28. Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Aliya

Hear ye, hear ye! On this day the king hath discovered three Traitors, who have been tried and sentenced to death for plotting to murder the king. Your presence is commanded in the Town Square at the three-quarters bell for the execution of: 1. Jalius Cogtinker 2. Kord Luehn 3. Karlee Ro

Aliya blinked as a pit opened in her gut. She chewed the inside of her cheek as she stared at the poster hanging prominently in the market. So this was how Malkov intended to draw her out.

Glancing over her shoulder, she checked the position of the sun. Three-quarters bell was more or less when everyone sat down for supper. She had a little bit of time left before she could expect the mages to be paraded to the execution block.

She could always reprise her trip into the dungeons yesterday. Malkov had to hold the three prisoners somewhere for a few hours. That was the most likely location. But he'd be ready for that and have guards and ambushes set all along any possible escape routes.

The trip between the palace and the square was also probably going to be similarly watched, with the added bonus of collateral damage with all the innocent bystanders there to witness the execution.

The final option was to go to Malkov directly and hope that she could distract him long enough for Jalius and the others to get free.

A rough hand grabbed her upper arm and spun her around. "There you are, Your Majesty." Brooks sneered as the red jewel in his forehead flashed. "I've been looking for you. Come on." He jerked her toward the castle. "You have a date with your husband."

Brooks gripped her shoulder hard enough to bruise as he hauled Aliya through the corridors of the palace minutes later. The doors to the throne room opened as they approached, surrounded by a full company of guards.

She supposed she should be honored. They were taking no chances, even with the iron manacles binding her wrists and ankles.

The polished marble floor reflected her struggling form. She would not falter in the king's presence.

King Malkov sat on his throne. He was short of breath and there was a layer of sweat on his brow. A few members of his War Council stood on the edge of the dais.

Malkov's lips spread in a thin smile. "My Queen. Welcome home. We've been very concerned for your safety."

The council members eyed each other and shuffled to the side, out of the line of fire.

She shook out of her captor's grip and stood tall, staring him down. "I was never safer than when I was far away from here."

Brooks shoved her to the ground. The handcuffs chipped a small bit of marble from the floor. Her wrists and knees barked in pain.

He pressed her forehead against the cold stone. "You will address the king as Your Majesty."

Aliya raised her head and spit at his boots. She would do no such thing.

"Stand her up." Malkov's voice echoed through the room.

Two guards grabbed her and yanked her upright.

"I have a gift for you, My Queen." He waved, and two guards hauled two struggling prisoners from the shadows. The sunlight illuminated Karlee and Kord, bound with plenty of rope and iron manacles.

Aliya's heart crashed to the ground.

Where was Jalius?

Her stomach sunk. He was probably already dead.

"As I'm sure you know, we caught these two plotting my death," Malkov said. "I couldn't have them interrupting our little reunion. Unfortunately, neither one possesses enough magic to make a worthwhile contribution to our cause, though I could have used the one with the bird an hour ago."

Aliya shuddered.

The guards shoved both prisoners to their knees. "I was going to execute them publicly to draw you out of hiding, but now that you're here, I think their deaths may best serve a different purpose." He gestured at a sentry who drew his sword and came forward.

"No!" Aliya thrust her weight against one guard, then the other, trying to break their hold.

They kicked her feet from under her. She didn't feel the floor as she hit.

Brooks wrapped his fist in her hair, yanking her head up, forcing her to watch.

"No! Stop! I'll go with you, give you what you want, if you spare them and the gnome."

"Jalius escaped," Karlee hissed at her. "Don't let him hold the old man over you as leverage."

Malkov tsked and shook his head. "I am a man of my word, my queen. I promised you in Filathas there'd be consequences for your disobedience. Consider this just one more on the lengthening list." The corners of his lips hardened as his gaze chilled. "Plus, their terrorist movement is responsible for an explosion in the port district this afternoon that destroyed most of our reserves for the army. For that, the Mage Underground needs to pay."

Kord lifted his head and speared Malkov with his gaze. "The Mage Underground is more extensive and better connected than you could possibly imagine. We will have our revenge."

Malkov nodded to one of the guards standing next to Karlee.

The snick of metal against wood raised the fine hairs on Aliya's neck as the guard drew his sword.

