“It would end badly,” Kat told him. “Tyre is heavily defended. There’s no way we can take and hold the high orbitals without losing much of our fleet. We would have to lay siege to the planet, which would give them time to recall their fleets to dislodge us.”
Earl Antony glared. “So you’re saying it’s hopeless?”
“No,” Kat said. “I’m just pointing out that we have to lay the groundwork properly before we gamble everything on one throw of the dice. We have a great deal of work to do before we can launch any offensive.”
“Indeed,” the king said. His voice was very calm. “What do you have in mind?”
“I have half an idea,” Kat said. She did, although she knew she would have to consider the strategy carefully before she took it to the king. “But our first priority has to be to ready the fleet.”
“And call for others to rally to our banner,” Lord Snow said. “We might have more allies than we think. We’ve already had a couple of ships report for duty, after their crews rose up in the king’s name. There will be others.”
“Yeah,” Earl Antony said. “And how many of them will turn out to be fair-weather friends?”
The Lion and the Unicorn Page 42