Doing so would see E’ridia commit itself to a war not even the Eastern Spine could hold at bay. While Honovi knew Eimarille would say the attack was unjustified, theComhairle nan Cinnidheanand E’ridia’s air force had been invited by Caris. She was queen enough for that, and Honovi was prepared to acknowledge her as such if it meant he could save his husband.
He’d come this far already. He wasn’t leaving Foxborough without Blaine.
“Let’s go,” Honovi said.
Nine
VANYA
Gunfire made Vanya’s ears ring as the squad ofpraetorialegionnaires attempted to hold back a trio of revenants ripping apart a servant in a hallway. The skeletal revenants in faded and ragged robes didn’t look like they should have the strength to take someone down, but the evidence lay in scattered bloody bits around them.
“We need to circle back,” Javier snapped, holding on tight to Vanya’s arm and trying to pull him back the way they’d come.
The only problem with that idea was it would take him farther away from where his daughter hopefully was. Alida hadn’t answered her televox when he rang. Vanya could only hope she was busy hiding and not dead. “We’re pressing on.”
“Your Imperial Majesty—”
Vanya stepped forward, thrusting out his arm. “I’m going to Raiah.”
Starfire flickered at his fingertips before erupting in a burning ball of heat. Javier shouted out an order Vanya barely paid attention to. Thepraetorialegionnaires ahead of them dropped to their knees and ceased shooting, giving Vanya all the room he needed to incinerate the dead.
The revenants turned into columns of flame, starfire eating through bone until nothing but ash was left. The heat had everyone traveling with them flinching away, skin flushing, but no one retreated.
Vanya made a fist, snuffing out the starfire. All that remained were scorch marks on the floor, walls, and ceiling of the hallway and the ashes that drifted lazily to the floor. He pressed the sleeve of his robe over his nose and mouth, not wanting to breathe in the ash and lingering smoke as their group continued on.
“I don’t suppose you could simply fling starfire at any revenants that appear?” Cybele asked from some ways behind him. The small group of survivors had opted to stay with him rather than chance a run to the palace gates.
“I’d rather not risk the structure of the palace or breathe in whatever spores might be left in their bodies if I don’t have to,” Vanya said flatly.
Taisiya cleared her throat. “I concur on that. Let’s continue how we have been.”
Javier released Vanya’s arm but never left his side aspraetorialegionnaires scouted farther ahead, seeking safe passage through the maze of hallways. One legionnaire swiftly reloaded a pistol without looking and lengthened his stride to overtake the other two. Everyone else followed at a fast pace, eventually turning a corner into a hallway that overlooked the palace’s grand forecourt.
The hallway was lined with windows on one side, scattered doors leading to empty rooms on the other. The gaslights were all on, and none of the windows had their shutters or curtains drawn. Javier swore under his breath before dragging Vanya to his knees.
“I’m not losing you to a head shot if whoever released revenants into the palace has marksmen in their employ,” Javier said. “Stay down and move as fast as you can. Goes for everyone.”
Vanya didn’t argue the order, merely did as he was told. Javier stayed in front, and Vanya followed close behind, staying below the line of windows. They were halfway down the long hallway when a clanking sound came from the corner up ahead. Before anyone could react, a delta-class automaton stepped into view.
About Vanya’s height but bulkier, it walked with a jerky gait on mechanical legs. Rather than a Zip gun arm, the delta-class ones were outfitted with grenade launchers. Their assigned positions were on the roof of the palace as ever-vigilant guardians. Vanya wondered what had caused this one to leave its post when there were plenty of revenants crawling across the grounds for it to target.
The star priest that followed in its wake was a surprise. The man jerked when he caught sight of them, and it wasn’t relief that flitted across his face.
“Shoot him,” Vanya ordered before he could really process what he was seeing.
Because yes, those were the robes of a star priest on the man, but no star priest assigned to the temple on the palace grounds had a face like his—untidy beard, pockmarked cheeks, and the body of one used to fighting rather than praying. Neither did any star priests carry a rifle favored by the Daijalan military.
The man ducked behind the automaton, bullets missing him and ricocheting off metal. The automaton planted its feet and swiveled its torso with a crank of gears to better aim the grenade launcher at them.
“Someone has control of the override keys,” Javier said before grabbing Vanya and diving for the safety of the room across from them. They hit the floor at the same time, the impact sending Vanya’s crown flying off his head.
Just in time, as the grenade that flew through the air landed with aboomthat made the wing of the palace shake. Plaster dust shook free of the ceiling, making Vanya cough as it fell around them. The ringing in his ears had gotten louder, but it wasn’t loud enough to drown out the pounding of his heart.
“Taisiya,” he croaked. “Make sure she’s okay. I’ll handle the automaton.”
Javier looked back at him, then at the office—two stories up and no way out but the doorway they’d fallen through—and swore. “I shouldn’t let you risk yourself.”
Vanya smiled, the feel of it wrong on his face. “You don’t let me do anything, Captain.”
