Page 78 of The Sundered Blade

“We have accounted for the dragons, the mages, and the refugees, but there are still the imperial ground troops to consider. They are well trained and will be under orders to maximize destruction so as to further destabilize the kingdom and create as much fear as possible.”

At that point, Karreya turned and spoke directly to Niell. “They are no match for me individually, but a full battalion is five hundred troops. Even if their numbers were diminished on the road to Hanselm, there are still far too many for me to hope to defeat them on my own.”

“What is your plan?” he asked calmly.

“The invasion force is commanded by Third General Urquadi—a formidable warrior, but also an honorable opponent. The Empire still has a sacred tradition of single combat. If I can find him and defeat him, we may yet be able to stop them from razing this city to the ground.”

Vaniell’s gaze was steady and unflinching. “That sounds entirely too simple. What are you not telling me?”

There was so much she had not told him. “Urquadi has never been outmatched in single combat. He is taller, stronger, and employs a halberd in battle. I believe that under normal circumstances, I am fast enough and skilled enough to win, but I do not know exactly where we will find him.”

Her prince merely shrugged, and the corner of his mouth lifted in a ghostlike imitation of his former insouciant smile. “Sounds like an interesting challenge. When do we leave?”

“We?” Karreya echoed, her own lips drawing down in a scowl. “Wedo not go anywhere, Niell. This is my task and mine alone.”

“And I say you can stuff that idea right back in the stable midden where it came from.” His tone was calm, but utterly implacable. An iron resolve had entered his gray eyes and his folded arms suggested he would prove impossible to sway. “This is my kingdom. My people. I am the only remaining member of my house, and the protection of Garimore is now mine to ensure. I will not stand aside or crawl into a hole while others bleed and die for this Throne. Either we go together or I will lock you down in the dungeons with the others until this is over.”

Silence greeted this pronouncement as Leisa bit her lip, and Kyrion made a choking sound.

“And before you say ‘you and what army,’” Niell continued, “know that I have no idea and haven’t actually thought that far ahead. I just needed you to understand that I’m serious.”

From the look he was giving her, he knew what he risked. Part of him already feared she would be unable to forgive him. But even so, he forged ahead—willing to go as far as necessary to stand beside her and protect his people, even though he knew nothing of combat or war.

It was part of why she loved him. Part of why she did not want to say yes. She could not bear the thought of breaking his heart, and even if she succeeded in this challenge, he was going to be broken in the end.

But it was too late. He’d moved the last three steps towards her, taken her hand and grasped it in fingers already stained by war and sacrifice. “Karreya, please.”

“Very well,” she murmured, curling her fingers around his. She would be selfish this one last time. Spend whatever time was left in his company. And perhaps when it was over, she could say goodbye without too many regrets.

Meeting his eyes as bravely as she could, she shot him her best glare of intimidation and disgust. “Try to keep up, Abreian.”

He lifted her hand, kissed the back of it, and smiled—that utterly gorgeous grin that had once so shocked her with its brilliance. Now it was a blade in her heart, stabbing her with the knowledge of all that she would never have.

“Then we have our plan.” Leisa looked around at their small group as if memorizing the faces that surrounded her. “No matter what happens, remember that the goal is to stay alive. We can always fight another day. No grand, tragic sacrifices. We survive, we regroup, we move on, understood?”

Every voice but one murmured agreement, and then Kyrion’s form vanished, to be replaced by the black wyvern. Leisa and Senaya strode towards the gates, their mirrors already unfolding. And still Vaniell held Karreya’s hand as if unwilling to let it go.

“Before we do this…” He did not meet her eyes. “There is something I need to tell you.”

“Not now,” she said quietly. “Not now, Niell.”

He looked down at her then, and he must have seen the knowledge written across her features.

“You know, don’t you?”

She could not speak of it yet. Could not spare the energy to confront her feelings. Not so soon after learning of her mother’s identity and watching as the life left her eyes. So instead of answering, she tugged him forward, towards the broken gates. They broke into a run, and a moment later they were leaping over the rubble, pressing past the smoke, into the city streets.

Karreya looked back briefly just as Senaya and Leisa joined forces and the pieces of the gates began to shift in a stunning display of power. Soon the gates would be whole.

Their defense of Hanselm had begun, and in only a few hours, they would know whether they had succeeded.

* * *

They encountered the first of the imperial troops not far from the palace gates. Three men in the Empress’s flat gray armor were smashing the window of a flower shop and setting the interior ablaze, while the proprietress huddled in the street.

Karreya’s dagger was in her hand before she could question herself. The first of them took a swing at her, but he was expecting terrified townspeople, not a trained assassin. He fell with her blade in his neck, and Karreya claimed his sword for her own as she called out to his companions.

“The Third Blade of the Imperium summons you and commands that you kneel.” Her voice took on the harsh quality of command, and the two soldiers stopped long enough to take her measure.

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