"We will be your downfall," Karlee spat, glaring at Malkov. "And we will be free once more."

The sword fell. Karlee's head tumbled away as a crimson splash stained the white stone.

"No!" The scream wrenched from deep inside Aliya, echoing off the walls. The one person who'd forgiven her, and so easily… Aliya's blood froze as her mind went numb.

Kord met her gaze as the guard moved to his side. "Don't give in," he mouthed. "We need you."

The blade swung again. A falcon screeched from the rafters.

Aliya curled in on herself, a sob clawing from her throat. This was all her fault. Her stupid idea. Now Karlee and Kord were dead, just like Cressida and Elessan.

Malkov waved to his guards. "Take her to The Chamber. Before the elves and dwarves get here. Move! And release the Shadow Dragon. We'll see what the invaders can do against it."

She didn't bother to fight as the guards dragged her from the room.

Elessan shifted position on the back of his sturdy mountain pony. Thane Hedul rode to his left, with Zadé on Hedul's far side. The pony's saddle was designed for dwarf proportions rather than elves, and it rubbed in all the wrong places. But the discomfort vanished as the ramparts of Lions Grove appeared through the haze.

A large fire rampaged through the port district. That might throw a wrench into the coming battle in the dwarves' favor.

Today would bring either the end of King Malkov and his whisperers, or the destruction of the dwarven legions.

Behind them, the Thane's second blew his horn, with responses echoing from each of their three regiments. Through the mists, the higher pitched rings of Tsara's sun-elf army rang out.

Elessan smiled as a heavy weight lifted from his shoulders. Against all odds, she'd arrived on time. With both races joining the battle, their chances of success were much improved.

He turned his gaze to the city walls, to the shadows of men scurrying among the parapets. Alarm bells sounded. Elessan chuckled at the humans' surprise. The sudden appearance of not one, but two armies this deep in the human realm must have the defenders in complete chaos. He and Zadé had gone to extreme lengths to make sure they'd remained undiscovered.

Zadé leaned toward Hedul. "We need t' attack quick-like, ta keep the humans off-balance. If'n they get th' chance to deploy more o' those Whisperers, or more o' those things the gnomes call Dragon Sticks, we'll lose our advantage."

Elessan shuddered. It still blew his mind that the silver balls from the Dragon Sticks had gotten past Cressida's battle magic. Despite Hedul's assurances, he didn't give much credence to the reinforced dwarven armor when even Lady Brightleaf had fallen to them.

Thane Hedul's voice lifted over the alarms. "Coordinate the charge with the elves."

Elessan dipped his head and turned to the dwarf with the horn. "Three short bursts, two long."

The horn's blast vibrated Elessan's bones. The elves repeated the pattern in acknowledgment and added a series of trilling blasts.

Archers, fire.

Elessan met Hedul's gaze, then Zadé's, and nodded.

The thane hefted his hammer. "Battering ram! Charge!"

Twenty ponies, carrying a massive log between them sprinted toward the gate, their riders holding large shields overhead.

The wooden beam thudded against the entryway as arrows and rocks poured down from above. Most bounced off the sturdy dwarven bucklers. Horses screamed as a handful of projectiles found their mark.

Elessan reached for his bow. Grabbing an arrow, he sent it sailing into the group of human soldiers above the gate. One tumbled to the ground with a cry. Elessan bared his fangs as he snagged another quarrel. One down, approximately twenty to go.

"Retreat!" Hedul's order rang across the battlefield.

As one, the steeds pranced backward out of the human's range.

The archers above mounted several long tubes to the battlements and shoved large spheres down them as they aimed at the battering ram.

Elessan frowned, his blood chilling. They looked like giant versions of those Dragon Sticks that Lindir had described being used against Cressida. He pointed and turned to the thane. "Hedul!"

Ignoring him, the dwarf hollered, "Charge!"

The battering ram surged forward again. The impact shook the earth as the gates swayed.

"Retreat!"

"Hedul!" Elessan waved to get the thane's attention. His stomach hardened as his heart thudded against his ribs. "Get your men out of there!"

"Charge!"

The oversized Dragon Sticks exploded in small clouds of fire and blackness.

Most of the metallic orbs bounced off the dwarves' reinforced armor. Three unlucky riders tumbled into the mud.

"Retreat!"

