Ella shuffled over until she was sitting beside him, leaning back into his arms. Killian moved to sit with his back to a tree, while Ella snuggled in to his body, feeling safe with Killian in a way she never had with another man.
Comfortable tiredness washed over her. "You still have me at a disadvantage," Ella murmured. "You've seen me naked."
She felt a hand stroking the side of her cheek, and then Killian's soft touch was on her neck. As Ella drifted off she realised it was the necklace at her throat that he'd found.
"You do care for me," Killian said.
Ella didn't hear him. She had already closed her eyes, sleep coming to her instantly.
51
"THIS enemy can be beaten," Jehral said.
Prince Ilathor nodded. "Their numbers are fewer, and even in battle some of the revenants are falling down without being struck at all. Whatever she has done, it is working. Yet still no word."
"I am sure she is safe, my prince," Jehral said.
"Salute!" a voice called from outside. "Your Highness, the Petryan and the Alturan are here."
"Send them in," Jehral called.
Shani and Bartolo entered the prince's command tent. Without preamble, Prince Ilathor spoke. "The new tactics are working. Elementalist Shani, Bladesinger Bartolo, I have you to thank."
"We need to move more slowly," Bartolo said. "I know your men value speed and surprise, Prince Ilathor, but we can't keep this pace up. Today's battle was lucky. Tomorrow's battle might not turn out as well."
"I hear you, bladesinger," Prince Ilathor said, "and I do not wish you to think your arguments fall on deaf ears, but the Tingaran winter is coming, and if we want to reach Seranthia before the advent of the cold, we must press on. My men are not equipped for winter."
Bartolo shrugged. "Then many more of your men will die than is necessary. The speed you want will mean sacrifice."
"It cannot be avoided."
Shani spoke. "The essence we captured today… If our elementalists can have some we can create more walls of fire."
"You shall have it," Prince Ilathor said. "As much as you like. Nothing is as successful as fire when it comes to destroying these revenants."
"We can see if our elders can create some illusionary fire as well," Jehral said. "That way the enemy won't know where the fire is real, and where not."
"Good, good." Ilathor smiled. "These are all excellent ideas. You've done well, all of you."
"What do you intend to do with the necromancers we captured?" Bartolo asked.
Prince Ilathor exchanged glances with Jehral. "They have been killed. Jehral and I have seen to it."
"That's not customary…" Bartolo began.
The prince looked up at Bartolo. "Not customary in these lands? Not customary practice in war? You have heard the same things I have, Alturan. Do not let your honour get in the way of ridding the world of this evil."
"We don't know if it's true," Shani said.
"Even the facts are bad enough. If it's true about how the enemy is obtaining their essence, then it isn't just my duty, but all of our duty, to see this thing through. It won't be over until our men are in the streets of Seranthia."
"Have you heard anything from Ella?" Shani asked.
"Nothing," the prince said.
"Her brother is my friend," Bartolo said, "and he will want to know that she is no longer under your protection."
"I don't know if she ever was under our protection," Jehral said, smiling thinly.
"That doesn't change the fact that the Alturan Lord Marshal needs to know," Bartolo said. He turned to the prince. "Either you tell him, or I will."
52
THE LAND of Torakon was the last to be freed from the Black Army before the allies advanced into Tingara itself.
Moragon and Dain Barden fled before the allied army, the Black Army inflicting heavy losses before falling back to the next strong position. Nevertheless, the men in green and brown were advancing. As winter drew near, and they pushed relentlessly eastwards, the Torak capital of Sakurai was declared an open city, and the Black Army fell back to the Tingaran border without a fight.
Miro was surprised, although he soon realised he shouldn't have been, when the allied army was hailed in Sakurai as liberators. Raj Torakon had been one of the first houses to ally themselves with Tingara, yet here they were cheering wildly and celebrating in the streets when the army marched through the city. Then Miro heard about the dark days of High Lord Koraku Rolan's rule while under the Primate's control, and began to understand. Koraku's body was discovered in his chambers, swinging from a rope. The Toraks raged that it was too-clean a death. Miro knew it was better for it to be over; they would move on all the quicker.
"Something's changed," Miro said to Rogan.
They were in Miro's tent at the allied army's encampment outside the walls of Sakurai. Both men preferred the austerity of the tents to the strange structures and giddy heights of the builders' city.
"They're running out of essence," Rogan said. "I've seen it before, back in the Rebellion."
"That's not the only thing though. You know what I'm talking about."