Page 16

EILISH

Mortal Plane

“The clans are ready,” Kolvar announces outside my tent.

“Good,” I say as I pull the tent flap aside and Kolvar takes in my outfit with a pronounced smile.

Dragan was able to find armor for me from one of the guild masters. The armor is in pieces and the one I’m currently lifting over my head has an ebony cowl with a face guard that covers half my face. The shoulder braces are made of hard leather that’s surprisingly comfortable. My slender frame is cupped nicely by the tight leather breeches. A coat of demon fur rests on the chair beside me, but I forego the pelts just yet.

Serrated arm plates protect my biceps beneath layers of metal that connect to the shoulder braces. The breastplate is finely crafted from metal and covered with thick leather, embellished with the emblem of the Vindication: a flock of ravens morphs into a serpent wrapped around a dagger similar to the one Pyre gifted me. The sheath at my thigh holds the comfortable weight of the dagger, and my fingers brush the hilt as I fasten the last strap on my armor. In the sweltering air of the desert, I loathe the heat trapped in the leather. But I need protection.

Dragan ducks into the tent and trails his gaze over my figure. “The horses are ready, Eilish.”

“And the mercenaries?”

“Ready to follow your command,” he answers with a breathtaking smile. “Do you have the explosives?”

I nod. “In my knapsack,” I answer. There are three of them and they’re meant to explode the Threst and all the demons and orcs within it.

Dragan looks me up and down and nods as his eyes meet mine again. “You’re a good leader, Eilish. And your potential will only continue to grow.”

My cheeks flush as I rim my eyes with black coal. When my preparations are complete, I follow Dragan from the tent and see the army standing at the ready. The mercenaries look toward me with such expectation in their eyes, I feel overwhelmed. But with Dragan and Kolvar at my side, I take a deep breath and address my troops.

“I feel like you’re waiting for an explanation,” I begin. “A reason you’re risking your lives. But, there’s no explanation or reason I can give you that would suffice. All I can promise is that I won’t shield you from the truth. We face orcs and demons of impressive numbers. Spellcasters and dark fae, as well. But we face these foes together and we face them to protect the freedom of all who call the realms their home!”

An eruption of cheers follows my words and I mount the horse brought to me. “Let’s liberate the Threst and strike fear into the hearts of those who seek to oppress us and steal our freedom!”

I ride toward the gateway that leads to the fae realm. Dragan casts me another smile and I see the pride on his face. It fills me with warmth and a sense of pride I haven’t felt in as long as I can remember.

The ride through the dunes is long and the treacherous heat batters down on us. We pass through with the help of the Mages Guild and find ourselves not far from the entrance to Earlann—the place where Cambion led us while on the run from Anona and her goons.

I shove the terrible memories to the back of my mind. “Let’s make camp here,” I say before facing Dragan and Kolvar. “The three of us should scout ahead so we can strategize our attack.”

“Aye, that sounds fine by me,” Kolvar says.

I dismount the horse and tie her to a tree. “There don’t seem to be any sentries out. Strange, isn’t it? Last we were here, Variant had eyes all over this realm.”

“He’s placing his forces elsewhere—it could buy us time now but it will be a pain in the ass later,” Dragan complains. “We should get moving if we want to arrive beneath the guise of nightfall.”

“Do you have Noni’s map?” I ask.

He flashes the scrap of paper in his hand. I snatch it away with a little grin and pull my cowl lower. As I walk, I can feel the proof of Dragan’s incendiary claim from the night before. He must have taken me at least four times and each time he wanted me to detail my time with Baron and Pyre.

The map leads us to a large marsh. Every step feels unstable as we trek through the sodden earth. The ground squelches beneath my feet and I nearly fall, but Kolvar steadies me until I recover my balance. We continue down a path through the marsh until a hill appears up ahead. Beyond the hill, a large sphere hovers above the ground. Lying between us and the Threst is an army of orcs and demons, just as we suspected.

“Well, now we know where the sentries are,” I say.

“What’s the plan?” Kolvar asks.

Dragan’s gaze scans the legion before us. “I could take a group and cause a distraction. Eilish, you and Kolvar can make your way to the entrance.”

“You should take Myerdoth with you,” I suggest. “Circle around the west side and distract them. Kolvar and I will approach from the southeast and slip through the first gate. If there are wards, we might have to fight our way through them.”

“And if Morrigan’s there?” Dragan asks.

“Then we fight her, too,” I say with conviction. “I’m tired of running from her. It’s time she realizes what we’re capable of.”

“I agree,” Dragan says.

I nod. “Regardless, our priority remains the same. We set the fae free and we bring the mercenaries back to the stronghold.”

“If some of us fall?” Kolvar asks.

“Our fallen are not left behind, we bring them with us no matter what.” I kiss Dragan quickly but he grips me around the waist and pulls me closer.

“Be fucking careful,” he whispers into my mouth.

“You too, soldier,” I answer with a secretive smile. “Survive and you’ll be rewarded… amply.”

He smiles down at me as I pull away to move with Kolvar toward our position as the gargoyle makes his way back to the mercenaries.

Kolvar points up to the long staircase that rises toward the sphere. “That be the only way inside, I reckon.”

“No doubt there are guards on the other side as well.”

“What do you say? We go in with force?”

“No,” I say. “We go in with stealth.”

