Page 29

27

V alda held onto Isen for dear life. He thrashed about, fighting to reach the wagon where his mate was. Words spilled from Valda’s mouth, hoping to ease him, wishing she had Kayden’s gift. She wished she could calm Isen, but she knew there was nothing she could do other than hold on to him as he fell to his knees, clutching to her blouse as he called out to Melvian again, his voice breaking into a desperate sob.

Pulling at him, she tried to get him away from the chaos. If they wanted to survive, they needed to fight or leave, and Isen was in no way ready to fight.

Isen pushed Valda away, towering over her as he turned towards the sandy hills surrounding them. Any moment now, the sky would be shadowed by arrows. Unsheathing her sword, Valda grabbed Isen by his shirt and pushed him towards the wagon as the ground shook. Valda froze as she connected her gaze with Isen’s.

Explosions?

“Get them out of here now!” Valda said, referring to Isen’s family and Maris.

Her words died as she peered over Umbriel’s sandy hills to the dense haboob towering into the sky. As the impenetrable cloud of sand dashed them, Valda saw people moving within it.

Isen didn’t wait. Grabbing Valda, he dragged her with him towards the wagon.

Snatching the wooden back door, Valda froze as she looked from Maris’s tear-drenched face to the unmoving body in front of her. Next to her, Isen shuddered in a breath, as his grip on the door wavered.

“Isen…” Maris whimpered. She was unsure what to do with her blood-stained hands.

“We have to go now,” Isen ordered, his voice cracked as he stared at his mate.

“Maris, no one is commanding the horses. I need you to do so,” Valda said.

The soft cry of one baby drowned Maris’s sob and stole her attention from the corpse. “Isen, I am so sorry.”

“This is not the time. We must get out of here alive…” Isen said, his eyes focused upon his mate. If it wasn’t for the obscenity of the arrows and the blood drenching her clothing, anyone could’ve sworn she was sleeping.

Maris nodded before swiftly jumping off the wagon and running towards the horses. The sky darkened again.

Arrows covered the sky above her and as the weapons descended upon her, a ravaging heat surfaced from somewhere behind her. Valda threw her entire body on Maris, covering her just as a thick flame burned the arrows meant to kill them.

As the ash covered their skin, Valda sharply tugged at Maris’s arm, guiding her to the horses.

“You have to leave now, Maris!” Valda’s voice broke as she lifted Maris to one horse and shoved the reins in her hands. “I will see you again. I promise.”

Valda was undone, fear striking her features. Her hands were shaking uncontrollably, and her eyes were glued to Maris, almost begging her to please listen to her.

Maris clasped her hands and nodded before leaning forward and pressing her lips to hers. “Find me.”

“Always, Seashell,” Valda said, squeezing her hands one last time.

Grabbing the long reins, Maris commanded the petrified horses to move.

Taking another horse, Valda jumped on it and called out to Isen, who settled behind the wagon and pushed it hard enough to get it going. “Isen! Get in!” Valda said, watching how Eyphah nodded at her words.

“Get in, Isen! Please!” Eyphah said, struggling to hold the two infants in her arms.

“Not yet.” He looked up at Valda and waved his arm angrily at her. “Go! Fuck those assholes up! Leave no one alive!”

Valda was taken aback by Isen’s words, but didn’t waste a second as she kicked the horse’s flank and ran towards the haboob. A bomb exploded behind her just as another horse ran next to her. As the gallops got closer, Valda turned to watch Kenna pull the ax from her waist, gritting her teeth and raising her weapon over her head. Valda raised the Heaven Sword as well, as they entered the storm.

Valda was used to haboobs. When she was younger, Arwin would take her to Umbriel to train. He would have her endure the ruthlessness of the burning desert and sandstorms. She had to live between the caves, waiting for the storm to subside. But there was something off about this haboob.

With a bellow, Valda encapsulated herself and Kenna in a tight air bubble, protecting them from the cutting sand blowing around them. Their horses did not waver. As her grip on the Heaven Sword grew taut, she saw the eerie silhouette of a large troop, and in front of it, a man galloped on his black horse.

