“Your Majesty,” she pants. “Reinforcements from the Kingdom of Water have reached the capital. General Bak and his forces are surrounded.”
“He cannot win this. Heknowshe cannot win this,” I breathe, then say louder, “I have to tell the general to surrender.”
“How?” Jihun steps in my way, a hand pressed against his wound. “The Kingdom of Sky has not stopped attacking the capital for over twenty-four hours. General Bak is unlikely to stop the battle to listen to reason.”
“I have to try.” I push past my royal adviser and approach the ledge of the wall.
“Ethan—”
I silence him with a look. “Clear some space for me, Lord Adviser.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” he says, a muscle ticcing in his jaw.
A dozen soldiers move away from the ledge at Jihun’s order, but the infuriatingly obstinate male stands at my side. “Move, Jihun. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Come on.” Captain Seo tugs him by the arm, and they back away from me, giving me a wide perimeter.
I take a deep breath and draw the life force of Mountains into my veins. The violence has taken a toll on this land as well as my body, and mygipulses sluggishly through me. I cross my axes over my chest, brace myself, then push out my power with a strained shout.
The front line of enemy forces falls like dominoes before they can even scream in fear. I recall my power on a long gasp and stumble as it slams back into me. Captain Seo and Jihun catch me by my arms, one on each side. I drag in another breath.
I nod my thanks before gently freeing my arms and stepping up to the ledge again. I’m grateful when they stay close behind me.
“General Bak.” I project my voice with my remaining magic. “You are completely surrounded by the forces of the Kingdom of Mountains, the Kingdom of Water, and the Kingdom of Underworld. Stop this madness and surrender.”
“Not until one of us takes our last breath,” the general answers, walking over his fallen soldiers to come closer to the wall.
“G-Grandfather.” I shudder as grief runs through my body. “We must end the bloodshed. We have a bigger enemy to face. Together.”
I can’t broadcast the coming of the Amheuk to the tired soldiers. Once we end this war, we can rest and regroup as a united realm. But General Bak has other ideas.
“Never,” he roars.
I realize with a jolt that my grandfather is ... broken. My mother’s death irrevocably shattered his mind.
“I will not surrender, even if it means the death of every last one of us.” He waves his fist in the air. “Attack!”
His soldiers run out from behind him but falter at the sight of their unconscious comrades on the ground.
“Attack, you worthless cowards,” the general screams, spittle flying from his lips.
They take to the air en masse with no one to cover them. The general is treating the lives of his soldiers like disposable utensils. Even as our soldiers take down seraph after seraph, more follow and cross over the walls.
“Oh gods.” I look down the length of the wall—on the outside and the inside. The soldiers, fellow shinbiins, cut one another down. What a senseless waste of precious lives—all to satisfy one male’s twisted hate. “He won’t stop. He’s going to let them all die.”
I have to awaken the Queen of Sky. Only she can stop this war without more bloodshed.
“Protect Shinsi while I’m gone,” I say to Jihun.
“You won’t make it to the palace,” he warns, knowing what I plan to do. “Too many enemy soldiers have breached the capital.”
“If you must go, then allow me to accompany you,” Captain Seo implores. “I will protect you with my life, Your Majesty.”
“I have to do this on my own.” I give them a ghost of a smile. “I only have enough strength left to cloak myself.”
Then I make myself invisible, and the captain gasps, taking half a step back.
“Show-off.” Jihun huffs a tired laugh. “I’d forgotten you can do that.”
