He narrowed his eyes, trying to peer through the shifting plumes of smoke. Hulking galleys edged forwards, oars dipping in perfect rhythm. Not fast enough to draw attention, but enough to bring them closer.
‘They want us focused on the fires, not them,’ Tariq said. ‘The burning boats are their shields.’ His fingers curled around the hilt at his hip as he watched the creeping dark shapes move closer.
‘You’re right,’ Safiya said. ‘The fire’s a curtain while they close in.’
Tariq looked up at the northern cliff face. From that position, his bowmen could fire straight down onto the decks before the enemy reached the shore. It would be a punishing welcome.
‘Kaidon,’ he called.
The guard moved closer to listen.
‘I want two dozen archers.’ He gestured to the cliff. ‘Right now.’
Kaidon jogged away.
Tariq took Aisha’s hand and pulled her in the other direction. ‘You don’t leave my side.’ He looked at Safiya. ‘And you don’t leave your sister’s side.’ He picked up his pace.
Wind whipped at their clothing as they started up the cliff. The noise from the beach faded, replaced with the sound of their feet. The path narrowed as they climbed, the cliff face pressing in on one side and dropping down on the other. As they reached the top, Tariq studied the flat area covered in scrubby grass, then pointed his men to positions along the lip.
‘Nock and wait,’ he instructed.
‘Finally,’ Safiya said, preparing to join the soldiers.
Tariq caught her by her cloak. ‘What did I say?’
Exhaling noisily, she took up a position close by.
Aisha looked out at the boats below. ‘Will your archers make that distance?’
Kaidon took up his longbow and drew an arrow from the quiver on his back. ‘Normally, no. But we have gravity on our side.’
Tariq retrieved his own longbow, eyeing the black hulls through the haze. ‘Stay here,’ he told Aisha.
‘Before you go.’ She reached a hand up, touching his cheek. Her breath hitched, and she was gone again, returning a few moments later. Her hand went over her ear as though in pain.
‘Get everyone back from the edge,’ she said. ‘Now.’
He didn’t hesitate. ‘Fall back!’ His voice tore across the clifftop.
The archers looked back at him, confused.
‘You heard the king,’ Kaidon said. ‘Move!’
The soldiers began scrambling back from the cliff’s edge.
The first impact came with a sound that didn’t belong to this world—an unholy whistle that tore the air apart, followed by a violent crack as a flaming stone slammed into the cliff. The ground shuddered, and dust burst upwards in a choking wave. Another followed, this one landing just short of the soldiers.
They were firing burning rocks the size of heads. Shouts erupted as more landed.
Tariq dragged Aisha back out of harm’s way and called to her sister. ‘Safiya!’
The princess returned to Aisha.
‘They’re firing them from the ships,’ Kaidon shouted in disbelief.
Another rock struck a weak seam in the cliff, and the edge gave way. One of the archers went over the edge with it. His scream was brief, swallowed by the crash of stone against the sea.
‘Back!’ Tariq said as another fiery projectile struck, scattering shards of molten rock across the ground.
