Page 83 of Memory of Ashes

They dragged the remaining prisoners back to the capital. The fae would occupy the city, and the palace would become the king’s new residence.

As he rode through the ranks, Casyl wondered where Ruven was. His friend was being kept under guard until the king decided what to do with him. Ruven was valuable to the army, and Tiryn disliked disposing of anything useful. Had the king decided to kill him whilst he’d been gone?

The thought sank into the pit of his stomach.

He hadn’t seen Danae either. He hoped that she’d been the one to help Amelia escape. Those guards hadn’t shackled themselves. If Casyl realised that, then the king surely would too. Danae was the only female in the army, and a powerful one at that. Her absence wouldn’t go unnoticed.

They marched into the city, where the king had left part of the army under the charge of one of the generals, Salkin.

He had been with the king for as long as Casyl could remember. He was the king’s most trusted adviser. Casyl had always thought he was a snake. He would have known all about his father’s plans.

The bulk of the army stayed camped outside the city gates. The prisoners would be kept out there under guard until they could be moved to the mine and put to work retrieving the Lifesource.

If it was so powerful it could power cities and make bombs, and it was the source of the fae’s powers, what would his father do with it? The thought haunted him.

They walked through the streets towards the palace. The remaining buildings were scorched black. Most had been destroyed by Danae’s fire. The palace had been left untouched deliberately, he now realised.

Upon entering the palace, Salkin came to greet them. He’d made himself at home.

“That was quick!” Salkin joked with the king.

Casyl’s blood boiled.

“We have some new recruits for the mine,” the king said, smiling. He turned to one of his personal guards. “Bring me Danae.”

Oh, curses. He would discover that she was missing.

Tharos appeared before them.

“My lord.” He bowed.

“Where’s Danae?” the king asked the guard.

“She couldn’t be found,” the guard said.

“No matter. Tharos, we need to secure the mine. Send a unit of men to guard it.”

“My lord, we have a problem,” Tharos said. He was tense. “Scouts have just come in. King Elthar and his army have followed us. They’ve come through the rift, and most of his army is heading straight for the mine. They must have captured our guards. Their army isn’t as depleted as we’d thought. Elthar has made a camp at the rift entrance and remains there with some of his men.”

The king’s face turned red. “He’s done what?” he spat.

“If they reach the mine, they’ll control that and the rift entrance,” Tharos said.

“I’ll deal with them, my lord,” Salkin said.

Tharos flinched. It was subtle, but Casyl noticed.

“No!” the king said. “You stay here and guard the city. Tharos will take half of the army and secure the mine. Casyl and I will see what my brother is up to. He thinks he can take this from me?” The veins on the king’s forehead stood out as his face tightened.

What was Tharos up to? He’d known him long enough to know when he was planning something.

They readied the army, Tharos marching off towards the mine as Casyl and the king travelled towards Mount Ryjul.

Evening neared, and they’d already fought one battle today.

As they approached the mountain, they sent scouts to verify the information. There was a small force camped outside the rift at the base of the mountain. Roughly five hundred men.

The king laughed at Elthar’s folly. “We’ll force them back through where they belong. Have the archers positioned to rain down arrows on the rift. We’ll push them back and kill them as they go through.”