“I agree, but how in the fucking Stars do you propose we take on an entire continent’s army with no army of our own? Not to mention Dravara—we don’t even know where they are! It’s seven people, compared to thousands,” Teddy argues, the General of War spitting cold, hard facts.
He’s not wrong. Gods, I hate it, but he’s not wrong.
But I’m not leaving this fight.
“The odds aren’t in our favor,” I announce. “And I won’t stand in your way if you wish to stay in Thornewood. You can remain here until this is over.”
I look around at their unflinching faces. Eyes pinned on me.
“You will forever be the bravest warriors in Aevryn for your efforts. If you’re not with me, leave now,” I say.
But they don’t baulk. No one moves.
A chorus of answers dance on the wind.
“I’m in.”
“I’m not leaving.”
“I’m fighting!”
But Lesara’s eyes are pleading, searching Elyssara’s face, and gripping her shoulders in supplication. “Little Star, you can’t. You have to live. You’re our only hope.”
Elyssara drags her gaze up, meeting her mother’s eyes.
“I have never truly lived. But I fight so I can. So weallcan. I fightforhope,” Elyssara answers.
“Please, my darling girl,” Lesara begs, voice fragile and raw.
But Elyssara doesn’t crumble under her attempt at maternal love. She squashes it like a throat under her boot. “You haven’t mothered me for twenty years,Lesara. What makes you think you can start now?”
Lesara recoils at the use of her first name, hurt and broken by her daughter’s brutal snipe.
Elyssara shifts her gaze. The gold beneath her skin brightens, fierce and absolute. “We use Seren.”
There’s something in her tone that makes even Morrathys still. The air hums faintly with it—like her words carry power beyond sound.
Seren’s eyes snap up, surprised.
“Me?”
“Yes,” Elyssara confirms. “Open a Gateway directly into Kryntar Castle. We find Maldrak, his Arcanist, and we unbind the spell. We can use the Castle as our stronghold. When Morrathys’ power is restored, and with my magic uncaged, we can hold the line until Gellesk and his rebels arrive. They can’t be far away.”
I look at her, this woman made of Starlight and fury, and think that maybe the gods should start praying toher.
“El, that is a huge fucking gamble,” Ronyn says, “and that’s really saying something coming from me.”
“I could barely open a Gateway for one person!” Seren pleads, panic clawing at her, like she can feel the weight of the plan on her shoulders.
“There is no other option,” Elyssara counters, her tone regal.Queenly.
“We have to try,” Jax murmurs, her voice lacking her usual bite. “For our brothers.”
Teddy eyes Seren encouragingly, urging her on.
“What could possibly go wrong, eh?” Ronyn quips. “We end up in the wrong place? Could be worse, to be honest. Not that keen on certain death.”
Jax’s face doesn’t shift. Like she doesn’t even register the conversation—too caught in her own grief.