Something round appeared from one side of the parapets, rolling toward the gate. An oversized cauldron, full of something steaming in the cool morning air.

Elessan nudged his pony closer to Hedul's and pointed. "Oil!"

At last, the thane glanced to where Elessan indicated.

He grunted. "Slingers! Flame, two o'clock!"

From behind Elessan, slings twanged. Glowing bits of coal soaked in grease left smoke trails through the sky. The projectiles exploded like fireworks. Men screamed.

"Ram! Charge!" Hedul paused for two heartbeats. "Slingers, sling!"

Elessan loosed another arrow at the ramparts.

The ponies carrying the large beam lunged forward. A second round of flaming stones soared to the walls, exploding against the cauldron and battlements. The human soldiers manning the Dragon Sticks hid behind the ramparts at the onslaught. Their screams changed pitch as the oil in their cauldron burst into flame.

Desperate to save themselves, the panicked humans tipped the cauldron over the side. Liquid fire splashed down the wall and spread into the ground below. Black smoke billowed from the earth as the grass burned.

At least the flames missed their intended target.

"Ram! Retreat!"

Stones and Dragon Sticks still peppered the ponies and their riders.

"Ram! Charge!"

The number of horses and handlers dwindled.

The timbers cracked with the sound of bones breaking. Elessan winced.

"Once more should do it," Hedul said. "Ram! Charge!"

Elessan shot another arrow into the fray.

Zadé gave a congratulatory whoop as Elessan's target tumbled to the earth.

With the shriek of screeching metal, the beam burst through the gate. The steeds pranced backward several yards. Their riders cleaved them free from their bindings and fled the field.

Men poured out from the city, swords and armor gleaming in the smoke and mist.

Hedul flashed Elessan a toothy grin. "Here we go, elf. See you in victory, or at the Night Gate!"

Elessan nodded and shoved his bow over his shoulder before drawing his sword.

The thane turned toward the ranks behind him and raised his hammer. "Cavalry, charge!"

As one, the dwarven forces surged forward. Elessan wrapped his too-long legs around the stout torso of the pony and held the reins with his free hand. The beast's jarring gait almost threw him from the saddle.

As they approached the city's entrance, he leapt from the steed with a flip. He'd be more effective and mobile on foot.

Peering through the gates to the town beyond, he paused for a heartbeat. He'd kill to know if Aliya was in there somewhere.

A human charged him, sword raised.

Elessan drew his second blade and braced himself.

At least this close to their own capital, the humans wouldn't dare use Whisperers.

His gaze flitted around the field as the flow of battle left him with a few moments to catch his breath. Bodies—human, dwarven and pony—littered the ground. Red-stained mud coated his boots and a coppery tang wafted to his nose.

Most of the humans had fled the parapets in favor of stemming the dwarven flood into the city. The remaining archers, and those manning the Dragon Sticks, abandoned their posts when the press of flesh became so mixed, they risked hitting friend as often as foe.

Elessan held his sword aloft. "Charge!"

A dwarf ran by and hoisted his axe. "Kill the King!"

Elessan blinked.

Well, yes, that, too. Though he'd leave the taking over to Princess Tsara and Thane Hedul.

A flash of movement in the shadows caught his eye. Jalius!

Elessan pushed through the crowd to where the older man waited for him with a falcon sitting on his shoulder. "What are you doing here?"

One corner of the gnome's mouth turned up. "I could ask you the same, mountain elf. Her Majesty was convinced you were dead."

Aliya thought he was dead? He grabbed Jalius by the shoulders, resisting the urge to shake him. "How? Why?"

"She said you were killed by a Whisperer in the elven forest while trying to rescue her."

Oh. Goosebumps broke out along his arms. He paused, relaxing his grasp on the other man. He likely would've been, if Tsara hadn't stopped him from immediately plunging into the forest to chase after Aliya.

Jalius shook off his grip, stepping out of range. "Something's gone wrong. I think Her Majesty's in trouble."

Elessan's attention snapped back to the mage as a burst of heat exploded through his chest. "Explain."

"The king's guard arrested her." He pointed to his forehead. "The man with the magestone—"

"What?" Elessan stepped forward again, bringing his swords to bear. If the Mage Underground had betrayed Aliya…

"Peace, elf." Jalius held both hands up. "I don't know what happened, as I was able to escape before they dragged us down to the dungeon. But Sky here—" he gestured to a falcon that landed on his shoulder— "returned without his master. They've been gone too long." He shook his head. "Something's happened."

