Page 193 of Burn of the Everflame

Vance escaped untouched.

I said a silent prayer: Blessed Mother Lumnos, give me this man’s life. It matters not who deals the blow. By their arrows or my sword, I am begging you, let this bastard die.

Behind me, the rest of the archers found their marks. The Sophos Descended began to fall, but the arrows didn’t stop them. With their minds locked on Vance’s command to kill them all, retreat was not an option.

Alixe sent up another signal. More arrows came, and more bodies hit the soil.

“Stop, Alixe,” Diem yelled, running toward her. “They’re innocent!”

My heart broke at the raw panic in her voice. To Diem, every life on that field was hers to protect, and every death would be hers to mourn.

I had to end this now.

In the chaos of the flying arrows, the horses had lost their interest in me. They stomped in a frenzy as Vance and his men wrestled for control. Vance dismounted to keep from being thrown and seized his reins. He turned his back to me to bark orders at his men, and I finally had my chance.

I lifted my sword to my shoulder, aiming the point of its blade for Vance’s chest. My arm reared back.

“I’ve got a clear shot on the Queen!”

The words stopped me mid-throw. One of Vance’s men had lifted his crossbow, the glittering black tip of its bolt pointed toward the battlefield. I glanced back to see that a hole had opened in the fighting, leaving Diem exposed.

The godstone point would easily slice through her shield. She claimed to be immune to the toxin, but she wasn’t immune to arrows and blades. If it pierced her in just the wrong place—Blessed Kindred, if it hit her heart . . .

“Take the shot,” Vance yelled.

I looked at him, my sword still aimed at his chest. His death would prevent so many others. It would likely cost Ophiucae his mortal army, perhaps even the war. And if I let Vance walk away, gods only knew how many more Descended he would torture and cut down. Diem would insist that the risk of her death was not worth the risk of letting him live.

“Take the shot,” Vance growled again.

I knew the choice my Queen would order me to make.

But I had sworn to let the world burn to protect her—and I always kept my promise.

The man with the crossbow frowned, staring at his hands. “I can’t. He must have⁠—”

Too late. My arm swung, my sword flew, and its blade sank deep into the man’s neck. The crossbow tumbled from his hands, and he fell.

Vance swore and leapt back onto his horse. “They’ve got people hidden around us. Time to go.”

Another man ran to check on the mortal I’d wounded. “I’m not sure he can ride.”

“Leave him,” Vance said. “Take the godstone.”

The man cringed as he slid the sword free of his comrade’s throat. The wounded man grabbed his arm, gurgling for help, but he took the crossbow and left the man behind, weaponless and bleeding.

“What about the rest of them?” another man asked, jerking his chin toward the field.

“I’ll send the others in,” Vance said with a shrug. “Let ’em die. Ophiucae can get more.”

Vance let out a series of whistles, and a rumbling sound began to roll through the trees. On the opposite side of the battlefield, a long line of Sophosians emerged from the forest, ambushing our army from behind. Moments later, a second line joined them.

From the sides of the field, another line marched out of hiding. Then another.

The numbers were staggering. I doubted a single soul in Sophos had escaped Ophiucae’s control, mortal or Descended.

Though Diem’s back was to me, her long white braid swinging in the breeze, I knew what her expression would hold. I felt each and every emotion as if they were my own.

The despair. The defeat.