Page 64 of Tethered Thrones

I moved to get closer and only then noticed that someone was following me.

Spinning to catch them, I stopped dead as I came face to face with a horse. For a moment we looked at each other until her dark, discerning eyes told me everything I needed to know.

“Haru,” I said, and she huffed in response. “So, you have come all this way following your master?”

I glanced over her, not surprised to see that her flesh had regrown. Now only patches of missing fur remained to tell her tale of falling on the battlefield and being resurrected years later to rejoin the war. Tsuki had done something truly amazing.

I reached out, smiling, and patted her neck.

“I know what it is like to be brought back,” I informed her. “And yes, I do share my soul with your master, but you should save this reunion for him.”

She huffed again and I could see the excitement in her eyes.

“Come,” I said, and turned on my tail to hurry to Sun.

He was dismembering Daaku's large head from his body now, his teeth grit and bared with the force of his concentration.

“It is done,” I said loudly. “Daaku is not coming back now, Sun. He poses no threat.”

My voice seemed to pierce through his concentration, and he finally paused and turned to look at me.

All the various parts of Daaku remained alive, writhing uselessly wherever they had been thrown.

“It is hard to believe that this bastard was the one who had us overthrown and killed,” I spat venomously.

Sun shook his head fervently.

“It wasn't him. It was Emperor Gaulu. He has been controlling not only Daaku, but probably the entire noc side. Keeping the war going. Keeping himself on the throne. That bastard! He ran toward the palace as soon as I was upon him.”

I could hear the frustration in his voice and reached out, squeezing his shoulder.

“Then we shall waste no more time,” I promised. “Let us go after him. Now.”

Sun nodded, finally looking at me and freezing at the sight of Haru, just as his horse gleefully skipped to him, head-butting him and nuzzling him.

“H–Haru?” he asked, and I nodded.

“Your steed has been through a lot to reunite with you,” I said. “Take her now. Head after Gaulu.”

His hands stroked Haru reverently. He couldn't even look away.

“But the others–”

“I will gather them. We will follow close behind you.Go.”

It felt momentarily strange to push Sun to ride away to face another unknown danger, and atop a horse instead of Hadi. But with the new found strength that Clem had somehow given us all, my worry was greatly diminished. He had torn apart the noc king with bare hands, after all.

“Meet me at the palace,” Sun said, worry across his face.

I wanted to comfort him, but there was no time.

“Go!” I said, smacking Haru's backside. “We are behind you!”

Finally, Sun turned his gaze forward, leaping through the city streets on his beloved horse's back, his long hair flowing over his shoulders.

My heart ached watching him go. Sun was right, we should all be together, but if Emperor Gaulu was controlling the nocs, there was no time to waste. He may have other plans up his sleeves to make it even more difficult. If we didn't catch him soon, he could get away. We couldn't allow that to happen.

With sudden urgency, I spun around.

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