison cannot pardon.”
    Laurel’s chest tightened as she wondered just what kind of punishment could provoke Jamison to encourage them to lie to his monarch.
    “Shall we prepare for a military council then, Your Majesty?” Jamison asked as the young captain turned and began issuing orders.
    “Goodness, no,” Marion said, her tone light. “With a few instructions, the captains should manage on their own. We’re leaving.”
    “Leaving?” Tamani said, clearly shocked. Laurel had rarely seen him speak so boldly in Avalon, and never in the presence of a Winter faerie.
    Marion fixed him with a withering stare. “Leaving the Garden,” she amended, before turning to Jamison. “You, Yasmine, and I will retreat to the Winter Palace and defend it while the Spring fae do their duty here at the gate.” She turned to survey the milling sentries. “We will require some additional support, of course. Four companies should be sufficient to ensure our safety, along with our Am Fear-faire and—”
    “We can’t go,” Jamison said firmly.
    “We can’t stay,” Marion replied in an equally firm tone. “The Winter faeries always guard the palace and themselves in times of danger. Even the great Oberon stepped back to preserve himself when the battle raged its fiercest. Do you think yourself greater than he?”
    “This is different,” Jamison said calmly. “Trolls are already immune to Enticement; these trolls will be immune to Autumn magic as well. If we leave the gate, our warriors will have no magic to counter their enemies” strength. There will be slaughter.”
    “Nonsense,” Marion replied. “Even if the beasts have figured out how to evade tracking serums and some rudimentary defence potions, it’s hardly the tragedy you’re making it out to be. You there, tell me, how many trolls have you killed in your life?”
    It took Tamani a moment to realise he was being addressed. “Ah, I don’t know. Perhaps a hundred?”
    A hundred? Laurel almost gasped at the number. So many? But then, in almost ten years as a sentry outside Avalon, could she really be surprised? He had killed about ten just in her presence.
    “And how many of those did you kill with the aid of Autumn magic?” The Queen continued, not fazed by the number at all.
    Tamani opened his mouth, but no words came out. Laurel realised there was no right answer; if the Queen found his reliance on Autumn magic high, she would tell him he was incompetent – if it was low, she would use that to prove her point.
    “Come, Captain, time is short and precision unnecessary. Would you guess half? A third?”
    “About that, Your Majesty.”
    “You see, Jamison? Our sentries are quite capable of killing trolls without our assistance.”
    “And what of the two rogues?” Jamison asked.
    “The Winter is untrained – aside from her power to open the gate, she is no threat at all. And the Autumn is outnumbered, along with any others she might bring.”
    No threat?
    “You always underestimated Callista,” Jamison said before Laurel could speak up.
    “And you always over estimated her. You were wrong then, and by the end of the day I expect you will discover that you are wrong now.”
    Jamison said nothing, and the Queen turned away from them; never in her life had Laurel felt so dismissed .
    The Gate Garden became a hurricane of brightly coloured uniforms as orders were given and messages sent. Jamison stood motionless until the Queen approached the gateway to Japan to let a messenger through. Then, at last, he frowned, and Laurel could almost see him gather his will.
    “Come,” he said quietly, turning his back to the flood of sentries. “Gather your friends. We have to get to the Winter Palace.” His pale-blue