“I’m the reason you’re still alive,” I snarl, whipping my gaze back to Kath. Rage and frustration pulse through me like lightning as I stare her down from across the grass. “I’m the one who made the whole city erupt. If it hadn’t been for me, you and your precious little brother would’ve been executed!”
She hesitates, her gaze flitting towards the guy with red hair and blue eyes standing next to her.
“And now,” I continue, my voice still hard. “We’re here to offer you an opportunity to take your city back. To takeStonehollowback,” I add when I remember that this city used to be called Stonehollow before the Icehearts took it over and made it the Silver Clan’s home instead.
Several of the humans exchange glances at that.
“The entire Silver Clan is flying to a battle they will soon lose.” I stab a hand at the mass of silver dragons that still speed across the forest above us. “So now, we’re going to march right into the city and blow up the Ice Palace.” I keep my searing gaze locked on hers. “So do you want to keep threatening us or do you want to help?”
Almost all of the bows are slowly being lowered now, and the human who held a knife to Orion’s throat retreats while glancing towards Kath instead.
“This isyourcity!” I yell at them all. “Your ancestors built it stone by fucking stone. The Ice Palace sits on the ruined bones ofyourcastle. Stonehollow is yours. The one place in this world where you belong fully and completely. The place where you can trace your history back through every age of this world. This is the place where your people have lived and worked and loved and lost and bled for generations. It is your land. Your home. It is time to take it back!”
A shuddering breath ripples through the whole crowd.
Then battle cries split the air.
“Spread the word!” Kath calls across their group, determination blazing in her eyes. “We’re going into the city to gather our explosives.” Her gaze returns to me. “And then we will help you blow that fucking Ice Palace to kingdom come.”
A villainous grin spreads across my mouth.
She matches it with a feral one that makes her look more like a wolf than a human.
“We’re taking our home back.”
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Thick liquid sloshes inside the small barrel I’m carrying. I glance down at it, worried that the movement alone is going to set it off. Since I have never even seen, let alone handled, this kind of substance before, I have no idea how sensitive it actually is.
“Are you sure this is safe?” I ask, glancing over at Kath instead.
She and the other human rebels are all carrying small barrels as well. And so are Isera, Alistair, and Orion. Kyler and Peter are walking on either side of Kath as we sneak through the streets and towards the Ice Palace above. The only other human I met from their group who isn’t here this time is Ami. Apparently, she died along with Hector in the rescue attempt last year.
“Yes,” Kath replies. With a jerk of her chin, she tosses her red hair out of her face while hoisting the small barrel into a better position in her arms. “It’s safe to transport. Just don’t come near it with any sort of fire.”
Isera, Orion, and I all turn to look at Alistair.
Our snarky fire-wielder starts in surprise and then draws his eyebrows down in an attempt at an offended scowl. “What? I haven’t done anything.”
“Yet,” I say with a teasing smirk.
Orion arches an eyebrow at him. “Need I remind you that you blew up part of my court?”
“It wasonebuilding,” Alistair huffs. “And it was an accident.”
“Sure.” Isera’s eyes gleam as she slides him a knowing look while adding, “Flambé.”
An amused breath escapes his mouth before he tries to scowl again, which works poorly when he’s still fighting a smile. “Shut it, ice lady.”
“What even is this anyway?” I ask Kath while nodding down at the barrel in my hands.
“It’s sap from a really strange type of tree that we found growing along the foot of the mountain,” she replies. “At first, we thought it might be edible. But then when some people tried to cook with it…” She grimaces. “Well,boom.”
“But more importantly,” Kyler begins next to her. “How do we get it inside?”
We all trail to a halt as we reach the end of the street. Ahead, the path that has been cut into the mountain stretches up towards the Ice Palace. I tilt my head back and stare up at the massive ice walls that surround it.
The soldiers might have all left, but there are still people milling about up there on the mountainside. Probably the normal civilians who work as servants and messengers.
