Chapter 148

“What did he say, exactly?” Snowcloud looked at Arran intently as she asked the question .

They were sitting in her quarters, which Arran could not help but notice were far nicer than his own . While he had a single room with just a bed and a desk, Snowcloud had three full rooms to herself, including a bedroom, a small library, and the well-furnished sitting room they were currently using . Not that he was jealous, of course — although a bit more space would be nice .

Arran quickly told Snowcloud about his meeting with Elder Naran and Stoneheart, and the offer Elder Naran had made them .

When he finished speaking, Snowcloud frowned, seeming taken aback by the idea . “He wants the two of you to face an entire army together?”

“I assume he wants me to defeat the army, and Stoneheart to defeat their leader,” Arran explained . “With the Blood magic, the soldiers’ numbers won’t make much of a difference to me . “

“But it’s an entire army,” Snowcloud objected . “With thousands of soldiers . “

Arran shook his head . “It doesn’t matter . Blood magic isn’t like Essence . My power won’t run out as I’m fighting — with every enemy I kill, I’ll grow stronger . And although I don’t fully understand it yet, I think the Blood magic was originally created to kill armies . “

Snowcloud raised an eyebrow . “What makes you think so?”

Arran hesitated before continuing, trying to find words for the thoughts he’d had since his Tempering .

After some moments, he spoke, his voice less confident than before . “Most of the power it gives is temporary, and the bloodlust drives you to fight without fear of death . ” He sighed, then shook his head . “I don’t think it’s meant to be survived . I think it’s meant to allow a single person to destroy an army, and then themselves . “

“But you control it now, right?” There was some doubt in Snowcloud’s voice, and she gave him a worried look .

“I do,” Arran replied .

“I don’t think you should do it,” Snowcloud said, her brow furrowed . “You might lose control again, and even with the Blood magic… it’s an entire army . And if Stoneheart fails to—”

“I’m not worried about those things,” Arran interrupted her .

Snowcloud gave him a puzzled look . “Are you that confident in the Blood magic?”

“I’m confident I can take the army,” Arran said . “But I also know that Elder Naran will intervene if things go wrong . “

“Elder Naran? But I thought he said only you and Stoneheart would fight the army?”

“He lied,” Arran replied . “What he really wants is to see the Blood magic in action, and he won’t let it be lost if something unexpected happens . “

He had only figured it out after his visit to the Elder, but the moment he had pieced it together, he knew it was true .

When Tuya first came for him, she had told him that her father had long tried to study Blood magic . Knowing that, it was a fair assumption that the man had studied him extensively while he was unconscious after his Tempering . And now, what remained was to see how he would be affected by the battle .

That was why the Elder had not let his adepts destroy the army, and that was why he wanted to send Arran and Stoneheart by themselves . It was a simple experiment, and although the battle wouldn’t be without risk entirely, Arran was certain that the outcome was already determined .

Snowcloud looked startled for a moment, but then, a thoughtful expression came over her face . “Does Stoneheart know about this?”

Arran shook his head . “He doesn’t, and he shouldn’t . He needs this battle to regain his confidence, and for that, he needs to believe he’s responsible for his own redemption . “

“If you’ve got it all figured out, why come to me for advice?” Snowcloud asked, now sounding slightly annoyed .

“I’m not worried about the battle,” Arran said, “but I am worried about the Sixth Valley . I don’t understand the conflict well enough to know if this will bind me to the Soaring Sun, or earn me enemies among the other factions . “

At once, understanding dawned on Snowcloud’s face, and for several minutes she went silent as she considered the matter .

“It won’t,” she said eventually . “Not unless you get directly involved in the conflict . Outsiders who attack Society members are enemies to all, and killing them won’t be seen as allying yourself with a faction . “

“What if one of the other factions sent the army?” Arran asked, finally getting to his most important question .

“Then they’re traitors to the Society,” Snowcloud said, almost seeming angry at the suggestion . “And they’re your enemies regardless of faction . ” She shook her head, then continued in a softer tone, “But I don’t believe any of them would go that far . Fighting each other is one thing, but helping outsiders kill Society members is something else entirely . “

She spoke with a confidence that Arran did not share, but it seemed clear that at least superficially, battling the army wouldn’t put him in the Soaring Sun camp . While that was less certainty than he wanted, it would have to do .

If anyone within the Sixth Valley was behind it, it would be a well-kept secret, even to their own faction . And if he put an end to the army, it could not be considered an attack on any of the factions .

“Then I’ll fight,” he said .

Snowcloud’s face fell as she realized that she had convinced Arran to go through with the plan . “Are you sure? You can get your strength back with a few months of Body Refinement… you don’t need to do this . “

Arran nodded . “I’ve decided . “

Snowcloud spent some more time trying to change his mind, but her efforts were in vain .

In truth, he wanted the power the battle would bring him, and the only thing that held him back was the possibility that it would be seen as a declaration for the Soaring Sun faction . Now that he knew that wasn’t the case, his mind was made up .

After he left Snowcloud, he headed for Tuya’s quarters . There was one more issue he needed to take care of — an important one .

When Tuya opened her door, Arran was momentarily left speechless . While her sleepy face suggested he had interrupted her rest, his eyes were immediately drawn to her body, which was only barely covered by an outrageously small set of underwear .

“Not the midnight visit I was expecting,” she said as she waved him inside, sounding amused at his embarrassment . “But I suppose I could do worse . “

“I need armor,” Arran said, trying his hardest to ignore her attempts to tease him . He was only partly successful, and he could feel his cheeks flushing .

“Do I look like a blacksmith?” she asked in a bemused tone, making no attempt to cover her body .

“I’ll pay,” he replied, trying very hard to keep his eyes on her face . “In Essence Crystals . “

At the mention of Essence Crystals, her eyes instantly lit up . “I suppose I could find something,” she said . “Although I doubt I can get anything better than that black coat of yours . “

“I’m not looking to replace that,” Arran said . “What I need are gauntlets, a helmet, a gorget, greaves…” It took him some time to list everything he needed, and by the time he finished, Tuya was the one whose eyes were wide with astonishment .

“Where the hell am I supposed to find all that?!” she asked, looking at Arran as if he had gone mad .

“I don’t know,” Arran replied with a shrug . “But if you can find all of it by morning, I’ll give you a hundred Essence Crystals . “

“A hundred?” She narrowed her eyes, then nodded slowly . “I suppose I might be able to find something…”