Valek. That was an understatement. Elessan tilted his head to the sky and squeezed his eyes closed. Why couldn't Aliya have waited another hour or two? Then he could've helped her.

Elessan took a deep breath and raised his voice over the din. "To the palace!"

"To the palace," the dwarves around him echoed.

Thane Hedul lifted his hammer. "Do not hurt innocent civilians!"

Elessan nodded. Slaughtering women and children would win Queen Aliya little support. He spun, cutting a soldier's throat before leading the charge through the city streets.

Behind him, the dwarven horn sounded the advance.

Zadé pointed her stout dwarven pony at the elf in the gold headdress riding the white stag. Sun elves weren't as good as moon elves, but she wasn't too disappointed. There was no chance of running into family if she was surrounded by sun elves.

Princess Tsara loosed another arrow at the soldiers manning the eastern gate. "Status on the infiltration team," she called.

The elf beside her lowered the viewing glass and met her gaze. "They just scaled the wall, Your Highness. They should open the portcullis in a few minutes."

"We need to keep the humans distracted while they do their job." The princess turned toward the ranks behind her. "Archers! Fire at will!"

Behind Zadé, the horn sounded. Wave after wave of arrows peppered the walls.

Two men holding a large sling between them launched something long and metallic over her head, deep into the elven ranks.

A Whisperer. Bigger than the ones Elsan had in his pack.

"Everyone, cover your ears!" The princess' order rang out across the ranks.

The trumpet echoed and the army froze as every soldier slammed both palms over their ears.

Seconds later, those too slow to heed the order tumbled to the ground. Zadé's jaw tightened, heat burning in her chest at the waste of life.

How long until it was safe to drop their hands? Elsan had never told her. Maybe he didn't know, either.

A brief commotion spread through the humans guarding the city walls. The gates crawled open to the blast of a trumpeted fanfare.

It was far too early for Tsara's advance team to have eliminated the gate workers. At least, assuming standard military tactics hadn't changed in the last two centuries. That probably would've been good to check before running into battle, now that she thought about it. A hard knot congealed in her gut.

A black ball of mist twice as large as a grown man and vaguely reptilian in form stepped forward. A spiny ridge started between its nostrils and extended over its head and down its spine. Obsidian flames rippled from its hide. Membranous wings that reminded Zadé of an oversized bat unfurled behind it with a dramatic snap. The monster took a deep breath and howled a war cry. The muscles along Zadé's spine clenched. Teeth as long as her forearm glinted in the morning sun.

She glanced at Tsara as the momentum on the battlefield paused, as if every soldier was holding their breath. "What in the Inferno's name is that ?"

The sun elf princess paled. "A Shadow Dragon."

Zadé frowned. Those were supposed to be myths. Made up, and stuff.

The dragon took a step forward, the gates creaking closed behind it. Its black scales turned iridescent in the sunlight.

The monster's knees bent backward with a crack as it pounced at her front lines.

Zadé shook her head. Tsara's front lines. Not hers. She wasn't in charge this time.

Tsara's soldiers rallied, and a volley of arrows met the darkness as it landed before the battalion. The bolts embedded in its flesh for mere seconds before crumbling to ash.

The fiend's eyes bored right into Tsara, cunning intelligence in its gaze.

That's why Zadé never let her soldiers wear such fancy jewelry into battle. That headdress was a lightning rod for everything the enemy had to throw at them. And it made for easy looting afterward.

The dragon's jaws fell open in a mockery of a grin before exhaling at her troops.

Swells of blackness furrowed the air, like summer's heat rising from cobblestones. Those elves caught by its breath vaporized into piles of ash, which scattered like bits of debris in the wind.

The hardness in Zadé's gut froze as her heartbeat stuttered.

"Take it down!" Fear laced with desperation tainted Princess Tsara's voice.

The horn rang out behind her. Flaming arrows flew above, aimed with deadly accuracy.

They bounced off the creature's hide, as ineffective as the first wave.

With a twisted growl of glee, the creature curled into a ball and plowed through the middle of her ranks. A cloud of black ash piles trailed behind.

