“Hail, Antas of the Boar, Warlord and Eldest Elder Warrior,” Reht rode forward, ahead of her warriors.
That boded well. Antas stepped forward and boomed his own greeting. “Hail, Reht of the Horse, Warlord of the Plains. What brings you here?”
“I’ve come to join with you,” Reht said. “I offer my support against Keir of the Cat.”
Antas grinned. “Welcome,” he said simply.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Amyu slowly climbed the last remaining stairs of the highest tower of the castle, her heart as heavy as her footsteps. She went up through the trap door, stepping out into the sunlight and clean, clear air.
She walked to the low wall that surrounded the top of the tower, and with a puff of breath, tried not to look at what she dreaded to see.
The City of Water’s Fall stretched out below her, as it had in the past. Beyond that the fields and forests still sprawled out in the valley below. The long road still snaked down the valley from the main gates of the city.
Only this time, down that road marched the combined armies of Xy and the Plains.
Somewhere in their midst rode Joden of the Hawk.
The wind caught Amyu’s brown hair, whipping it around her head. She caught the long strands in her hands, and bound it up in a quick knot.
She hadn’t gone down to the castle courtyard to see them all off. It would have been more than her heart could take. Joden had honored her request, and he’d not come to her. Nor had she gone to him. She’d managed to avoid him as she’d aided the Warprize in preparations, thinking she’d done the right thing and yet—
He was gone, and she’d give anything for one last word. One last chance to say goodbye.
“We’ll be able to see them for some time,” came a familiar voice.
Amyu looked over to find the Xyian guard Enright sitting in his usual position, on a bench facing the low wall, working on repairing a bit of armor. His crossbow sat beside him, cocked and ready, and an alarm bell sat on his other side.
“Takes a while to move an army that size.” He gave her a knowing look. “The sun will set before we lose sight.” He shifted over a bit, making his wooden leg clack, and patted the bench next to him. “Have a sit.”
Amyu sat. The sun was warm, and the stones beneath their feet radiated warmth. Around them bees buzzed in their large basket hives. The mountain towered above, its craggy walls stark and unforgiving.
“Someone you care about down there?” Enright gestured toward the army.
Amyu shrugged, then nodded.
“They’ll be back,” Enright said confidently. “Maybe not every one of them, I’ll be honest with ya, but on the whole, they will be back. Triumphant, if I know the Warlord.”
Amyu stared out, watching the long line of men and horses moving along the road. “Joden goes to finish his Trials and become a Singer, the Singer he was destined to become. Maybe even the Eldest Elder Singer. Keeper of our ways. Our laws.”
“The laws that keep you here?” Enright asked quietly. “The laws that deems you outcast.”
“Not outcast.” Amyu still stared out over the wall without seeing anything. “Useless.” Her voice sounded flat and odd to her own ears.
“Ya know that’s not true,” Enright said.
Amyu nodded but couldn’t speak, her eyes welling up.
“Well then,” Enright shifted again, then stood with a clatter. “I gotta use the privy,” he said gruffly. “Might take me a bit, what with the stairs.”
Amyu nodded again, keeping her eyes on the army, her tears starting to fall.
“Here,” a large white piece of cloth appeared in front of her face.
Amyu took the cloth, and Enright left, his wooden leg clacking as he made his way down. She was grateful for the privacy. She didn’t want to weep, but the tears kept coming.
It all felt so hopeless. The Warprize had told her to keep searching for the airions, but she didn’t truly believe that Amyu would find them. She also asked that Amyu learn to read and write Xyian. An honorable task, but… Amyu felt useless, and a failure and—
