Page 153 of The Cruel Dawn
The wolf gives him one last shake before she loosens her jaw, dropping his bloodied hand. She sits on her haunches, her piercing gold eyes warily locked on Zephar.
The Prince of Lissome Blades grimaces, flicks his bloody hand, and climbs unsteadily to his feet.
But now, I am a titan, I am leviathan, larger than him, larger than he’d ever imagined I could be. Even now, I’m still growing taller—wider—more.
Like every battle, my shoulder aches from his fireball, my skin red and blistered, and all of my muscles throb. But my new amulet pulses against my chest, a steady, reassuring rhythm, humming with power. Its warmth spreads through me, and the pain of my injuries fades, replaced by a soothing sensation that wraps around me like a protective shield. A tugging sensation makes me look over my—
Wings unfurl from my shoulder blades. They are a breathtaking crimson, shimmering with golden luster. Energy hums through the space around me as moths the size of eagles emerge from the folds of my wings, their own soft wings dotted with glowing flecks. The glittering moths catch the air, and my feet leave the ground.
I rise. The noise and chaos of battle fade the higher I soar. The atmosphere around me is cool and crisp. The moths—loyal and powerful—spiral around me.
Zephar gasps as I fly above him. But then he swings his pair of swords. Heat shoots past me and into the sky, but then that energy falls back to earth and burns a hole in the ground the size of a castle.
I dodge that strike, and now I aim Cruel Dawn at him. The blade cuts off his right ear.
He screams and stumbles toward me, falling onto one knee a few paces away from me. I look down at him, recalling the other times I’ve seen him on his knees before me, wondering at how both of us have changed. He drops one of his blades and grabs my foot.
His touch burns like lava. I cry out in pain.
Lightning crackles across the sky.
I bring Cruel Dawn’s pommel down on top of his head with an unmistakablecrack. The impact against his skull reverberates up and down my arms.
Zephar releases me and rolls away, bleeding and racked with pain. He sends a wave of fire at me, wider than a river and twice as fast.
I dodge, but the flames are too powerful. They singe my head, and I smell burning hair. My amulet pulses again and heals the superficial burns on my face and scalp.
We’re now fighting fire with fire.
Yekaa!
I light up the sky with more fireballs. Flames burst from my fingers like lava erupting from a volcano, and I drown Zephar in fire.
Every corner of the realm is subjected to his terrible cries. He falls backward as my fire consumes him. His hands, still clutching his pristine swords, turn to ash. His body becomes a thick vein of shining black ore that mortals of Vallendor could mine for ages.
Today, the realm loses its commander. And I lose someone else I loved.
Zephar Itikin, Beautiful Warrior, Breaker of Realms, Lord of the Shielded Fount, Prince of Lissome Blades, Warrior of the Righteous, Divine Xisi…and once upon a time, my Beloved Zee.
Farewell.
38
There is no time to mourn the loss of those who’d been born Mera true—the daystar will soon dip below the horizon.
We need the Renrians to add to our own numbers.
There are only five hundred Renrians across Vallendor Realm, most of whom live here in Caburh and deeper in the Kingdom of Brithellum—I haven’t seen many of them in half an age.
The hacked-up door of the Broken Hammer creaks open, and Separi stands there. Her simple threadbare tunic has seen better days, but her smile makes her look almost whole. Ridget peeks out from behind her, slightly hunched. I remember the dress she wears. It was once vibrant green and has faded now into a dull, mossy shade. Her hair remains carefully braided, but her deep-set eyes reflect her exhaustion and fear.
Relief washes over both of their faces. Separi whispers, “You returned…”
Elyn and I push past the couple and into the inn, closing the door behind us before we continue the conversation.
Separi looks at me, then at Elyn, and then back at me. “Lady, you’ve…”
“You’ve grown,” Ridget blurts. She sounds surprised, and her eyes widen as she takes in the changes—the way I’ve filled out, the height I’ve gained. She shakes her head, awestruck.
