Page 122 of An Archer's Reckoning

When the battlefield quieted enough for units to be sent throughout the city to secure our gains and eliminate insurgents, Isabel gathered her commanders.

We should have been celebrating the greatest military victory in the continent’s history or planning the next steps of our invasion; instead, we cowered as our Regent stalked around a room, fire writhing in her palms.

“Where arethepeople? How did they escape?”

“We have units looking for them, Your Majesty. It’s possible they evacuated before we arrived.” Bril dared to make eye contact, then retreated.

“Do you believe that, Marks? They were gone when we arrived?”

“I do not know, Your Majesty.” Unlike the Minister, my eyes did not flee. “They had a month to prepare. It is what I would have done in their place.”

One of the minor generals waded into the muck. “Your Majesty, units searching the city found evidence of massive movement out of the eastern gate. The ground was muddy and heavily trodden. If the people fled before we arrived, there would be more undisturbed snow.”

She wheeled and glowered at Bril. “MinisterBril, find the people of Saltstone and bring them home. Then round up every man assigned to the eastern gate and execute them.”

Bril’s mouth opened, but words failed.

“All of them. If you fail, I will killyouinstead.”

Bril’s head lowered.

“I have no more time for your incompetence. While the Mages’ tower stands, the city is not ours.” She turned to leave, then looked back over her shoulder at me. “General Marks, find who betrayed me and secure the city.”

Chapter 51

Declan

Despite my best efforts at juggling between shielding the Mages’ tower and blasting the troops pouring into the city, my strength, and that of Saltstone’s normally peaceful Mages, was not enough.

Plumes of smoke rose for leagues as abandoned houses and shops were looted and burned. Fighting around the Merchants’ Guild and Army Compound turned orderly ranks into a brutal tangle of swords, blood, and death. Hundreds of Kingdom soldiers lay unmoving, but thousands of Melucian defenders slept underfoot.

Thousands upon thousands.

Roads and fields already covered in muddy slush were now slick with blood, and the reek of death and excrement carried far on crisp winter breezes.

The white-tipped mountains of the Spires snapped on their fields of deep green as Kingdom banners rose throughout the city. As if screaming the capital’s last act of defiance, the sword,quill, and Phoenix still soared above the Mages’ tower, despite the dead throughout most of the city.

“We are done, son. You are barely able to stand. Step out of the circle so we can surrender the tower.” Arch Mage Quin’s head rose as he groaned from the doorway.

“You said we can’t surrender the tower. We can’t give them its power, or that of the vein below.” I strained to maintain my shield around the edifice.

The raging river beneath the tower could have fueled me throughout eternity, but my human body could only channel so much power before needing rest. I had crossed my limit hours ago and was only standing thanks to the exhausted Mages crowded around me.

“I know—but it is over, Declan. We have lost. They executed General Vre and Guildmaster Burner an hour ago.” Quin looked up and met my eyes. “They burned them alive. Their screams were heard across . . . No one could . . . I could do nothing.”

The Arch Mage stepped forward on wobbly legs. A single tear fell down his cheek. I had never seen the man so ashen—or so frail.

“My Mages are exhausted. None of us has the strength to hold off their army. If we surrender, the Queen may let us live to help rebuild.”

“He is right, Declan. I know you don’t want to give up, but you are too important to die in this battle. We need to flee so we can fight another day.”Órla’s voice echoed through my head, somber, yet still powerful. She flew from the window to my shoulder, then nuzzled my neck.

Weary tears of mind, body, and soul escaped to roll down my cheeks.

As I began to lower my arms and release my magic, the tower shuddered, knocking everyone off their feet.

The shield fell as I struck the floor.

“What the Spirits was that?” My eyes darted to Quin as he struggled to stand.

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