Ksenia’s jaw ticked. “Can you control it?”
She curled her fingers over the flame, unburned by the heat of it. The spark snuffed out, and Caris drew in a deep breath. “Better than I used to.”
Ksenia narrowed her eyes. “I won’t see wardens harmed because of your lack of training.”
“Would you rather see them harmed by the enemy, then? I canhelp, Ksenia. So let me.”
“You aren’t trained for war.”
“Are you?”
Ksenia’s expression appeared as if carved from stone. “In more ways than you.”
The ground shook again, and Caris braced her knees to stay standing. Ksenia strode out of the building, and Caris swore, following after her, ignoring Nathaniel’s protesting shout. They stepped into sunlight made hazy by dust and smoke. Ksenia had her televox in hand, the device open and crystals humming with power.
“Governor, are you there?” she barked into the speaker. “What are your orders?”
The line must have been active because Ksenia’s shoulders slumped after a moment, relief flickering across her eyes before being replaced with a grim sort of determination. “No, I don’t know where Blaine is, but I have Caris with me.”
Caris’ heart lurched and missed a beat at that news. “Wasn’t he with the wardens’ governor?”
Ksenia ignored her. The call lasted less than a minute, for Caris had come to understand that wardens were a very direct, matter-of-fact kind of people. Ksenia closed the televox and slipped it into the case on her belt.
“The governor wants you on the wall if you’re still willing to fight, but you have to know there’s a risk of you being hurt or dying,” Ksenia said, blunt in a way Caris could appreciate.
Nathaniel grabbed Caris by the elbow, worry in his voice, in his eyes. “Blaine would tell you not to.”
Caris curled her hand over his before gently pulling free. “The soldiers are here because of me.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Why else would Eimarille send troops to attack the Warden’s Island?”
“You can’t be certain she’s in command of them.”
“Who else would do such a thing?”
No country in their right mind would levy such an attack on the people who kept Maricol safe. Governments may not care for the costs of abiding by the Poison Accords, but those costs were still paid.
Another explosion on the other side of the fort had Ksenia turning her back on them and heading down the street at a dead run. “Quit arguing and make your decision. If you’re coming with me, then put your gas masks on.”
Caris yanked her gas mask off her belt and raced after the warden, putting it on with practiced hands as she ran. Nathaniel made it to her side seconds later, his own gas mask in place. They caught up with Ksenia, shadowing her through the fort as they ran for the nearest section of the wall to help with the defense.
The warning sirens were still going, and they passed small groups of tithes from time to time. Each group they passed, Ksenia paused long enough to direct them to the laboratories, which were deep enough to act like bunkers amidst the hell raining down on the island.
They turned a corner, a high-pitched whistling sound abruptly cutting off, when Ksenia spun on her feet and shoved both Caris and Nathaniel into the alcove of a doorway. A roiling concussive blast ripped down the street, making her ears pop. Caris squeezed her eyes shut against the dirt and dust it kicked up, Nathaniel shielding her from most of it.
“What are they targeting?” Nathaniel asked.
“Everything,” Ksenia retorted.
“What about the gates?” Caris asked.
“They would have been shut and barred per protocol.”
“Was anyone in the training fields?”
“A live exercise was scheduled for today with older tithes, but that’s held off the island.”
