67
Kora
Aerion’s organisation board finally came in handy as he hollered orders from the ballroom. Those who had time changed into battle leathers and armour, those who didn’t charged from the castle, down towards the city to defend it.
“Keep my brother alive.” Skylar grabbed Kora’s arm, her estoc sword sheathed at her side as she attached a round silver shield to her back.
She’d hastily braided her hair, wild wisps of platinum flying around her, and she tested the wings of her flight suit.
“Don’t separate. You’re stronger together. I see that now.”
Then she ran, a unit of mercenaries following in their armour that reminded Kora of the aurora lights above the Horrow Mountains. John and Circe briefly stopped by, their ire ignited as they followed Skylar. Her beloved Skytor leaders. Kora prayed Conan was safe within the castle.
Droves of soldiers lined the front of the castle, marching in uniform to the city. Skylar’s gift of projection meant she could organise masses of soldiers from a single whisper.
And meant she would lead the front.
There was no time. Aerion’s orders were swift and strong as he sent their army out.
“We need to set up a clear path for citizens to Skybell.” Aerion pointed to his map as another cannon boomed. There had to be dozens of ships to cause this much damage. Crystal pieces from chandeliers smashed onto floors, windows cracked, and chunks of opal and moonstone rained down outside.
“Take the forest route to the mountains,” Raiden replied, various swords and daggers smothering his body. “They’ll be safer away from the ocean. Use the walkways between trees to deter enemies.”
“I’ll guide them,” Zephyr appeared. Guilt lined his face, his aged skin hardening with each passing moment. “I won’t lose my people a second time.”
Everyone paused. “Sire, you need to be protected,” a lone guard spoke up.
“My arrogance has caused this. I was blind to believe the Mist could protect us forever. That our island was safer alone.” Zephyr inhaled sharply. “If the Mist has weakened, then it means I’m weakening. It’s finally time.”
Raiden jerked. “What are you saying?”
“He created the Mist,” Kora summarised, and Zephyr nodded, his stare flashing at her presence and insight. He may have admitted his ignorance and fault, but he still clearly hated her. “Barron said it came from within. I was never sure who.”
“What?” Aerion gasped, and Aryn’s lips curled as he folded his arms.
“You trapped us?” Raiden growled. “You kept us in the darkness. In the cold. People died in the Mist! We could’ve . . . I could’ve—”
“I couldn’t control it.” Zephyr raised his hands, steaming wafting from his skin.
Now seeing it, Kora chastised herself for not realising sooner.
“It’s impulsive, old magic. A panicked, primal reaction to Barron’s attack.
It took nearly everything I had, as soon as Davy was taken, our forces weakening.
I had no idea what it was when it happened. It just . . . appeared.”
“You ruined our lives for ten years!” Raiden yelled.
“I saved you all for ten years,” Zephyr answered, backing out slowly. “Now it’s your turn. Aerion, we need your magic to defend the people. Set up a perimeter, I’ll do what I can to get them out. I’ll take Altha and most of the healers. Miss Silvermaid has volunteered to stay behind.”
Silvermaid.
Kora teetered on the spot, her stare whipping around the room. Flashes of Agatha rippled between bodies, her steely presence a knife in the heart. Where was she? How was this happening?
Sirona stepped forward from behind Zephyr, bobbing her head. She’d scraped back her wild mass of hair and pushed the sleeves of her white shirt up to her elbows. A belt lined her thick hips, an assortment of vials and herbs dangling from it, along with a pouch of gauze and bandages.
“Send any casualties to me that can’t make it to the mountains. We’ll be safe underground in the infirmary.”
Kora gasped, and Raiden glanced at her curiously.
“How . . .” Kora’s voice died, unable to make a sound as everyone conferred with Sirona. She cast a strange look at Kora, her dark eyes sliding to Raiden and back, before exiting the ballroom, tugging a couple guards in tow for protection.
Sirona Silvermaid.
How was she related to Agatha? Had they known each other? Kora stepped forward, wanting to follow her, wanting to ask her a thousand questions, but Zephyr’s whipping tone barking orders was like a bucket of cold water.
She couldn’t chase after Sirona, not now. Not when—boom—it was raining cannons.
Aerion nodded once in response to Zephyr’s continuous orders, his curls bouncing over the red strap across his forehead. Zephyr gathered a unit of soldiers, instructing a directional path akin to the one Kora had taken with Raiden to the mountains.
“If you don’t make it, fly them up to the pass,” Raiden snapped, his ire barely contained. “Protect Haizea’s rift. We think Barron might be targeting it.”
Zephyr paused, glancing at his sons briefly. He aged in that moment, his extreme demeanour crumbling, his eyes glistening with sorrow.
“Lead them into the future,” Zephyr spoke softly. “Do not let him win. For Ilma, Iris, and the island.”
“Zephyr,” Erick limped from the foyer, his infirmary gown swapped for armour of dark steel. “I need to speak to you before you leave.”
The king nodded, and Kora’s eyes narrowed as the two males left the space, their voices hushed. It was never good when Erick wanted a private chat. But Raiden’s pain kept her rooted to his side, the need to protect him from his father’s wrath hazing her mind. Plus, the shock of Sirona’s identity.
Who was she?
