“Won’tyou just promise me that you’ll come back for me?”
“Idon’t make promises thatIcan’t keep, my lady.”
Myheart squeezed in my chest in a wayIhadn’t felt in centuries.Iwanted to scream.Iwanted to grab them and not let go.Itwas so unlike me, and that was terrifying.
Mythoughts were disrupted by the harsh sway of the boat as it hit the dock.Avlyn’sface returned to that stone-cold warrior’s mask.
“Stayat my side as we disembark.”
Asthe troopslined themselves up in formation to storm the city,Avlynled me up the three-story tower.Onthe upper level next to the light used to guide ships sat a small telescope attached to the railing.Avlynswiveled it towards the city.
“Keepan eye out for any approaching enemy soldiers.Ifthey approach, don’t wait.Fleeto the countryside.Doyou understand?”
“Yes,”Iagreed, but the commander heard the lie.
“Donot wait for me,Pallas.It’stoo dangerous.Promiseme that you won’t.”
“Avlyn…”
“Promiseme.”Theirgaze was unyielding. but so was mine.
“Iwill, if you promise me that you will fight with everything you have to get back to me.”
“OfcourseIwill,Pallas.I—”
Igrabbed their face and pulled them into a deep kiss.Theygave a small yelp of surprise that was muffled by my lips before they surrendered, pulling me into a tight embrace.Icould have stayed there forever, but instead,Ionly lingered one heartbeat more before pushing them away.Theirmouth hung open in awe.
“Nowgo and retake your city.”
Avlynshook their head, regaining their senses, before smiling and turning to leave.
“Commander…”Theyturned their head back to me. “Don’tdie,”Iordered with a smile.
Avlynreturned it and gave a dramatic bow. “Ilive to serve, my lady.”Withthat, they took a step backward off the edge of the building.Iscrambled over to the railing and saw them land gracefully on top of a canvas booth before bounding off down the street after their cohort.
Chapter 38
Pallas
Imonitored the cohort’s progress through the sea district through the small telescope.Theymoved mostly unmolested as they cleared houses and guided citizens toward the castle.Ilet out a sigh of relief.Itseemed theGoldenArmyhad not made it that far into the city.
Isat back down, hidden behind the stone railing of the tower’s roof.Ilooked up at the massive mirror that lived on an equally large set of gears beneath it, allowing it to turn and shine across the bay, guiding ships to safety.Atits heart was a brazier filled with long-spent coals that had once been its light source.Itclearly hadn’t been lit in some time.Thedarkness was another protection from foreign ships in the bay.
Thenoonday sun glinted off the top of the mirror through the hole in the wooden roof that allowed the smoke to vent.Itwasn’t really all that interesting, butIwas becoming quite bored waiting at the top of this tower.Ilet out a small chuckle.Isthis how the princesses in the stories felt, bored out of their minds, waiting for their prince to return?
Yourprince, huh?Thevoice in my head sounded a great deal likeTori’s, andIcould just see her smug look as she said it.
Shutit,Iretorted to no one, but a smile crept onto my face, nonetheless.
Ihad resorted to the ancient pastime of naming the clouds in the sky when a terrible sound broke my boredom.Thecacophonous medley of dozens of armored soldiers marching towards the docks.
Ipressed myself to the ground and slowly crawled towards a sheltered crack in the railing to peer over.Rowsof soldiers clad in gold swarmed the docks and, just asAvlynhad said, headed straight for the boats.Theycarried torches and rolled barrels of whatIassumed was pitch, their armor clanking like a tide of death.
Theirmovements faltered as their steps halted.Theytugged at their feet, trying to move as the soldiers behind them almost trampled them.Ilooked at the ground, and in the glare of the noonday sun,Icould see a silvery, near invisible web coating the dock’s surface.
Then, a great roar sounded from the belly of the ships, and dozens ofDragonArmysoldiers sprang forth from beneath tarps and below the decks.Theyswarmed the golden soldiers, and swords clashed with violent delight.
Iducked below my railing, trying to calm my errant heart.Icouldn’t block out the sounds of screams, of men dying.Whichmen,Ididn’t know.AllIknew was that blood was being spilled, and it would never be able to be put back.Icovered my ears and crouched down.