Piercing hazel eyes met Valda’s honey ones.

A cold shudder ran down her spine at the sight of the scar from the man’s temple to his chin.

Arwin .

“Remember, Valda!” Kenna yelled, spinning the ax in her hand before pointing it at Arwin. “We are the new gods!”

Valda took a deep breath, nudging the horse’s sides harder. Valda gritted her teeth as she prepared her body and got closer to the man responsible for everything.

A gust of wind slammed against her chest, knocking the air out of her lungs. Valda shook her head and turned her attention back to Arwin. He lifted his hand and moved it forward. Another gust moved through the bubble, but this time, Valda captured it within her hands, dissolving the attack into nothing.

With a final grunt, she deflected another gust and jumped off her horse, tackling Arwin off his steed and onto the sand.

The haboob disappeared, as did Valda’s protective cocoon. For a second, she searched for Arwin within the thick sand. The sudden blast of sand next to her knocked her momentarily off her feet. Besides her, Arwin emerged from the within the ground, his hazel eyes burning through her.

“Found you,” Arwin snarled, raising his sword. Valda deflected his strike easily, pushing him off her.

A lick of flame pushed her back, creating a distance between her and Arwin.

Kenna jumped off her horse, her ax still in her hand as she presented it to Arwin, the flames disintegrating into embers.

Arwin’s confused gaze shifted between Valda and Kenna. His face contorted as he realized what was happening.

“An alliance?” he asked, surprised .

“And here you thought I was a lousy ruler. I keep bringing the kingdoms together.” Valda grinned.

Arwin’s eyes narrowed as he clutched his sword tightly with one hand. The other stretched towards Valda, aiming his attack at her. Whirling winds surged forward, laced with an icy chill, intending to knock her off balance. Valda responded by flicking her wrist and creating an opposing current that shielded her from Arwin’s assault.

Seeing her chance, Kenna lunged at Arwin, wielding her ax with both hands. But Arwin was swift, evading her blows with an agility Valda had seen time and time again. Although older than both, Arwin knew more about fighting than anyone Valda had known. He retaliated with a counterstrike, sending a razor-sharp breeze slicing toward Kenna, who barely deflected the attack with her ax.

Valda seized the opportunity to strike, her sword slicing through the air. Arwin redirected the trajectory of her strikes, causing her to face her own assault. Valda’s eyes widened. She pivoted, using her connection to the winds to regain control of her weapon. Valda dashed towards him and slammed the handle of her sword against his temple, ignoring the sound of bone cracking.

Arwin stumbled back, and Valda struck his sword’s handle before he could gather himself. The weapon tumbled to Valda’s feet, who kicked it away from Arwin’s reach. The General fell, blood pouring from his left temple, his sight lost to the blunt force of Valda’s strike.

Suddenly, the crumbling explosions faded into the sound of horses galloping toward the Sealians. Dread ran through Valda’s back. Maris and the rest were still there.

Fuck !

Without a warning, a sharp strike to her stomach pushed her down to the sand, knocking her grip on the Heaven Sword. Valda landed a fist over Arwin’s already injured temple pushing him off her enough to get her back to her feet.

Looming over Arwin, she kicked the man’s jaw. Landing on his back, Valda straddled his waist and grabbed his throat.

“Would you like me to pull the air out of your lungs or would you rather die with my hands around your neck, you fucking traitor?”

Arwin clutched her wrist, his eyes shifting to a distinctive dark brown. His hair lengthened, growing long and dark. Parting his lips, a feminine voice pierced through.

“Valda, stop!” Rionach’s unique voice filtered through the tight gasps of air .

Valda’s grip faltered, her fingers trembling as they uncurled from the neck of the figure beneath her. Her breath hitched, sharp and shallow, as she stumbled backward.

