Page 195 of Blood of the Stars

“No. We need to go in,” Sylmar said.

“You said we needed both gates breached,” Daisy argued.

Velden shook his head. “We needed the soldiers leaving from both gates. This isn’t the way we thought it would happen, but it’s still taking them away from the fortress. If they’re coming this way, our only option is to go in.”

A high-pitched howl broke through the heat of the afternoon, sending a host of birds flying from the forest canopy. Even though Felk’s call had been expected, everyone stiffened, weapons drawn. In the distance, shouts from the camp grew louder. Daisy let out a relieved sigh and peeked through the trees once more.

“Sweet Stars,” she murmured.

“Is Felk all right?” Gaeren asked, unable to see past her shoulder.

“He’s been recruiting,” she said in awe.

Gaeren leaned past her, expecting to see a few dozen winex heading for the soldiers. Instead, he took in the sight of Felk standing tall amidst a swarm of hundreds of sinewy silver bodies filling the field that separated their forest hideout from the retreating soldiers. Dozens of winex loped past Felk, snarling in some sort of frenzy, like the nearness of that many men brought on a hunger for their flesh.

“That’s impossible.” Gaeren’s eyes burned as the Sun reflected off the waves of silver skin. He’d never seen so many winex in his life, let alone in one place at one time. The others around them took turns peeking through the trees, their excitement overriding their need to be quiet, especially since the winex howls drowned out any noise their own voices might have made.

“He said he’d found a few clans,” Daisy said. “And Mayvus was taking their blood. Maybe she was helping their population grow over time so she could use their blood. Except they don’t have starblood. So she wouldn’t want them for more magic.” The crease between her brow deepened. “That’s still probably a bad sign, isn’t it?”

“For now we’ll be grateful. Let the other possibilities be a problem for tomorrow.” Gaeren grinned at her.

“If we live until tomorrow,” she muttered.

“Pull that dagger out if you’re worried.”

She frowned, pulling an arrow from her quiver instead.

Felk howled again.

“That’s our signal.” Sylmar raised a hand, beckoning them all forward. Cyrus, Holm, Jasperus, and Iris moved past him, swords and daggers drawn. Gaeren joined Velden, Lukai, and Sylmar, their weapons ready, starlocks humming with anticipation. Kendalyhn, Orra, Marnok, and Daisy split, flanking the others with their bows drawn tight.

They moved as one, but when they stepped through the trees, the two winex nearest turned, their snarls turning to wild growls that drew several others. The winex snapped their jaws and flashed their multiple rows of teeth, inching closer.

“Felk?” Daisy called.

Over the heads of the other winex, Felk turned and howled again.

The winex shook their heads as if to clear them, then eyed the purple bands on everyone’s arms. One leaned in to sniff Daisy, and Gaeren stepped toward her, tightening his grip on the hilt of his sword. But the winex leaned away before turning back to follow the crowd. As he did, Felk bounded through the winex like a fish swimming upstream, then skidded to a stop before Daisy.

“Come,” Felk said, turning to run alongside the winex toward the massive outer wall of the fortress. The horde of winex filled the path, forcing Gaeren and the others to break formation to follow Felk. Gaeren couldn’t take his eyes off the roiling mass of silver backs as he and Aeliana caught up to their friend.

“How did you convince them all to come?” Gaeren asked.

Felk didn’t slow his pace. “How did you convince your men?”

“They were already looking for an excuse to go up against Mayvus,” Gaeren said. “They would have come with or without me.”

“Then our situations are not so different,” Felk shouted over his shoulder before darting right at the wall where the other winex turned left.

For a moment, Gaeren and the others hesitated, watching the winex travel toward the open gate. By now Mayvus’ soldiers had seen them, and arrows were flying. The winex came anyway, crawling through the gate like ants swarming a loaf of bread.

The ones who were too impatient to get through the gate clambered over the wall, and screams echoed across the distance. Large numbers of winex were left behind, already dead or dying from the arrows. They had been efficient, but at a great cost. They’d functioned more like a hive fighting for the greater cause. The winex jumped off the wall, teeth bared as they likely landed on Zealots beyond the wall.

Gaeren couldn’t make out any of his men from this distance, but he studied the place where they should be, praying the Sun might keep them safe.

“Felk’s clans might actually make it harder for the soldiers to fake the need to retreat,” Daisy said.

Gaeren let out a strangled laugh. “I can’t decide if that’s a good or bad thing.”

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