If that thing killed the princess, the elves would break and scatter to the winds. The fight would be lost. And then Princess—other Princess…Aliya—wouldn't have support to claim her throne.

Zadé kicked her pony's sides and charged toward Tsara. "Out of my way!"

The screams and commotion buried her orders.

The city guards cheered from the parapets. A few arrows peppered the elven troops, but they were nothing compared to the hell beast raging unchecked through her brigade. Tsara's brigade.

Lightning cracked against its skin as the dragon rolled into range of the elven mages.

With a howl, the monster popped up and blasted its breath at the source of the pain.

A translucent purple barrier appeared, clashing with the rippling waves of death. Magic collided and the shield fizzled out as the dark currents tore it apart. A wall of fire snapped up in its place.

The hell beast screeched again and sent another blast toward the magic users. The flames flickered, barely managing to hold back the onslaught before their power collapsed.

Another bolt of lightning caught it in the hip. The shadow dragon roared. It breathed at the magic users one final time before curling into a ball and rolling away in search of easier prey.

"No! It's heading for Tagate's battalion!" Tsara stretched her hand out, as though she could grab the Shadow Dragon and fling it away.

Zadé frowned. Tagate…Tagate. Oh, right. Tsara's younger cousin.

"Zadé! Please, help!"

Turning to face the sun elf, Zadé blinked. She hadn't even realized Tsara had registered her presence. But no, she couldn't help. She was broken.

Tsara locked eyes with her. "General Brightleaf, please! Save my cousin!"

Valek. That was the same desperate look Elsan'd given her in the bar after Princess—Aliya—got kidnapped. The look that made her not finish the rest of her schooners. Zadé took a deep swig from her flask and sighed. Why couldn't kids nowadays get themselves out of their own problems?

A hand clasped her forearm. She looked up to find Tsara's intent gaze.

"Please, General. I'm begging you." The princess leaned forward, and whispered in her ear, "I took the army without my father's knowledge. If we lose, or get his favorite nephew killed, he'll disown me."

No one needed to tell Zadé how much it sucked to be disowned. And Tsara's wide-eyed gaze looked a lot like Aliya's when she was scared.

Okay, fine. "But only on th' condition yeh don't call me General again." Zadé knocked her knuckles against her temple. "Haven't been a general since m' brain broke."

Tsara's relief was palpable. "Thank you, Gen-Zadé."

With a sigh, Zadé turned and scanned the field. The left flank was holding steady with the assault on the gate. The right flank was collapsing under the Shadow Dragon's rolling assault.

"Mages!" She pointed as her voice tore from her throat in desperation.

Twin lightning bolts arched across the sky in response, striking the monster. Fireballs followed close behind. The fiend howled but didn't deviate from its course.

Tsara's horn bearer stood beside them. "Princess." He cleared his throat. "You should consider leaving the field."

She whipped around to face him. "What?"

"You're the heir. We can't afford to lose you."

Tsara turned back to the hell beast, wreaking havoc on Tagate's soldiers. "You would have me flee like a coward? This battle can't be routed so soon. If we fail here…"

Zadé caught the gaze of the horn bearer. "He's right, Princess. Yeh don't belong here."

Tsara's lips thinned into a line. "No. If we flounder here, if the humans destroy our forces, the elves will be defenseless. We'll be exterminated."

The horn bearer's throat bobbed. "No, Princess. It's…"

"This fight is not yet lost," Tsara said. "Not with Zadé Brightleaf on our side."

Zadé sighed as the weight of responsibility settled on her shoulders like an unwelcome visitor. Cursed royalty. Tsara was as stubborn as Aliya. Maybe that was automatically inherited with the title?

She wouldn't win this argument, and there were things to be done if she was going to keep Tsara alive. Zadé spurred her pony, lunging for the mages. There had to be a way to stop that thing.

The hoofbeats of Tsara's stag thudded behind her.

Zadé ground her teeth. Obstinate princesses would be the death of her.

She leaped from her mount and came face-to-face with Vaeri Adnorin, commander of the magic users, and one of Cressida's best friends. Former best friends. Vaeri bowed. "Princess." Her eyes widened as she stared at Zadé. "And General!"

Zadé frowned. What had she just said about not being called General anymore? When this was over, she was going to have a stern talk with the lot of them. But that was for later. Tsara's footsteps sounded behind her as the princess dismounted.