Her mother touched her neck, coughing and fighting to breathe again. Valda’s hands, still trembling, clenched into fists at her sides. “This isn’t real,” she whispered, her voice hoarse and breaking. “You’re not real.”

Eris…

Eris’s eyes, her mother’s eyes, watched her, unblinking. The smile that spread across her lips was wrong. It was twisted, ugly, and completely different from the smile that Valda remembered.

“Valda,” the voice came, and Valda’s stomach turned when she recognized it. “You wouldn’t hurt your own mother, would you?”

The weight of her mother’s gaze bore into her, and for a moment, Eris’s illusion almost cracked through her defenses. But then, the air split with a sharp sound, followed by the deafening thud of steel cleaving into flesh.

Valda flinched, as blood sprayed across the ground in an arc. With a gasp, Valda turned from the stained sand to see Kenna’s ax buried into Eris’s shoulder, missing the head by mere inches.

“No!” Valda panicked as bile rose in her throat. Her mother’s face contorted in pain as she staggered.

For a moment, all Valda could see was her —her mother, struck down, bleeding, crumpling under the weight of Kenna’s attack.

But then the illusion shifted once more.

Eris’s form flickered, her features warping into someone else. The blood that dripped from her shoulder sizzled on the ground, black and reeking of sulfur.

Kenna stood firm; her ax still embedded in Eris’s shoulder. “I did not take you as a sentimentalist, Valda Aither,” Kenna said, her grip on the ax growing taut. “You have a mission. We have a mission!“ Placing her boot on Eris’s back as leverage, Kenna yanked her ax free, more black blood spraying as she took a step back. “I should apologize. It seemed your mate was telling the truth.”

Valda snapped her eyes from the bleeding goddess to Kenna, a scoff surfacing from her chest. “Now you notice?”

“We are both two hotheaded women.” She shrugged. “In another life, we would’ve been sisters. Now, take your sword. Let us be remembered as the ones that killed the goddess Eris. ”

Valda stretched her hand out, palm upward. From beneath the sand, the Heaven Sword burst forth, slicing through the air before landing firmly in Valda’s grasp.

The black blood pooled at Eris’s feet writhed as if alive. The blood shot to Eris, who still was disguised as Rionach. Black tendrils swallowed Eris, taking her body and engulfing her into a tight cocoon. Valda’s stomach twisted as the shape within the black cocoon changed. Eris’s figure grew, her jagged features hardening. When the tendrils finally receded, another familiar figure stood where Eris had been.

Kenna froze, and her eyes widened.

King Vulcan stood before them, his barbarian garment was battered and bloodied, the crimson streaks soaking into the furs. He clutched his side as if trying to stem the flow of an unseen wound, his breath shallow and labored.

Valda’s heart lurched as she glanced at Kenna, who seemed to be rooted in the sand. Her lips parted as if trying to form words. Her chest heaved, the ax in her grip trembling slightly.

“Are you fucking kidding me?!” Valda bellowed. “Kenna, it’s not him!”

King Vulcan’s form stumbled forward, his wounded frame sagging as though he could collapse at any moment. “ Please, Kenna. Lay down your weapon. Don’t make this worse .“ If Valda didn’t know any better, she would’ve believed the disguise, especially with the perfectly spoken Arevulcan.

Kenna’s lower lip quivered, her eyes staring up at the figure of her father. Tears gathered at the corner of her eyes. “ Father,” Kenna called.

“Kenna, step back. She is not getting away!”

“No! Don’t!” Kenna screamed, her voice raw as Valda thrust the sword forward, the blade piercing through King Vulcan’s back. The sound of steel cutting flesh rang out, and the figure let out a strangled gasp, its body crumpling forward.

“And you call me sentimental!” Valda snarled, pulling the sword out from Eris’s body. “That’s not your father! It’s Eris. You know it is!”

“ Fuck this!” Kenna screamed in Arevulcan. She dropped her ax, running toward the fallen man. She skidded to his side, her hands trembling as she cradled his face.

“I know it’s Eris. I know, but…” Kenna shook her head. “You don’t understand.” Her grip tightened on his face.

