Page 81 of A War of Crowns

But they tolled with a strange cadence. Like the beating of a heart.

Or the thunder of hoofbeats.

You are an Oracle, Seraphina replied with a shake of her head.AndI am but a woman.

The air within the pavilion grew closer. The scent of wet earth filled her nose. Wet earth and horse sweat.

And blood.

Who am I?Tsukiko’s voice echoed within her thoughts again as the world fell away.

No longer did Seraphina stand within that tent of painted canvas on Nerina Reef with her godparents and Sir Tristan. She was elsewhere.

A different tent. A different land.

She was in Kuni.

She didn’t know how she knew that. She simply did.

Before her crouched a little girl tangled up in the arms of a woman. The woman wore armor. A spear and shield lay close at hand. A young boy watched the world beyond through the flap of the tent.

“They are coming,”the boy cried, luring a sob from the little girl.“The warlord is coming.”

“Tsukiko,”the woman whispered, and Seraphina’s heart skipped a beat when the girl looked up to reveal her eyes. They glowed silver, as brilliant as twin stars in her small, tear-streaked face.“Tsukiko, I need you to listen to me. Go with Ichiro. Follow the river. Don’t look back. Be brave, my love. Stand tall.”

“Mama—”Little Tsukiko whimpered and clung to her mother’s armor.

But the woman shushed her.“Mama will be right behind Tsukiko. Mama will follow.”She turned to young Ichiro next and handed the boy her spear.“Protect your sister, Ichiro. Make for the shrine. Don’t stop. Don’t look back.”

The boy took the spear in his trembling hands and nodded his understanding. He looked little older than six years of age.

But Tsukiko looked younger still.

“Go,”the woman commanded, shoving them toward the back of the tent.“Out the back. Hurry.”

Seraphina heard screams in the near distance. The clash of steel. The cries of horses. The sounds of battle were drawing nearer by the moment. They were running out of time.

The scene shifted.

She raced through a forest drenched in cold mist, running as fast as she could. A river burbled nearby. Before her ran the fleeing children. They were fast.

But the men hunting them were faster.

“Hurry, Tsukiko,”Ichiro begged as he half led, half dragged the girl through the brush. The clamor of hoofbeats pounding against moist earth sounded just behind.“Faster.”

But it was too late.

Who am I?Tsukiko’s voice echoed again within her mind while she watched on. While she witnessed six riders—tattooed men with red skulls painted across their faces—surround the two children.

“Take the girl. Kill the boy,”one man screamed, and young Tsukiko turned to face him, as defiant as any Kunishi shieldmaiden. Her little fists clenched. Her chin lifted high.

Ichiro stood firm between her and the other Kunishi—a Shield, even then. Seraphina hadn’t realized he was her brother. But she could see it so plainly in that moment as the boy took up his protective stance, as he lifted their mother’s spear. His hands trembled, and one man dared laugh.

It was a laugh cut short.

Seraphina’s eyes widened when a barrage of arrows soared from the shadows of the nearby trees and peppered the enemy riders. Three slumped and tumbled from their saddles, and their horses bolted deeper into the woods. The three who remained turned to face the new threat, weapons held at the ready.

From the trees marched seven red-clad warriors surrounding a woman clothed in white and gold veils. Two men wearing robes embroidered with the golden sun of the Lord walked with her.

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