Page 131 of An Archer's Reckoning

Even Jess’s unflappable stallion bucked at the overpowering destruction laid before us. Atikus turned and retched, unable to move toward the horror.

I dismounted, tethered Dittler to a nearby tent, and staggered forward. Hundreds—no, thousands of men in Kingdom green lay broken and unmoving across the field. Charred remnants of barricades protruded in places. There was no path forward, only over and through.

I climbed my way to the wall.

The stench andfeelof men beneath my boots made bile rise in my throat. I lifted the collar of my cloak to cover my mouth and nose and swallowed hard.

My heart plummeted when I looked beyond the gap-toothed wall toward the Mages’ Compound. Raging white flames plumed as billowing blue smoke streamed from where the Mages’ tower had once stood. I braced myself on one of the few gate logs still standing, gaping at the remnants of my beloved city.

The Tower. How is it gone? How is that even possible?

Atikus navigated the field to stand beside me. The Mage followed my gaze, and a guttural, soul-wrenched wail slipped from his lips. He tried to grasp my arm for support but fell to his knees as sobs overtook him.

I fell quickly and wrapped him in my arms.

On a field devoid of life, father and son wept.

I lost any semblance of time. A voice calling from somewhere far away caused my eyes to rise.

“Spires or Melucia? I won’t ask again.”

A teenage boy in an oversized Melucian Rangers’ uniform stood sixty paces away. He held a loaded crossbow, its bolt gleaming in the sunlight, aimed in our direction.

I raised both hands and stood slowly.

“I’m Guardsman Keelan Rea. This is Mage Atikus Dani. We’ve just returned from . . . a distant mission . . . to find this.” My tear-blurred eyes roamed across the charred city.

The crossbow lowered as the boy’s eyes widened. “Mage? And you’re Lieutenant Rea?TheLieutenant Rea?”

Atikus gathered himself and looked up. “Yes, boy, he istheLieutenant Rea. Now, I need you to take me to the Arch Mage. We have important news for the Triad.”

The boy’s shoulders slumped, and I thought he might drop his heavy crossbow. “The Triad’s gone, sir. The Arch Mage died when the tower went down. General Vre and the Guildmaster were . . . they were burned.”

“Sweet Spirits,” Atikus muttered. “The Arch Mage is dead? Are the Kingdom soldiers still here? Who is in charge now?”

“The Phoenix killed most of the Kingdom troops, but not before they killed most of ours. The people haven’t come back yet, so there’s not much to be in charge of.”

Atikus and I exchanged confused looks.

“You need to get to the guild. I’ll go to the Guard Compound and join you later,” I said.

Atikus nodded and let me help him to his feet. I turned to the boy. “Son, I need you to take Mage Dani to the Mages’ Guild. What’s your name?”

“Aaron, sir. I’m Aaron Dempsy.”

Chapter 54

Atikus

Aaron led us to retrieve our horses and navigate through the frozen tangle of death.

He and I watched as Keelan disappeared down the main road headed toward the Guard Compound before working our way northeast to the Mages’ Guild. Aaron suggested we take the road with Keelan to avoid the battlefield, since few of the bodies had been removed yet, but I insisted on the quickest, most direct route. A few hundred yards into our ride, I regretted not taking the road.

“When did this battle end?” I asked through the horrified mask that now cloaked my face. My voice broke as I spoke.

The western field, normally filled with grass and wildflowers, now stood unrecognizable. Bodies that remained whole were scorched beyond recognition, often piled atop others.

“The Phoenix arrived yesterday, just before daybreak. I’ve never seen anything light the sky like that. She flew through town, spitting fire and magic at every Kingdom soldier she couldfind. Their arrows and bolts flewthroughher like she wasn’t even there.” Aaron sounded more like a wonder-filled child than a battle-dazed teen.

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