Chapter 44 #4
Her magic rippled over the field. Every mind that had not been lost to Ophiucae jerked to a stop and swiveled for the forest, while Diem raised roots and rocks to keep the Sophosians from following.
When I walked beyond the tree line, my mind again became my own.
I shoved Stuart away and bolted toward Diem, but the moment I stepped into the clearing, her Umbros magic forced me back into the woods.
My stubborn fury succumbed to tortured acceptance.
I could not save my Queen from her heartbreak, and I could not save these people from their doom.
I raised my palms, and I did the only thing I could—I helped her prepare the lambs for slaughter.
I crafted a vision on the opposite side of the clearing: an army that looked exactly like ours.
Its sloppy, amorphous lines would never convince a close observer, but Ophiucae’s puppets were easily fooled.
Most of them turned to wage war on my phantom legion, while the rest wandered in circles, unable to decide which foe they were meant to fight.
When Alixe reached the forest and jolted back into her mind, it didn’t take her long to understand. With a grave stare, she silently lifted her hands and began to help.
Soon, others joined. Those trained in illusions lent their magic to mine, while Alixe raised a veil over the forest to mask us from sight. Others shielded our fleeing army until everyone was safely shrouded in the trees.
At last, there was no one left but Diem and the wretched, unlucky souls from the Realm of Thought and Spark. They milled about like ants, clumsily swinging fists and weapons. At the center of the swarm, Diem stood untouched.
Alone.
Her head bowed, lips moving with words I couldn’t hear.
Auralie Bellator walked to the forest’s edge, lifted her chin, and spoke. Cordellia joined at her side, then more of the Guardians stepped forward, forming a long, unbroken wall as their voices carried across the field:
“End be your time, a trade in kind,
a life well-lived for peace to find.
Be not afraid, as shadows fade,
all pain and woe shall be unmade.
Now fate well-sealed shall be revealed,
for those whose worthy souls shall yield.
In love and calm, this holy psalm,
shall guide your soul to realm beyond.”
The mortals’ Rite of Endings.
When the last word echoed through the leaves, Diem’s trembling hand rose, upturned, and a spark of crackling pink energy fluttered toward the clouds.
“May the Blessed Kindred welcome them home,” I said loudly. I held out my hand and let a wisp of shadow curl around my palm before swirling into mist. Light glimmered through the trees as a scattering of magic from across the realms joined mine in offering.
Beside me, Alixe lifted her voice. “Archers, ready.”
“What are you doing?” I asked her.
“If our Queen must carry this burden, so will we.” Her chin rose. “Attack.”
Bowstrings hummed. The field was unnervingly quiet as arrows bounced off shields—quiet enough that I heard Diem’s quick intake of breath when other arrows hit their marks and Sophosians began to fall.
Alixe sent up a signal, and another round of arrows flew from the trees at Diem’s back. More bodies thumped to the ground.
I turned my hand toward the clearing and sent out a spear of light. It soared into the horde of living dead, shattering a gleaming shield before piercing someone’s skull. The Descended in Diem’s army followed suit, unleashing their power and taking life after life.
In the magic-laden air, with corpses mounting at her feet, Diem raised her eyes to mine.
There was nothing I could do. No words would ease this horror, and no embrace would dull the pain. Knowing that she had no choice would not keep this day from haunting her forever.
I laid my hand atop my heart.
A single tear spilled down her cheek.
And the field went up in flames.
The blaze burned so wide, so hot, so bright, the others shaded their faces and backed away. I forced myself to hold, forced my skin to endure the sting and my eyes to stay open as witness, letting it brand a permanent place in my memory.
And I alone watched as a silhouette took shape at the center of the fire.
Around her, orange flames shimmered into silver.
Her magic pulsed, and the world went so white that even I could no longer stare into its glow.
Just before my eyes finally broke from my Queen, a flash of red appeared beside her.
She burned for hours.
Though her magic did its awful work in seconds, Diem burned and burned as her aura dwindled. Even when there was nothing left across Mort-Feu Pass besides glowing embers and scattered flames, she let the magic pour out of her until no trace of it remained.
When she had nothing left to give, she rose to her feet. Her clothing was unburnt, her golden scabbard unmelted by the blaze. Only her face had changed.
Instead of sorrow, her eyes were dark with depthless rage.
She marched across the pass, her boots crunching over a rocky field of glittering black. When she reached us, she paused for only a second to issue Alixe a quiet, sharp command.
“Here’s your godstone. Make it count.”