Page 94 of The Dark Rises
“Hopefully, that helps,” she says, her brow furrowing. “The last thing I know you want to do is fight your own people. Believe me. I understand.”
“It does, thank you,” I assure her. “And you’re right. I hope this works. We’ve all seen too much death to want this war.”
Meri comes up and hugs Arden. “Thank you. One witch of your caliber is worth more than ten coven members. More effective, too. If the power of one can do this, what will ten witches be able to achieve? Even if they know of you, this drives the point home.”
A horn heralds at the other end of the courtyard, and we all turn to watch.
Towering over the soldiers around him, the ginormous warrior stalks forward, smoke and shadows swirling around him. His blood-red cloak frames the two thick leather straps crossing his chest, which hold an impressive number of knives and other weapons. He carries a mammoth sword in one hand and a battered gold shield in the other. I narrow my eyes at the words hammered into its surface. “Memento Mori.” A Latin phrase to remind his enemies of the inevitability of death. Effective. I’m slightly jealous.
He stops in front of me and tilts his head. Horns rise from his enormous red helmet, and I chuckle.
Meri gasps beside me, and I turn a questioning glance at her, but she shakes her head and mouths “later.”
“Lucifer,” I greet him. “Truly terrifying.” It’s so bad. I can’t believe he actually wore it. Evren must have used her wiles to get him to agree.
He yanks off the helmet. “It’s the helmet, isn’t it? I told them it was ridiculous.”
Holding up two fingers an inch apart, I nod. “A wee bit.”
Evren slides up next to him. “Fine. You’re right. The helmet was too much, but it was fun. Admit it. You needed the laugh.”
He turns and stares at her incredulously.
Meri leans forward. “What is it with these grumpy men?”
“Who’s grumpy?”
Evren nods her head vigorously. “They don’t even know.” She winks at Lucifer. “Don’t worry, the rest of you is fierce.”
Cormal appears on my right. “Besides Lucifer, the rest went well. I think that should do it, don’t you? And it’s only a glimpse. When they stare across the battlefield, they will see what it’s like to face death.”
The somber words are a reminder of what will come to pass if they force us to fight.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
MERI
Lying in Rivan’s arms with his hand in my hair, I stare up at the sky above us. “Which one is that?”
Madoc shifts beside me to look where I’m pointing. “Konnyr’s sword. See, there’s the hilt.” He takes my finger and shifts it to the top star. “The cross-guard.” He shows me two stars a fair distance below the one, then continues down several stars almost parallel to each other. “The blade.”
Rivan listens to him, his hand sifting through the strands. “Once this is over, I’ll create something more comfortable up here for us.”
Cormal rolls over on the pile of pillows next to us. “This is one thing we don’t have in The Underworld. Stars.” He taps his watch. “Dawn will be here in less than an hour.”
I look at the three of them. Ruthless integrity. Sheer determination. Fierce loyalty. Those are the words that come to mind when I think of them. Love, obsession, mine. Those too. On the eve of battle, I refuse to think of the worst.
“I love you.”
They each give me a solemn look and repeat the words with a fierceness that steals my breath.
Not once have they suggested I sit this one out or stay hidden in the palace. I know they’ve thought about it and even talked amongst themselves. But my place is beside them. No matter what.
Madoc stands and pulls me to him, then reaches out to include Cormal and Rivan. “May the keepers bless us and keep us safe. Thank you for standing with me.”
“I pray to the goddess they take our offer,” Rivan says fervently. “But if they don’t, my wings and sword are yours to command.”
Cormal’s face settles into an expression of pure determination. “Let’s do this.” He leans down and gives me a long, hard kiss, then turns me toward Rivan.
