Chapter 37 #2
“Shadows. I’ve got it,” he said again. Tristian scrunched his forehead. Danek cleared his throat. “Yes, High Commander. I can handle Baila.”
“Get the blade,” Tristian said. “Even if you cannot stop her, the blade is your duty now. Do you understand?”
Danek nodded, more carefully now. “Yes, sir.”
“Dismissed.”
—Kienna—
Dove Port’s many barricades had been filled. The only one available to get the rest of the civilians into was the one underneath the Great Hall. Kienna had to be quick to get Ash from his home across town and back into the center of the city if she wanted him safe from the war.
Moira insisted on helping, pulling the remaining people from their homes and urging them to the Great Hall.
The Elvish army flowed with grace next to the Dove Port soldiers.
They fell into their formations of battle, stationed around the entire city to protect against any breach that may occur.
Kienna and Moira turned the corner near the village markets.
Moira would take Ash to the Great Hall and stay with him.
Kienna planned to join Captain General Vellorin’s soldiers.
They’d need a formidable warrior with them when the Vorthakai and Umbrin finally crossed into the city.
The shock alone of seeing the undead would wipe out their first wave immediately if they weren’t prepared.
If she could stand with them, she’d ensure they were ready.
They stopped when Tristian and Tislin appeared around the corner. A scowl remained on Tristian’s face, and Tislin’s jaw was tight. “You’re done with the shadows,” Tristian sneered.
“If you want a fighting chance against these creatures, you’d do well to keep out of matters that aren’t yours,” Tislin said, the shadows dancing above his ankles.
Tristian scoffed. “You have so little faith in the army I’ve created?”
“Of course not.” Tislin’s voice growled like a rabid dog. “But your army will never be able to command in the shadows like I—”
“You serve the shadows, Tislin. Not the other way around. It would do you some good to remember that.”
Tislin’s jaw ticked. For once, he didn’t offer a clever reply. The shadows around him shifted, curling unnaturally across the cobblestone like smoke.
“What’s going on?” Moira asked, stepping in between them, her eyes falling to Tislin.
Kienna caught her glancing at his ankles, the black smoke still circling him. Even Kienna checked Tislin’s eyes to make sure they weren’t blackening. They held the same luster of gray and orange.
“You should be with the woodcarver,” Tristian said, his scowl shifting into something Kienna couldn’t quite read, but it looked almost like confusion. “Why are you still on the streets?”
“We were heading there. I needed Moira’s help, so she could take him—”
“You take him!”
Kienna stepped back, her heart nearly exploding in her chest from the outburst. Moira pulled on Tislin’s arm and backed him away from Tristian. Kienna’s fingers flexed near her side. The K on her thumb vibrated with an itch she couldn’t release.
War is stressful, Little Flame. Let it go.
“Come on, Moira,” Kienna said. She turned away and started down the path.
Moira’s hand brushed Tislin’s arm. Something flickered behind his gaze, pulling at him.
“Stay with me, my love,” she whispered and left with Kienna.
—Connak—
Tristian was losing his cool. Connak felt it.
They didn’t share the same connections, but it reverberated from Kienna.
Connak needed to diffuse the situation, or Tristian might not be at his best during the battle, and Tristian couldn’t afford to be distracted.
Otherwise, they would have to let Kienna fight.
It wouldn’t make a difference either way if she did. Not if Tristian would fall.
A woman crossed Connak’s path with her children.
Connak would regret this immediately, but he figured it would spark Kienna’s heart to where they needed her to go.
He conjured an image and placed it in the woman’s mind.
Her eyes grew wide, and she sprinted, calling for help.
Kienna reacted immediately. Her fear pushed out into the world.
Ruva! Make sure you find Ash!
Connak blinked twice to process whether he truly heard that in his mind or not. It would be something to test for later.
Kienna turned. “Moira, take these children. Let’s get them to the Great Hall.”
Moira scooped up the smallest child and hurried after Kienna and the woman.
