Khalad pounced on the old forger, who was already struggling to rise. “No unnecessary movements, Master!”
“Every one of my movements is necessary, boy,” the old man scowled, resisting. “And what’s necessary is that I get up from this contraption!”
“It’s called a bed. If we’d ever saved enough money for one, you’d know. And what’s necessary is to keep you well rested and healthy, you old codger. If you keep struggling, know that I am a lot stronger than you and will use force if I have to.”
“You wouldn’t dare!”
“Try me!”
Master and apprentice glared at each other. The former finally relented, sinking back against the pillows with a grunt. “I should be gone more often. You’ve got some of your hotheadedness back, boy.”
Khalad sagged. “You scared us, Master.”
“I scared myself too. I was certain it was the end of the road for me.” The forger nodded in my direction. “That was very perceptive of you, girl. Thank you.”
“I’m glad you’re all right, sir.”
“I’m not all right. I can’t be all right when that bastard’s still running free! I must be getting soft in my old age, giving him the benefit of the doubt simply because I knew his father. Is the princess still asleep? Unharmed?”
“She is,” Likh confirmed.
The old forger stared at him. “You’re a pretty girl, but I don’t know who in the seven hells you are. What’s happening?”
“Daanoris is being attacked by Odalia, and Usij is out there using the savul to create widespread panic,” Zoya growled. “Nothing out of the ordinary.”
“Master, you should rest…”
“Rest, my foot. We’ve got enemies surroundings us at all sides, and the bastard who locked me up is at the forefront. Where is he? I need to punch him. I’m glad his father’s no longer alive to see his son fall into such depravity. Always been a weak boy, wanting things he didn’t want to earn. The princess is all right, you say? Take me to her.”
“We should,” Khalad said. “It’s the safest room in the palace at this point.”
“And where are you going?” Fox demanded as I headed for the door.
“I’m not going to stay here while a daeva is making short work of the people outside, Fox. Stay here with Inessa.”
“Don’t do anything stupid, Tea!”
“When have I ever?” I was out of the room before he could reply, but I could hear the pounding of feet behind me as Kalen gave chase. I raced up the staircase, making for the highest tower in the palace—the same battlements Kalen and I stood on as we watched the Odalian army approach a few hours before.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Kalen yelled, catching up to me as I reached the top. I could see the savul approaching, the soldiers in disarray. At the same time, I could feel the azi drawing closer to where I stood.
I faced him. “I can’t fight the savul from this far away, Kalen.”
“You can’t handle both the azi and the savul at once!”
The thought of Mykaela back in Kion, still fighting for her life alongside Polaire, only filled me with more resolve. “Does it look like we have a choice?”
And then I leaped off the edge of the tower.
Looking back, I knew it was a foolish thing to do. But after being deprived of the Dark for so long, it was difficult to shunt away the heady power filling me. At that instant, I felt almost omnipotent, ready to take on the world and everyone in it.
I had a few moments of clarity, saw Kalen’s shocked face and open mouth staring down at me, rapidly falling from view as my descent continued. And then the azi was there, swooping me up so quickly and effortlessly onto its back, just like during those midnight rides we shared before the rest of the world knew of our connection.
Are you crazy?! Fox all but screamed into my head.
This was quicker than riding through the city. I felt sorry, but the giddiness from being full of the Dark had not disappeared. I could only let out a strangled giggle, still drunk on the power, even as the azi changed direction, the battlefield before us its new destination.
It did not take long to arrive, and by then, I had taken back control of my faculties, forcing the sweetness of the magic away, not without regret. I needed my wits about me; there were two wars on this battlefront, and my enemies could easily unite against me.
In another corner of my mind, I could feel Fox moving, barking orders. I had fleeting images of Daanorian servants and courtiers with wooden faces and blank eyes shuffling toward them, my brother fighting them off.
“Perhaps we shouldn’t have been so hasty with unraveling those wards,” I heard Shadi say, and through my brother’s eyes, I watched her slam a heavy vase against the side of a man’s head, watching him crumple.
“Curse that old geezer,” Zoya growled. She was keeping the bulk of the enemy at bay, weaving Wind through the corridors so a small tornado sent people flying left and right before any of them could get too close. “Fox, where is your wayward sister now?”
“Off to fight the savul on her own,” Fox growled, his frustration bleeding through. “Kalen’s on his way.”
The savul was still injured from our previous fight. I saw the ugly scars along its neck where we had been dealt our fiercest blow, its blackened limbs moving with difficulty. For all its ferocity, the savul was clearly in excruciating pain. A brush against its mind told me that it’s participation today had not been a willing decision; the faintest edges of Usij’s mind touched mine, and I drew back immediately. I felt the Faceless push harder, but the azi responded in my place, snapping at the intruder until he retreated.
You’ve trained your pet well, bone witch.
Would you like some advice for yours? The azi was docile because I had shown it nothing but respect. Usij had mistreated his daeva, and despite all the harm and chaos the savul had caused, I could not help my sympathy. How long had he been enslaving the creature?
Longer than you have been a bone witch, child. The simpering old crone tasked with killing it was easy enough to dispose of. The chaos it caused rampaging through Odalia’s territory!
I allowed myself a grim smile. I knew he was somewhere nearby, for we needed proximity to our beasts to garner the greatest control; perhaps the old man had already hidden himself among the Odalian soldiers. Thank you, Usij.
Oh?
If it were not for your savul, my brother would not have been killed and I could have lived the rest of my life oblivious to my true abilities. You are the reason I am standing here, and I am the reason you will die today.
He snarled into my head, and then his mind was gone. The savul let loose a horrible cry and jumped; the azi responded with a barrage of flames, but not even the extreme heat was enough. The reptilian daeva slammed hard into us, and quick thinking and reflexes saved me from being skewered by its powerful claws, which dug into the azi’s hide. My daeva reared up, howling in pain, and I held on to its neck, knowing one lost grip could mean falling to my death.
Tea!
Protect the princess! I screamed back. There was nothing Fox could do at this point to help me, and the quick Veiling rune I wove kept the bulk of his thoughts away from mine, kept him from being distracted. It was more difficult this time. I had no one to look after my physical body and so could not completely immerse myself in my daeva. At my command, however, the azi raised its spiked tail, still scrabbling with the savul. It was the toad-like beast’s turn to shriek, as the spike plowed through its midsection, puncturing the skin. It stumbled back.
The army hesitated. Seeing the fallen daeva, they pushed forward cautiously. I wove Dominion over as many of them as I was able but fell short. Only a dozen or so responded—I was too exhausted to extend my reach, and there were thousands of them still.
I saw Kalen approaching with his horse, staring up at us in horror. I stuck my head out over the azi’s side.