Chapter 1240: Adjusting Plans

Baron Loghlan Dunn and Baron Tybal Aleese.

The lords Ashlynn named were hardly random, and the people gathered around the table were clever enough to realize that Ashlynn was seeking to somehow exploit the fact that she currently held Baron Aleese’s younger son, Rain, in the dungeons of the ancient fortress while she’d been making deals with Baron Dunn’s son and presumed heir, Liam.

They were two powerful levers that could be used to move two even more powerful men, but how she intended to use them was anyone’s guess.

"Baron Tybal Aleese arrived in Lothian City last night, along with his son, Reynold," Marcel answered smoothly. "If you need me to have a message slipped to him about the whereabouts of his son, Rain, I can manage that."

"I don’t know," Ashlynn said, pausing in thought as she tried to consider how Tybal Aleese would react to any message that she sent. Unfortunately, she barely knew the man. They’d only met once or twice during her previous visits to Lothian March, and what little she remembered of him from the night of her wedding feast was hardly useful right now.

"I might be able to come up with something by the time night falls, and you wake again," Ashlynn said after considering her options for a moment. Right now, since it was impossible to intercept the man short of his arrival in Lothian, she didn’t know how she could make use of Tybal’s captive son, if she could at all, so she set aside the idea and moved on to the next.

"What about Loghlan Dunn?" Ashlynn asked, setting aside thoughts of Rain Aleese and his father for now. "Since you mentioned that Baron Aleese is already in Lothian, is it safe to assume that Baron Dunn has yet to arrive?"

"Exactly so," Marcel said with a slight smile. "He’s already sent word ahead that he’ll be delayed in his arrival, so he can search for his missing son on their way to Lothian. He’s going to miss Owain’s hunting party tomorrow, and he doesn’t expect to arrive until the day before the ’Grand Ceremony.’"

"I see," Ashlynn said as a slight smile formed on her lips. "Since he’s come looking for Liam, I think we should give him a hand. Ollie," Ashlynn said, looking at her exhausted-looking Cypress Witch and softening her expression as she recognized how much anxiety had been tearing at him, too.

"Ollie, I hate to ask this of you when you should be getting some rest, but there’s no one else I can trust with this task," she said. "Heila, when we’re done here, get Ollie a dose of Essence of Sleep and ensure that he gets two hours of sleep while you make the rest of the preparations," she said, moving rapidly through the essential instructions.

Essence of Sleep was one of the most useful potions she’d learned to concoct while she studied with Amahle in the Briar. With it, the two hours of sleep she’d granted to Ollie would have the effect of a full night’s rest.

There were limits to how often it could be used. After a few days in a row, it began to lose its effect, requiring three or four hours of sleep to get the full benefit before it stopped working entirely. Ashlynn tried not to rely on it too often, but recently, there had been several occasions where she had too much to accomplish during the day to go without the helpful potion.

Now, it would be Ollie’s turn to benefit from her hard work over the summer to master the concoction, and Heila’s as well, since it was the Willow Witch who worked harder than anyone else to ensure that Ashlynn’s coven never ran out of potions they might consider to be ’essential supplies.’

"Ollie, once you’re rested, take Liam and the letter I’ve given him and go in search of his father," Ashlynn said. "Use as many scouts as you need, just tell Heila, and she’ll arrange for them while you rest. The important thing is that we have to learn if Baron Loghlan stands with us or not. If he stands with us, then I may need his help in the days to come."

"But if he stands against us," Ashlynn warned, as her emerald eyes grew hard. "Then I need you to help Liam subdue his father and their forces. That’s why it has to be you and not anyone else," she explained. "If I sent Daithi or one of the others, they could act as a messenger, but they lack the strength to respond if things go badly. You, however..."

"Even if there are knights, I can fight against them," Ollie said, his hand unconsciously dropping to the hilt of Frost Fang at his hip. "I don’t want to kill anyone if I don’t have to," he added. "But I’ve learned a lot from Virve since we raided the Summer Villa. You can count on me, Ashlynn."

"I’ll make sure he takes his medicine," Heila added with a light smile. "And I’ll get Lord Liam ready as well. Just leave things to your big sister, Ollie," she said, pointing at her chest with her thumb. "I’ll take care of everything you need while you sleep."

"Good," Ashlynn said, nodding as things began to fall into place. "Isabell," she said, turning to the Master Engineer. "Can you write a letter to Jocelynn for me? She can’t know the truth yet," Ashlynn said quickly, though she hated herself for doing it. It was just that some things could never be put on parchment or they might be read by the wrong people.

"You want me to encourage her to meet with Marcel’s people," Isabell said, predicting Ashlynn’s request. "To make use of the story he gave to Jean, that Marcel and I are working together to help her escape."

"That too," Ashlynn said, nodding at Isabell’s suggestion. "But I also want you to tell her to seek out Liam Dunn when he arrives in Lothian. I hope to have instructions for Liam soon," she said, realizing that dawn was getting close enough that the vampires would need to withdraw for the day. "But for now, it’s enough to get things in motion," she said as she stood, reaching out to take Nyrielle’s hand as she did.

"And what about you?" Thane asked gently as he stood along with her and Nyrielle. "What will you do during the day?"

"I’ve learned my lesson about rushing into things," Ashlynn said, trying to keep her tone light even as worry pressed down on her heart. "I’m going to spend the day with Nyri," she said, holding her lover close. "We can use the time together to make the rest of our plans."

"While she sleeps?" Virve said, raising her eyebrow in surprise. She’d stood guard over Nyrielle’s sleeping figure for years, and she knew how hard it had been on Nyrielle any time she tried to rouse hersel,f even a few minutes before the sunset, much less staying awake throughout the day.

"My darling and I have long been able to share our dreams, Virve," Nyrielle said lightly. "I’ll keep watch over her until the sun sets, and after that as well if needed," she promised the members of Ashlynn’s coven. "You can rest easy that she won’t try slipping off while I sleep," she added, teasing Ashlynn lightly as she wrapped her arms possessively around her lover.

"Thank you, everyone," Ashlynn said, blushing at the number of concerned gazes that were directed her way. "I know it won’t be easy, but I promise, Owain will not live to take the throne... and he won’t live long enough to hurt Jocey again either. One way or another, by winter solstice, his brief reign will end."