Page 115 of The War of Wings
“I have to go.” She gave Nell’s elbow a quick squeeze before she slipped out the door.
“What do you need?” Nell asked as soon as the door swung shut.
“I need you to tell Petra I had to leave and I’m sorry.”
Her brows furrowed, her dark eyes beginning to fill. “That’s it? W-Where are you going?”
My heart thundered in my ears, but it was pumping pure certainty through my veins. “I’m going to stop this war before it starts.”
???
I’d almost made it out one of the castle’s side entrances when a hand closed around my arm and yanked me to the side.No, ittriedto yank me, but Aegrabane was out and ready before I even set eyes on who the hand belonged to.
But there was no one. Not at first, at least, until I saw the mortar between a column of stones pull apart. Ludovicus’ face appeared in the small gap. “In here,” he whispered, his eyes wildly scanning the corridor.
I peered both ways, willing my heartbeat to return to normal as I followed him through the hidden door into the dusty passageway.
“You’re leaving, aren’t you?” he whispered, and I could just make out the outline of his silhouette in the dim light as my eyes adjusted.
I let out a quiet sigh, sheathing my blade once again. “I am.”
“You have the blade?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Yes. How did you know–”
“Here.” He reached into his cloak, producing something I couldn’t discern in the darkness. “Give it to me.”
I reached into the sheath, awkwardly pulling out the hiltless blade with my thumb and forefinger. Ludovicus’ movements were quick, evidence he knew exactly what to do. An acrid smell hit my nose, sharp and pungent, before he hummed to himself.
“The glue won’t cure for a few days yet,” he said, offering the blade to me carefully, steel first. “It won’t be the strongest, but at least it has a hilt now. It’ll allow you at least one good strike.”
The words settled between us as my hand ran over the hilt he’d attached, careful not to let it hold any of the sword’s weight as I tested it in my grip. It fit perfectly, and solved a major problem I’d been planning onattemptingto solve on my journey. “Thank you, Ludovicus.”
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, and I couldn’t tell for certain, but I thought his voice cracked. “About your brother.”
I pursed my lips, my eyes falling to the floor. “Thank you.”
“Be safe,” he said, a gentle hand reaching up to squeeze my shoulder.
I nodded quickly. “If you do see Petra, could you not tell her where I’m going? I… I’m doing this so she doesn’t have to. I don’t want her getting any ideas.”
He was silent for a moment, his mouth twisting before his head dipped in a nod. “Okay.”
And then I was slipping from the hidden door, a blade on each hip, and a purpose so great, I felt its pulse alongside my own.
I was going to kill Malosym.
Chapter 45
Petra
Eddena’s army was the first to arrive in Araqina, forty thousand soldiers in the form of infantry and cavalry. Camp had been set up outside the city walls, rows upon rows of tents sheltering soldiers from the unforgiving Nesanian sun. Another ten thousand Eddenian soldiers would descend on Nesan’s coast by ships, anchor near shore, and await further orders.
I’d spent all day weaving through their camp as they set up, meeting with soldiers and thanking them for making the trip here to Araqina. And despite the nervous anticipation that hung in the air, I held back a smile as I watched the Eddenian soldiers catch sight of the drivas for the first time, their shadows swallowing a good portion of the camp as they circled overhead.
Sunshine. Good, Adorex sounded in my mind. The soldiers watched the largest and most formidable of the drivas in terrified awe with no idea she was preening in the sunshine. Shewas nothing but an overgrown puppy with nightmarish teeth and scales.
It felt good to spend the day greeting Eddenian soldiers and showing off the beasts I commanded, but I couldn’t say my intentions were entirely noble. I really, really just wanted to keep my mind from fixating on the cavernous hole inside my chest. The loss of Miles was… I just had to keep going. I had to keep greeting, keep making small talk, keep thanking, keep distracting myself.
