Page 310 of Of Empires and Dust

Dahlen pulled the cloak around his shoulders, the warmth wrapping around his bones. He filled his lungs with frosted air.

“It suits you,” Nimara said.

Dahlen gave her a half-smile. “Do you think we’ll ever forget?”

“Forget what?”

“Everything we’ve done. Do you think when this is all over, we will be able to just… sit and… Sorry, I just…”

Nimara clasped his hand, fingers sliding between his. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget the faces or the screams… but I hope that one day I can forgive myself enough to die happy. War makes monsters of us all… but it also shows us who we are and the things worth fighting for.”

“I’ve been at war all my life,” he said, squeezing Nimara’s hand.

“And yet, you are still kind, and hopeful, and true. Come, it’s cold and I’m in need of warmth.” Nimara tugged at Dahlen’s hand, but he stayed firm.

“I just need a little longer.”

She didn’t argue or try to convince him otherwise. She simply stayed where she was, her fingers clasped in his.

“Do you know what scares me the most?” he asked, looking out at the waves. “I’m not sure who I am without this war. What am I without a sword in my hand? What if I need this? What if all I ever have to offer this world is death?”

Chapter 74

Rise

21stDay of the Blood Moon

Aravell – Winter, Year 3081 After Doom

Calen satastride Valerys as the dragon stood on a cliff edge that overlooked the sprawling valley ahead. The light of the sun and moon glistened in the spray of the waterfall that tumbled over the ledge on the opposite side of the vast chasm.

He replayed the conversation with Chora over and over in his mind. And each time he did, he remembered the flames consuming his home, remembered his mother’s screams, remembered Farda’s words.

“None of them had to die, but you had to play the hero, and fate made its choice.”

There had not been even the slightest hint of guilt in the man’s voice. He had killed her as though it cost him little more than the breath in his lungs. And Calen had agreed to spare Farda’s life. He did not think a day would pass wherehe wouldn’t question that decision. But he needed Tivar and Avandeer at his side if he was to have any hope of breaking the siege at Tarhelm.

Even as he thought of it, his mind shifted to Dann, and Vaeril, and Tarmon, and Erik, and all those who marched for Salme.

No matter what decision Calen made, he abandoned someone. But without him, Tarhelm would burn. With Queen Tessara and her army marching alongside them, Calen had to trust that Tarmon and the others could do what needed to be done. As this war spread and grew, he knew that he would not be able to protect everyone. He couldn’t be everywhere. But that didn’t make the choices any easier.

A warmth spread from Valerys, and the dragon’s mind wrapped around his, settling his heart. They would fly to Tarhelm, and they would burn the Lorians to the ground. Then they would fly straight to Salme.

Calen closed his eyes and leaned forwards so that his head rested against the scales of Valerys’s neck. “La’verkanet vidim dar la væi aver ata’du.”

I don’t know what I would do without you.

The heavy drum of footfalls drew Calen from his thoughts. He turned to see Gaeleron and the five Dracurïn the elf had selected as Calen’s personal guard leading Castor Kai and his retinue up the winding path towards the cliff edge. Even then, two standard-bearers walked behind the High Lord, both holding banners bearing the six black stars of Illyanara on a yellow field.

Valerys let out a low rumble and lowered himself to the ground so that Calen could slide from his back. Dirt crunched beneath the weight of Calen’s armoured boots as he landed. He looked down at the runes marked into his armour andwhispered, “Dreskyr mit huartan. Dreskyr mit hnokle. Bante er vi, measter og osvarthe.”

Protect my heart. Protect my bones. Bound are we, master and oath.

The runes ignited with a purple light, and the joints of the armour melded together as power flowed through him. He turned to where Aneera waited with Nuada and gave the Angan a sharp nod.

Aneera pressed her palm to her forehead, then folded her legs beneath her and closed her eyes.

“What is the meaning of this?” Castor Kai said, as the procession stopped before Calen and the others. The man was far taller than Calen had imagined he would be. “It had been arranged that we would meet at sunrise, and yet that is long past, and now I am ‘summoned’ to you without a word of explanation?”

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