Page 21 of Dance of Kings and Thieves

Elise scoffed and readied her blade. “I saw the grin, Nightrender.”

“You saw nothing.” She saw, but I would not give her the satisfaction of winning the game. Yet.

I took a step behind Valen as he passed a signal to his sister and Halvar, who then turned to the warriors, waiting as they fell in line. The Kryv huddled close. Malin checked Ash and Hanna’s drums. Ellis had given them both Northern fury daggers, and my two youngest Kryv looked too much like warriors for my liking.

I vowed they could join us here so long as they stuck to the tops of the hills, our last defense for anyone caught fleeing.

“Follow the king,” I told the Kryv. “Take your marks, but if anyone sees Sabain, leave him for me.”

“Ah, but we all have such a distaste for him,” Fiske said.

“Swallow your distaste. He’s mine,” I snarled.

Raum spun a knife between his fingers. “Not if I catch him first, and I see rather well, so I wish you the best of luck.”

Bastards.

“Take your captor by the cuff.” Eryka’s wispy voice floated above the chuckles. Gunnar stood with the Kryv, but dressed like he was part of Valen’s army. A bridge between two worlds. If Gunnar was near, Eryka was also.

“What did you say?” I asked, more gruffly than intended.

The fae woman blinked twice. Battle runes on her face still did not manage to hide her innocence. She smiled. “I said nothing.”

“You said take your captor by the cuff,” Gunnar told her gently.

“Did I? Well, I suppose the stars are whispering again.”

“Do you not know how to work your own magic?” I glared at her, and Malin elbowed my ribs. “What?”

“She is an ally,” Malin murmured. “Your tone is harsh.”

“I amalwaysharsh,” I argued. “What good is a seer who does not know she is seeing?”

“Apologies,” Eryka said. Gunnar looked ready to slit my throat for speaking poorly of his new fae shadow, but the woman seemed wholly unbothered. “Lately, it seems my glamour comes and goes so quickly, I hardly have any time to hold tightly. If I said take your captor by the cuff, well, I would be taking anyone who looks capable of taking me into captivity by the cuff.”

I didn’t have time for her riddles.

Valen had already removed the twin battle axes off his belt. He held them up, a silent call to his warriors that battle was waging, then, with Elise by his side, he broke through the hedgerow.

Their warriors followed. I tightened my grip around the hilt of the skydguard short blade I’d been using. Darkness coated my body from head to shoulders.

“Fight to the end.” I murmured, taking strength from their returned responses. Then, I stepped into the night.

CHAPTERSEVEN

THE MEMORY THIEF

Buried in Kase’s darkness,Valen paused at the wooden fence line. No one breathed. No one moved. The king lowered to the ground, digging his fingertips into the soil.

I’d witnessed Valen’s magic several times over the weeks, but I did not think I’d ever lose the thrill of the earth shifting and cracking at his command.

Subtle at first, but soon unnerving shouts rose from the inner gardens of the grounds. At the next surge, the ground splintered. Violent waves snapped fence posts and cobbled paths. Horses thudded their hooves in the academy stables; sheep scattered.

I breathed deeply, filling my lungs with the scent of damp soil. When screams of terror came from the skydguard, a smile curled over my lips.

In the chaos of dust and debris Kase roared, “Go!”

Ash and Hanna pounded their drums. The battle tune was a simple warning. It would do nothing to save the camp, but the thought of the ominous sound adding to their fear was intoxicating. A bit of added strength for my mesmer.