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The flapping of wings startled her awake. Her welkin messenger had returned. Heart skipping, she rushed to untie the sealed parchment from its scaled leg and tore into it.
I’m sure you’ve heard the news by the time this letter reaches you. Kherathi’s taken Firesteep. You want an army, come to the Scorchlands and claim it. —Gadreel
The air around Tenah became supercharged as Chaos and fire tumbled through her channels unrestrained. Smoke curled in her mouth. The bedroom became too stuffy to breathe in. She needed an outlet for her magic soon, or she’d have another uncontrollable tantrum like the one in the snowy field.
Shredding the letter, she tossed the pieces in the trash can. She’d been such a fool to let this go on so long. Her father wouldn’t stop. Chaos wouldn’t stop. Even entertaining the idea that he might have been pursuing the tome to heal himself was irresponsible.
Chaos rumbled in approval.Call on your armies, little one. Take what is yours. Unify our power with Ruzgorn armies and march forth undefeatable.
For once, Chaos was right. With her father tucked behind Firesteep’s fortified walls and the threat of the eastern isles looming on the horizon, she needed an army. Lives were at stake, and she would protect as many of them as she could if the isle rulers refused.
Tenah stormed down the hall in search of Vesara, trailing a blend of fiery Chaotic magic.
A guard stood on either side of the assassin’s bedroom doors. Vesara was arguing with them to return to their posts in the palace, but they acted as if she were nothing more than a child begging for attention.
“I get rid of one of you, and two more appear,” the assassin said. “Is this a game of multiples? Are you breeding like rabbits in a storage room?”
The first of the guards to notice the Chaotic flames engulfing Tenah’s hands reached for his blade.
Vesara spun on a heel. Her expression morphed into guilt. “You heard then.”
“Can you take me into the Scorchlands?” Tenah asked.
“That’s a day’s ride through the desert. The sun would bake us.”
Tenah clenched her hands into fists. “Unless your king or the Embassy would be willing to do theirjobs, I plan to secure an army to protect us all.”
Surprisingly, Vesara recoiled. “The Embassy protects the kingdom of Vristar and the archives. They already sacrificed too many employees in the war at Roan’s Wake. They won’t go for it.”
“And your king?” Tenah knew her anger was misplaced, but she had no more control over it than she did the weather right now.
Vesara’s gaze darted away. “Useless and uninterested in the state of Vozar.”
“Then I’m heading south. If you don’t want to come, that’s fine. But I’d prefer a guide, especially a loyal one.”
After moments of tense silence, Vesara finally nodded. “Meet me out front at sunset. We brave the desert at night.”
Chapter25
Tenah
Achoir of voices chanted in Tenah’s mind when they reached the Ruzgorn camp at sunrise on horseback.
Canvas tents spotted the cracked, thirsty ground as far as the eye could see in the rippling heatwaves, positioned around an old, stone cathedral, though Tenah couldn’t recall her father mentioning what god or elemental these barbarians worshipped.
Probably one devoted to Chaos.
She peeked over at Vesara, slouched atop her horse after a tireless night of riding across barren desert.
Hardening her resolve, Tenah nudged her horse toward the first line of dusty tents and prayed Ruzgorn couldn’t smell her fear.
They are but flesh and bone, Chaos murmured. When they burn, they become nothing more than ash in the wind.
Shut up.
The screams of dying shadows are harmonious.
