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Footsteps echoed down the hall, and she turned, pulling her sword out again. They came closer and closer, a soft jog. Then Onora rounded the corner, coming to a halt when she saw Enid brandishing her sword. Enid let out a sigh and sheathed it again.

“You’re a bit jumpy,” Onora said, dodging the blood on the stone floor.

“Did you find my brothers or Cyrus?” she asked.

“I found Dryston. He’s in the ballroom upstairs.”

“Was he… alive?”

Onora shrugged. “One can only hope not.”

Enid glared, and Onora flashed her a wicked smile. “He wasn’t when I saw him, only unconscious. He fought Hevena, but she’s dead now.”

Something was missing from the story, but Enid wouldn’t press. She needed to find her brothers and make sure they were safe.

Enid looked at Avenay, afraid of leaving her. Avenay tipped her head toward the stairs. “Go. I’ll be fine. Find your brothers.”

Enid bent down and kissed her forehead again, then broke into a sprint up the stairs, up and up, wasting no time, taking in nothing about her surroundings. She came to the ballroom. Hevena lay dead on the floor, a look of horror etched in her face. And to the side, there was Dryston. She ran to him, checking his pulse and placing a hand under his nose. He was breathing and his pulse was strong. She let out a shaky sigh of relief, a sob catching in her throat. She looked him over, only seeing one wound that had been wrapped up in the scraps of a dusty blue fabric. Onora’s cloak. Curious.

Light burst through the room as the sun rose beyond, hitting the windows and making the vines wrapped around scatter and hiss. She picked Dryston up and carried him down the stairs to his bedroom and laid him there. She would have to get Vasu to look him over, but she didn’t think he was in any immediate danger.

When she came down the stairs, a knock sounded, loud and insistent, on the castle door. She rushed to it, Vasu coming from down the hall to help her take the drawbar off, then opened the door. Standing there was Kaemon, with Cyrus behind him. She flung her arms around him, and he pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Thank the goddesses you’re okay,” he said. “Is Dryston here?”

Enid nodded. “He’s unconscious, but alive. I took him to his room.”

“Take me to him,” Vasu said.

Chapter 38: Avenay

The destruction of the night was more harrowing in the light of day. Avenay stepped around felled vines, loose stones from the houses and tiles from roofs, as well as the bodies of the beasts. The dead had already been gathered at the temple for burial preparation. Junie walked next to her, brows pinched as she took it all in.

“Will the beasts return?” Avenay asked.

Junie shook her head. “The few witches left are putting up more wards now to protect against it.”

It had been a whirlwind since dawn broke, the day a bustle of activity for hours and hours. First, Edond had been taken to the prison, and Avenay found out that the people hadn’t known fully of his plot. Many had believed that Enid had volunteered to be a sacrifice, while others had caught on earlier and been too scared to say anything, Junie being one of them.

The people had come together, deciding Edond and Sylvaine couldn’t be trusted, and a council of five members had been elected to watch over Evolis for the time being. Junie was one of them. The witches had been split on their involvement in the ritual. A few had refused to perform it unless Enid and Onora willingly volunteered. They’d been locked up in the temple. The other witches had all died, attacked and unable to fend off all that came to them.

“What will happen to Edond?” Avenay asked.

Junie shrugged. “We’re divided on what should happen. He’s made all the decisions for centuries, so much so that we were afraid to speak out against it. Many didn’t like the sacrifices, even if the people were willing. Some think it would be fine if people are willing.”

Avenay’s stomach turned at the thought. Even if others were willing, she thought she’d rather make peace with death than shortenanother’s life to extend her own. Though, she’d gladly shorten hers to extend her sister’s.

“Cyrus said he’s leaving the guards who came with him here to keep watch,” Avenay spoke softly, carefully.

Cyrus had made it clear he didn’t trust the people of Evolis to not continue their sacrifice attempts to bring back Evoleen. He intended to return with Avenay, plead her case with the Archangels for why she shouldn’t be arrested for theft, and then bring more soldiers back. Avenay thought it was a bit overkill, but still…

Junie sighed. “I understand his concern. Personally, I’m thankful for it. I know others think it’s not seraph business, but I think it will be best to keep anyone from magic that shouldn’t be touched.”

“Will the witches try to call Evoleen back here?”

“No.” Junie’s words were emphatic. “The ones left are adamantly against it, and the rest of us are as well. We remember her rule. It was frightening. I’m not sure if she’s truly a god, or just a being of supernatural abilities, but her strength and power were unmatched.”

“You knew her then?”