Ruru’s eyes were wide, his breath coming in pants. “Wolves in the Noble Quarter. More than I could see. Armed to the teeth. Waiting.”
Gods damn it.
“We have no more time,” I roared. The soldiers in front of me took a step back. “The true enemy waits for us in the Noble Quarter. Let our allies in, and we will finish this!”
The warriors behind me stamped and yelled.
The captain debated for another agonizing moment. If he waited much longer, I would push through these soldiers and tear open the gate myself.
He muttered something under his breath, then raised his voice with the sharp bite of a commanding officer. “Any man who does not wish to join the fight will not be thought a coward. Open the gate, and may the gods find our souls!”
Cheers rose as the gate creaked open. The soldiers parted to allow Henry and his small army to march inside.
Henry strode forward and shook my hand. “Gods, am I glad to see you. For a moment, I thought this wouldn’t work.”
“For a moment, so did I.” I lifted my sword in the air as Daire raised our flag and waved it. “To the Noble Quarter!”
“Slay the Wolves!” Maz thundered, beating the broadside of his axe against his shield.
The other Dags took up the war cry. Then the soldiers. Until we were a single mass of fury bearing down on the Noble Quarter gate. Which stood wide open.
Row upon row of Wolves awaited us. Sunstone weapons glittered in their hands. Their black metal masks snarled at us in a uniform expression of hatred.
Our battle cry sputtered against their wall of silence.
I gripped my sword harder, glancing at Maz.
“Onward, Your Highness,” he murmured, a steely glint in his eyes. “For Davka,” he said to his sisters.
They nodded grimly. “For Davka.”
“For Nikella!” Jek rumbled, lifting Nikella’s spear.
“For Daire!”
“For Meryl!”
“For Lana!”
More and more soldiers cried out the names of their loved ones, likely ones they’d lost at the hands of the enemy facing us.
“For Mother, for Father,” I whispered. “For Pravara. For Brielle.” My voice grew louder. “For Nikella. For Kiera!For Rellmira!”
I charged forward, bloodlust roaring through my veins.
A thunderstorm of answering bellows and stampeding feet followed me as we crashed into the Wolves.
Chapter 64
Kiera
I was sittingon the throne when Renwell stormed back into the room.
He glared up at me. “Get. Down.”
I tapped Mother’s knife on a shimmering arm of the royal seat. “No.”
“Do not make me remove you,” he snarled, slowly climbing the dais.
