“The irony,” Emil drawled quietly, “is painful.”
“You know why they don’t walk in the sun,” I said, doubting that the Commanders of the Rises were unaware of exactly what they protected. Forsyth’s head tilted back, and I picked up the faint trace of something sour. Guilt? I seized on that. “But it’s you who is out here. You and your guards—protecting the people. Those who wish to leave the city, by the sound of it. The reason shouldn’t matter, should it? They should be allowed to leave.”
“Both you and I know that’s not the case, Harbinger,” the commander replied, and I sucked in a sharp breath as Emil’s gaze cut to me. “Yeah, like I said, I know exactly what you are. The Harbinger, Bringer of Death and Destruction. Some of these people may have been convinced otherwise, but I know better. Many of us do.”
Dear gods. If the people of Oak Ambler—of Solis—had been told about the prophecy… I couldn’t allow myself to think of the ramifications at the moment. “You believe in prophecies?”
“I believe in what I know. You already attacked us once,” Forsyth said. “You are no savior.”
In the back of my mind, I knew there would be no reasoning with him. That there may not be any reasoning for any who believed I was the Harbinger. But I still had to try. “No harm will come to those who wish to leave. Abandon the Rise,” I ordered, while silently begging that they listened to me. “Open the gates and allow the people to choose what they want—”
“Or what? If you could take down the gates, you would’ve already,” the commander barked. “There’s nothing that can take down these gates.” He turned away.
Feeling Emil’s and Kieran’s gazes on me, I looked at the archers, saw that many exchanged nervous glances, but no one moved. I could already feel those marks cutting into my skin. My heart hurt for what was to come.
“So be it,” I said, letting my will swell inside me.
A distant rumble answered, echoing with the wind.
Chapter 14
Commander Forsyth stopped as a flock of birds suddenly scattered into the sky, then turned slowly. All along the Rise, guards quieted, looking up as a shadow glided over the pines. Shouts of alarm rang out as the draken broke through the tree line, becoming visible.
With scales the color of ash, Nithe was roughly the size of Setti, a little bigger than the steed. He extended wings the shade of midnight, slowing his descent. A deep roar came from him, like a crack of thunder, sending the guards and the commander into a frenzied retreat.
“Too late for that,” Emil murmured.
I didn’t look away.
I wanted to.
But I made myself watch the end result of my will.
A funnel of fire and energy turned the world bright as Nithe swept forward, striking the air above the battlement. For a moment, the commander and the guards were merely twisting, writhing shadows. And then, when the flames receded, they were nothing.
Nithe rose, arcing swiftly as a much larger shadow fell upon us. Reaver dipped low, a third draken following, its greenish-brown body almost as large as Reaver’s. Aurelia flew down the length of the wall, releasing a stream of fire above the Rise, catching the guards before they had a chance to reach any of the stairs. Shouts rose. Screams. I didn’t look away.
Reaver landed before us, his impact causing our horses to take several steps back. He stretched out his neck, releasing a burst of fire that struck the gates. Heat blew back at us as a wall of silver flames swept over the iron and limestone. Reaver moved, stretching his wings as he continued pouring fire upon the gates.
Then the flames waned. Reaver swept his wings back as he lifted into the air, revealing only scorched earth where the gates had once stood.
My gaze fixed on the smoke-filled opening as the draken landed on the Rise, their thick talons digging into the stone as they stared into the city beyond. There was quiet now. No screams. No shouts.
Then horns sounded from the city’s Citadel, the blare shocking in the utter silence. Reaver’s head whipped in the direction, but he waited. So did Nithe and Aurelia. Because we waited.
“Through the smoke,” Kieran said. “Ready yourselves.”
Heart thumping, I reached for the sword at my hip as several shapes appeared in the smoke, but Aurelia let out a soft trill. I halted. Whatever that sound was, it was gentle, not one of warning.
“Hold,” I said, searching the smoke as it slowly lifted, revealing… “Gods.” My breath snagged in my chest as the crowd beyond the gates, within the smoke, was revealed. “Thousands,” I whispered, my throat thickening as tears pricked my eyes. I knew I shouldn’t be so emotional. Now was not the time, but I couldn’t help it.