Page 88 of Crown of Iron
“You're with me, princess.”
I step to Kyron's side and patiently wait for his next order. I long for it. Until this moment, he hadn't spoken a word to me since this morning. I can see the worry in his eyes and the stress in his tense shoulders. He focuses on every passing face like he's logging them to memory, making sure we leave no one behind. When only a few soldiers remain, he takes my elbow and guides me into the line, and we enter the dark chasm.
He holds out his palm and a small ember globe forms in the center, lighting our way. The flame flickers over the sharp lines of his face, giving him a haunting appearance.
I can't help but to take advantage of the dark passageway and slide my hand into his. He stiffens, his fingers rigid inside mine.
“There’s no need to be so tense, general. I'll be at your side to protect you the entire time,” I say with a hint of playfulness.
He spares me a glance from the corner of his eye, and I flash him a grin. My attempt to keep things lighthearted flounders when he releases my hand.
“You have to remember to keep to the plan no matter what happens, and everything will be all right,” he says.
I move my face in front of his, lining up our eyes. “Are you saying that for my sake or yours? Because you don't need to reassure me. I know you have thought this through, and everything will work out.”
His Adam's apple bobs, and he whispers, “It will.”
The next hour marching through the mountain is silent, leaving me to wrestle with my thoughts. It's difficult to keep a clear head when so many lives are at stake. What if we didn't foresee something crucial? What if the entrance we chose is guarded better than we thought? What if we can't find my father? What if this mission fails? I want to unleash my worries, sharethem with the man beside me. The fears are so clear on his face as well. I open and close my mouth several times when my anxiety mounts, but I choose to say nothing. Kyron has taken risks, put the lives of himself and his soldiers on the line before. I'm sure this is all part of his routine before a battle. I just wish it wasn't so quiet.
With every step toward the Stigian capital, my heartbeats turn erratic and terrified trembles vibrate through me. I clasp my hands together to stop them from shaking. Every single one of my nerves is on edge, bouncing together like bubbles in boiling water. Every flicker of light or unexpected sound has me jumping and gripping the pummel of my sword. I might explode if the mountain pass doesn't come to an end soon.
Everyone speeds up their pace, and low murmurings erupt at the front of the line. The mountain is giving way, and the relief washes through me. And just as quickly, it vanishes. We’re getting our first glance at tonight's battleground.
I step out of the mountain's shade and my breath hitches, trapping sea-salted air in my lungs. Even from a distance, it’s easy to make out the sleek, symmetrical buildings made of glass and steel. They tower well above the massive wall protecting them. Beams of multi-colored lights shoot toward the clouds, reminding me of each of the Statera's gifts—fire, ice, water, earth and so on. The Stigian capital is the most magnificent city I've ever seen.
The unit commanders corral their troops, and Kyron's voice cuts my wonderment short. “We move swiftly toward the wall and keep your eyes on the guards perched on top. The southeast gate faces the sea.” He points to the crashing waves in the distance. “We have the chance of them spotting us before we reach it. No matter what, listen to your commanders and don't let up on the gate. Tear it down.” Kyron holds Greer, Ulric, and Terro's gazes for a moment, and his three closest friends each give a curt nod before lowering their helmets to cover their faces.
Dropping the visor of my protective headgear, I follow our soldiers through the open land in a tight formation. The closer we get to the wall, the more details I can make out. The Stigians didn't construct it from crude river rocks like the one in Lucent. It's smooth metal that would be impossible to climb. The only way in is through one of the handful of gated entries stretched along the wall.
The Stigians must feel safe inside. Their impressive wall surroundsthem and waves crashing against the rocks beyond the dunes drown out the sounds of a threat. They have a strong army and a ruthless queen. Unlike my people, they know peace in their city. They don't fear that the Lucent army will set their fields on fire or harm their children. They don't fret about hundreds of soldiers attacking their city and war reaching their homes.
Tonight, that will change.
A flash of heat whips across my face and barked orders fill the night. A warm hand grips mine and presses me to the sleek wall. A small group of our Ignitas soldiers blasts the gate with their fire, while the rest of us wait in the shadows. The Cyffreds behind us hold out their arms, ready for orders to charge forward and unleash their flames. The rest of us wait with bated breath to see if the Stigians will open the gate and send out warriors to assess what's going on.
Bile rises in my throat as a shower of frozen daggers slice down on the Ignitas from above. The attack is enough to knock a few of them off their feet, but they recover, protected by their armor. A few soldiers in the shadows take aim at the Stigians on the wall, slamming them with gusts of wind and using the water from the ocean to knock them back.
Kyron pulls a small hourglass from his pocket. Five minutes is all we have to make this work. We need the warriors who don't fear our forces to stupidly open their city to us. Anything beyond that will be enough time for the Stigians to assemble regiments, and we’ll fall back.
Kyron flips the hourglass for a third time, and the Stigians remain fighting us from the safety of their wall. They continue to rain down their elemental powers, but they have little effect on the armor. If they haven't opened the gates by now, I question if they ever will.
I open my mouth to tell Kyron I don't think it's going to work when metal meshes against metal. The gate rises.
Without a second thought, I grip Kyron's hand and rush forward, but halt at the sight that greets us. Hundreds of Stigian Khiros stand in formation, their powers on full display. They couldn't have rallied their forces so quickly. We made sure of it.
“It's an ambush. Fall back,” yells one of our soldiers.
“What? No!” I scream, panic-stricken. This is our only chance. We have to take it while the gate is open.
The Stigians sprint forward, clashing with our army. Screams and clanking metal blend in a battle's symphony as heat swelters around us. TheCyffreds fight back with their flames. For the first time in three decades, they are on equal ground.
“Shadow,” I gasp, weaving with Kyron through the colliding bodies.
The first tendril of his gift leaves his fingertips, and I yank it forward, covering us as we draw closer to the entrance. A body rams into me and jars my grasp from Kyron. I slam to the ground as boots beat the dirt, kicking up plumes of dust. I cough and scramble to regain my footing, trying to avoid being trampled to death.
Fingers curl into the back of my uniform and yank, hoisting me to my feet. Kyron grabs my hand, and we slither in along the edge of the gateway, past the warring bodies.
Once inside the city, we find Stigian warriors lining the street, waiting for their turn to join the battle. None of them wear a worried expression. In fact, they look eager to join the fight. They were created for moments like this, to rush into battle and win.
