I don’t move.
“Go,” she repeats. Her voice is tight. She points to several riderless horses at the edge of the formation. “Now!” she adds when I stay where I am, my mouth open. “Take a steed and leave.”
I stare at her.
“Ruler General,” a male voice cuts through the quiet. A rider pushes forward on a dark stallion. His armor is polished to a mirror sheen, and the shadows that move around him are different from the others. They coil around his body like slippery eels. I know him and his shadows. It’s Captain Corvius. His dark eyes land on me, and a chill runs through my body. He turnsthose eyes on my mother. “With respect, I must question this decision.”
“I know what I am doing, Captain.” My mother meets his stare and does not waver. “Do not question me or there will be consequences.”
“Yes, Ruler General.” He dips his head, but the set of his mouth makes it clear he is anything but satisfied.
“Leave! Now!” my mother commands me.
I ignore how the guards turn their swords in my direction, and I step forward anyway, lifting my chin. “Either we leave together,” I tell my mother, “Or not at all.”
My mother’s expression cracks, just for an instant. I see something raw beneath the façade, something wounded. I see my mother.
“Go, Isla!” she shouts. “Go for goddess’ sake!” Her voice hitches.
I shake my head.
A long silence stretches between us. The guards watch. The horses shift and stamp.
“Fine,” the word leaves her in a whisper. “Let them both leave,” she booms. “Stand down.”
Something deep inside me loosens.
“I can’t allow that,” Corvius snarls, kicking his horse forward. The shadows around him thicken into long, snaking tendrils, and his hand rests on the hilt of his sword.
“The Ruler General has given a command.” I recognize this voice as well, only it’s warm and kind instead of cold and hard. Belen rides forward, and I have to hold back a smile…or a sob. Perhaps both. “Strange as it may seem,” he says, his dark eyes sweeping the assembled guards, “we need to trust that our Ruler knows what she is doing. She takes her orders directly from our Queen, after all.”
“It’s madness.” Corvius struggles to contain his fury. “There is a bounty on both their heads.” He waves his spear in the air. “Our queen has made it very clear that she wants Sebastian alive.”
“Obey me or face the consequences!” My mother’s voice booms across the clearing. There is iron in it.
“You heard Ruler General Elistral,” Belen says; his voice carries an edge of finality. “Let them go.” He glares at the captain. “I’m sure that there will be an excellent reason for the Ruler General’s order. One we need to respect and obey.”
“Thank you, General Belen. Stand down,CaptainCorvius,” my mother says.
The clearing holds its breath.
Corvius looks from my mother to Belen and back. His shadows writhe. For a terrible moment, I think he will defy them both. Then he pulls his horse back a single step and says nothing, although it is clear that he is not happy about it.
Sebastian’s hand finds mine; his grip is warm and sure.
We walk at first, then faster, weaving between guards, who part with reluctant, bewildered faces. The riderless horses stand at the far edge of the formation. We carefully approach them. I take the nearest one and swing up into the saddle. My legs shake a little as I quickly find the stirrups.
I turn the horse toward the deadlands and kick it into a gallop.
Sebastian is right behind me.
I lean low over my horse’s neck; my fingers tangle in its mane. The ground blurs, and the wind stings my eyes. Sebastian’s horse matches mine stride for stride. I don’t dare turn to look but keep my eyes up ahead.
We pass through the dome, and the deadlands stretch out ahead.
“Hurry,” he shouts. “They will come for us soon enough,” he yells.
I think he is right. Snow will not like that my mother let us go. I’m sure that she will be in a world of trouble.