Zadé turned her attention back to the mages. "We need ta finish th' dragon."

Vaeri swallowed. "We're trying, General. The lightning does nothing but irritate it."

"If we can't kill th' monster, can we neutralize it another way?"

Vaeri chewed the inside of her lip. "What about a magical pit trap?"

Zadé nodded. Anything to get the dragon off the field. "Do it. I'll try t' lure it back here." She grabbed Tsara's stag's reins and vaulted onto its back.

Vaeri stepped forward. "Wait, General! Send someone else."

Zadé scanned her decimated ranks. There was no one else. She looked Vaeri in the eyes. "Don't let me down."

The woman bobbed once in a shallow bow before turning to her mages, shouting orders.

Zadé kicked the stag and charged toward the shadow dragon.

The dwarves stormed through the deserted streets of Lions Grove as the sun dipped toward the horizon. The human civilians wisely stayed out of sight. Elessan set a rapid pace, lunging from rooftop to rooftop. He pushed himself against a chimney and craned his neck upward.

"Valek." How was he supposed to get over that?

The palace ramparts were tall. He could scale them, given enough time and the lack of attention by the guards, but he had neither. The officers scurried around the parapets above, like an ant pile someone had trampled.

It looked like he'd need to go back to the ground and wait for the dwarves to break through the gate.

Yes. That would be wisest.

The first wave of the dwarven charge slammed against the palace's walls below. Arrows peppered them from above as men's shouts rang out from inside.

Guards appeared on the top of the wall, pointing Dragon Sticks at the dwarves below.

No. He couldn't allow the men to shoot. While the dwarves had been able to reinforce the armor and shields for the battering ram bearers, there hadn't been enough time to re-outfit the entire army. They'd be slaughtered.

He needed to take out those Dragon Sticks. Grabbing his bow, he loosed an arrow. The bolt found its mark as his second left his longbow with a twang .

He threw himself prone as one of those silver balls whizzed by overhead.

Valek.

Stretching his neck one way then the other, he popped the tendons. Drawing another arrow—he was almost out—he ducked around the smokestack and fired.

Iron screeched, sending shivers up his spine. A cheer went up from the dwarves. The gate was breached.

Bracing one hand on the edge of the roof, Elessan vaulted over the side.

He landed on the street and immediately rolled to dodge various bodies as he was carried by the tide surging toward the castle. Dwarves and ponies pressed in from all sides. Someone's elbow slammed into his gut, forcing the air from his lungs. His vision went dim around the edges.

With an inaudible sigh, the pressure released as he made it under the twisted portcullis and the crowd expelled him into the courtyard. The Dragon Sticks were nowhere in sight.

Thane Hedul, nursing a bloody shoulder and a black eye, raised his hammer. "To the throne room!"

The humans retreated before the dwarven onslaught, calling out, "To the King! To the King!"

Elessan smiled. It seemed all they had to do was follow the retreating guards to Malkov. He met Hedul's gaze. The dwarf must have had the same thought. Elessan flashed his fangs and took off in pursuit.

He'd been wanting to kill the human king since long before he'd met Aliya.

The bodies of soldiers littered the hallway, painting the smooth marble with shiny pools of red. This far back in the ranks, there wasn't much fighting to be done. Despite himself, Elessan searched the face of each mutilated body, hoping against hope not to find who he sought.

Aliya was somewhere in the castle. She had to be.

If she died, would she look the same? Or would she change to something completely different? He'd never thought to ask her if she had an original shape.

He shook his head. He couldn't think about that. Not now. He'd find her, while she still lived.

The halls twisted one way and another. Smart soldiers would try to confuse them by taking the most circuitous route possible, but by the panic and confusion in their scent, they had no such forethought.

He passed corridor after corridor. It would take a long time to clear this castle of threats once they eliminated Malkov. Fortunately, the cleanup wouldn't be his problem. Tsara and Hedul could sort it out.

Huge double doors swung open with a thundering crack ahead of him. Shouts of disbelief floated back to his ears.

The dwarves surged forward, pushing Elessan into a cavernous room. At the opposite end of the chamber, on a raised dais, sat a throne of black glass. The air smelled of old and fresh blood.

Malkov was nowhere to be seen.

The human guards they'd been chasing backed against the far wall, swords held out toward the dwarves.

