Page 115 of Embrace the Serpent

My heart twinged at the look on her face, but I had no time to waste. If the Emperor wasn’t already awake, he would be any second.

I called for the horse, and after a heartbeat, Grimney echoed me.

Out of the mist in the air, the horse materialized. Grimney helped me up—pushing my feet from below, like a highly motivated footstool—and as soon as I was seated, the horse took off, Grimney holding on to my skirts.

The battlefield was all noise and chaos, and I didn’t understand why this had to be the way people solved their problems. The scent of blood mingled with the dust and ash that hung in the air.

Screams and the clashing of steel came from every direction, so loud I knew that no one would hear me or be able to obey any command I gave, even if I could keep holding the tourmaline collar to my neck while on horseback.

The horse did its best to dodge spears and arrows. One clipped its ear, and the ear burst into droplets that splashed my face.

The arrow whistled past, just inches past my head.

The horse reared back, refusing to go toward Rane. There were too many soldiers. We couldn’t get through.

I could’ve wept with frustration, if I weren’t so afraid.

A horn blew—a familiar sound.

Huntsmen. I rode to them, elated, until I noticed they wereriding away from the battle. They were splattered in mud and blood, weariness on their faces.

They surrounded me. “My lady, we must retreat!”

“The Serpent King—”

One huntsmen drew close. “He’s gone.”

My heart stopped.

“Nothing can stop him. He doesn’t recognize friend from foe.” He looked to a huntsman who was riding double, his head lolling, a makeshift bandage around his waist.

“I have his heartstone,” I said, lifting it. “I can turn him back. Please.”

“We can’t lose any more men. We should get home and flee with our families. Does your mother not wait for you?”

“Fine,” I said. “I’ll go alone.”

“My lady!” he called as I urged the horse on, pushing through the huntsmen. He caught up beside me and said, “It’s hopeless.”

“I said fine. Don’t come.”

His mouth snapped shut, and he shook his head. “You are a lot like him.”

He raised the horn to his lips and blew two triumphant notes.

On either side of me, the huntsmen surged forward, weapons raised against the Imperial soldiers, as they cleared a path for me.

Ahead, amidst the carnage, the Serpent King towered, his massive serpentine body weaving through the throng of soldiers. His silver scales had grown dim under a layer of dust that mingled with the deep red of what could only be blood. Spears protruded from his flanks, but he moved with relentless fury, his eyes ablaze. There wasnothing of Rane in them, only pure destruction.

He had lost himself. Without his heart, he was a primal beast driven by vengeance and pain. His tail lashed out, sending soldiers flying on both sides, his jaws snapping with lethal precision. They fell before him, terror etched on their faces, knowing they were no match for his size, for his wrath.

My horse surged forward, through the path carved by the huntsmen, and we cut through the chaos. I leaned low over its neck, urging it on, feeling the rhythmic pounding of its hooves beneath me.

A shadow flickered in the corner of my eye, and something struck us. I crashed to the ground, the horse vanished into mist, and Grimney tumbled away.

The wind was knocked out of me. I wheezed, scrambling to my feet, half crawling to where the heartstone had fallen. It was in danger, surrounded by soldiers in metal-tipped shoes, horses with iron hooves. One kicked it, sending it skittering.

Feet stopped before me, clad in platinum shoes, and a deep voice bellowed, “Destroy the stone!”