I pulled my hood further down my forehead. If anyone was going to recognize me, it was one of them. Especially after I’d been paraded around all month.
“The whole fucking Empire’s here,” said the Glemarian soldier.
“I heard he did that to you?” the Turion said, pointing to the Glemarian’s eye.
“Aye, he did. Fucking bastard. Don’t matter. He’s not getting away with it this time. His father’s got a hundred soturi outside his cell. I’m heading back there now. We’re about to bring him out. The Imperator wants everyone there. The Emperor, too.” He laughed. “Like he can escape. The forsworn bastard’s been bound to hell and back, at least three times. And every part of his body’s chained.”
The Turion laughed. “Good. I’m looking forward to it. It’s been ages since I’ve seen a stripping.”
“As am I,” said the soturion. “I’ll take my leave. See you out there.”
The Turion nodded and walked ahead.
Fuck. He was in the prison. I couldn’t tell if the soturion had exaggerated or not. But Imperator Hart had done double bindings on Rhyan before. A triple one for today made perfect sense. And knowing how strong he was, it was easy to believe there were a hundred soturi guarding him.
Another shout of someone calling him “forsworn” came and I stormed out of the crowd, pulling the ashvan with me.
Away from the waterway, I climbed back on, steering her toward the trees.
A horn blew. “Prisoner walk begins at the top of the hour! Please, make your way inside quickly!”
I searched for the nearest clock tower. That was in twenty minutes. I threw my hands on my head in frustration. Think. Think!
My heart was pounding. I’d survived so many impossible situations. My first habibellum powerless. The fight against Haleika in the arena. The nahashim in Korteria. I’d always found more strength, more power. Suddenly, my mind cleared, and I knew what I needed to do. The warnings didn’t matter. Nor did the consequences. I either left here with Rhyan, or I wasn’t leaving at all. I had to go get the shard.
“Volara,”I commanded, and once again we took off.
The Palace was in view, and thanks to my memorization of the map and blueprints, I spotted the windows of the Throne Room with ease. The stained-glass windows were alight beneath the sun. I pulled the reins around one wrist, and I grabbed my stave with the other. I directed the ashvan forward, blue sparks flying out behind us. My heart was pounding, but I urged her on and we flew over the walls, and the gates.
“Hey!” a soturion yelled, and I could faintly hear a horn being sounded. An alarm. But it was drowned out by the sounds coming from the arena. Shouts of excitement were growing louder. I could hear Rhyan’s name being called, and then more insults.
They were bringing him out.
I pointed my stave at the windows. And then I released the spell, blasting through the glass panes, again and again and again.
“Bring her down!” came a shout. “Bring her down!” Soturi were gathering at the front wall, and more were marching out from the Palace. But not enough to stop me.
“GO!” I screamed and we flew through the shattered windows, my entire chest heating at once.
The shield was in view above the Throne. Its power called out to me, the Valalumir beating with my heart. A dozen guards were running across the black and white tiles. Anotherdozen mages ran behind, their staves drawn. Leftovers from theArkchayperam.
“Dorscha,” I commanded.
The ashvan whinnied in distress as blue light almost hit us. Another mage was shooting a binding spell up. But we moved just in time to avoid the rope.
Suddenly there was another ashvan below, bronze with a silver mane. Riding on his back was the Blade. Lumeria’s Arkturion.
“Vra!” He roared and suddenly they were flying up to meet me.
I withdrew my sword, and urged the ashvan forward. Our swords clashed in the air and my hood fell back, revealing bright, fiery red hair.
“Lady Lyriana Batavia.” He shook his head. “You’ll be next to be stripped for this.”
I tightened my grip and again, our swords met. I pulled back and charged, stabbing but the Blade narrowly avoided me.
“Oh wait,” he said. “You have no power. There’s nothing to strip.” His arm lifted, and too quickly came crashing down.
I screamed and my ashvan, seeing the coming threat, backed up and neighed in distress.
