A host of Circines had poured out of Dulross. They pressed in on all sides now, so close that Lara could see the whites of their eyes.
Eagal had wisely flown from Mor’s shoulder. The Raven Queen’s sword slashed silver, biting deep as her elk lowered its antlers and plowed into the Circines. No one could get near her. Not yet, anyway.
But even Mor would tire eventually. She’d dragged Dorka into the melee, yet the clag-doo held her ground, clawing at any Circines warrior foolish enough to stumble close.
Alar had leaped from Skaal’s back and fought with his twin daggers. The fae hound remained at his side. A wet, ripping sound filled the glade as her teeth tore into flesh. Of course, the fairy dog’s howl would have been enough to send the Circines fleeing in terror—and three howls in a row would stop theirhearts. The problem, though, was that Skaal would killallthe Marav present, not just their attackers. Luckily for them, the Shee were immune.
Among Lara’s own escort, only Cailean, Roth, and Bree were fierce fighters. Ren, Annis, and Ruari had been trained to wield weapons, but they were no match for the Circines. As such, they pressed close to Lara, doing their best to protect their High Queen as the enemy closed in. Eithne clung to Cailean as he fought, while Duana, still seated behind Roth, now wielded a dagger and slashed at their attackers.
And then, beyond the crush of Circines, Lara spied familiar flickering flames amongst the trees.
The corpse candles had returned.
After witnessing their fellow warrior set alight, those still wielding torches had tossed them aside as well. With the wall of bodies around her, Lara couldn’t reach the flames now.
Yet, she did have a direct line of sight with the corpse candles.
Acting on instinct, she raised her left hand high and focused on the flickering lights. Yearning filled her. She flexed her fingers around the cairn stone, even as theOrd-ree sealstarted to gently pulse. Her breathing deepened, and then calmness descended.
Aye, that was better; she’d connected with them now. Whispers and soft laughter filled her head.
“Help us,” she whispered, clenching her left hand and then extending her fingers. “Lure them away.”
The flickering flames danced through the trees. They were skittish. Approaching and then halting, but she persisted. Beckoning them with gentle words. As they drew nearer, shemade out the shapes inside the golden flames. They were faeries, winged with slender limbs and long flowing hair.
And all the while, around her, the fighting grew more frenzied. Mor and her Ravens had formed a ring with Alar, Cailean, Bree, and Roth, but the Circines had pushed them back. The clang of metal and the grunts of fighting echoed through the night.
One of the corpse candles sailed overhead. And then, to Lara’s surprise, it landed on her shoulder, spinning and dancing there.
Next to Lara, Ruari breathed an oath.
And despite their dire situation, Lara was entranced. Wonder filled her.
How could she ever fear these lights? Right from the first moment they’d caught her attention on that night outside Doure, she’d longed to get closer to them, to dance with them in the woods. Their presence now filled her with quiet strength.
We’re running out of time.
A soft chattering noise filled the woods as corpse candles crowded around the fringes of the clearing. As yet, the hill-tribe warriors hadn’t seen them. They were too busy driving against the ring of Shee and Marav in the heart of the glade.
Lara clenched both fists then—her father’s ring on her right hand pulsed now, in time with her heartbeat—before she slowly extended the fingers of her left hand. Over the past year, she’d learned to be gentle with fire. It didn’t like to be forced to bend to her will. Instead, it preferred to be coaxed. It was a partnership.
Stillness settled deep in her chest as a second corpse candle landed lightly upon her other shoulder. It sat down, its tiny heart-shaped face turned up as it gazed at her.
Lara’s breathing caught. Quite simply, it was beautiful. She couldn’t believe it was responding to her like this, but she couldn’t just admire the corpse candles. She needed their help.
“We will die in these woods,” she whispered. “Unless you help us.”
She paused then, while lights swirled and danced around the clearing in a ring. She waited, knowing how fickle the faerie and spirit world could be. No good ever came from ordering them about. They helped you if it suited them, and if she gave offense, these corpse candles would flee, leaving them to die upon Circines blades.
One of the Shee fell then. A slender male with flowing silver hair crumpled to his knees only to be beset upon by warriors. Iron daggers rose and fell, the wet sound of sharp blades puncturing flesh echoing through the glade.
Sablebane cut his way into their midst, but it was too late.
Sweat bathed Lara’s skin.Now. Please.
The circling lights moved quicker now, and then a bright golden flare exploded from the fringes of the clearing.
“Close your eyes!” Lara gasped, hoping all her Marav companions had heard her.
