Page 262 of Scorched Earth

No, they haven’t retreated,Magnius answered.They’ve invaded Mudamora.

She’d been too late. All of this… every life lost, and she’d been too late to save Lydia and her friends.

Despair drove away elation, making her want to scream. Making her want to weep.

Instead, Teriana said, “Magnius, instruct the fleet to regroup at our safe harbor. We need to make plans to sail to Mudamora’s aid.”

100LYDIA

Lydia’s horse shifted restlessly beneath her, though she wasn’t entirely certain whether it was because the animal was unnerved by the steadythump, thump, thumpof marching men or because it sensed the anxiety the noise provoked in Lydia herself.

Bothwas probably the answer.

An hour past, Lydia had received information on their allies’ progress as they readied to destroy the xenthier stems, though the news was woefully dated. The messenger said that Teriana had secured an alliance with the rebels in Bardeen, that Sultan Kalin had rejoined his people on the western coast of Gamdesh, that Sonia had made contact with an Arinoquian warleader named Ereni, and that Vane had met with the Queen of Katamarca, who was apparently not nearly as entranced the Empire as she’d led everyone to believe. All parties had agreed to unite to fight back against the Empire’s incursion. By now, all should have successfully organized attacks to steal stores of the legion’s explosive powder, and they should all be readying for a united attack against the legion’s supply lines with the aim of destroying the xenthier they depended on.

Should, being the operative word, because Lydia had no news as to whether either step had been successful. And even if her allies had been victorious, it was too late for Mudamora.

Because the legions were here. Even without Marcus’s gruesome message, there was no doubt that the Cel were here for blood.

Astara had ascertained that the legions had traveled to Mudamora via a xenthier terminus south of their position. As to how they’d discovered it, the assumption was that Rufina had provided the information as part of her alliance with the Empire.

Agrippa had taken the development particularly poorly. “It’s my fault,” he’d muttered. “I was the one who told her about how the legions use xenthier. I was the one who put it in her mind that they could be used effectively for conquest.”

And with endless undead blighters at her disposal, it had been no doubt easy for Rufina to send path-hunters through stems they discovered without concern for their lives. Not that Lydia thought the Queen of Derin would have shown any compunction over using path-hunters who still lived.

Regardless, what was done was done. The delays they’d bled for to give Teriana more time had not been enough, because even as Marcus had negotiated with Helene, it seemed as though he had also been negotiating with Rufina.

Every bit the Empire’s perfect commander.

He’d outplayed them, and now Lydia’s army—Mudamorians, Anuk, and giants—was now pinioned between two enormous, united, and incredibly dangerous hosts. The chance to get to Deadground was lost. The only options now were to fight.

Because to surrender only meant a slower death.

Dareena and Xadrian held the line against the blight, their soldiers working nonstop to hold back the flow while Lydia and Killian stood before the giants and the Mudamorian cavalry, making ready to meet the might of the Empire.

Every possible preparation had been made, and now they stood on a ridge overlooking rolling hills of pastureland. On it stood a lone white tent, Celendor’s banners flying to either side, though Lydia had seen no one go in or out of it.

Killian sat slouched on Seahawk’s back, and next to him was Agrippa with Malahi on his right. For what felt like the hundredth time, Lydia reached up to touch the crown sitting on her head, for she hated the weight of it.

Seldrid had addressed everyone after the fight against theThirty-Seventh on the beach, and his words filled her mind now.In the coming weeks, what matters is unity. If we cannot stand together and win this, who holds the crown will not matter. Who holds anything will not matter, because all will be taken either by Celendor or the blight. Whoever wears the crown is not only a figurehead for our armies to follow but also a target for our enemies. Who here wishes to stand in that role in the fight to come?

Not one of the High Lords, not even the vainglorious Pitolt, had stepped forward, and when eyes had gone to Helene, she’d burst into tears and had to be taken away to calm down. Lydia hadn’t wanted to take the crown, either, but Malahi had spoken to her before the meeting began. “It has to be you,” her friend had said. “Not only are you the twice-marked chosen of Hegeria, you know both our enemies better than anyone else.”

“You know them nearly as well,” Lydia argued. “What’s more, you are more disposed to rule. I make every choice for those I love. To help others survive in the moment, even if I risk everyone to protect them. I’m not meant to wear a crown, Malahi.”

Malahi had looked away, her face drawn with shame. “If the Cel were our only foe, that might be true. But Rufina…” Her throat bobbed as she swallowed. “I’m terrified of her. And even more terrified that when it comes down to it, I’ll concede to the legions to evade her. Whereas you are not afraid. Please, Lydia. Please do this.”

And so Lydia had stepped forward and formally accepted the crown and every burden that came with it, none of them sitting easier as she stared out over the pastureland.

The only sign of Malahi’s apprehension was a slight tensing and untensing of the muscles in her jaw. Agrippa, however, was fidgeting like a child who’d been forced to sit too long, his mount pinning its ears in irritation.

“Why is he taking this risk?” Agrippa muttered. “Gamdesh was a prime jewel that would have sated the Senate for years, and he left half of it unconquered and millions of angry Gamdeshians ready to attack his rear. It doesn’t make any sense. Why is he fighting Rufina’s battle for her? Why is he risking the blight?”

“Revenge.” Lydia coughed to clear her throat. “We killed his men.”

“He’s not going to risk all the rest of them in a foolish move for the sake of revenge. He’s not like that.”

“My gold mines,” Malahi said. “We know Celendor wants them. Perhaps even needs them, given the costs this invasion will have incurred.”