CHAPTER 151: VALDRIS UNDER SIEGE

Sara read the scout report and her blood ran cold.

The parchment trembled in her hands. The numbers couldn't be right. But the scout's seal was authentic. The handwriting steady despite what he must have witnessed.

Malachar's forces massing at the border. Not the army from before. Everything. Every soldier, every mage, every war machine from his conquered territories. Hundreds of thousands of men. Hundreds of siege weapons. Magic users beyond counting.

This wasn't an invasion.

It was annihilation.

The war room felt smaller than usual. Darker despite the torches burning in their sconces. Lord Hammond stood over the map table, his scarred face grim. Sister Korra hovered nearby, her white robes seeming less pure in the flickering light.

"We need to send ravens to every kingdom." Lord Hammond told Sister Korra. His finger traced the map. "Rosendale. The coastal cities. Even the eastern provinces. Everyone who fears Malachar must unite now."

Sister Korra nodded grimly. "The King has already drafted the messages. But will they come in time?"

Sara glanced across the room at Aldric.

He was studying the same reports. His face carefully neutral. Too neutral. The real Aldric would be panicking right now. Talking endlessly about the people and their needs. Pacing the room. Making dark jokes to hide his fear. Just like Marcus would have done.

This Aldric just observed.

She had been feeding him false information for weeks now. Incorrect troop numbers. Wrong defensive positions. If he was Malachar's spy, and Palwin's warning had convinced her he was, then the enemy would plan for a Valdris that didn't align with reality.

Still it was just a slight blow against Malachar. What they really needed was Marcus and his alleged device. And what she needed was the real Aldric. She had tried to get Temir to build the machine Marcus had instructed them about, but apparently the power source could only be done by Marcus himself.

"Aldric dear." Sara called sweetly. She kept her voice light. Casual. "Could you oversee the grain distribution today? The King decided to distribute to shops rather than using soldiers. And who knows all the shops in Drakmoor better than you?"

He smiled. Wrong. Aldric's real smile always started in his eyes. You could see the warmth building there before it reached his lips.

This one started nowhere.

"Of course, Sara. Did we get the grain shipment?"

"Yes. The Southern outer districts sent almost all of their supply."

"Aren't they going to starve?" Aldric asked.

"The kingdoms and empires we asked for help will supply them faster."

"Ohh I see. Good thinking." Aldric smiled again. Crooked. Empty.

"Yeah I saw this tactic in Marcus's notes and asked the King about it in our meeting."

When he left the room Sister Korra moved closer. Her robes rustled against the stone floor.

"You're certain about him?"

"Palwin nearly killed herself telling me." Sara's jaw tightened. The memory of Palwin's pale face, her trembling voice, still haunted her. "I believe her."

She turned back to the map. All those red markers showing enemy positions. All those blue markers showing their own pitiful defenses.

"When Malachar attacks, his spy will report what I want him to report. And Malachar will walk into trap if we can set one."

"What do you have in mind?" Sister Korra asked.

Sara shrugged. Her shoulders felt heavy with the weight of everything. "I don't have any idea. I am not a spy or master planner. I am barely an engineer." She blurted out. Her voice cracked slightly.

Korra smiled gently. She reached out and patted Sara's shoulder. "Honey. You are one of the most remarkable and strong women I have ever met. Any other person in this situation would have gone mad already."

Sara's self-esteem returned a little. But she was obviously squinting, trying to say something.

"What is it Sara?"

"I had an idea but..."

"Say it please."

Sara took a breath. "Your sister Alice. Is she still in prison?"

Korra's face shifted. Pain passed through her eyes despite her efforts to maintain composure.

"She might know things. Ways to identify what we sent as false information. Or find weaknesses we've missed." Sara continued carefully. "Could you ask her?"

Korra was trying to protect her demeanor but the pain was passing through. Her jaw worked silently for a moment.

"I will try." She said finally. "Like you said she might help. My anger towards her should not get in the way."

They returned to studying the reports. Red ink marking death. Blue ink marking hope.

"By the way good thinking." Korra said after a long silence. "Telling Aldric about the Southern supply line. When most was actually coming from the north."

"Yeah I figured if he alerts them to cut the Southern supply line they will wait to attack convoys that will never come." Sara allowed herself a small smile. "Every hour they waste is an hour for our allies to arrive."

If they arrive, she thought but didn't say.

If Marcus comes back.

If any of this matters at all.

She pushed the dark thoughts away and focused on the map. There had to be something they were missing. Some advantage they hadn't seen.

Somewhere out there Marcus was working on a way home. She had to believe that.

She had to.