Before either of them could say another word, a deafening boom tore through the air, and Valda was thrown back by the force of the blast. Fire and heat surged around them, followed by a choking cloud of sand and debris. Kenna reacted instantly, throwing herself over Valda to shield her from the worst of the explosion.

“Stay down!” Kenna shouted, her voice muffled by the storm of sand that erupted around them.

Valda could feel the surrounding fire, burning flesh and hair and clothing. The smell was nauseating. Within the fiery explosion, a sandstorm formed, swirling violently around them.

Kenna tightened her grip on Valda, while the whipping sand stung their skin and filled their lungs. The sand cut at Valda’s exposed skin, and the wind threatened to knock her off her feet. But she gritted her teeth and pushed her palm outward.

A burst of air emanated from Valda’s hand, forming an invisible shield around them. The sand and wind slammed against it but couldn’t break through. Valda stood firm, her other arm wrapping around Kenna’s shoulders, holding her steady.

“I’ve got you,” Valda muttered. She planted her feet, her focus entirely on keeping the shield intact as the storm raged around them.

The storm finally settled, the sand falling away along with the debris of broken wagons and forgotten weapons. The dune was eerily silent now, save for the faint whistle of the wind. Kenna straightened, brushing sand from her face, and looked around.

Eris was gone.

All that remained was a patch of blackened sand, stained with Eris’s blood. Valda stared at it as rage bubbling deep within her.

“She’s gone,” Kenna muttered before closing her eyes and raising her hand. Seconds later, the ax flew to her hand, her knuckles white as she gripped it.

Valda’s gaze lingered on the black sand. “That explosion… that storm, that wasn’t Eris,” she breathed, her grip tightening on the Heaven Sword. “Arwin was here. I just know it.”

Kenna let out a shaky breath and turned to Valda. Her face was streaked with sand and sweat, her makeup smudged. “Where are the rest of his men, then?”

Valda didn’t reply, her focus shifting to the faint rumble of hooves in the distance.

The sound grew louder, accompanied by the sight of a cavalry tearing through the desert dunes.

“ Fucking Skylians…“ Kenna growled, strapping her ax to her waist with force. She cracked her neck and shook her arms, readying herself. “I spoke too soon.”

Valda let out a dry laugh, sheathing the Heaven Sword and taking a step next to Kenna. “I must say, this has been the longest training session we ever had.” The sound of the horses and soldiers getting closer did not faze her. Kenna had proven to be a wonderful ally in combat.

“ I could’ve ended this minutes ago,” Kenna lowered her body to the ground. “Sentimentalist.”

“Speak for yourself, bitch.” Valda grinned, proud that she had learned a couple of curse words in Arevulcan from Kayden.

The soldiers surged closer, while shouts of commands were barely audible through the deafening sound of gallops. Valda and Kenna exchanged a glance before Valda tilted her head towards the incoming throng.

“Think we can manage this without our weapons?” Valda asked.

Kenna’s grin widened. “Do not doubt your god-given gift.”

Valda planted her feet firmly in the sand, her arms rising as she turned in slow movements. The wind howled in response, swirling around her like the sand beneath them shifted and rose, forming into a tornado. The vortex grew wider and stronger with each sweep of Valda’s arms, pulling soldiers and horses into its grasp.

Kenna, standing beside her, stretched out her hands and drew a deep breath, her chest expanding. With a sharp exhale, a torrent of flame shot from her mouth, twisting and merging with Valda’s tornado.

“Hot enough for you?” Kenna quipped, planting her hands on her hips and watching the destruction with satisfaction.

The fiery tornado roared louder than the screams of the soldiers it consumed, its heat warping the air, scorching everything it touched. Kenna’s grin faltered for a moment as she glanced at Valda, who was now on one knee, her hands braced against the ground as she struggled to maintain the storm’s power.

“Don’t tell me you’re getting tired already,” Kenna teased, but Valda picked up the concern in her voice.

