Page 159 of House of Embers
“It won’t even kill Ordrax anymore,” Dozan continued like a taunt. He shouted over his shoulder. “How about bonding with me instead?”
Ordrax blew fire directly over Dozan’s head, and he ducked.
“I’ll take that as a maybe,” he called back, unfazed.
“At least someone is in good humor,” Kerrigan muttered.
“Today we reclaim the Wastes,” Dozan said, flipping his knife. “I didn’t need a dragon for that the last time I did it. Don’t need one today either.”
Kerrigan shrugged. “Don’t know how much is left there.”
“It’s home.”
Their eyes met, and she nodded. He was right. They’d both claimed the Wastes in their own way. His fighting pit, gambling nest, brothel, and drug den had been home to them both for a time. Though she wondered if he really believed that he’d return to it, considering his new station and new love.
But it was time to reclaim their home, one way or another.
Fordham unsheathed the sword at his belt. Then with a flourish, he handed it to her. “Will you do the honors, Commander?”
Kerrigan shot him a wide grin and took the sword in her hand. It felt cool to the touch, but the grip was perfect. The army at her back—dragons, riders, and the House of Shadows soldiers—cheered at the sight. Her smile grew as she turned to face the army.
Herarmy.
“To war!” she cried, amplifying her voice as she lifted the sword.
Swords clattered against shields, a deafening boom that rattled the earth. Dragons roared and fire bloomed out of their mouths and into the air, raising the temperature.
She’d given plenty of pretty speeches, but this one was the most gratifying. This was the start of it all. No turning back now.
Kerrigan faced the Kinkadian valley. “Get ready, Bastian. We’re coming for you.”
Then she stepped across the portal and into the south. The change in temperature hit her first. Winter was so near at the House of Shadows, but here it was still distinctly fall, the humidity stilloppressive. She was surprised to realize she’d missed it. And she was ready to take it back.
It took time to get an army through the portal. It was wide, but it wasn’t as wide as the army. Dragons jostled for position, and the Fae scurried out of the way before they got trampled. Her generals had their lieutenants overseeing the organization of it all as she and Fordham took Tieran and Netta to the bowl of the mountains surrounding Kinkadia.
She looked down upon her city and yearned.
“They know we’re coming,” Kerrigan said.
“Good,” Fordham said. “We’re ready for them.”
Dyta and Ordrax landed nearby with Wynter, Dozan, and Viviana on their backs. Vox dropped down a second later with Zina on her back.
“Pretty nice army you have here, Commander,” Zina said with a wink. Zina and others from House Herasi had made it to the mountain the day before, and after the new bonds, they had integrated seamlessly into the army.
Kerrigan grinned. “Thanks.”
“They’re almost done,” Wynter said.
“You know your mission?”
Wynter nodded. “We’re the main assault with the House of Shadows soldiers and Zina’s Herasi riders. We’ll meet Clover in the city. Avoid civilians at all costs.”
Kerrigan nodded. “If we’re lucky, Clover has convinced most of the humans and half-Fae to evacuate to safer quarters. I want a city to come back to.”
“I know,” Wynter said.
“Viviana?”
