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And I was one.
Breathe, I reminded myself, and let out a shaky breath.
Beyond, closer to the river, came the call for archers to nock arrows. I couldn’t hear the word, but I knew the call.
A horn sounded, announcing a charge on the other side.
Breathe, Nevahn.
Draw.
The ground shook. It was a cavalry charge.
My sword trembled in my hand. I squeezed the traitorous muscles closed tighter around the hilt.
Loose!
The night sky woke with a thousand black shooting stars, each one an arrow on fire. I watched them fall.
Two arrows cleared the tree line, both sticking harmlessly into the ground.
“Steady. They don’t know we’re here.” I said it as much for my benefit as the men behind me.
The dull roar of the charge grew louder. Water splashed and steel clashed, a great booming thunder of noise all at once. Horses and Nightmares screamed. Wooden shields snapped and shattered.
I looked up. Somewhere among those glowing Nightmares was Nisang. My left thumb brushed against the rose on the hilt of the knife he had given me.I hope you settled all your debts, friend.
I stiffened at the echo of hooves in the dirt, the sound of a rider coming closer. A moment later, a riderless white horse broke through the tree line, the flank smeared with dark blood. Another arrow whizzed past. Another.
I stood still as the trees, listening to the sounds of battle, the sounds of our people dying. Their people too. In the chaos and this far back, there was no way to know the difference. My heart thudded in my chest like a war drum.
An hour passed, maybe more. We waited in silence, listening helplessly as death claimed the shore.
Another horse approached. I braced myself for the sight of another bloodstained, riderless horse. Several had come by and each time, I felt sick.
This rider’s face was stained black with mud and blood. Water dripped from his boots. His hands held the reins, trembling. I recognized the skull emblem on his breastplate. One of Morlash’s Headhunters.
He rode into the grove and pulled his horse roughly to a stop. “The human commander. I need Nevahn!”
It took me a beat to realize that was my name.
“What is it?” I stayed where I was, afraid any movement would draw unwanted attention.
The Skaag moved his horse closer. “Morlash’s horse took an arrow and rolled onto him. He’s injured. I’m to bring you to the front to lead the attack.”
I stared at him, taking too long to process what he’d said.
Morlash was injured.
I was to take his place.
Probably an order from the injured Morlash himself as they carried him away to the healers.
I started to say I couldn’t do it. I was needed there in the grove. But if I didn’t go, if someone didn’t hold that line, there wouldn’t be a grove of ballistas to take down the dragon. Nisang couldn’t do it. The timing of the aerial forces had to be exact, their flight path precise.
There was no one else.
I opened my mouth, but whatever sound I made became inaudible against an otherworldly peeling screech. The world stilled against the sound of beating wings. Even the clash of metal and mud softened as the armies looked to the sky.
