Page 325 of Of Empires and Dust

Kira gestured to her sister, and the pair marched back through the tunnel and out onto the island before crossing the last remaining bridge of what had once been four.

A block of Queensguard formed around her as she approached the boundary that separated the Belduarans from the island, marching in step, their crimson cloaks drifting behind them.

Oleg Marylin and Lumeera Arian stood in front of the line of wooden stakes that had been set across the main thoroughfare, a small gap left at the centre.

“Your Majesty,” Oleg said with a bow, inclining his head to Erani as well. “Three thousand two hundred and fifty-one already evacuated to Vindakur and ready to step through the Portal Heart. Two thousand nine hundred and forty-three left at the outpost and on Wind Runners.” The man gestured towards the Wind Tunnel docks about a hundred feet up the rock face behind her, where a line of refugees snaked down a long, narrow path towards the city. “Everything is running smoothly.”

“Glad to hear it, Oleg. You will see the sun before long.” She gave the man a soft smile.

“I believe I have grown rather fond of the Heraya’s Ward.”

Calls and shouts broke out in the crowd ahead, growing ever closer. The sea of people parted, and an armoured virtuk galloped through empty space, blood splattering its head and neck, a strip of flesh dangling from its beak. The creature ground to a halt before the line of wooden stakes, screeching as it did, its rider dropping to the ground like a stone.

Kira darted through the gap in the defensive line, Vikmar and her Queensguard following.

She dropped to the ground beside the dwarf. An arrow jutted from the gap in his armour below his breastplate, blood staining the mail and cloth.

“Get a Healer. Now!” Kira called to Vikmar, slipping an arm under the dwarf’s head and tilting it up to look into his eyes. “What happened?”

“My queen.” The dwarf grunted and coughed. “Hoffnar’s forces. They came upon us so quickly… There was nothing we could do. They had mages and elves.”

“Where were you stationed? How far?”

“There are thousands. They filled the tunnels. They knew we were here.”

“It’s all right, it’s all right. Breathe. A Healer is coming. I need you to focus. What were their numbers? How many mages did you see?”

“Too many, my queen.”

“You did well,” Kira said as Vikmar returned with two Alamant Healers. “Hafaesir watches over you.”

Kira stood as the two Healers took her place. “I thought we would have more time.”

“He was stationed at the last watchpost,” Vikmar said, staring down at the dwarf on the ground. “They will be upon us within the hour.”

“How did they get past so many without a single warning?” Erani asked.

“Mages.” Kira turned to Vikmar. “Send riders to scout the tunnels. We need to know what we’re facing.”

“At once, my queen.”

She looked to Erani and Lumeera Arian. “What are our fighting numbers here?”

“Seven thousand,” Lumeera answered. “Three thousand Belduarans, four thousand dwarves. Though many of our number are not warriors, just strong enough to hold steel in their hands.”

“The rest of our forces are on the raids to draw Hoffnar’s attention,” Erani said.

“Gods dammit,” Kira whispered. “Much good that did us.” She closed her eyes for a moment, shaking her head. “We cannot let them have the Portal Heart. That is not an option.”

“The Belduaran Highguard will take the main entrance,” Lumeera said without room for argument. “Erani, if you can spare a few hundred, we can pile the rubble higher along the outside of the entrance and create a funnel. I’ll set archers on the rooves. A hundred men there will be worth a thousand.”

Kira held up a hand. “If they’ve brought elven Battlemages…” She sighed. “They’ll cut through you like wheat.”

“If you have a better plan, Your Majesty, I am all ears. But if you don’t, my warriors and I will do what we must. There are three thousand Belduaran citizens here and more on the way – many injured, sick, old, or young. My sole purpose that remains in this life is protecting them. If time can be paid for in blood, we will do so. Just tell that scholar of yours the price we pay forevery moment he takes. We don’t have enough time to get them all safe from here. So we must stand.”

Lumeera turned and set off for the main entrance, Belduaran warriors gathering around her. The crowd murmured and shifted, many still staring at the dwarf on the ground as the two Healers pulled the arrow from his gut.

Erani started to follow her, but Kira shook her head. “No. Ahktar, Kalik. The pair of you take four hundred and help Lord Captain Arian with that wall. Build it high and mighty.” Kira turned to Oleg. “Move the refugees to the other side of the island. Keep them from the fighting and find a way to build a bridge on the other side.”

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