Chapter 28
VALANCE
I summoned my magic, drawing on the snow and ice and rocks to become an enormous barrier around the palace, spreading outward to protect as much of the encampments and the city as I could.
No death here. Remember that…
The iron fire crackled on its approach, its shimmering, coppery green heatwaves blurring the sky around it.
I created separate protection for Kormac, trapping him inside a cocoon of magical snow.
“Valance!”
“I’ll fix this!” I yelled back at him.
Breaking off another piece of magic, I sent an icy storm to meet the metallic fire. It hit, swallowing the destructive force. A mighty hiss, a pop, the crackling intensifying. The iron broke through my storm, larger, hissing with steam.
“Fuck!” I bellowed, sending another spinning storm into it.
Closer, closer. So much closer.
You can heal the victims…
That might be the truth, but I would rather not spend my magic on such a task yet.
My fault. I brought this to my army, to this place. I should have stayed away, waited until the march. Not goad the enemy with bodies and Aeveen, killing Lasair.
I tried an enchantment, an attempt to turn the deadly thing away.
It failed. The blazing iron resisted me, sent waves of pain into my chest. Even my power wasn’t strong enough against the might of this iron fire.
Closer. Closer.
I braced myself, pouring as much magic into my protection as I could.
They will live…
Would they?
A brilliant explosion of light, the ground trembling as if braced for the impact, a chorus of panic tearing its way to my ears.
The weapon struck.