"It wasn't the conclave Belaisle was after," I whispered. "It was the stronghold."

Mom cleared her throat, tried to speak. Fell still.

I was such a fool. Idiot, moron. Why had I not considered this? Belaisle knew as well as I did where the last battle of ours was to be fought. And, until now, that battleground was in the hands of my allies.

No longer. If I wanted to fight him, I had to go through his people first.

Damn. It. All. To. Hell.

And I'd ...