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“They won't use it for what you want, Rychel. Nothing can undo what our father did. Don't throw your life away. Stay with us. Don't do this.”
“I have to know. I can't live like this anymore,” Rychel said, her voice pleading. “We're the monsters, Kairos. Don't you see? He made us this way. We’re all his creations. My mother died bearing me. His tainted fruit.”
“You’re not tainted, Rychel. And no matter what you might believe, they're worse.” Draven's voice echoed over the stone, sending chills through my veins as I heard the fear there. “You don't know what you're doing, Sister. I beg you, please stop.”
“Let me give them the grail.” Rychel took another step backwards. “That's all I'll do.”
“No, it's too late. You've let the wards down, Rychel. We have to get back inside.”
My breath hitched as one of the riders reached the outskirts of the palace walls.
Swooping low, they dove towards Rychel.
Draven raced forward, his hand outstretched, reaching frantically for her.
But it was too late. The dark rider extended a gloved hand, fingers curling like talons as they grasped Rychel, lifting her slender form off the rampart walls and holding her suspended in its clutches. I gasped as the rider ascended, speeding back into the incoming flock and disappearing in its midst.
Draven whirled to face me, fists clenched, knuckles turning white.
“Crescent,” he bellowed, looking past me. “You know what to do.”
Behind me, Crescent vanished, then reappeared in the blink of an eye with Javer and Beks.
“Gawain’s staying with Taina,” he called to Draven who was speeding back up the steps. I watched Draven nod.
Javer looked around appraisingly, taking in the dark riders flying towards the palace, then beginning to bark orders to his small ward.
Together they raced to the edge of the wall with their hands up.
“We can't recover the wards,” Javer bellowed to Draven. “There’s no time to mend them. All we can do is try to shield the palace if they...”
A malevolent energy crackled through the air.
The dark riders were nearing. Arcs of black lightning shot from their fingertips, striking the palace walls nearby with explosive force.
Stone shattered and splintered under the onslaught, sending debris cascading down around us in a rain of destruction.
“No, forget the palace. Get up top. Go to the city. Shield Noctasia,” Draven instructed. “Take them up now, Crescent.” He met my eyes. “We’ll look after the palace then join you.”
With shock, I realized he was including me in that statement.
Crescent touched Javer and Beks on the shoulders and the trio vanished.
“You expect me to fight by your side?” I snarled. “After everything you've done?”
“Your exmoor can fly?” Draven was looking past me at Nightclaw.
“He flies for me. You're not touching him.”
Belatedly I remembered he had been training Sunstrike.
“My prince.” It was Odessa. We turned to see her beside Ulpheas, a group of soldiers alongside them. “What is this?” She stared up at the riders.
“Valtain,” Draven said briefly. “The High King's Hunters. Rychel... She's gone with them. She’s given them the grail.”
Odessa's eyes widened with shock, then she nodded swiftly. Turning to the soldiers around her, she began shouting orders.
“Ulpheas, keep doing what you're doing,” Draven commanded, clapping the fair-haired man on the shoulder. “We need archers all along these walls. Bring up every soldier you can find. Tell those inside to go deeper underground or better yet, have them stitched to Noctasia. If it hasn't been attacked yet, I fear it will be. We need people above, aiding the city.”
