The first crack appears right in the center, where Lalah is standing. And then there are others, spidering in from where the barrier connects to the rock spires on the sides, weaving up from the base, coming down from the top.
“It’s going to shatter!” Merc yells. “Watch out! It’s going to—”
At that moment, there’s a great explosion, and I jump in front of Lalah and hold on to her, shielding her with my body as I’m pelted with shards of whatever the gate is made of. All around, there are shouts and screams, the horses rearing back, the carts being ground into the mountain’s flank, Thale’s beautiful grays jumping and trying to dart with their carriage still attached.
It’s the loudest thing I’ve ever heard, my ears registering it not even as sound, but as a penetrating sting that goes into my head. Musket balls and shards come at us in a wave, swamping our feet like a tide coming in, dust blooming like a sandstorm, debris landing and making both worse.
And then it fades.
Well, at least the sounds and the falling crystal splinters and the ground cover settle. The fine particles in the air hang around—
As Lalah’s legs go out from under her, I hold her slight weight as best I can, easing her onto the ground. Immediately, her sister is by her side, talking to her in their language.
I brush tears off her cheeks. “Just breathe… Lalah, just breathe…”
She turns her head to the side. “I… did it.”
Easing back from Emma, she sits up and stares at the great, gaping hole that’s revealed as a new wind enters the clearing from whatever is on the other side. This ushers some of the dust out, and I look at what has been exposed: It’s just more of the same, a trail, through high jagged mountains.
I expected there to be a treasure on the far side.
But as Lalah struggles to her feet, and holds on to me for balance as she looks straight ahead, I know that what she’s gained in this is better than any gold. This will have repercussions for her future. She is now more secure, and not just because she’s under Thale’s protection.
She has herself now, too.
“Let me take her back.”
I don’t recognize the voice at first. But then I see the top hat. Thale.
“Ride back in my coach,” he says softly to Lalah. “Your sister can sit with you. I shall drive the horses.”
With a careful hand, he draws her away with the other two women, and her twin stays at her side—
Lalah breaks off and bolts back toward me. I know she’s looking at my facefully, but I can’t… I can’t meet her eyes. I just can’t know that she’ll die by a demon some night soon after having survived so much.
What I can do is get to the Kingdom of the South as soon as I’m able.
And deliver the crown of war and shadow to its rightful owner.
The arms that are thrown around me are strong. “Thank you,” she says roughly. “For everything.”
Then she runs back to her sister.
I stay where I am as Thale helps the four women into his carriage, shuts them in, and mounts up to the driver’s seat. As he takes the reins of his grays, he starts barking orders for the crowd to follow him back to the Outpost. The men and women who witnessed it all are talking in excited voices, and I’m sure a number of them want to go forward and see what’s around the next corner.
But Thale’s in charge. And they will not defy an order.
Glancing over my shoulder, I see that Merc has both our horses. Thank the crescent moon for that. Although his might have stayed, I’m not sure Lavante would have.
I look back at the coach.
Thale is staring in my direction. And then he takes off his top hat, and bows low.
With a last nod, he hauls his team around and disappears, taking the crowd with him.
After which, it’s just Merc and me.
“How did you know she had it in her?” he asks in a quiet voice.
