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“Huh. Then we best make use of the townspeople. Send them out in groups to collect rocks from the surrounding mountains.”
“Prince Skiro ordered the gates closed.”
“And I’m telling you to open them.”
I watch them walk through the courtyard. So close now.
“I want fires built in every tower. We need large pots from the kitchens. Set water to boiling.”
Saydan nods to some of the men behind him, and they break away to carry out orders.
“Give every man on the wall a torch to hold. Do you have pitch?” Kymora asks.
“We have oil.”
“It’ll have to do. Bring all the soldiers I have to command to the wall so I may speak to them.”
“I will gather them up now.”
Saydan looks to Kellyn and me before relinquishing Kymora into our custody.
Though I have a new set of magicked hammers at my sides, they do little to comfort me with the warlord standing to my left.
Kellyn, the traitor, stands on her other side, his arms crossed over his chest. He looks carefree, relaxed almost. As if there weren’t an army approaching. As if everything were perfectly fine.
Why does no one but me seem to realize that we’re all about to die? How am I the only one afraid?
After a silence that might be the death of me, Kymora bursts into laughter. “It’s funny how quickly things can change.”
Her hands are manacled together, and she isn’t permitted a weapon, but she’s still far too capable without the use of either. She can run. She can jump. She can do whatever she damn well pleases.
My eyes land on her perfectly working knees. Knees I once shattered with my hammer. Kymora notices my stare.
“They blindfolded me. Brought in some magic user, and then I was all healed up. Guess Skiro figured I would need to be able to walk if I’m to lead you all into battle.”
A noise comes up from my throat. One of distaste. Serutha’s abilities are wasted on her.
“In the heat of battle, anything can happen,” I mutter. “Maybe one of my hammers will slip from my grasp. Maybe your skull will split in two.”
“I’d like to see how you’d fare against the approaching army then,” she responds.
“Probably better! For all we know, you’ll order the men to do things to impede our progress.”
The warlord turns her uncaring gaze on me. “I’m a woman of my word. I said I would do my best against the approaching army in exchange for my freedom. I intend to do exactly that.”
“And after? I suppose you’ll just give up your plans for world domination? I suppose you’ll cease trying to hunt me and other magic users down?”
Her smile is vapid, her eyes vicious. “I made no assurances about what I would do after.”
“If you come after me or mine again, Iwillkill you this time. You will receive no mercy a second time.”
“You wouldn’t get the best of me a second time.”
“We’ll see about that.”
“Enough,” Kellyn says. “Do not taunt her, Kymora. Focus on the task at hand.”
She eyes Kellyn with renewed interest. “Why are you still here? I thought you were a mercenary. What sum could Skiro have possibly offered you to entice you stay for this suicidal endeavor?”