***

DRAGAN

The Threst

“I count at least four hundred guarding the sphere. How will we retreat?” Myerdoth asks. The ground begins to quake as we approach. An endless horde of beady eyes stare right at me, as though they hunger for my flesh. I lift my hand to stop the march toward the Threst . Myerdoth seems nervous; he must not have seen battle in quite some time, but the determination in his gaze is comforting.

“We retreat only when Eilish gives the signal. Until then, we’re on our own,” I answer.

I can smell the putrid stench of sweat clinging to chainmail and leather. Greasy, ghoulish green skin stretches tight over bulbous skulls with pronounced brows and extended lower jaws. Large teeth snap as the orcs bellow. A low growl makes my ears twitch and I see four large hounds move to the front of the horde. I’ve seen these creatures on the battlefield before, when I faced Variant and Theren. They’re like enormous wolves with black, matted fur and glowing yellow eyes.

“Stand your ground!” I ride in front of the soldiers, making sure the formations are in order. “Archers, fire!”

A hailstorm of arrows whistle through the air, whizzing past my ears as they strike their mark with a solid hit. Orcs screech and charge, with demons by their side.

“Ready, men!” My horse rides fast toward the army heading right at me. I meet Myerdoth’s gaze from where he sits astride his mount at the front.

He signals the attack and standing upright on my horse, I allow my wings to unfurl before I take to the sky, needing a better vantage point.

Swords and shields clash against one another in a chaotic boom that shakes the earth. Swooping down, I plow into a row of demons, knocking them back so the mercenaries can advance. Deadly spells fly across the battlefield as I summon my blade of shadow. A large demon approaches, his enormous head shielded by a thick helmet with a sharp point near the forehead. I twirl my blade with a flourish and raise it overhead, bringing it down on the demon’s chest. The mountainous creature howls, but shakes off the pain.

Suddenly, I feel my power pulled from me and my wings stop flapping. I fall downward and crash into a group of armored demons. My head rings and spots dance in my vision, but I climb to my feet and spread my wings once more. Golems, faeries, shifters, and vampires fight side by side in a battle reminiscent of one that had long been forgotten. Lycans summon their beast forms and attack with a fury as winged hybrids toss orcs from one end of the field to the other. Expressions of sheer terror on both sides of this fight make me hate Morrigan even more.

“Myerdoth!” I shout, warning the gargoyle a demon is sneaking up behind him. He quickly decapitates the demon and then races over to my side. “I need you to help me take down one of the large ones,” I say. “The fewer of those big fuckers, the better.”

He takes one look at the colossal demon and quirks a brow. “You expect me to fight that?”

“Not alone.”

The surly gargoyle grumbles something under his breath, and I find myself wondering if this is how my companions feel whenever I give them attitude.

Myerdoth goes high while I go low, pounding my fist into the demon’s knee until I hear it pop backwards. The sickening crunch of bone causes the huge creature to groan loudly. Myerdoth delivers a harsh blow to its throat and the demon topples over, crushing several small orcs underneath it.

“Next time I’m in direct danger, I’m stabbing you in the leg and using you as bait,” Myerdoth bitches.

I laugh in the midst of the fight. I’ve missed this. Not the violence or bloodshed, but the camaraderie and the thrill of battle.

My blade slices through armor and cuts down my enemies with great ease. I fight beside creatures I once considered beneath me, but now I see them in a different light. Each of us is the same. Just as important as the next. And all are crucial to this rebellion.

Myerdoth sidesteps an attack and tosses me his blade. I swing both his and mine in a deadly arch. The body crumples to the floor and I return Myerdoth his blade.

We fight side by side until the swarm is too dense. Thradsaryl wraith warriors flood the battlefield, sweeping across the land like a fatal storm. Orcs and demons alike scream out into the night as the full moon illuminates the gory scene taking place all around me. Blood stains my armor and covers my face. I can taste the coppery tinge of death on my lips and I fight to defend my wounded allies.

“Myerdoth! Take the spellcasters up the hill with the archers. Attack from a distance. The rest of us will hold off the bulk of the army,” I yell.

Turning, I feel a shield bash into my skull. My knees give and I fall to the ground, stumbling back as I shake my head to clear it. Moments later, I’m back on my feet and I cleave the opponent in two. Another demon attacks, but this time I’m too late. One of the Seelie mercenaries jumps in front of me, taking the blow before I have time to react. I kill the demon with a battle cry that makes nearby orcs scurry away in fear.

I look down and kneel beside the Seelie woman who gave her life for mine.

She smiles. “I... always thought gargoyles were arrogant, entitled pricks.” She nods. “And I was right,” the mercenary chuckles.

“Thank you for saving my life,” I breath as I hold her.

“I believe in the cause you fight for.” A tear falls from her large eyes and slithers down her cheek. I lift her from the ground and carry her away from the fighting.

“Hold on for me,” I whisper to her.

“There may not be hope left for me, but my people can still be saved.”

“I’ve seen the world beyond this one, and there is more peace in the Veil than there will ever be in the realms,” I tell her as I watch the fight in her eyes begin to fade. “The one who guards the souls who call the spirit world their home will take care of you,” I finish as she closes her eyes and a sweet smile takes hold of her lips. “He won’t allow your death to be in vain. Rest now. And may Pyre deliver you to serenity.”