“I’m fine,” Valda gritted out, though her forehead was already damp with sweat.

Kenna gave a loud sigh and waved a hand dismissively. “ Weakling .“ She inhaled sharply, her hands glowing as she channeled more fire into the vortex. The flames surged, devouring the last remnants of Arwin’s army.

As the last scream died away, the tornado dissipated as the flames vanished into faint embers until fading.

Valda collapsed on her hands and knees, her chest heaving. She needed a moment, but already Kenna was striding over to her .

The barbarian grabbed Valda’s blouse and yanked her upright with a sharp tug. “Well done, Valda Aither.” She chuckled and slapped her hand firmly on Valda’s back.

“I wish I could allow you a moment of respite, but we have to move,” Kenna said before scrunching her nose.

The smell of burn flesh was almost too much for both women to take. Valda brushed the back of her hand under her nose and sighed in disgust.

“If that bitch isn’t dead, we wounded her with our holy weapons. She’s dying, and we need to act fast.”

“She can heal, right?”

“A wound from a holy weapon? No!” Her purple eyes gleamed. “These so-called ‘gods’ can be killed.” She scoffed. “There was no ‘Great Disappearance.’” Kenna said, a smile spreading through her features. “This is what happened to them.”

Valda frowned as Kenna’s words sank in. The gods had been killed ? Her head swam with the implications, and she shook it, her exhaustion making it hard to think. It was a miracle she was still standing at all.

Kenna’s hands gripped her shoulders, forcing Valda to meet her intense gaze. “If she’s working with Arwin, she chose him to pass on her powers. We cannot let that happen.”

“He will have the gifts of two gods then…” Valda said before arching a brow at Kenna. “Has that ever happened before?”

Kenna swallowed hard and squeezed Valda’s shoulders tighter. “Facing Arwin with the strength of two gods coursing through him will be no small task,” she paused arched her brow and added, “I can assure you.”

Valda nodded slowly, her body screaming for rest, her legs threatening to give out beneath her. But Kenna gave her a firm shake, “Do not let your body tell you when you are done, Valda,” Kenna said, stepping back and turning to leave. “Meet me at Prospero. We’ll get the Sealians out!”

Swallowing the curse that threatened to escape her lips, she watched as Kenna ran off toward the Sealians, her energy seemingly untouched.

Valda wouldn’t admit it out loud, but she was jealous of the other woman’s stamina… Drained and aching, Valda turned to the nearest horse. The animal was skittish, its eyes wide and nostrils flaring from what had happened, but she steadied it enough to climb into the saddle .

Gripping the reins tightly, she urged the horse forward, her mind already turning to Maris. She had to get to her, had to warn her. She pushed the horse harder, the desert stretching before her.

As she neared the site where the bombs had gone off, the sand was scorched black, littered with shredded clothing, splintered wood, and the broken remains of water barrels. Valda was about to press forward when movement caught her eye— someone was staggering in her direction.

Her breath caught as she reined the horse in sharply, leaping from the saddle to land near the man. His long blue hair was tousled, streaked with sand and ash. His shirt was scorched and charred; his back marred with burns. He stumbled, his legs giving out beneath him, but Valda was there in an instant.

“Isen!” Valda called, falling on her knees and catching him just as he was about to hit the ground.

“I’m fine,” Isen said between gulps of air. “I’m fine.”

Valda brushed his hair away from his face, her fingers trembling slightly. Isen was in bad shape and by the looks of it there was no Sealian water she could give him.

His eyes were unfocused and lost. She had never seen him like that. Pressing her palm to his cheek, he leaned into her touch. Valda swallowed hard, before she shifted, pulling his heavy arm over her shoulder and turned to her horse. “Come on. Let’s go.”

She got Isen onto the horse, settling him behind the saddle. Once he was secure, Valda climbed up, taking her place in front. Isen leaned forward, his sweaty forehead pressing against her shoulder than his arms hung limply at his sides. Valda nudged the horse’s flank with her heels and sped to Prospero.