Chapter 46 Dawn
Dawn
Rionan ran along the rampart, not attempting to hide his sobs, and cast his eyes around for any sign of her.
He tried to ignore the burn marks on the stone, where lightning had been striking.
He tried to ignore the patch of blood beneath his feet.
He ran until he reached the turret, grief overtaking all of his thoughts, as he peered down into the courtyard beneath him.
At first, he saw Thallax. His general was covered in dirt, in blood that may or may not have been his own. His eyes were wide as he stared at something Rionan could not quite see.
Rionan gulped, stepping forward to the edge of the turret, and he fought to keep his composure above his men, who were now slowly gathering around the courtyard itself.
Rionan looked down at the Well.
Suspended above it, being cradled by a power that he had not cast out into the world, was Alianna.
Rionan nearly choked on his grief at the sight of her unmoving body. Her arms were draped behind her, back arched as if she was being held by an unseen force. Her head was tipped backwards, her hair flowing behind her, gently moving like it was being kissed by a soft wind.
The sun had broken into the sky, which was bright with colour. The promise of a new age of peace in Xanthia.
The dawn light illuminated Alianna’s body, where she seemed to float in the air above Rionan’s Well. The power within was now of that same iridescent light that he continued to shine with, replacing the yellow he had grown accustomed to seeing.
Alianna looked uninjured. Unharmed.
But she did not move.
With his power glowing behind her, she looked as though she was being welcomed into the afterlife.
He searched his chest for anything she may have been feeling, any flicker of emotion within her.
He found nothing.