Sizzling, the reek of burnt flesh.Cursing, Nalu flung the knife to the ground and fell back from Lina, gripping his wrist, his right hand singed and bleeding.
The knife, red-hot, melted into the gravel.
Lina rolled her shoulders and brushed her hair back.“I’d like a moment with my heliade, please.”
Breathing heavily, Nalu looked to Cynthia like she might help him.When she didn’t, he shoved past her, shouting for a healer.
“Have your moment,” Cynthia said as she turned her back to them, standing guard.“But please let it include a plan to avoid all of us dying.”
Unable to stop herself, especially when Lina cast her a self-satisfied smirk, Ione asked facetiously, “Do you have a plan at all?”
Lina made an affronted noise.“I’m following the whispers of the gods, and I expect my heliade not to question me.”
Ione matched her grin, her arms automatically wrapping around Lina’s waist.“You inspire such confidence.”
Lina delved her fingers into Ione’s hair and kissed her, and for just a moment, the world around them disappeared.“Thank you for coming here,” she whispered before kissing her again, again.“And – I know.I know.”She gazed skyward, searching for the words.“I can’t explain it,” she finished softly.“But I have to be here.I… I truly believe that.”
Ione held her face, studied the light in her eyes, the thrill, the fear.“I know,” she murmured.“And I’ll stand with you.”
“Stop,” Kai snapped behind them, startling them both.“I’mfine, Hilo, stop asking.”He groaned, his shoulders curling.He let River touch his arms, his back, rubbing his own head as he complained of the never-ending fucking pain.
Saros whirled, ignoring whatever Malia said to him.“Bear it, you infant,” he hissed.“Do not embarrass me.”
Kai straightened without complaint, arms falling stiffly.He let out a breath, clearly still in pain as he gritted, “Copy.”
Lina, too, blew out a breath, her hold on Ione’s arms tightening.She closed her eyes and shook her head, returning her focus to Ione.“Trust me,” she whispered.“You don’t have to trust Sowelan.But trustme.”
Ione wanted to.She really did.But it wasn’t just trusting Lina: it was trusting Kai, who quaked with the effort of keeping Menon at bay.It was trusting Nalu, who cursed Lina while Mikau grudgingly healed his hand.It was trusting the hydromancers and soldiers, their apprehension palpable; Rigel’s army, close enough now that Ione could hear the beat of their marching boots.
And Saros, who could never be trusted.
Someone made a noise, and the sun blazed through the thick clouds.As one, Ione and Lina and everyone else whirled around, their breaths collectively stopping.
It wasn’t the sun, but hundreds of fireballs swirling in the grey sky.
“Shield it,” Saros bellowed.
The spellcasters jolted, but Kai barged through them, sprinting off the road and down the grassy slope towards Rigel’s army.He lowered his stance, arms wide – but only a weak water shield formed above him, fizzling out and raining harmlessly back down to earth.Grunting, he fell to his knees and tried again, unresponsive as River dashed out and helped him to his feet.
Still, nothing.
The fireballs arced towards them, bathing the land in glaring orange hues.Ione recoiled, bumping into Lina behind her, the heat already prickling her skin.
“Fool,” Saros muttered; the rest of the spellcasters, joined by Kai’s brothers, launched forward, but Saros held up an arm.“UseMenon, you idiot!”
A cry of agony.Kai’s body bent in half, white light flashing through him, sending River clambering back.Standing unaided, Kai raised one hand, hailstones flurrying around his body, lifting, converging above them until they formed an enormous, glittering disc of ice.
The fireballs rained down upon it, steam hissing.A hole opened in the shield and mended itself in an instant.Kai did not move, did not speak, until every single fireball was absorbed – and when they were, the shield evaporated and he crashed to his knees, his breathing ragged.
“Get up.”
Kai obeyed, one hand weakly pushing River away from him.
He was moving strangely.Stiff, clockwork.
“He’s fighting to control Menon.”Cynthia cut Lina a worried glance.“How’re you holding up?”
Lina’s hands were hot on Iona’s arms.“I’m fine,” she mustered, eyes wide.“But he isn’t.”
