Page 194 of Blood of the Stars

Any closer and Mayvus would realize she was under attack.

If she wasn’t already anticipating it. Mayvus had her blood. She knew they were coming for it. Did it really matter if they were a day early?

They came across two sentries who were easily dispatched by Kendalyhn’s arrows, then they eventually left the shore to settled in a copse of trees. Waves lapped in the distance behind them, but the small valley at the base of the Myndren Mountains stretched out five hundred feet before them. Murmurs of distant shouts and laughter carried on the wind. From Aeliana’s vantage point, she mostly saw rock where the fortress blended in with the mountain’s side. She shifted to the left and crouched until she could see more through the gap of foliage.

Her jaw dropped as she took in Mayvus’ fortress. The fierce black structure’s height seemed to defy gravity. Even though she knew it was carved into the mountain’s wall, there had to be at least fifteen levels spanning the base to the highest tower, and that was just what she could see above the outer walls. Beyond the walls, a roiling sea of armed men camped at the fortress’ base. Their weapons remained sheathed, and drinks flowed freely—their Summer Solstice celebration already well underway a day early.

If that many were housed outside the gates, how many more were inside them?

Guards posted at the edge of their camp scanned the woods, and she froze as the one nearest turned her way.

“Relax, Aeliana,” Lukai whispered. His breath tickled her ear. “They can’t see us from here. The forest is too dense.”

Her anger flared at his nearness and confidence, as if he hadn’t betrayed her to Sylmar. The sensation battled with her bond mark, which insisted he was safety, that she wanted him close. It didn’t even matter that he was right. On top of the forest being thick, at least one hundred feet of fields separated them from the guards. They were safe for now. Aeliana backed up, and her stomach gave a lurch when she saw her own dagger pulled out, her knuckles white where she clutched its grip. She didn’t even remember pulling it from her boot.

Gaeren eyed her from across the others, his eyebrows raised as he took in her dagger. She could practically hear him asking if she was willing to use it, which made her think of the only time she had, when it had sunk into the chest of a winex. She scowled as she replaced the dagger.

Gaeren squeezed between Kendalyhn and Holm until he stood near Aeliana.

“No sign of Felkie?” he asked, his teasing tone putting her more on edge than at ease.

“Don’t let his clan hear you call him that,” she said.

Gaeren snorted. “He called you ‘Mama.’ He dug his own grave.”

Aeliana shivered, the jest hitting too close to home. “He’ll come. His mate is in there.”

“Well, if he doesn’t come soon enough,” Sylmar said, “we stick with our original plan. The pirates fall back in the center line while we sneak through from the west. We use the dungeon entrance with or without the winex.”

“What if Felk was lying?” Kendalyhn asked, probably voicing everyone’s concerns. “If he doesn’t show up, isn’t it likely to be a trick?”

“You sifted his soul,” Sylmar said. “Of all people, you should know best that his loyalty to Aeliana is greater than any new loyalty to his clan.”

Eleven pairs of eyes turned Aeliana’s way. She swallowed hard, not sure if she should defend Felk or let Sylmar’s words be enough. Kendalyhn scowled and resumed watching the fortress’ base, turning her back on Aeliana.

As time passed, Sylmar’s agitation grew. Finally, shouts met Aeliana’s ears as the news of an attack rolled through the soldiers like a wave. Velden’s eyes closed, his hand grasping General Nels’ handkerchief. The general was supposed to be near the western gates. Once they saw the eastern gate fall, and once Velden sensed the general’s men had breached the western gates, they’d be free to follow the wall back around the eastern edge toward the dungeon’s northeastern entrance near the sea.

The entrance would be difficult to find without Felk.

“They’re making good progress,” Lukai announced from his lookout point in a tree. “Oh, the eastern gate is already breached!”

Aeliana risked peeking through the edge of the forest line to see the last of the gate get raised as their soldiers surged toward it. She couldn’t help noticing that just as many Zealots poured out to attack Recreants as Recreants moved in to attack Zealots.

“The western gate…” Velden frowned, making Aeliana wonder how far his pneumatic skills could sense what General Nels was experiencing through the handkerchief.

“Are they through?” Sylmar asked. “We need to go in—now.”

Velden shook his head. “I thought maybe—there are Zealots outside the gates, fighting. But I can’t tell…”

Aeliana peeked through the trees, trying to make sense of the blur of black and red mixing with browns and greens. It seemed like her eyes played tricks on her as the black and red quickly multiplied, outnumbering the Recreants in a matter of moments.

Something was wrong.

“Oh no.” Velden’s eyes opened wide, his panic confirming her fears. “The western gate wasn’t breached; it was opened by the Zealots. They had a counterattack ready. They’re sweeping their slaughter toward the east, right at us.”

CHAPTER 78

“Do we need to retreat?” Gaeren calculated how quickly he could get Daisy to Starspeed. It hadn’t been part of any of their plans, but they’d underestimated Mayvus. This was an impossible feat.

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