I had to give it to whoever was bombarding the Academy—the middle of the night was the perfect opportunity for a sneak attack when we were all asleep and least expecting it. When we couldn’t see anything.
“Sasori,” I called before she could leave my classroom. “What are we up against?”
She paused, turning to face me, her expression hard and unreadable.
“The rebellion is here. And so are the gods,” she said before whirling on the heel of her boot.
Chapter 85
Rohak
The mess hall was a blur of activity—hundreds of Mages and Vessels, cadets and fully-Awakened soldiers, stood in various clusters throughout the space. The tables that normally filled the floor were pushed haphazardly to the side by hand, no one daring to use whatever reserves of magic they possessed in anticipation of the coming fight.
No doubt, it would be the fight for our lives.
Another bone-rattlingthumpechoed throughout the space, shaking the stone walls and sending glittering dust to rest on the heads of soldiers and every available surface. Conversation was momentarily silenced in the aftermath of the latest attack, but when the Academy stopped shaking, voices buzzed in earnest. I caught snippets as I made my way to the front of the hall, Gisei following closely behind.
“Who is here?”
“What is happening?”
“Why is someone attacking the Academy?”
“Where is King d’Refan? Where is the Queen?”
The last two questions felt like a punch to my solar plexus. In my haste to return to the Academy, I’d neglected my dutyas second-in-command to check in with Alois and Ellowyn. Even if our relationship was strained, it was still my job, my responsibility, to ensure their safety.
I grunted slightly as I shouldered my way past bodies. Eventually, a hushed whisper fell over the gathered soldiers as they realized the General was in their midst. I hastily climbed on top of a table left open at the front of the room. What I had to say was important, and we had to organize quickly if we were to neutralize the threat outside these walls. My Vessel, ever the dutiful companion, stood on the ground just next to my feet. If it were any other day or time, I’d pull her up on the table with me, but her notions and beliefs were so well-ingrained, I doubt she’d even be comfortable up here.
Faylinn would.The thought was unbidden and unwelcome at the moment. I couldn’t be distracted right now, couldn’t let my focus waver, or I risked dooming us all.
The mess hall sank into eerie silence as we listened to the faded booms as magical attacks struck the Air Barriers that surrounded each of the buildings in Vespera.
They will fall soon. They weren’t foolproof, but provided us a measure of breathing room while we formulated a plan. And thank the gods we had the wherewithal to construct those Air Barriers so long ago—without them in place, we’d all be crushed beneath the weight of the Academy by now.
Faces, both young and old, male and female, looked up at me, waiting in earnest for my instructions. I saw the same emotions I felt roiling beneath my skin reflecting back at me—a mixture of trepidation, concern, and fury.
How dare they attack our home?
“By now you’ve noticed we are under attack,” I said, my voice loud in the quiet of the space. I was lucky that the soldiers were all disciplined enough to listen to my words without speakingover me. I didn’t want to use anyone’s magic to project my voice if I could avoid it.
“We are unsure of who—or what—awaits us outside the protective barrier surrounding the square, but we’ll meet them with the same fury, the same hatred that they show us,” I said, and a rousing murmur followed my declaration. Men and women shifted, crossing arms or reaching for their Vessels, looks of hardened determination falling across their faces.
Good. We’d need that tonight.
“Fully-Awakened soldiers, I want you in your normal task forces. Sol, Lex, and I will take point on three additional groups. Points, name a successor to your group before we move out. If the worst happens and you fall in battle, your group is not to be without a leader or a plan.” Grim faces and jerked nods met my order, followed by a few of my named points casting looks about the space to find the remainder of their teams. “The goal is to neutralize the threat by any means necessary. Secondary is to protect the integrity of the buildings. But you abandon that pursuit if your fight draws you away from the center. We know this city. We know these streets. Take the battle to them if you must. Conserve crystals where necessary; make sure each team’s Air Mage casts protective barriers around each member before you leave the Academy grounds. Attack while your barrier is effective, defend first once it falls. If all else fails and you burn through your crystals or—gods forbid—you burn out your Vessel, I expect each of you to have steel weapons at the ready. We are the fucking King’s Army, and wedo notdie until we’ve exhausted every last fucking ounce of magic, every last bit of fight that exists in our bones. Even at that point, you fucking fight. You fight until Fate rips you from this plane. Do you understand me?” My voice grew in fervor until I was practically vibrating with rage and anticipation.
My excitement caught through the gathered Mages and Vessels to a resounding chorus of “Yes, General!”
I nodded my head once, acknowledging their commitment to the cause.
“And by the gods,” I said, my voice shaking, “if Fate takes you, I will meet you in the ether. Whether it’s today or a hundred years from now, there will be a table for us to drink and celebrate your sacrifice to this city. To this kingdom. To your brothers and sisters standing next to you.” Movement caught my eye as I saw Lex slip through the doors at the back of the hall, and I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding when I saw Faylinn follow closely behind. Dressed in full Academy blacks—boots even—her hair was pulled into a tight bun at the top of her head, a few curly tendrils already escaping, and she was outfitted to the teeth with a slew of knives strapped to her belt and thighs. As she strode through the room with Lex, I even caught the glint of a few pushed inside the tops of her boots.
My little warrior.
Faylinn’s expression was grim, her mouth a thin, pale line, and I could have sworn some of the tattoos that dotted her skin were darker, as if they’d been enhanced recently.
“General.” Lex’s voice echoed through the space, pulling me from my examination of Faylinn. She caught my eye at the last second and gave me a jerky nod of acknowledgment before she faded into the crowd, obviously to find a group to join.
