They lay against one another, vomit splattering the ground around them, their shirts crusted with crimson blood so fresh it had not yet dried. She’d been so close, and yet not close at all, because Ahnna knew that they’d eaten the poison more than a day ago. It was slow acting by design.
A guttural noise tore from her lips, and she fell to her knees next to the bodies of her people, all of whom she knew by name. Many of whom she’d fought alongside. Men and women who’d survived Silas Veliant with skill and bravery, only to fall to the coward’s weapon of poison. She sobbed, horror trying to drown her as a dozen dead eyes stared at her. Blamed her for their fates.
Then a noise caught her attention. Like the sound of a boot scraping against stone.
James tensed and lifted his sword, but Ahnna only held up her light.
A figure shifted on the ground, just at the edge of the glow.
Ignoring James’s protest for caution, she scrambled upright and raced down the bridge, her chest clenching painfully as she dropped to her knees next to a familiar form. “Aster?”
The old Ithicanian reached for his sword hilt, ever the soldier, then his eyes fixed on her. “Ahnna?” he wheezed, a rivulet of blood dribbling down his chin. “Is that you?”
“It’s me.” Tears ran down her cheeks. “I’m back.”
“Grain. It’s poisoned.”
“I know,” she whispered, trying to think of a way to help him but knowing there was none. He was too far gone. “Katarina and Alexandra are working together to take the bridge. They aim to poison everyone so they can take it without a fight.”
“Cunts.”
“Yeah.” She took hold of his hand, gripping it tight, but before she could say more, Aster spoke.
“Sent runners and boats after all the shipments we sent out.” He gagged, more blood running down his chin as he coughed. “Don’t know if they’ll make it. Everyone ate, Ahnna. Everyone fuckinggorged.”
“I’m sorry.” A sob tore from her. “I tried to get back in time. I tried—”
He lifted a bloody finger to her lips. “You’re here now, which means we have a chance. You’ve pissed me off more than once, girl, but you’ve never failed Ithicana.”
Except she had. Over and over.
As if he’d heard her, Aster shook his head. “You’ll make it right, Ahnna.”
He gagged, a flood of blood pouring down his chin to splatter his gore-soaked chest. She tried to help support him until the spasmstopped, but he coughed with such violence that she knew the end was close.
“Two more ships of grain sailed past this morning,” he managed to gasp out. “One will anchor at Vexis. The other heads for Eranahl.”
No no no!
“Aren is on Vexis Island,” he whispered. “Lara and Delia are on Midwatch.”
The tiny island was in spitting distance of the king’s stronghold, and Ahnna’s stomach dropped.
“Sent runners,” Aster choked out. “But they’ll die before they make it. Go.”
“Aster, I’m not leaving you.” He was an asshole who was a prick to his wife and worse to his children, ever a thorn in Aren’s backside. But he wasloyal.
“You won’t fail Ithicana.” His grip began to slacken. “Save them.”
He vomited up one last gout of blood, and then went still, the light fading from his eyes. Ahnna let go of his hand, slowly closing his eyelids.
“I’m sorry, Ahnna.”
She turned to find James at her back, sword in hand. Like a shadow protecting her when she was at her weakest. But she did not miss the gleam of tears in his eyes, her grief his grief.
“I can’t save them all, can I?” She climbed to her feet. “I have to choose.”
He gave a slow nod but said nothing, leaving the choice to her.
