Page 97 of The Ashborn

—Kienna—

Dove Port’s many barricades had been filled. The only one available to get the rest of the civilians into was the one underneath the Great Hall. Kienna had to be quick to get Ash from his home across town and back into the center of the city if she wanted him safe from the war.

Moira insisted on helping, pulling the remaining people from their homes and urging them to the Great Hall. The Elvish army flowed with grace next to the Dove Port soldiers. They fell into their formations of battle, stationed around the entire city to protect against any breach that may occur. Kienna and Moira turned the corner near the village markets. Moira would take Ash to the Great Hall and stay with him. Kienna planned to join Captain General Vellorin’s soldiers. They’d need a formidable warrior with them when the Vorthakai and Umbrin finally crossed into the city. The shock alone of seeing the undead would wipe out their first wave immediately if they weren’t prepared. If she could stand with them, she’d ensure they were ready.

They stopped when Tristian and Tislin appeared around the corner. A scowl remained on Tristian’s face, and Tislin’s jaw was tight. “You’re done with the shadows,” Tristian sneered.

“If you want a fighting chance against these creatures, you’d do well to keep out of matters that aren’t yours,” Tislin said, the shadows dancing above his ankles.

Tristian scoffed. “You have so little faith in the army I’ve created?”

“Of course not.” Tislin’s voice growled like a rabid dog. “But your army will never be able to command in the shadows like I⁠—”

“You serve the shadows, Tislin. Not the other way around. It would do you some good to remember that.”

Tislin’s jaw ticked. For once, he didn’t offer a clever reply. The shadows around him shifted, curling unnaturally across the cobblestone like smoke.

“What’s going on?” Moira asked, stepping in between them, her eyes falling to Tislin.

Kienna caught her glancing at his ankles, the black smoke still circling him. Even Kienna checked Tislin’s eyes to make sure they weren’t blackening. They held the same luster of gray and orange.

“You should be with the woodcarver,” Tristian said, his scowl shifting into something Kienna couldn’t quite read, but it looked almost like confusion. “Why are you still on the streets?”

“We were heading there. I needed Moira’s help, so she could take him⁠—”

“You take him!”

Kienna stepped back, her heart nearly exploding in her chest from the outburst. Moira pulled on Tislin’s arm and backed him away from Tristian. Kienna’s fingers flexed near her side. The K on her thumb vibrated with an itch she couldn’t release.

War is stressful, Little Flame. Let it go.

“Come on, Moira,” Kienna said. She turned away and started down the path.

Moira’s hand brushed Tislin’s arm. Something flickered behind his gaze, pulling at him.

“Stay with me, my love,” she whispered and left with Kienna.

—Connak—

Tristian was losing his cool. Connak felt it. They didn’t share the same connections, but it reverberated from Kienna. Connak needed to diffuse the situation, or Tristian might not be at his best during the battle, and Tristian couldn’t afford to be distracted. Otherwise, they would have to let Kienna fight. It wouldn’t make a difference either way if she did. Not if Tristian would fall.

A woman crossed Connak’s path with her children. Connak would regret this immediately, but he figured it would spark Kienna’s heart to where they needed her to go. He conjured an image and placed it in the woman’s mind. Her eyes grew wide, and she sprinted, calling for help. Kienna reacted immediately. Her fear pushed out into the world.

Ruva! Make sure you find Ash!

Connak blinked twice to process whether he truly heard that in his mind or not. It would be something to test for later.

Kienna turned. “Moira, take these children. Let’s get them to the Great Hall.”

Moira scooped up the smallest child and hurried after Kienna and the woman. Kienna reached back, clasping one of the woman’s hands and her other child’s, pulling them through the chaos of the street. Tristian released a breath and followed. He’d need backup to finish the rest. Connak sprinted to find Petyr. He would give the command to keep Kienna in place.

—Kienna—

Kienna marched from the Great Hall into the barracks. Voices boomed through the room as people were frantically trying to find each other and make sense of what was about to come. Kienna helped the woman into the room with Moira, stepping over logs that were meant to keep the door shut after they closed it. The woman thanked her and Moira, then went in.

The thick, musty scent of wet stone clung to Kienna. The walls sweat and trickled slow rivulets toward the uneven floor. Torches flickered along the walls, flames casting long, shivering shadows and illuminating the anxious faces of those huddled together. Kienna turned to Moira, glad to see her already settling in next to Elowen. Her eyes softened. They gave each other a valiant nod, and then Kienna turned. Tristian stood outside the door with Petyr behind him on the stairs and Connak a few steps behind them.

Kienna startled at the sight of them, yet she persisted forward. “We need to close this one. I think we’ve accounted for everyone.”