Page 136 of Fate and Flame
“A promise is a promise,” she said, smiling. “No one was hurt.”
“How did it go?”
“The fae of the city have walled themselves in. The only reason we got past it was because of Gaea’s magic. We stayed in my mother’s old shop.” Her voice wavered for just a moment, but she shook it off. “We talked to as many people as we could and told them to travel south. Then we spirited into the castle.”
“What happened?”
“I searched for Xanth. His cousin and I used to attend court lunches together. He said the soldiers weren’t leaving the court defenseless and they planned to protect the city. But they did hear Greeve and Rhogan speak. After that, they seemed divided. Some left to come south in the night, some stayed.”
“Did anyone leave to check for Autus’ army?”
“Rhogan and Greeve took turns guarding the door to the shop and searching for the king’s soldiers. Gaea even left a few times to check for them. Eventually, Rhogan found them about a day’s march north of the city.”
I could see the worry on her face. I pulled her into my arms again. “You gave them a warning, Nadra. You did what you could. If they chose to stay, it’s their own fault.”
“I know.” She sniffled. “But some of them were my friends. And they wouldn’t listen. They laid their eyes on Rhogan and Gaea and instantly shut their minds. They were so cruel. If they stay and they die, they deserve it.”
“I’m glad you’re back,” I told her as Rhogan came around the corner, his wings tucked in close and still touching the walls.
“Did you tell him your idea?” he asked, practically bouncing.
She gasped. “I forgot.” She pulled away and held my arms. “I could feel the oak tree, Temir.”
“Okay?” I searched her eyes for an explanation.
“It’s the power from the adda. It felt the same as it does when you pull that power from me. We didn’t know it then, but it was the flower.”
“Holy shit.” I looked down at her hand. “Holy shit.”
“There’s our favorite scholar.” Rhogan clapped me on the back, knocking the wind out of me.
“We have to get to Fen,” I said. “We have to get to the borderlands right now.”
“I’ll go grab Gaea.” Nadra darted down the hall.
“Oh good, I won’t have to carry you.” Rhogan smirked.
“How many Marsh Court soldiers do you think you realistically recruited?”
“Rough estimate, maybe a couple thousand.”
“Coro had over twenty thousand soldiers. His army used to be the biggest.”
Rhogan shrugged. “I can tell you there weren’t twenty thousand holed up in that castle. I’m guessing some of them have already left. They might have gone north, they might be coming south, I don’t know. Nadra was worried about the people in the city. None of them would listen to her. Not one of them.”
“Prejudices can run deep,” I said as Gaea came marching down the hall.
“Sorry.” I could tell she was tired.
Still, she tied her hair back and held her hand out to me. “I’ll live.”
We made it to the borderlands before the king. I couldn’t believe the sight. A giant yellow dragon paced back and forth like a caged animal in the distance, swinging his barbed tail around and blowing fire into the air. Thousands and thousands of soldiers gathered to watch him, and clearly, he was enjoying the audience.
I’d never seen so many people in my life. I’d seen the soldiers in the north in scattered training exercises. I’d seen Coro’s guards on parade. Still, the sea of soldiers, the dragons, the sky full of cetani and draconian fae, they gave me the hope I’d been lacking. There were fae for as far as I could see. Satyrs passed out weapons, pots of stew were cooking, commanders were shouting clipped orders.
“It’s incredible, isn’t it?” Gaea asked. “To see all of these fae fighting for the same thing we have been?
“If only Oleo were here with us now,” I said, hardly blinking.
