The war room had not been used in decades, but within hours it buzzed with desperate activity. Maps covered every surface, marked with red ink showing rebel territories and enemy movements. Through our quad bond, I felt my mates' shared frustration as clearly as my own.

"The situation is worse than we thought," Captain Reed reported, pointing to the largest map. "Lord Blackwater controls the eastern ports. Lady Ashford has the western grain provinces. And now this." He tapped a marker near the ...