Thane Hedul took a breath. Elessan cut in before the Thane could give the order.

"Surrender, and we'll let Queen Aliya decide your fates."

Hedul glared at him.

Elessan stared back. "These are Aliya's people. The decision should be hers."

Several tense heartbeats later, the thane nodded.

The soldiers' throats bobbed as they glanced around the room, doubtlessly weighing their odds against overwhelming numbers. As one, their swords cascaded to the ground in a metallic peal of bells as they fell to their knees.

"Push your blades to me and sit by the wall," Hedul ordered. The weapons screeched across the floor in his general direction. "Harnek, Gitil. Keep an eye on them."

The two dwarves stepped forward, further kicking the prisoners' weaponry out of reach.

"Where's Malkov?" Elessan asked.

The prisoners stared back at him with round eyes.

Elessan pushed his blade to the throat of the youngest guard hard enough to draw blood. "Am I not speaking your language? Where is he?"

"Stop!" A gray-haired officer leaned forward. "We don't know. The king was supposed to be here. Please, don't hurt the boy."

Elessan frowned, frustrated at the lack of answers.

"Find Malkov!" The thane's order echoed throughout the room as the dwarves disbursed.

Elessan studied the prisoners. Grabbing the old one who'd spoken, he jerked the man to his feet. "You. Come with me. Where are the dungeons?" If Aliya wasn't here, then the dungeons were his next bet.

The guard blinked and paled. "The dungeons?"

He nodded. "Make yourself useful. Show me the way."

Zadé leaned down over the stag's shoulder as it raced toward the black ball of destruction decimating her ranks. "Come on, come on. Just a little faster." The animal responded to her request, and they flew across the field.

She pulled back on the reins a mere fifty feet from the shadow dragon. The death magic radiated off it, sending ripples across her skin like she was standing too close to a bonfire.

Raising the spear she'd taken from Tsara's flag bearer, she stood in her stirrups. "Hey, you!" Zadé hurled the weapon with all her strength. The lance struck true, burying itself deep in the backward knee joint.

The monster whipped around, screaming. It tore the javelin from its flesh and flung it back at her.

Zadé ducked as the weapon flew over her shoulder and disappeared. She met the beast's hate-filled gaze. "Come on. What's wrong? Are yeh too afraid ta fight someone important? Is chasing down the rank ‘n file all yer good for?"

The dragon flashed its fangs at her and growled. It took a deep breath.

Time to go.

"Come ‘n get me then." She spun her stag around and fled back toward the elven mages.

The earth pounded with each thundering step behind her. Long talons clawed up divots of turf with every lunge.

Zadé laughed out loud as they flew across the clearing. This was better than any bar fight.

Her gaze swept across the field. So few. There were so few of the right flank remaining.

She swallowed the lump in her throat. She needed to keep her eye on the prize. There would be plenty of time to grieve later.

Ahead, the magic users braced themselves as she raced toward them. The footsteps behind her inched ever closer.

"Hurry, General!" Vaeri's faint call floated across the din.

Power as warm and smothering as a down blanket wrapped around her and the stag, lifting them several inches from the ground. Zadé gasped as the magic tightened its grip. They landed with a shudder in the middle of the mages.

Zadé spun in her saddle, panting. Punching her fist into the air, she cried, "Woop!"

The shadow dragon lunged. The grass and dirt underneath disappeared, as the monster tumbled into the pit. The beast's chin slammed against the edge with a crack before disappearing into the darkness.

Zadé met Vaeri's gaze. "Is it dead?"

The mage shook her head as she brought her hands together. The dirt sealed shut over the chasm. "Aenwyn," she called.

A young elf with golden hair stepped forward and slammed her foot into the earth. The surface shifted like sand blowing in a desert wind and solidified. Aenwyn genuflected to Zadé. "It doesn't matter now, General."

A cap of black glass marked the area where the chasm had been moments before.

Zadé smirked as Tsara's jaw hung slack.

At least Cress wasn't the only strong mage in the kingdom. It was a relief to know the younger generation had a protégé or two to offer. She'd have to keep her eye on Aenwyn.

Vaeri nodded to them. "Princess. General. It's done."

Zadé bowed to the mages. Standing, she gestured behind her. "Bring down th' walls, however yeh can." Turning, she drew her sword. "Elves! To me! To th' city!"