Horns blasted through the city in a low, sad song. She didn’t recognize the melody, but it had everyone else holding their breath. Fiera turned to the castle.
From the tallest tower, a makeshift banner was unfurled. It wasn’t much, but it would surely be seen from anywhere in the city: the white flag of surrender was draped across the castle of Norin.
Like that, Mhashan fell.
“Zerian did it…” Tiberus murmured, turning back to them. “Kneel before your Emperor and you shall know my mercy.”
Fiera’s knuckles went white, but ultimately, she sheathed her sword. Vi watched as the princess fell to one knee.
“Your highness, do not kneel before—”
“We have lost,” Fiera said back to them.
Tiberus turned to Vi next and she hastily dropped to her knee, bowing her head.
“Kneel,” the Emperor demanded to the rest of the soldiers.
One man and the two women did as they were bid. But the other two remained on their feet.
“We will never kneel before Imperial swine.”
“Kneel or die,” Tiberus reiterated. “I am ready to give this city mercy, but do not test me.”
“We are the Knights of Jadar—”
“And your commander orders you to kneel,” Fiera snapped.
“Our commander would never bend her knee before a Southerner,” one of the men seethed.
“The war is over,” Vi said. “You see the banner.” They all ignored her.
“Kill them,” the Emperor ordered.
“No.” Fiera was on her feet in a moment, blocking the Imperial knights. Swords were drawn from all angles, each pointing at someone different. “They are my responsibility.” Fiera leveled her gaze at Tiberus. For his part, he had very little reaction.
Vi watched closely, seeing her father in both of them—seeing herself. She had given little thought to the blood that was spilled before her birth to build the Empire she would rule. She’d learned of it, but she hadn’t comprehended the sacrifices or all the tough choices her family had made along the way to build what was known in her age as the greatest Empire the Dark Isle had ever seen.
“Go on, then,” Tiberus said. It sounded like a challenge.
Fiera put her back to the Emperor and his soldiers in an incredible display of faith. “Kneel before our new Emperor.”
“How dare you—”
“I said kneel!” Fiera shouted. “Mhashan has lost enough in the last ten years. We shall lose no more to foolish pride.”
“I will die for my pride.”
“Die, then.” Fiera swung her sword in a wide arc. She didn’t so much as flinch. In one movement, the princess struck down her once-loyal guards by slicing them both at the neck with deadly precision.
Vi watched as the corpses fell. With one swing of her sword, Fiera struck a bloody line in the ground that marked where Mhashan ended, and the rule of Solaris began.
Chapter Four
Vi staredat the wide eyes of the men who had refused to kneel. Now, they were nothing more than two more bodies on the cobblestone streets of Norin.
“You, princess—”
“Fiera,” the woman finished for the Emperor. There was an almost defiant air about her. “Princess Fiera.”
