Please tell me they’re going to get to something good soon. Amil’s voice over the Echo was full of the same frustrated boredom that Pax saw growing by the minute on his friends’ faces.

  Mage Acker had spent most of the last hour reviewing a list of logistics, incoming recruits, outgoing recruits and a dry narration of the progress of all groups of said recruits. When Pax tried to catch the eye of Mage Lysander, the man had just raised his eyebrow and given him a look that seemed to ask what he’d expected a spot on the committee to be like.

  It was becoming increasingly obvious why they had taken so long to make any progress in integrating Pax and his new magics into the current program.

  Is this how they fight a battle? Bore the monsters so much they give up and fall to the ground dead? Dahni asked, making more than one of those listening over their Echoes have to stifle smirks.

  Of their group, only Incedis and Eldan kept stoic expressions as if leaders had subjected them to this kind of torture many times in the past and they’d built up a resistance. Titus, however, fidgeted in his chair so much that it squeaked in protest.

  All of their pets found places to squeeze in quick naps. Eris had moved to the perch on the back of a sturdy wooden chair and tucked her head under one wing. Astra joined her, buzzing wings still for the first time in a while.

  Pax knew all the logistics they were discussing were important. But he and his friends didn’t need to be there for it. He held his breath when Mage Acker finished with the tally of expected outgoing recruits and which cities the committee would send them to.

  Then the man glanced down at his list and moved on to information about food and equipment stores with expected contributions by hunters, supply trains and crafters.

  Pax had had enough. I’m interrupting. We don’t have time for all of us to sit here and listen to this.

  About time, Titus grumbled. You should have spoken up sooner.

  Pax ignored his brother’s complaint as he leaned into his Charisma and organized his thoughts into what was most important to address with the committee. When he saw Mage Acker glance at his list again, an idea occurred to Pax.

  With a smile, he pulled out the notebook he’d been writing his to-do list in. He cleared his throat in imitation of Mage Acker and made a show of glancing over his list and reading each item with an intent expression.

  Captain Langley and crew.

  Finances - Rin and Kurt.

  Wand of Sanctuary. Set schedule to share it.

  Report Glitterhive. Have Rin/Kurt negotiate our share. Can Tyrodon use anything for crafting?

  Workshop for Magesecond Fenix.

  Check in twice daily with altar and managers.

  Get base to full function, starting with power, then defenses. Clear out blockages and beasts in unexplored areas of the base to restore power and find the critical areas.

  Complete quest objectives: unlock minor magic, Taming, unlock friends’ secondary elements, critical areas, awaken littles. 1st step: organize mana in full body of a little.

  Negotiate spot on committee and improve rebellion’s plans.

  Unlock secondary elements. Give them to my crew and then Crissim. Involve Bryn, Tasar and Tyrodon for possible quest rewards. Team Tribal mages and rebel mages after that.

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  Power level my crew, Titus’ crew and Team Tribal.

  Explore new skills/spells as I get them.

  Heal Jane/Mama.

  Work on new runes with Tyrodon.

  Next Taming level for me and my crew and find traveling beasts for my crew.

  Pax felt a flush of satisfaction at all the things he’d crossed off, especially giving his crew mages their secondary elements and Awakening Jules. They were so close to gaining their first quest reward. And now he could cross off the task of gaining a spot on the committee.

  He kept his pride from his expression, instead forcing a look of deep concern to show. When he finished reading, Pax pushed his chair back and stood up, still holding his list in his hand. When Mage Acker noticed, he stopped mid-sentence and looked affronted at the interruption. But instead of calling Pax out about it, Acker looked to General Draven to fix it.

  Her brows raised as she looked at Pax. “Did you have something important enough to interrupt the accounting Mage Acker is doing?”

  “I do.” Pax nodded and motioned toward the list in his hand. “We came here expecting to find the committee making preparations to deal with the news that the empire has fielded its full army to wipe out the cities we’ve fought hard to take.”

  “That’s exactly what we’re doing.” Mage Acker seemed to find his courage. “Without knowing what resources we have, which ones we need and where we can source more from, we can’t make effective decisions. And any mistake with troop deployments and logistics could lose the war for us.”

  He turned to look at General Draven and Mage Lysander as he blew out a disgusted breath. “I respectfully object to your earlier decision. This hotheaded child is not someone we want or need on this committee.”

  Pax waited out the man’s complaint and leaned into his Charisma to keep a look of calm on his face. The last thing he wanted to do was confirm the man labeling him as hotheaded.

  When Acker stopped speaking, but before the two leaders could respond, Pax gave him an impatient look. “Mage Acker, are you finished?”

  Acker glanced his way, looking surprised that Pax would address him directly.

  “I wasn’t sure, as it seems you enjoy taking the greatest amount of time possible to get your point across.”

  Acker sucked in an offended breath, but then flushed when there were a few titters from other committee members. Even Draven seemed to suppress a smile while Lysander just laughed out loud.

  Pax took the win and looked over the rest of the committee, effectively dismissing Mage Acker. “I won’t argue that logistics aren’t important as any dunder knows that. I’d just argue that you can leave my friends and I out of that aspect of administration. Our strengths fall in an entirely unique area.”

  Amil snorted behind him, but Pax ignored it. Mage Acker and a few other frowning committee members looked mollified by his words, which had been the point.

  “As I’m sure all of you have learned in your own experience, using your people and tools as effectively as possible can make the difference between victory and defeat. We are valuable tools that are asking to be used. We’ve proven our abilities will significantly multiply the strengths of every member of the rebellion. My people and I can double our numbers with powerful Tamed companions. They’ll fight by our sides, scout out dangers and even help with crafting.” Pax motioned to where Scorch, Tyrodon’s cinder chimera with all his heads, draped happily over his shoulders.

  Paying attention to the reactions of various committee members, Pax decided they were much more receptive than a week ago. He suppressed an internal grin. Everything he and his friends had done over the last week had obviously had an impact.

  “We’ve already told you about the minor elements we can give to every rebel mage. And just this week, I’ve successfully helped three of the mages on my crew gain access to ice, lightning and nature as well as gaining a corresponding spell slot. There are spell scrolls for these secondary elements among the treasures we recovered from the student vault during our initial exploration, so they didn’t have to limit themselves to the default choices.”

  That revelation got a mixed reaction of both disbelief and excitement.

  Pax spoke over them. “Finally, just this morning, using my light magic skills along with the help of four of the mages you see with me and guided by the ancient managers of this base, we awakened one of the littles from my hometown. And no, we didn’t use an artifact.”

  The committee members erupted at the news. They spoke over each other, wanting to know more or denying the possibility of what he claimed.

  “Quiet!” Mage Lysander stood, holding up both hands.

  The objections trailed off.

  “We can easily verify what he is claiming, so give him a chance to explain. Save your questions for the end. I, for one, am very interested to hear it all.”

  When everyone quieted, Lysander took his seat again.

  “You’re correct.” Pax gave him a grateful nod before turning back to motion for Jules to come forward from the back of the crowd.

  She hesitated and then walked forward to stand next to him. At first, she seemed to wilt as all eyes focused on her. But then she straightened her shoulders and adopted the mulish expression that Pax knew had carried her through many trials.

  “This is Jules. Yesterday, she was an unawakened little. Today, she’s an earth mage.”

  That prompted another explosion that Pax and Jules weathered with pursed lips and stoic postures. Pax refused to back down until the council acknowledged what he and his friends brought to the rebellion and how critical it was to obtaining victory.

  They didn’t have time for any other result.

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