She cricked her neck, followed by rolling her shoulders. Every muscle was tense, every fibre cold with dread.
“He’s right.” Aerion drew a line across the map, before the promenade. “I’ll protect the land for as long as possible.”
“Your magic can’t sustain that much for that long,” Aryn argued. “You’ll be in the firing line. You could die!”
Aerion took his hand. “I’m heir apparent. Protecting my people and their survival means everything. Without Galen, Devania falls.”
Aryn blinked, gold appearing and fading repeatedly as he gripped Aerion’s hand tightly. “I will protect your back.”
Aerion glanced at Kora, an edge of despair lined in his stare. Aryn was bonded to protect her, and in that instance, she wished she could gift them the bond. To release Aryn.
“We’ll find Barron,” Raiden decided. “He’ll be coming for Kora. He won’t expect us to find him first.”
“He’ll stay on his ship.” Kora stepped forward, pushing her curiosity about Sirona to the back of her mind. “He always watches the battle unfold. Let me command a ship.” Everyone agreed without hesitation. “I’ll take out as many ships as I can until I find him.”
“Pirates will help,” Hector announced from the corner of the room. “This is our home, too. We won’t see it fall.”
Her breath caught. Teaming up with the pirates. How much had her world turned?
“Weapon up as well,” Aerion replied. “His soldiers deflect magic. My barrier won’t hold them for long. Our best strategy is true combat.” Kora glanced at Raiden, sharp weapons glinting at every curve of muscle.
“We can use our magic to help civilians instead,” Kora said. “Before we reach the shore, we can transport them to Zephyr, then he can get them out.”
Boom. The castle rocked, dirt spraying up against the windows. They were getting closer.
“You all better survive this.” Aerion’s eyes welled as he looked at them individually.
Love consumed him as he cupped Aryn’s cheek, followed by patting Raiden’s shoulder. He nodded at Kora, before bowing slightly to Hector. The pirate lord’s eye widened, and he bowed in return, in respect. Raiden exhaled, clutching Kora’s hand as they all muttered their final prayers to the gods.
For Galen. For Devania.
“You need to stay here!” Kora begged Erick as he stormed from the castle, down the hill with the army. Their marching steps aligned, the vibrations of their pinkish-orange armour drowning out the screams of the city.
“I abandoned this land once. I won’t do it again.” Erick unsheathed a sword. “I owe my life to this cause.”
“You’re not strong enough,” she pleaded, keeping pace with him. “Where did you even get this armour?”
“I’m fine, don’t worry about me. This armour was mine from my time here,” Erick replied quickly. “Aryn found a box of my things hidden in an abandoned room.”
A small smile played with his lips as his fingers brushed the dark vambraces. His limp lessened, and the closer they advanced to the city, the harder his face became, his strength improving. He rubbed his chest, taking a deep breath.
“Please!” Kora yelled, grabbing his arm. Erick jerked at her strength as she hauled him off the descending path between a line of sugar pines. The sun was high in the sky, with a wave of dark, stormy clouds inbound from the north. “Don’t do this. I can’t lose you again!”
Erick paused. He’d tied back his hair, exposing his gaunt face. Death’s door was still near, and fear gripped her neck like a vice. An icy claw, burrowing its way to her spine, freezing her in place. He smiled gently, and lightly touched the ends of her hair.
“I love you, Kora.”
“Don’t,” her voice wobbled. “Do not say goodbye to me.”
“It’s not goodbye. It’s saying the things I should’ve always said.
” Erick placed a kiss on her forehead, the touch searing her with warmth, her heart thudding at the affection.
In their ten years, Erick had never once kissed her.
“Once we get through this, find Davy. Get a witch who will help you, and head to the Black Abyss.”
“You’re my father,” Kora cried, her barely contained tears spilling. This wasn’t happening. This couldn’t be happening. “You sound like you think you won’t survive.”
“If I do, then it would be a gods-blessed miracle.” Erick’s smile faded.
“I could hear you when I was in that coma. Kora, you don’t need me to tell you what to do anymore.
You don’t need me anymore. It breaks my heart, but I’m always going to be there for you.
You’re already strong as you are. Remember everything I taught you. ”
But . . . she did need him. If not for guidance, she needed Erick in her life.
She needed his kind eyes, his warmth that broke through the days of bitter storms, and the numbness of heartbreak.
She had collected so many shining lights, and Erick was one of the brightest. Even now, looking at him, he was a natural leader, a warrior, and a protector.
He was her father. And he’d shepherded her through her darkest days, the nights of gut-wrenching agony as she healed from her abduction. He’d listened to her woes, had soothed her after her nightmares. He’d clothed and fed her, had loved her in his own way.
“You mean what I taught you,” she bitterly laughed, recalling Skylar’s comments on her predictable moves.
“Part of me always hoped you would remember during your training,” Erick inhaled sharply.
“I tried so hard to replicate anything I could. To trigger your memories, but I accepted a few years in that you were you, as you are now. And I didn’t want it to change.
That I actually adored you and wanted to protect you. ”
He embraced her, his arms surprisingly strong and tight after weeks in a coma, before releasing Kora. She inhaled the scent of home, of lemon and mint, of straw dummies and tarnished weapons.
Just like Galen, and Raiden, Erick was home.
“I’ll see you on the other side.”