Chapter 40
Allie
“No. Half of the warriors come with us, half stay in the city, and that’s final.” I marched down the steps, counting the arrows in my quiver. Forty-seven. Hopefully forty-seven efficient strikes.
I didn’t kid myself that they’d remain untouched. I knew we’d find danger at the edge of the crater–even if I seemed to be the only one who believed it.
The crown hadn’t accepted me.
The crater had trapped me.
But I’d promised to protect this city. Any doubts had to burn away under the strain of duty, whether I was ready for it or not.
“Are the sleds ready?” I asked.
“Yes. But those are too many warriors to drag into troll territory based on a hunch.” Vylkor stalked after me, complaining as he’d done for the past half hour since I’d sounded the alarm. “The lookouts didn’t report anything.”
This was Evie’s first wedding all over again, my instincts dismissed and lessened. Only this time, I knew how to not relent.
“Then investigate your lookouts,” I said. “Or train them better.”
“But–”
I whirled around. “I am done arguing with you. Strap your sword to your back. Or stay in the city and guard it. But don’t get in my way.”
The veins on his forehead rose. “I have more experience in Solkar’s Reach than you. I’d know when an attack takes place.”
“Vylkor, I pray you’re right. Truly.” I turned around, racing toward the exit. “If I’m wrong, I’ll make sure to apologize in the town square, so everyone will know you tried to warn me. Now move.”
I pushed the doors open, only to be greeted by a ruckus of confused warriors and whining wolves.
“Who here knows how to drive a sled?” I called out, the knot in my stomach I tried so hard to ignore tightening painfully. “Show of hands.”
Out of the hundred warriors gathered in the night, less than half raised their hands; most with their weapons clutched tightly, as if that helped.
I swallowed my groan.
It would have to be enough.
“Get in position,” I said, wondering which one of them–if any–would offer to drive my sled.
Vylkor, as much as he was annoying me right now, was right.
Orders, I knew.
Facing this land was still a skill I had to perfect.
As I weaved through the sleds, the wolves began barking. I flinched, before I noticed they didn’t so much as sniff my way. I turned, only to see Nadya racing down the steps, giddy of all things.
“You’re staying home,” I called out.
Her face fell. Ever since Geryll and Ryker had left, whatever shaky control she had over her emotions was slipping. “But–”
I snapped my fingers and pointed at the fortress. “Now!”
As soon as she stomped off, the wolves quieted. It seemed that without Ryker here, they were back to their fanged ways.
Perhaps the wolves had accepted me as a leader when their humans refused to.
I sat down in the front sled. Dax squeezed next to me, face set in stone. No jokes, no mask, just armed and ready.
Or so I thought.
He grimaced. “Are we going to blow this thing to get it to move or–”
The reins tightened and snapped between us. I looked up, only to see Vylkor’s scowling face above me.
He didn’t like that I was leading in his stead–but he still respected the chain of command. And I could respect that.
I also wouldn’t say it out loud, but I was glad he was coming with us.
As I stared into the darkness waiting for us, I swallowed past the tightness in my throat.
What if Vylkor was right and–
I shook my head.
This wasn’t a time for wavering and hoping gods of old would protect us–or that the crater was as impenetrable as he was raised to believe his whole life.
Don’t doubt yourself.
As the last warriors settled into and on their own sleds, cramped and still unsure, I yanked my gloves out, my power already flaming inside of me. It flickered with uncertainty once more.
The crater could always yank them away or snap them, like it tried to before.
I had to take that risk.
“You shouldn’t,” Dax whispered. “You’ll be exhausted by the time we get there.”
“We have no choice,” I whispered back.
An incantation tumbled past my lips, reaching out for the wind, the snow, the trees, anything to guide us faster.
The ground glowed blue, no purple light rising up to fight it.
The wolves pawed at the snow.
The warriors murmured, frightened.
I heaved a sigh of relief, the only show of weakness I would allow myself. All these souls rested on my shoulders now.
I truly hoped I was wrong. That I wasn’t leading them toward death.
But I didn’t have the luxury of second guessing myself.
“March!”