“Done,” I said as I started to climb down the tree, dropping the last few feet with athunk. I heard three other thuds as each of my Mages hit the ground. We ran across the empty courtyard, and I willed the grass to join together to create four ladders against the smooth stone of the courtyard wall. As one, we grabbed onto the grassy rungs of our respective ladders and, before long, were at the crest of the wall.
“No matter what happens, stick together as much as possible. Our goal is to draw the rebels away from the Academy. That’s it. Once that is accomplished, we radio back to the General,” I said, the top of my head barely cresting the wall. All three Mages nodded in grim assent before I pulled myself over the top of the wall with shaking, clammy hands.
What am I doing? I’m a queen—and barely that—not a warrior.
My reservations came too late to stop my feet from striking the stone with athwap. My magic instantly flared, ashes and embers and sweet-smelling vines curling possessively around my shaking hands in anticipation of the fight to come.
“Where to first, little queen?” Tine asked from over my left shoulder. He had to shout just to be heard over the cacophony of battle. Unintelligible shouts were overpowered by the crackle and boom of magical attacks, the shrill screams of men and women as they died, a sharp undercurrent. The acrid scent of smoke flooded my lungs when I inhaled to reply, forcing me to cough violently.
I quickly surveyed the groups of rebels through my watering eyes. There was no rhyme or reason to their placements, no strategic movement. Just a mass of Mages and Vessels, all hell-bent on razing the Academy to the ground.
My gaze focused on the Fire Mage who incinerated the unAwakened cadet moments before, and I pointed with a shaky finger.
“That one,” I yelled to be heard over the constant booming and crackling of magic. My team nodded, each readying their magic as we quickly made our way behind the attacking rebels.
“Hey, asshole!” Leal shouted once we were within speaking distance—not too close as to block the exits from the Academy. A few rebels turned at the sound of her voice, dropping the control on their magic incrementally—just enough for the task force caught in the protective overhang of the Academy’s main entrance to jump from the stairs and run along the side of the building.
A few Mages and two Vessels with feral grins broke away from the main group to approach my small task force. My Destruction Magic flared, sensing the approaching threat. I held onto my magic, containing it as best I could, waiting for the most opportune moment to strike.
Not yet—they stepped closer, one Mage readying a large fireball while the other created a water vortex that spun faster than I’d ever seen.
Just as they were about to release their creations, I screamed, “Now!”
As one, we let our magics loose, and I watched as the chaos unfolded.
Chapter 87
Faylinn
Iflew through the Academy, uncaring of the noises I was making as I ran—they were barely discernible over the cacophony of battle and the loud calls of group leaders as they instructed and armed their task forces. I bypassed the armory, dozens of my personal blades already strapped to my thighs, tucked into my boots, and nestled within my belt. Unlike the knives and sharp objects attached to the other soldiers, mine were not for fighting.
Mine were for reinstating the wards within the Academy and, eventually, surrounding Vespera. The protection awarded by the barrier surrounding the city would not hold indefinitely—judging by the crackling noise that echoed with each blast of magic, it would collapse soon. Honestly, reinforcing those wards should be my priority, but once I exited the Academy, there was no guarantee I would make it back inside.
And I promised Torin I’d meet him on the other side of the tunnel.
My gut churned at the thought that I had a hand in creating this mess; that hundreds would die tonight because ofinformation I gave to the rebellion, because he claimed to know my mother. But I knew, deep in my soul, that this wasright.
Alois d’Refan was no longer fit to rule, and Ellowyn needed to be removed from his clutches. The obvious and safest place for her was with the only other godling. It also helped that my mother, the Bondsmith, was hiding in Lishahl with Torin’s remaining forces. The rebels’ attack on the Academy was simply a diversion—they were instructed not to engage or kill our Mages, but battle did funny things to normal, rational people.
It was almost inevitable that they would engage with our task forces, especially since our soldiers had no way of knowing that the rebels weren’t here to kill them, weren’t trying to overthrow Alois—yet.
I just had to pray that Torin located Ellowyn quickly.
I took the stairs down, skipping every other step and nearly tripping on my boots in the process.
“Shit, fuck,” I muttered when I had to catch myself on the wall as the Academy shook with a particularly forceful blow.
Come on, Torin. Rein in your people!
The Academy didn’t need to be destroyed, he just needed the majority of the army out and away from the building. Distracted enough that he could slip inside and find Ellowyn. Though that plan would have to be altered, now that she was leading a task force against the rebels and gods’ armies outside.
What was Rohak thinking, letting her go like that?
The toe of my boot caught on the third-to-last step on the staircase, and I launched myself into the air, jumping to the landing to avoid a fall. One that could have been catastrophic with all the exposed blades on my body.
“Torin!” I shouted, not bothering with subtlety. We were running out of time, and this part of the Academy was already swept. He emerged from one of the darkened alcoves near the barrier, and I breathed a quick sigh of relief. He was outfittedin the same Mage blacks as the rest of the Academy, his hair darkened by soot in an attempt to disguise himself.
That would work until he channeled his magic.
