40. Tori

My cohort stood around me. Kaleos was on my left, and Raula and Noki had my back. We looked down from the top of the gate above the closed portcullis. Abraxas' wounds were still unhealed, his blood soaking the hastily placed wraps on his arms and legs. If the pain bothered him, he didn't let it show. His face was locked down with determination. I tried to mimic his resolve.

Mylegs shook, and my arm throbbed. I placed the two halves of my sword back into one. I wasn't as strong of a fighter, but I knew my left arm would give out if I kept dual wielding the blades.

Ishook my left arm violently, willing it to obey my commands, but I couldn't overcome the fatigue with will alone. Jun stood to my left, and I saw his eyes dart to the limb at the movement. His usual calm demeanor was replaced by an intensity that made my skin prickle. "They"re nearly here," I whispered, more to myself than to anyone else.

Thesun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of bruised purple and deep blues. The distant clash of metal sounded like the relentless drumming of fate, an ominous beat that heralded the opponent we had yet to best. Beside me, Abraxas stood like a statue, his jaw set, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. His eyes were fixed on the advancing GoldenArmy, their armor reflecting the last dying light of the day like a river of molten gold—an ironically beautiful sight.

Theyhadn't attempted to cross the bridge yet, taking the time to regroup before making the assault on the gates. "We will hold them off," Abraxas replied without looking at me, his voice a low rumble.

"For how long, YourMajesty?" Avlyn spoke behind us.

"Until none are left standing or until I no longer draw breath," he replied. My chest tightened. I tried to draw power from the earth, but it had nothing to give. It certainly wasn't enough for Abraxas to transform. It would be my sword I would need to rely on.

Thesound of armored footsteps sprung to life, and that great golden mass moved towards us. I heard hundreds of bow strings pull back from the parapet above.

"Loose!" a lieutenant on the wall called, and now our arrows were the ones to blot out the sun. TheGoldenArmy raised enormous shields overhead; our arrows bounced off the gleaming metal harmlessly. This is what they must have been waiting for.

Iheard Abraxas' grip on his sword tighten. I kept my sword at the ready but reached down our bond and gave a gentle squeeze. His eyes softened, and he returned it. On my left, Jun shifted.

"Jun, perhaps you should go back and join Pallas. It's not safe up—"

"You are out of magic, aren't you? You and Abraxas both."

Myeyebrows shot up. I nodded.

"I'm not."

"Jun, it's too dangerous. Please, stay with Pallas, keep her safe."

Helooked at me, and his face was unreadable, but he turned around and headed away from the front lines. I let out a long sigh of relief.

TheGoldenArmy had passed the midway point of the bridge, descending on us. Their shields continued to block any arrows that flew at them, and down the center of their ranks, they carried an enormous battering ram. Our portcullis was reinforced with iron, but it wouldn't last long against this. Their numbers had dwindled. If they broke through, we would likely be able to drive them back eventually, but at what cost? How many innocent lives would be lost before that happened?

Ifelt another tug at my heart, and I looked at Abraxas again.

"Until the world breaks, my love," I vowed. He gave me the smallest of grins.

"Together."

Archersfrom the back of the golden ranks let loose their arrows. We ducked behind the parapets. It was mostly a distraction, but one that could turn deadly quick. I ducked down behind the stone wall when my brother came up beside me again.

"Jun, get down!" I tried to grab him, but he moved out of my reach with methodical purpose. He stepped up onto the outer wall and I looked on with horror.

"Stop."It wasn't even loud, but his power resounded through the air as every arrow froze in place. I held my breath as they slowly clattered down. The army did not stop; the footfalls resonated through the arches of the bridge.

"Jun, what are you doing?"

Helooked down at me with shadowed eyes. "Trust me, Tori," he said with a strange command that held no magic but had me entranced, nonetheless. His eyes closed, and the gate below us shook as the ram made its first strike against the gate. His eyes flashed open, glowing a bright white and his voice carried an ancient power. It resonated around us, vibrating through the very air. "brEAK."

Jun"swords, strange and melodious, seemed to seep into the stone of the bridge itself. Cracks webbed across its surface, spreading like wildfire, and the entire structure shuddered under the weight of the charging soldiers.

Thebridge gave way with a roar that drowned out the cries of the GoldenArmy. Stone, metal, and men fell into the river below, a horrifying descent that ended in silence far beneath us. Many were crushed beneath the falling debris; many others were dragged under the water by the weight of their armor. A few souls managed to float or find dry refuge when tendrils of water rose up behind them, forcing its way into their mouths and lungs and pulling them under the surface. I turned to see Avlyn sweating with exertion.

Asthe dust settled, those members of the GoldenArmy who hadn"t fallen with the bridge stood frozen in shock on the opposite side of the now impassable chasm. Jun coughed and I heard him whisper, "Run." It floated across the freshly rendered ravine on the wind, and the few souls who remained fled the city.

Iwas so stunned I nearly missed Jun's eyes rolling into the back of his head as he swayed dangerously. Luckily, Abraxas grabbed him, cradling his body gently in his arms. I pushed back the hair from his face, which had lost all color.

"Jun!"

Hegave a soft grin, and I heard Abraxas chuckle, "You did well."