“What do you think?” Kendra asked. “Any ideas?”
“I like yours. The one about getting them ashore by using a distraction and all of us heading south, with your dragon protecting our backs.”
“How do we get them safely ashore?”
“I haven’t figured that out. Otherwise, it’s a good plan.”
We remained prone behind our bushes and watched the camp wake up to greet the morning fog. As men emerged from the tents, I estimated there were only twenty, or so. But if the boat came into view, the messengers would ride and another forty, sixty, or a hundred would arrive. Twenty were few enough for us to perhaps defeat if we could make sure none escaped to bring others. That was only two-to-one odds—but even with that amusing slant, the fact remained that we’d only get one chance.
Kendra said, “They might have squads of twenty spaced out all along the shoreline, ten or twenty of them. There is no way to sneak ashore.”
That made my recent analysis worse. She might be right. Probably was. The lake was the last one on the river before entering the city of Dagger, so the troops hadn’t had to travel far from the city. For all we knew, there were five thousand troops along the north shore and another five along the south.
My mind kept returning to those soldiers directly in front of us. Assuming the squads posted on either side were at the limits of sight to each other, which seemed reasonable, if we could silence the twenty men in front of us long enough for the boat to slip ashore, we might succeed.
It was still early, the sun barely up. Wisps of mist hung in the low areas and out on the lake. It would burn off before long but for now, it concealed what might lie out there, which was the boat with our friends.
The anticipated nearby squads were out of sight, but not necessarily out of hearing. We had to capture twenty men, quickly and quietly. I told my sister my thoughts.
“It can’t be done,” she said with conviction.
I was not convinced. The only mage-quality magic I’d learned so far was to make a rainstorm. That might be our answer. The sound of pelting rain would drive the soldiers inside their tents, the rain and thunder would conceal stray noises from the boat, and it would conceal a boat rowing ashore from the eyes of the squads on either side of the storm.
“I have an idea,” I said.
I reached out with my mind. *Anna, are you awake?*
*Yes, I was going to contact you. We are getting tired of floating around in this boat and they are probably bringing more boats to attack us today, according to Will. We have to do something soon.*
*How close to the southern shore are you?*
*We can see the land, just barely. There is a lot of fog.*
*Talk to Will. If you see Kendra’s dragon above, you would know where to row, right where we are.*
*What about the army?*
*A rainstorm will hide you. Row as fast as possible directly into the storm when I tell you to and aim for where the dragon will be. Start now. Tell everyone what we’re planning and be ready to leap from the boat and run together into the desert the instant it is ashore. And do it quietly. Take as little as possible. We’ll meet you and show you the way.*
I turned to Kendra. “Call your dragon and have it circle above us. Small circles.”
Without questions or unnecessary conversation, her concentration focused elsewhere and when her eyes snapped back to look at me, she said, “It is nearby. Just a short while until it arrives.”
“Okay, here’s the plan. The boat will row for where the dragon is, so have it circle above us like a beacon. I am going to create a rainstorm to hide us and the noise they’re going to make. The storm will hide the boat and the other soldiers, at least most of them, will go inside their tents to stay dry. You and I have to quietly take care of any that do not. Since I’ll be holding the storm in place, that means you.”
She nodded. “Good so far. That will also keep the other soldiers up and down the lake from seeing or hearing us. Now, what about those below?”
“I don’t know. We have to figure that out.”
She scowled at me. Deservedly so. “What are our options?”
“The soldiers will go into their tents to get out of the storm. Most of them. I was thinking we could enter the tents one at a time and kill them.” My voice choked near the end.
“Could you do that? I mean, really. Neither of us can do that.”
“Probably not. But it is for the sake of our friends. What else can we do?”
Kendra gave it some thought, and a smile appeared. Not much, but enough to encourage me. She said, “What would happen if you spread the storm out along the coast to rain on this camp and as far to either side as possible? Instead of a circular storm, can you make it long and skinny?”
“I think so. Yes, I’m sure of it. I don’t know how far out it will go, but I can do it.”
She said, “Good. Now, what do you think will happen if my dragon lands on the beach like we talked about, but it lands in the center of the army camp and screams just before the boat arrives?”
I pictured men running from their tents in whatever direction was the quickest to get away. Some would end up in the water, others the desert, and all between. Kendra and I could handle any that came too near us. Will and his group would handle any others.
I said, “Our people will have to come ashore armed and ready to fight—and ready to rush into the desert as fast as possible. The army will regroup quickly and be after us.”
“The dragon will fly to a place right behind us and slow them down.”
“I need to inform Anna.”
“When are we going to do this?” She sounded anxious and out of breath.
“As soon as your dragon arrives.” I reached out to Anna. *How is the rowing? Adjust your direction as soon as you see the dragon.*
A moment passed. Then she said, *We’re on our way. What is the rest of the plan?*
*There will be a storm. It won’t be much to row through, but you won’t be able to talk to me. Row through it, it shouldn’t be far. Reach the shore and get out and run as a group away from the water. The dragon will protect your back, but you have to get as far away as fast as possible. And, oh yes, the dragon will land in an army camp on the beach and let out a few screams. Be ready to fight any soldiers coming your way.*
*How will we know where to go?*
*As I said, the dragon will direct you to find us on the beach,* I told her, keeping any sense of irritation from the communication. She was scared. I was scared. Repeating a little just made sure we understood each other. *Don’t bother to take but one water-bottle each. Take nothing that will slow you down.*
I looked at Kendra. Her eyes flicked to the sky and I knew the dragon had arrived. Mine went to the lake. A small dot had appeared. I said, “I need quiet to build a storm before they’re spotted.”
She took my proffered sword and nodded. If any of the soldiers came our way, she would use it to protect me. I couldn’t break concentration, or the storm would cease, and the entire plan fails. I said, “Just before the boat lands, have the dragon land in the middle of the camp.”
Without waiting for her to agree, I sat cross-legged and closed my eyes. To date, I’d only made very small rainstorms, lacking lightning and thunder. However, each time it got easier, even when filling the water jugs, it was like learning any other skill. If I had learned to play a song well on a lute, I could learn to play other songs, if not as well, and they would be recognizable.