“Without destroying all the crystals, they won’t be able to come through,” Luna adds.
“Are we sure we want them to come through?” Evander asks, eyeing the rune with wariness before looking up at Luna.
“Our enemies breached us without the bridge being open,” I answer. “This could be our allies.”
“So, do we try to find all the crystals now or stand guard?” Mina asks, biting her lip and looking around for answers.
Honestly, I have no idea. Squeezing my hands together, my knuckles crack, and I focus on the rune in front of me. We finally have a solution to our magic problem. But what if this isn’t our allies trying to reach us? And it’s more enemies? I look around at my friends—my court.
Tane is still very injured. The immense blood loss has leeched him of all color, and he leans heavily upon Mathilda for support. She is barely keeping it together. A vacancy haunts her bloodshot eyes. And I don’t think she realizes the amount of his blood that is splattered across her face. Mina shifts on her feet as her eyes dart around the group. Her chest trembles with her fluttered breath. Evander draws his sword, his feet widening in a defensive stance. Luna focuses onthe rune, the light flaring casts her face in its glow and shadow as it dims. Lachlan’s hand grips mine, grounding me. He stands confident and unfaltering.
The exact person I need him to be right now.
He gives me courage—and strength.
“Evander, assemble the guards and bring them here. We need constant watch over the bridge.” He sheaths his sword and nods before jogging from the Great Hall. “Mina, start with the crystals. Go to Olundy. Tell Agatha what we discovered and what you’re looking for. And send word when you find it.” Striding for the terrace, she flares her wings out wide, the scarred feathers catch and glimmer in the light. She launches into flight, thundering wing beats signal her departure.
“Mathilda,” my voice softens when I take in her tortured expression, “take Tane to your chamber, and we will send a healer to you.” With each of my orders, the anxiety that pumps through my veins recedes. As Mathilda helps Tane to her room, Luna, Lachlan, and I stand quietly watching the light continue to flicker from the rune.
“What do you think this means?” I murmur, toeing the rune with my boot.
“I think you’re right. Our enemies wouldn’t come through the bridge, but our allies would,” Luna answers while picking at her nails stretched in front of her. “You said last time there was a beam of light outside of the Great Hall, right?”
“Yeah, it was bright green with blue in the middle.” The color of that light has been seared into my mind.
“Jotnar, probably,” Luna replies and glances around the room, her eyes narrowing on the asphidra corpse still nailed on the wall behind where my throne used to be.
Lachlan clears his throat, bringing my attention up from the rune and to him. He nods to the empty dais.
“We’re going to ha’ to get ye a new throne.”
I scoff at his suggestion, shaking my head at the lunacy of it. Now isn’t the time. We have what feels like a million other things happening.
“What? Ye don’t want a new one?”
I shrug my shoulders, and the comforting weight of my wings gives me a small measure of peace. “It’s not like I’ll be using it much. We’ve got to get our realm ready for war, demolish some crystals, figure out how to help Tane, and find Odessa and Odin.”
My scowl becomes more pronounced with each item to accomplish. Lachlan and Luna share a look and, for the first time, it’s not full of malice.
“If that is our allies trying to come through, you’ll need a new throne. It’s a show of power,” Luna replies.
Thoughts of how my mother would think I’m doing spring to my mind. Would she be disappointed it took me so long to pull myself together just now? Would she think I doled out assignments correctly? Am I handling any of this well? Glancing down at myself, I see the blood from Tane’s amputation has darkened the leather across my chest and pants. A lump builds in my throat. I swallow past it and inhale through my nose, counting to four.
Marching reverberates across the terrace and through the marble room before Evander breaches the hall with five guards. Each is tall and muscular, with shiny black wings. They all wear the same chocolate brown leathers, except for the guard to the left of Evander. Two red poppies in the shape of a V adorn the upper right of his chest, signifying his rank as their leader. His dark bronze skin and equally dark hair glow with vibrancy, and his eyes are the most piercing shade of gold. However, it’s the kindness of his eyes that stands out the most.
Evander inclines his head towards the man. “This is Ramses.He is the second in command and who I leave in charge when duty calls Lachlan or myself away.”
Ramses thuds his right fist across the poppies on his chest and bows lowly. “Your majesty.” His voice is deep and smooth. I can’t help the answering smile that stretches across my face.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you formally, Ramses.”
He smiles broadly, his teeth flash brilliantly against his dark skin. The guards behind him stay in an attentive position as he gestures to them.
“This is the alpha squadron. I’ve left the other two squadrons on their regular duties and will switch them out regularly on this post. Is there anything else we can do for you, your majesty?”
I shake my head. “That will be all, thank you.”
He seems formidable and loyal, the exact warrior I want guarding this city when I’m called away. My eyes scan his face, looking for what—I don’t know.
