Page 248 of A Dawn of Gods & Fury

My horse charges through the throng, my sword slashing the Saur’goths with abandon. Everywhere around me, blades swing and bodies fall—both enemy and ally.

Wherever these beasts came from, they were built for war, and I know that if I relent for even a moment, I will be quickly overcome. But we are making ground, the casters in the towers delivering crushing blows to the hordes below them while the dragons devastate beyond.

That wall of fire still burns at Lyndel. I don’t see how Romeria can fight against that forever, but I know little of her abilities. I pray she is strong enough.

My horse takes a spear to its hind leg, toppling it. I leap off before I’m caught beneath its body weight and land on my feet, only to be swarmed.

Kazimir barrels through seconds later, driving several of the enemy back as I draw a second sword, fighting my way toward a tower. A bolt pierces the center of it, cracking it in half.

Two nethertaurs ram another tower nearby. The Saur’goths are beginning to use their brains.

Ahead, I spot King Cheral slashed in the stomach by a sword. Jimon is at his side, swinging his ax, but they’re precariously close to a fissure and losing ground.

I fight my way to them, just as a sword impales Jimon in the neck. A killing blow. He’s dead before he collapses.

I cleave his attacker’s head clean off its shoulders.

“Kaz!”

“I’m here!” he hollers.

I grab hold of a groaning King Cheral, hoisting him up onto the back of the horse. “Get him to safety, now!” There are healing casters behind that wall who can still save him.

Kaz purses his lips, not wanting to leave.

“Now!”

He charges off, racing hard so he can return to me quickly.

A shadow passes over me and I look up, spotting the purple dragon soaring past. “Bexley!” I roar, waving my hands.

The beast’s head swings my way. She dives, plucking me with ease in one claw while she snatches a handful of the enemy in the other. I watch as she squeezes and slices them apart, tossing their lifeless bodies to the ground below, all while she cradles me.

I will never not be in awe of these creatures.

“Take me to my brother!” I shout.

She banks hard to avoid a bolt and then carries me across the battlefield.

89

Zander

The Saur’goths charge Lyndel’s gate the moment it draws open, giving our army little time to advance. The Shadows fall into formation, launching an assault of everything from flaming bolts to flying boulders. The rest of us fan out with our blades.

But I have one purpose here.

One goal.

And he stands ahead of me, his concentration still locked on the rampart above.

Jarek and Abarrane guard my flanks as we cut through, their blades carving a path of bodies until I’m within range.

I don’t have to search for a flame source. It’s everywhere.

With grim determination, I aim to ignite Malachi.

A body slams into me, sending me sprawling as a burst of fire explodes.

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