Revenge, Nakarr said, is what the Bloodbane seek. It rots them to the core, making them angry and cold and heartless. She never told me what happens when they have their revenge, but if the two fighting sisters are any indication, their thirst for vengeance is never sated. One of the women is on the ground now, crawling towards her dagger.
I turn away as they scream and there’s a wet squelching sound. I shake my head. I’m not like them. I won’t let my thirst for revenge consume me for the rest of my life. When I kill Sadal, that will be the end of it. The ingredients for my spell are heavy in my pockets as I stomp through the mud. I lift my eyes to the moon, it’s full and swollen with silver light. In another life, I might have once thought it was beautiful.
Now, I simply think it’s a good night for a spell.
Chapter 8
Altair
Cleo’s words and her story are circling round and round in my mind. Thal is gone, he took four of my best men after Cleo gave us more details. I picture him now, riding east and cursing me. I shake my head, a wry smile tugging at my lips. He may be unhappy with his assignment, but he’s the only person I trust to carry it out.
I take the stairs to the tower two at a time, a spyglass in hand. Word has come from my scouts that Sadal’s army is pushing further into my borders. Our battle days ago meant nothing. Sadal was simply toying with us.
I burst out into the chill air; autumn is coming soon. Clouds roil in the sky above me and the sun’s rays streak through, giving the sky a cold, gray tint. I face east, towards the mountains and lift the spyglass to my eyes. I focus the lens, sweeping it out over the landscape. At the base of the mountains, a black mass moves slowly towards Desmarais.
“Shit,” I breathe, snapping the spyglass closed.
A massive horde of demons is on the march towards Desmarais. The countryside was evacuated before we had our first battle, the demons will find nothing out there except abandoned farms and wild animals. I feel my heart beating quickly with anxiety as I picture the demons in my mind. I’ll never forget their crooked, yellow teeth or their jaundiced eyes. I see them when I sleep in my dreams. And I see Verity in the Bloodbane camp.
As I descend back into the castle to find Haru, I think of my dream last night. I dreamt I saw Verity kneeling in a glamorous, comfortable tent. She had chalk in her hand and was drawing furiously on a clean slate. I shudder, sorrow settling in my bones. She’s a Bloodbane now. Whatever spells and enchantments she’s casting are threats to me now.
I stride quickly through the halls, heading towards my council room. Inside, Haru and Moritz are discussing the war in hushed tones. Moritz sits stiffly in the chair at the head of the table. I ignore the slight and head directly for Haru. She sits on the edge of the table, her long fingers tracing the map. Her black hair hangs like a curtain in front of her face.
“Haru,” I say as the door closes behind me.
She glances up. “Yes?”
“Your navy, how many people can it carry?” I ask, thinking of the tens of ships in the harbor.
Her brows furrow. “Is the army on the move?”
“A few days march maybe,” I confirm.
She stands, all business. “How many people do you need to evacuate?” She asks.
I move to the window and stare down at Desmarais. The city was once a bustling area of commerce. Fae wandered the sparkling streets, lights and music flared at all hours. Now, it’s quiet and solemn.
“All of them,” I say softly, watching the few Fae on the streets. “Get them all out.”
“I can begin the evacuation today,” Haru says.
“Bring them to Stellium, I’ll pay whatever you want to let my people take refuge until this war is over,” I say through gritted teeth.
Haru takes my hand and squeezes it tightly. “Don’t speak of it. I’ll organize it right away.”
I watch over my shoulder as Haru slips from the room, heading for her navy. I sigh, shoulders sagging. We can’t stay in Desmarais much longer, I’ll need to move my government elsewhere before the demons arrive. But I won’t abandon this post until my people are out of danger. I just hope Thal moves quickly.
I glance back out the window towards the large sails on the horizon. Retreat was never the plan. The plan was to defeat Sadal in the first battle, drive him back and show him he can’t win. But it’s not just the demons or the witches we must fight; we have to fight a god. A god I underestimated.
Alnembra is my home, but I care more for my people than this land. If I have to abandon it for a time, I will. Moritz joins me at the window. I glance at him from the corner of my eyes. The cowl of his cloak is lifted up just under his nose and he stares imperiously at my city.
“When I was young, I heard it was called the City of Glass,” he says. “Imagine my disappointment when I saw it for the first time.”
I chuckle low. “Trust me, I had the same disappointing revelation.”
“It’s too bad,” Moritz sighs. “It’s a beautiful city.”
“The jewel of the continent,” I murmur.
Moritz eyes me, but I know he doesn’t care for beauty. “Some might disagree,” he says, keeping his tone light.
A flash of light in the distance catches my eye and I see the navy positioning themselves near the docks. I leave the room without another word. There’s one thing on my mind. Someone I can’t leave behind.
In the dungeons, I pause in front of Navi’s cell. She
