She searched their faces, a silent prayer to the gods on her tongue.
Breath filled her lungs at the sight of Ronan. Even sitting on the ground, his back leaning against a wall, he had the look of a leader. Clía couldn’t see a patch of skin on him not covered in dirt and blood, but he was alive, and that alone quieted the pounding urgency of her racing heart.
He lifted his head as she knelt by his side. The grimace on his face warmed into a soft smile, but his eyebrows knotted in confusion. “I thought you were supposed to be hiding?”
The weakness in his voice shattered the piece of her heart that had frozen in battle. “I had to find you. I needed to help.”
“And you said I was the one with a savior complex.” His laugh was a quiet ghost. She clung to the little warmth it still had.
“What happened here?” she asked. He had a few cuts and open wounds on his arms and swelling in his left wrist. Thank the gods. None of his injuries would cause lasting damage. At least, none that she could see. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” He shifted, hissing with the movement. Her hands hovered over him to help, but she was too afraid to make anything worse. “We were overrun. I guess they thought it would be the easiest entrance to overtake because we knew they were coming from the north. They weren’t exactly wrong. It was only my men out there, and their numbers were at least double.
“They gained the upper hand quickly, following us into the southern tunnel, and when there were none left outside, we struck the pillars and brought it down on top of them.” Ronan’s usually bright eyes were dull as he looked over his injured men in the chamber. “I tried to get as many of our people out as possible. The ones closest to this chamber were fine, but the rest...”
The pain in his voice tore at her. Her hand brushed away the dust on his cheek. His eyelids closed at her touch. Almost peaceful.
I could have lost him.No, she couldn’t let herself think that. Not until after the battle.
He took her comfort for a moment before opening his eyes again, a soldier once more. “I’m guessing you’ve seen the fight aboveground. How are we holding up on the other front?”
They were losing ground. Already, so many were dead. There was a chance the tunnel collapse could have damaged the keep—she had no idea whether the southern wall was still standing above them.
“It wasn’t great when I was up there.”
His mouth tightened. “We’ll pull through. We have to.”
Her thumb began absently tracing a pattern on his cheek. “I have to go,” she said.
Pulling herself away from him was like fighting against gravity. She didn’t want to leave him here, but she had to help with the fight.
“You’re heading to the front?” It wasn’t an argument, only curiosity.
“To find Kordislaen,” she corrected him.
His fingers met hers, curling around them in reassurance. “You want to go after him? On your own?”
“I can handle myself.”
He smiled, and her heart leaped.
“I know that. I was wondering if maybe you would want backup all the same?”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Ronan had to keep moving forward. He couldn’t afford hesitation or regret. He couldn’t allow himself to think of the people left behind.
He and Clía rushed through the tunnels, making their way to one that spit them out at the western grounds, nearest to the Whispering Cliffs. He could see the white foam of the waves below the rocky edge. The sounds of battle fell away in the distance, hidden by the whistling wind. The chill of winter nipped at Ronan’s skin, but his determination kept him warm.
In the distance, Ronan noticed the silhouette of a warrior on horseback.
Kordislaen was here.
Clía took the lead as they approached the general. The man looked pristine, no scuff marks from fighting. Despite being renowned throughout the kingdom for his bravery and skill in battle, Kordislaen sat on the sidelines while his warriors died for him. Ronan had spent his life fighting, hoping to gain the favor of the legendary general. But when confronted with war, Kordislaen stood and watched.
Kordislaen’s eyes fixed on them, narrowing as they grew closer. Ronan scanned their surroundings, noticing no other people nearby. The general was alone.
Was that bravery or arrogance?
