She tried to scream, but only smoke spilled past her lips. Her heart thundered, her chest crushed beneath the weight of his spell. The taste of iron filled her mouth, sound dulling.
Then horns blared over the Hydell Hills.
From the tree line, shapes tore free: towering Minotaurs clad in blackened bronze, stampeded across the valley. At their lead, Zuma roared, swinging massive black axes that sent demons flying in showers of ash.
Lady Zinnia arrived on elk back, her army of paladins galloping over the hills from the other end.
The ranks broke into chaos.
Roars clashed with screams as the first line of Sal’vathar’s army met with hooves and Nightstone. And behind her came shouts of men. Banners snapped in evergreen and white in the wind as Calla led what remained of the Argyle soldiers in a desperate charge.
The altar shook as demons and mortals collided below, the battlefield lit with fire, shadow, and blood.
Ira grinned, standing with his hammer as Hadeon approached.
“You wish to challenge me, lad?”
Hadeon gripped his hammer with grim resolve, blood leaking from where he had ruptured his own ears. “I denounce my fealty to one with no honor.”
Their fight collided, tumbling down the hill.
Deimos appeared from the shadows, barely having time to snatch Theia and Rihan away from Morvenna’s grasp before Nexia attacked her.
“I am no coward, bitch!” Nexia shrieked, her golden trident nearly impaling Morvenna’s head to her throne. Their hisses and screeches rang out in a feral crash.
Balgor grinned, his stomach slipping into a hungry maw and he followed down the hill, licking his bloodied lips.
Sal’vathar stood there dumbfounded as the courts of Greed, Pride, and Sloth clashed into Wrath, Gluttony, Lust and Envy. “What is this? Cease! I command you to obey me!”
But the battle continued, his words drowned out in the clatter of steel and roars.
“You mistook control for authority, Sal’vathar,” Segrith mused, appearing beside Alora. “The Court of Sin and Ruin will not bow to one who must steal power to claim it.”
He whipped around with a snarl, realizing too late Segrith had drifted up to the altar unnoticed. The Lady of Sloth slashed the webbing off Alora’s wrist, scattering the Hellstones.
Alora finally broke free in a scream, her hands flinging outward. A violent force of white light struck his chest. He shouted, arcing away to land in the center of the battlefield.
She rose to her feet shakily, power humming in her veins as she looked at Lady of Sloth. “Whose side are you on, Segrith?”
The small Dominion bowed her head with a slight smile. “I serve the scales, my queen.”
“Then do you not believe Rune also stole the throne?”
“When Vorak was imprisoned, the Netherworld was unruled and unstable. Balance demanded a sovereign and the shadows chose one. How could he steal what was given?”
Alora’s heart swelled as the threads of understanding took root. “I thought you would resent him for taking your eyes.”
The Lady of Sloth gave her a cunning smile. “Sometimes, sacrifice is needed to trulysee.”
Then Segrith strode away for the trees, dissolving to sand on the wind. Deimos resurfaced from where he had hidden Theia and Rihan. Alora stumbled forward, holding out her arms.
Both ran to her, embracing her with a soft cry. She stumbled down to her knees with them.
“Are you all right?” Theia asked, supporting her upright.
“I will be.” Alora smiled shakily, and cupped Rihan’s cheek. “Wewill be.”
His lip wobbled. “Nexus…”
