Page 395 of Of Empires and Dust

“Your Andurios is in need of your aid. Who or what will stand in your way?”

“Nothing!” Some of the Andurii beat their fists against their bare chests, others slapped stone or stomped their feet.

“What will you give to see him free? To see Valtara free?”

“Everything!”

“Andurii. By blade and by blood!”

“AH-OOH, AH-OOH, AH-OOH!”

“You see, Your Grace. We do not resign ourselves to dying. We resign ourselves to beingwillingto die. We resign our lives to the lives of the Andurii. We are your spears from now until we are taken from this world. We are the guardians of House Ateres, and we will never falter.”

Alinaand the others were halfway between the wood and the camp when the screeches of wyverns tore through the night overhead.

A group of six flew low, marked in the sky by the moon’s light.

Mera and Alina glanced at one another, and Savrin bellowed orders at the Royal Guard, each of them drawing their blades.

“Warn the Andurii!” Olivian shouted, ordering Glaukos back through the wood. She turned to Evrian. “Rouse the rest of the guard and sound the horns. The rest of you, nothing gets past your blades.”

“Hold.” Alina raised an open palm.

“My queen, if there is an attack, time is not our ally. We must act swiftly and decisively.” Olivian’s hand gripped the spherical pommel of her sword, which was still sheathed at her hip. She gestured for the remaining guards to spread out and take up a defensive position.

Alina pointed up at the sky. “Those Wyndarii each have horns to signal an attack. They’ve not yet used them.”

“All the same, Your Grace, I would rather be prepared for a fight that does not come than face a fight we are not prepared for.”

“As you will, but take us to the camp. If they’re back from patrol, it’s for a reason – reason enough to rouse me from the sleep they believe me to be enjoying.”

By the time Alina and the others reached her tent, Ola Yarek, one of the Wyndarii commanders, was waiting alongside her night blue wyvern, Tuavast, and five other Wyndarii.

“My queen.” Ola bowed and pressed her hand to her chest, the other Wyndarii following suit.

“What news, Commander?” Alina gestured for them all to rise.

“Ships, my queen. Hundreds.”

Alina’s skin goosefleshed, a twisted ball of dread forming in her stomach. “Whose?”

Ola shook her head. “I do not know the sigil, my queen. It’s some kind of reptile, black and white, on a golden field lined with blue.”

Alina looked to Savrin, who pursed his lips and shook his head.

“Sound the alarm. Better be prepared for a fight that does not come than face a fight we are not prepared for.” She nodded at Olivian, then turned to Mera. “Ready yourself and summon Amari and Lukira. We ride for the coast.”

Savrin started to object but stopped as soon as Alina raised a hand. “You’re my guard, Savrin. Not my shadow.”

“They’re the same thing, Your Grace.”

“Well unless you can fly, find a horse.”

Chapter 91

Oathkeeper

24thDay of the Blood Moon

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