Kienna reached back, clasping one of the woman’s hands and her other child’s, pulling them through the chaos of the street.
Tristian released a breath and followed.
He’d need backup to finish the rest. Connak sprinted to find Petyr.
He would give the command to keep Kienna in place.
—Kienna—
Kienna marched from the Great Hall into the barracks.
Voices boomed through the room as people were frantically trying to find each other and make sense of what was about to come.
Kienna helped the woman into the room with Moira, stepping over logs that were meant to keep the door shut after they closed it.
The woman thanked her and Moira, then went in.
The thick, musty scent of wet stone clung to Kienna.
The walls sweat and trickled slow rivulets toward the uneven floor.
Torches flickered along the walls, flames casting long, shivering shadows and illuminating the anxious faces of those huddled together.
Kienna turned to Moira, glad to see her already settling in next to Elowen.
Her eyes softened. They gave each other a valiant nod, and then Kienna turned.
Tristian stood outside the door with Petyr behind him on the stairs and Connak a few steps behind them.
Kienna startled at the sight of them, yet she persisted forward. “We need to close this one. I think we’ve accounted for everyone.”
“You go, too, princess,” Tristian said, his voice clipped.
“Don’t call me that,” Kienna gritted through her teeth.
“Apologies.” Tristian bowed. “You, too, Kalyra.”
Kienna twitched. “Not that either.”
Tristian hardened, his brow faltering. He gestured for her to continue down the tunnel.
“I’m going to fight,” Kienna scoffed.
“No,” Tristian snapped and dragged her toward the barricade.
Kienna lit her hands and pressed them against his, the heat searing his skin.
He winced but held tight. “I don’t trust you!”
Kienna stumbled backward with the metaphorical dagger he plunged into her chest. After everything, even now? She pursed her lips together. Her eyes cut to Petyr. “I fight for Dove Port, High Commander. I am under the charge of Captain General Vellorin. I don’t take charge from you.”
“He’s right,” Petyr said, his hand nearing his hilt. “I am charging you to the barricades.”
Her breath caught. What the fuck was happening?
“You’re kidding?” Kienna scanned their faces.
They didn’t have time to argue about this.
She glanced at Connak. He looked away, the coward.
Her mind pushed toward his, but he wouldn’t answer.
“Please!” Kienna begged. “These are my people. I need to fight for them.”
Silence rang, thick and deafening. No one dared to answer her.
They didn’t move from her path either. The battle alarms of Vaerin’s army boomed in the distance.
They were close. Kienna motioned to go again, yet Tristian remained firm.
“Connak, go brief my commanders. They know their charge. Make sure the Captain General’s soldiers are protected. ”
Connak hesitated, almost meeting Kienna’s eye, and then he turned and sprinted up the stairs.
“Let’s go, Kienna,” Petyr said, inching away from the steps to help Tristian block her.
“Why are you doing this?” Kienna asked, searching Tristian’s face for an answer. Hot tears flooded behind her eyes. She refused to let them go. She wouldn’t give them the satisfaction.
“Vaerin’s army is marching here. Your uncle’s army. Led by your cousin,” Petyr answered. “Our armies cannot take the risk. It’s no wonder you wouldn’t present your surname to me when we first met.”
“What does it matter? We’re wasting time,” Kienna said, pushing her hands between them to move them out of her way.
Tristian gripped her wrist. “Stop being ignorant, Kienna. We’re fighting this war because of you. For once, do what you’re told and stop hindering what we’re trying to do. If you want to be helpful, then stay here.”
He turned from her. “Petyr, if you will, please.”
The High Commander stormed up the stairs and around the winding path. Kienna briefly met Petyr’s gaze, then resolved to let him guide her into the barricades before closing the door. Dust shook to the floor as he sealed it shut, reminding those in the room to seal it from the inside before leaving.
Kienna’s nostrils flared, her skin burning hot.
She hoped they would succeed, or she’d never be able to contain the fire within herself.