Page 46 of Invocation

She’d taken hardly a step when a group of figures appeared, out of nowhere, at the edge of the white stone in front of them.

In the moonlight, Novikke could see Vissarion holding onto a disheveled Kadaki, and three others standing beside them with swords drawn. For a few seconds they struggled to get their bearings, then they spotted Novikke and the others. She ducked down a little lower, fearing more archers.

“They have Kadaki,” Neiryn said quietly.

They’d forced her to transport them there with magic. Her hair was mussed and her hands were cuffed together. Vissarion let go of her, only for one of the others to take hold of her and bring a knife to her throat. She shook her hair from her face, looking more angry than afraid.

Vissarion took a step toward them, lowering his sword a little. “It’s over, Novikke. Surrender. I don’t want to have to kill you. Your elf friends, too. If they give up peacefully now, we won’t kill them.”

Neiryn made an offended sound.

“I’m not inclined to believe that,” Novikke called.

He shook his head. “I can’t let you help the night elves, Novikke. This is war. There’s no room for softheartedness.”

“We’re not at war with the night elves, you asshole.”

“Of course we are. We’ve just never been able to fight them fairly until now.”

“If you let the forest die, there will be repercussions all across Ardani and beyond. The land will sicken.”

“Sacrifices are a part of war.”

“Not sacrifices like this,” Novikke said, almost begging. Her voice was beginning to quake slightly. “This is too far, Vissarion.”

The soldiers behind them were following them down the slope, carrying swords and bows. They were boxed in. Aruna couldn’t fight. Neiryn wouldn’t attack them while Kadaki was held hostage. Thala was somewhere behind them, maybe still too cowardly to fight with them in earnest.

Vissarion came closer. “Come out, all of you, or I’ll order them to shoot.”

There was nowhere to go. There was no hope.

Novikke’s heart pounded. She put her back against a tree. Panic flooded over her. She surrendered to it. What was the point of fighting?

“Novikke,” Aruna whispered. He’d noticed immediately. Of course he had.

She shook her head, and her tense neck muscles resisted the movement. Her throat was closing. She couldn’t breathe, and her skin burned, and she had to run somewhere but there was nowhere to go.

“You can do this. Come on,” he said gently.

“I can’t.” He was going to die. All the Varai were going to die. She’d failed. Fear clutched her heart in a grasp as hard and cold as iron. Gods, what a fool Ravi was for choosing her for this.

Vissarion gave a command, and bowstrings thumped behind them. Novikke flinched. There was a flash of fire, and a lot of commotion. Aruna pulled Novikke aside, putting himself between her and the archers as they ducked behind the tree.

He clasped her hands and bent to force her to meet his eyes. “Novikke. You’re all right. You can do this. Would I lie to you?”

She just shook her head.

Aruna’s face fell. He held onto her. “You promised me. Remember?” There was a tremor in his voice. After a beat, his eyes went to her hands, and he frowned. He held up her own hand in front of her eyes. “Look.”

The inky stain was still on her skin, and now black vapor was floating slowly off her fingertips. Novikke stared at it.

“She’s still with you,” Aruna whispered, bringing her hand close to his chest. “She won’t let you fail.”

She kept looking at her hand, tucked between Aruna’s. Maybe the magic flowing in and over her skin should have frightened her. But instead, it comforted her. She felt those eyes on her again, and this time they held no malice. It was a warm hand on hers, a motherly word of reassurance, an infusion of strength. Was this what the Varai felt when Ravi’s gaze fell upon them?

“You have to run,” Aruna said.

She looked up at him.

---