Page 200 of Blood of the Stars

Before Iris could stop her, Aeliana rushed toward the fight.

CHAPTER 80

Orra’s head ached as possibilities flashed through her mind. She hadn’t meant to use the magic, hadn’t wanted to waste it. But in her weakened state, it was harder to control it. She followed Holm across the battlements, crouching low to avoid arrows flying from their own people at the fortress’ base. But her mind sifted through a hundred scenarios, her eyes seeing various avenues of death and destruction instead of the stones beneath her feet.

Splitting up had been the only way to keep everyone alive at the time, but even then, too many of the paths still held death.

“We should go back,” Marnok hissed. “All of these soldiers are occupied fighting. There’s no sign of Mayvus.”

Orra’s mind went in reverse, starting the process over again, sifting through all the options stemming from Marnok’s suggestion. She shook her head to clear it, then winced as pain lanced through the back of her neck. She hadn’t had enough time in the Sun’s light. Wasn’t sure she ever could anymore. Not if she wanted to reach her previous potential.

“What about Gaeren’s idea?” Kendalyhn asked. “Should we steal parapets and use up our arrows? It’s not like they’ll be any good once we join the others. Unless Mayvus is riding her dragon.” Her mouth turned down.

Orra’s mind raced in a different direction, flying through the fortress walls to calculate the number of scenarios in which that might happen. She grasped the sides of her head and squeezed her eyes shut, willing her mind to settle and focus, to hold the magic at bay until it could be put to better use.

“Are you all right?” Marnok asked. He placed a hand on her arm, and she sensed his efforts to push his energy into her. He still wasn’t aware of the extent of his power or what left it limited, but that wasn’t her secret to reveal. And it made no difference, because his energy couldn’t touch her. Their magic was like oil and water, something that used to make her feel empowered but now left her lonely.

“I’ll be fine,” she said.

“Those three,” Kendalyhn whispered, pointing at three soldiers kneeling at arrowslits, their quivers nearly empty. “They were terrified to go into battle, even scared to come out on the parapets. They’re only here because desertion means being fed to Durriken.”

Orra’s chest ached, and her mind grew desperate to search that truth out for herself. Dragons didn’t typically eat humans, but did this one? Had she been wrong about him? She no longer trusted herself or her magic, let alone her intuitions.

They all rushed forward, and Holm spoke with more authority than Orra had ever heard from him.

“Take your break. Refill your quivers. Then relieve the next group.” He gestured at the soldiers to the right, but the three frightened men were already gathering their supplies. One hesitated, looking at Orra a little too long, the fuzz on his upper lip revealing his youth.

“Go on,” she said. “Maybe the fight will be over before you have to return.”

His face brightened, then he schooled his features. “They’ve started retreating, but Zane wants us to follow. Says the queen wants us to defeat them all. When our arrows can no longer reach, we’re to head to the outer courtyard.”

Orra nodded and took his place against the wall facing the bailey. “Then I’ll see you there.”

She didn’t wait for him to reply. She wedged herself against the stone until she could see through the arrowslit. The destruction below teased her mind, making her want to weigh out the options and dig through each scenario, but she reined in her power, focusing on the truth of the moment and what needed to be done. A blanket of bodies stretched from the inner courtyard to the gate, a patchwork of black and red leather, grey skin and brown. The Sun glinted off pools of red and silver blood, like jewels sewn on. She swallowed hard, then switched to an arrowslit at the opposite wall. The trail of bodies extended past the gate, thinning out as the carnage drew closer to the forest line, where a number of soldiers and winex still fought.

“It’s almost too late already,” Marnok said, his voice muffled as he leaned against the arrowslit beside her. Most of the soldiers were getting too far from the castle wall to take aim at them, but not all.

Orra nocked an arrow and pulled back on her bow, letting her eyes hone in on a target. “Forgive me for what I must do,” she murmured, “and may the Sun have mercy on your soul.” She let the arrow fly but set her sights on another before it hit.

Three more hit their targets before Kendalyhn gasped.

“Aren’t those Gaeren’s men?”

Orra pulled away from the wall to see Kendalyhn peering over the opposite edge toward the bailey and inner walls. Four men held enemy shields over their heads, shields they’d clearly stolen since their leathers were brown instead of black. They went against the flow of men exiting the castle, cutting them down before the soldiers could realize the shields hid their enemy. Arrows glanced off the bronze-plated wood, but Orra winced as one struck a calf and the man stumbled. She caught a glimpse of Breeve and Larkos as the men righted themselves.

“What are they doing?” Holm asked, his nervous tick returning.

Orra couldn’t help smiling. “Going against orders.”

Kendalyhn let out a huff of air but raised her bow, taking out a few of Mayvus’ soldiers heading toward the sailors.

“Hey!” A soldier to their right pulled back from the battlement’s edge. “Watch your aim!” He glared at Kendalyhn, who shrugged apologetically. The soldier’s glare turned suspicious, but he soon went back to his arrowslit.

“We can’t stay here much longer,” Marnok whispered. “Otherwise, we’ll end up fighting all the soldiers up here on top of those down below.”

Orra peeked over the edge again, watching as Larkos, Breeve, Riveran, and Thallahan all made it safely into the main hall. Not that they would be very safe in there.

Holm licked his lips, glancing at the Sun. “Maybe we should get the sailors from below before joining the others in the northern keep.”

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