“Therein lies the danger of a monarchy. The people are powerless to resist, to find the truth, and to decide for themselves.” His head tilted, his eyes on one of the pale banners fluttering in the wind, Yuri let out a breath. He turned to look at her. “A government exists to serve its people, Ana. The people should not fear their government; it is the government that should fear its people.” Yuri’s eyes blazed, and in them, Ana saw the fires of the Imperial Inquisition, torchlight in the dark, cries and pleas splitting the night. “A monarchy may work so long as we assume benevolence in the ruler’s intentions. But should that not be the case”—he swept a hand at the ghost town around them—“this is the consequence.”
Ana was silent, his words churning in her mind as the two wound through the snow-covered streets. Seyin had said the same thing to her, one moon past. Back then, the possibility that her resuming the throne was not the best way to save this empire had been such a shock, she hadn’t given thought to those words.
But…as much as she despised the notion, the truth of it was that Papa had been an inadequate emperor, letting crimes againstAffinites run rampant under his regime. In his last years, his slow poisoning at Morganya’s hands had taken his mind and rendered him incapable of making logical decisions.
Yet still, an entire palace, an entire empire, had continued to bow its head to a sickened monarch, incapable of changing the system to save itself.
In the steel-gray sky high above them came a bright beam of light, followed by what resembled an explosion. Sunbeams scattered, sparks drifting and fizzling out over the rooftops.
A signal.
Yuri cursed. “A signal,” he said, his voice rising as he broke into a run. “Must be Kann’s unit—it’s coming from several streets down!”
Ana sprinted after him. A stitch bloomed in her side immediately, and her arms began to ache from the weight of the shield. She focused on her breathing, thepat-pat-patof her boots on snow-covered streets. Overhead, more sunlight came, flashing and swirling in a way that mimicked explosions.
Abruptly, they cut off.
“It’s coming from the direction of the Palace,” she said, dread mixing with the adrenaline that rushed through her veins. “The Tiger’s Tail.”
Before them, the streets began to open, the narrow alleyways and residential dachas becoming wider and more spaced apart. Overhead, the spires and cupolas of the Salskoff Palace loomed ever closer from behind crenellated cream walls.
They turned onto the riverside promenade near the back of the Palace, separated from its high walls by the ferocious Tiger’s Tail. Across the street by the edge of the water, two figures were engaged in combat, the blur of their elements obscuring theirfaces from view. On the sidewalk, draped across bloodied snow, was a third figure, unmoving.
It was too easy to pinpoint Sorsha Farrald—she moved with an erratic ferocity, a mad dance that somehow had its own rhythm. Ana watched as she leaned forward and thrust out both her palms.
Bursts of fire shot out, slamming into the stomach of the other fighter. Ana heard the splash as the second figure was flung over the balustrade into the Tiger’s Tail.
Maniacal laughter rang out. Ana would recognize it anywhere. “That’s her,” she said. “Sorsha Farrald.” The last time she’d faced off against the girl, Ana had held one of the most powerful Affinities in existence.
This time, she had nothing.
Yuri stepped forward. As his hands balled into fists, flames erupted from his flesh, snaking up his forearms and licking over his skin.
“Two siphons,” Ana reminded him. “One she carries for Morganya, the other she bears.”
“There won’t be anything left of her once I’m through,” Yuri gritted out, raising his fists before his chest in a combat stance. His hands shot out in two rapid-fire punches, fireballs launching from them. They smashed into the other side of the street on either side of Sorsha Farrald.
She looked up, a grin splitting her face as she turned to Yuri.
He launched himself at her, fists flaming, trails of fire blazing behind him.
Ana drew a dagger and made for the unconscious figure on the pavement of the promenade. It was a boy, barely breathing. She recognized him from their planning sessions in Yuri’squarters at camp—Kann, a sun Affinite who had sent the signal. His skin had paled, and she knew instantly from the amount of blood soaking his cloak that it was too late. His cloak was torn to ribbons, and she saw with sickening fury that Sorsha had shredded the flesh on his stomach.
Helplessness descended upon her as she looked at the dying boy, at the blood spilled all around them, knowing that there was nothing she could do. Her Affinity was gone.
Footsteps: Four more Redcloaks appeared, fists outstretched, the elements of their Affinity already spinning around them. Over the rush of the Tiger’s Tail waters, Ana heard Sorsha’s sharp, wild laughter.
“Howfun!” Sorsha shrieked. Her iron spikes had shifted into flat discs; she manipulated them easily to block Yuri’s and the Redcloaks’ blows. “I’d been holding back until now, but…I’ve always wanted to trythisone out!”
She whipped out her hand and turned to face three of the newly arrived Redcloaks. Time seemed to slow as Sorsha clenched her fist in their direction and twisted—and Ana, with nauseating horror, realized what was to happen.
Three of the Redcloaks fell. The air misted red, vapor coating the balustrade, like rain.
“Oops.” Sorsha brought a hand to her mouth, her skin speckled crimson. “I didn’t realize it would bethatpowerful!” She turned, her gaze pinning Ana like throwing knives as she licked the blood from her lips. “All that power, wasted on you until now. No matter. It’s never too late to begin.”
Rage splintered Ana’s mind, wiping her thoughts blank save for the scene of Sorsha usingherAffinity, herbloodAffinity, against three Redcloaks. Murdering them before her eyes withoutbatting an eyelash. And it was with the same overwhelming numbness that Ana watched Yuri bellow and charge toward Sorsha, flames shooting from his fists in such rapid succession that they might have been one long, continuous pillar of fire. Sorsha, laughing as she retreated, dodging and blocking each of his advances in an effortless dance.
They were headed toward the Kateryanna Bridge and the front gates of the Palace, Ana realized. Palace Guards would be standing sentry there.
