Page 47 of Memory of Ashes

Amelia gasped and stepped back, prepared to run, watching as the man was flung into the air, bloodied and screaming.

All the other guards stood deathly still, staring at the creature.

It was enormous. It had long, shaggy brown fur and a huge horn that grew from its head, curving to a point and almost dominating its entire face. Froth gathered around its jutting fangs, and drool dripped onto the ground before its hooves.

It paused as if adjusting to the daylight, then charged towards the battle. A horn sounded, one she didn’t recognise, and the army parted, allowing the beast access to the front line. Not everyone moved in time. Men were trampled under its crushing hooves.

How had they trained such a beast to fight for them?

She glanced at the king. A guard held his horse’s reins while the king sat in the saddle with his arms raised, palms upturned and head thrown back, the whites of his eyes showing.

Was he praying?

The beast charged towards the grey shapes. As they collided, Amelia saw that they were wolf-like creatures. It fought them off easily, impaling them and flinging them with its horn into the enemy.

She scanned the battlefield for Casyl. He was dragged from his horse. She froze, waiting. He rose from the melee, his helmet shining in the light. Ruven was by him; they fought side by side, slashing and slaughtering their enemies.

They were lethal. Together they dominated the thickest part of the fighting.

The beast now ploughed through the enemy soldiers. They scrambled away from it back up the hill. A few brave warriors tried to face it but were immediately killed.

“Fools.” The king laughed without lowering his arms.

Was he controlling the beast?

The enemy sounded the retreat. They ran back up the hill towards their camp.

Casyl and his soldiers pursued them, the beast leading the way. Their tents erupted in flames. Danae, she thought. The memory of her flames brought bile to the back of her throat.

It had been a bloodbath.

The army returned to camp, and the beast obediently went back into its prison. Everyone had been ordered to pack up and move into the newly captured territory.

Danae returned, blood spattered over her armour.

“Where are we going?” Amelia asked her.

“We’re moving closer to the mountain,” Danae said.

“Aren’t we giving chase to the enemy? It seems like you could have completely wiped them out if you had continued.”

“The king doesn’t want them all dead,” Danae said. “We killed a few of their generals but left their king alive. He fled long before the battle was over. Tiryn wants them to see our victory, his victory. He wants to show them what we’re going to do.”

“And what are you going to do?” Amelia asked.

Danae remained silent.

*

Danae’s remark stayed with her as they travelled to establish their new camp, reminding Amelia how different these people were from her own people.

Ruven had returned, just as blood-soaked as Danae. She smiled at the sight of him as he led his horse towards her.

“Shouldn’t you be riding near the front?” she asked him.

“We both will,” he said.

They trotted towards the front of the line and took their places. Casyl rode just ahead. He would lead the army towards the new ground. The king was a little further behind him, surrounded by his guards.