Page 113 of The Sunlit Man

Silence. This time, though, Elegy found herself thoughtful. She watched Zellion stand up again. She’d been wrong about Rebeke’s strength. Had she been wrong here too?

Yes.

Because if the Cinder King couldn’t break a man that he’d handicapped and beaten to a pulp, then what strength could hepossiblypretend to possess?

There was so much to learn.

“I know,” Rebeke said, “what it’s like to feel powerless. I know you’ve felt it, watching what he’s done to the city, to people you love. You’ve cowered before him because there was no other option.

“But today you have achoice. Steer us away. Leave him.” Rebeke paused, then parted the remnants of her shirt, revealing her exposed cinderheart—and the skin burned around it.

A hush fell over the room.

“I,” Rebeke said, “am the Sunlit One. I control the Charred now, and I have come to bring you freedom. I offer this, but do not demand. I will not force you because theworld is changing. Today we make choices. Please.”

Weapons lowered.

People exchanged looks.

Then finally the woman who had spoken first stood up. “Shades,I’lldo it.” She took the controls at the front of the room, and nobody stopped her.

With that, Union abandoned its king. Leaving him in the mud. And it wassogratifying to see his expression, filmed, as he watched it happen.

The people in the room settled down, seeming shocked by what they’d done—or allowed to be done. But one problem remained. Elegy took Rebeke by the arm and steered her to the side, speaking softly. “What of Zellion?”

“Shades,” she said, turning to the room. “We need to send a ship to rescue the offworlder.”

“Send a ship?” one of them asked. “Sunlit, the city is on lockdown by the Cinder King’s order—we can’t undo it. For one hour, no ships may leave, no matter what.”

“The Cinder King is paranoid,” another said. “Only he can unlock it. Until the time is up.”

“Guess he never thought we’d fly the whole thing off without him…” a woman added.

Rebeke turned. “We need to get the ship Zellion flew in on…” She trailed off as she saw it in the background on the monitor. TheDawnchaserlay in a smoldering heap.

It had served them well, been through the great maelstrom and back. But it would never fly again. Particularly not with the sunlight advancing, relentless. Dangerously close to the two struggling men—mere specks now that the city was moving away at full speed.

“Farewell, killer,” Elegy said, holding Rebeke as she wept. “And thank you, in turn, for givingmesomeone to fightwith. Not merely someone to fight beside.”

The Cinder Kingjogged after the city a short distance, but even with his Investiture, he would never be able to catch up to it. Nor could he outrun the sun. Zellion knew. He had tried.

He grinned as the man turned back, wild-eyed, light from the horizon reflecting on his face.

“You,” the Cinder King said, stalking to him, “will summon that armor again and give it to me.”

“Can’t,” Zellion said, exhausted.

The Cinder King growled, prowling forward, seizing Zellion by the sides of his head. “Then I will kill you.”

“You’ll die in turn.”

“No,” the Cinder King said. “I read that book. I know about your tool, your weapon. The Shardblade? I know that if you die, it will be left at your side. To be claimed.” He pointed. “You left a shield around those people. What happens when I kill you? It vanishes, doesn’t it?”

Zellion gritted his teeth.

Yes. If he died, his weapon would appear by his side. Unbonded.

“I will take it and protect myself,” the Cinder King said, draining Zellion’s heat.

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