The Wanderer held up his hands, as one of the Dohrsarans shoved him… but then another Wanderer jumped in. Others followed from each side, and soon there was an all-out brawl.
The unease spread like a cloud, stretching its dark fingertips across the valley, snaking its way around Dohrsaran and Wanderer until there was a rift that had not been there before.
Sonara couldfeelthe tension, a palpable monster birthed to life as shouts grew and weapons were hoisted, and the peace between the two was shattered.
And suddenly a shot rang out.
Sonara couldn’t see if the body that fell was Soreian, Wasteian or a Deadlander… but all kingdoms, all allegiances seemed to have been swept aside as screams tore across the Garden of the Goddess, and the Wanderer leader gave the command to attack.
All around her, the Garden of the Goddess melted into chaos. Shots pierced through the screams, screams turned into gurgles of blood, blood stained skin as bullets hit home in Dohrsaran chests. The world became a blur as everyone ran in different directions, the need for escape controlling their actions.
The aura intensified with every retort of a Wanderer weapon, with every thump of footsteps as the people around her scrambled for escape.
There were no kingdoms now.
There was only survival.
“Run!” Jaxon yelled in Sonara’s ear.
She laced her fingers through his as they sprinted through the crowd, stumbling over fallen bodies as bullets sprayed. Jaxon stumbled over a crumpled booth, flames licking up the sides of the fabric. Sonara tightened her grip, crying out as she hauled him back to his feet and they ran.
On all sides, tents crumpled or erupted into flames. People cried out, trampled under rushing feet. Sobs of others mixed in, holding their dead, the clang of swords and hiss of Wasteian soldiers loosing arrows against the Wanderers.
In seconds, the peace had been shattered and an all-out war took its place.
And Sonara had done it.
Sonarahad been the catalyst.
Another wave ofbitter, cold revengeswept her curse up.
Movement, everywhere. Dohrsarans running, soldiers from Soreia, the White Wastes and the Deadlands grouping together as the queens themselves dove into the battle. They lifted their blades and spears and faced their sudden enemy. Beasts stormed about,knocking tents over, stamping through fires that blazed and spread high. The vines on one of the goddess’ fingertips caught flame, the glowing flowers melting as the fire licked upwards, ever higher. Wanderer soldiers closed in on all sides, shooting her people…
Goddesses, what had shedone?
Sonara felt like a sword had been stabbed into her temples as she screamed and her curse unleashed itself full force. She gasped as it swarmed every sense, making it impossible to breathe.
“Markam!” Jaxon shouted his brother’s name. “Help me with her!”
“Oh, Sunny, what did you do?” Sonara felt Markam’s gloved hand grip her other arm.
“Get us out of here!” Jaxon commanded as they helped guide Sonara along.
Her legs felt numb. Her body felt like it was shutting down.
“The exit is blocked,” Azariah said, emerging from the smoke with Thali at her side. “There are too many trying to leave at once. It was not supposed to go this way.”
Something in the distance exploded, and heat scalded Sonara’s face. The ground rumbled as if a bomb had gone off.
Duran’s soul-ember flared white hot in Sonara’s chest. He was panicking, wherever he was.
“Duran!” she shouted. “Where is he?”
She couldn’t see him.
Steeds ran everywhere, the herds let loose from their pen, but he wasn’t among them. She remembered his panic, ten years ago when he’d run from the Wanderer ship that stole Soahm… would he leave her now, lost to his own panic again?
Desert cats sprung and attacked, without their riders to control their terror. A flock of wyverns soared into the air, screeching as they left the chaos behind. One fell, its wing ablaze, and tumbled headlong into the mountains, carrying its riders with it.
