The bristling wall of pikes moved forward inexorably.
Jehral’s horse wheeled, spinning as the gelding tried to find a way out. Jehral struggled to take control of his mount as his desert warriors formed a cluster around him, all looking for escape. But there was none.
Behind Jehral, the enemy continued relentlessly down the canyon. In front of him the pikemen gathered momentum, trotting now in disciplined ranks. Jehral raised the glowing sword Ella had gifted him high above his head.
The pikemen broke around the cluster of Hazaran horsemen like water parting around a rock. As Jehral watched in stunned surprise, they continued their charge.
Jehral saw tall warriors with braids and gray tabards. Soft light glowed through their armor as they ran past, leaving Jehral and his men behind, smashing into the force charging down the canyon.
Jehral turned in wonder and watched as revenant fought revenant. Finally, there was a foe equal to the task, and the warriors in gray pushed relentlessly forward.
The enemy broke.
They turned and ran to draw away from the fight: the hunters had become the prey. The narrow canyon gave the pikes an unquestionable advantage, and the enemy retreated to save their force to fight another day.
“Jehral!”
A slim woman in green ran forward, and Jehral’s eyes went wide with astonishment as he recognized Ella’s pale blonde hair and green eyes. Only then did the pieces fit together as Jehral realized the Akari had come to his aid.
“Where is the kalif? Are you all right?” Ella asked.
Akari necromancers ran past and called their units back. The pikemen maintained their formation, but the enemy didn’t charge again.
Jehral saw a huge man leading the Akari and recognized Dain Barden Mensk. He saw Shani standing nearby.
Jehral deactivated his scimitar, and his arms slumped at his sides.
As the Akari bolstered the thinned numbers of the Hazarans, they all made camp in a naturally fortified position while their scouts kept a wary eye on the enemy.
Jehral told Ella about Ilathor’s wounding, and Ella went to visit the kalif of House Hazara.
During the defense of Altura, Ella hadn’t spoken with Ilathor, but she was now filled with fear. He was her friend, and she couldn’t bear the thought of him being hurt. The guards stood aside to let her past, and Ella stepped tentatively into the tent.
Immediately, she felt relief when she saw that Ilathor was sitting up and his color was strong. Zohra, Jehral’s sister, sat at the side of his pallet, a bowl of dried fruit in her hands.
“I came as soon as I heard,” Ella said. “What happened?”
Ilathor smiled ruefully. “I got ahead of myself. I should listen to Jehral more.”
“That’s a good idea.” Ella returned his smile.
“Zohra,” Ilathor said, “could you please leave us?”
Scowling at Ella, the young Hazaran woman nodded and rose. She bent down and kissed Ilathor’s forehead before leaving the tent.
“What was that about?” Ella said.
“Ella, please come and sit by my side.”
Ella knelt in the place Zohra had vacated and took Ilathor’s hand. “What is it?”
“There is something I need to speak with you about. It . . . it is hard for me to say.”
Ella began to grow worried. “Your wound . . .”
Ilathor barked a laugh. “No, it is not about my wound, although nearly losing my life has brought some truths home to me. Truths I think I was reluctant to see.”
“What are you saying?”
“I do not wish to bring you pain, but I am a plainly spoken man. Ella, I want to release you.”
“Release me?”
“I wish to release you from any obligation you have to me. Zohra and I . . . love has blossomed between us. She is right for me—I know it in my heart. I am sorry. I will always care for you, and I will always be your friend. Even now, looking at you brings fire to my blood, but I now believe love between the two of us was never meant to be, much as it pains me to say it.”
Ella looked down at the ground, breathing in and out as Ilathor anxiously waited to see her reaction, and then a slow smile spread across her face. Ella felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She squeezed the kalif’s hand.
“Ilathor,” she whispered, “I’m so happy for you.”
“You are?” he said.
“I will always be your friend, and I’ll never forget that you came to help my homeland in our time of need. There is no obligation between us, and I can see Zohra is right for you.”
“I cannot tell you how much joy it brings me to hear you say that. You are not upset?”
“I’m happy,” Ella said. She grinned. “Just tell her that she doesn’t need to hate me.”
Ilathor laughed, and then winced and clutched his chest. “I will tell her.”
“Ella?” Shani poked her head into the tent. “The Dain wants to see you.”
Ella stood and her hand fell out of Ilathor’s.
She looked down at him fondly, and then she realized she and Ilathor were friends, and that was enough.