“You must not try to cross until after thirty minutes,Imo,” I warn sternly.
“Do not worry, child,” she says with a gentle smile, not at all intimidated. “Everything will be all right.”
“I know.” My lips wobble at the corners. It has been a long time since someone told me that. “I’ll see you soon.”
I cloak myself in invisibility and run. But I stagger to a sickened halt when I reach the wall.
The Kingdom of Sky has taken to the sky in a last-ditch effort to storm Shinsi. The archers at the wall volley flaming arrow after arrow at them, while the soldiers with fire magic hurl fiery balls, fed by the wind of other elemental soldiers.
The night sky glows red, orange, and yellow from the countless seraphim writhing in flames, and their dead plummet to the ground like shooting stars. But as quickly as they fall, more winged soldiers rise to fill the violent skies.
Those who make it out of the fire and over the wall strike out, their eyes wild, felling as many of our soldiers as they can, until their charred bodies give out. The ground on this side of the wall is black with the fallen seraphim.
They are General Bak’s sacrifices—good soldiers giving their lives for their kingdom. But they have been lied to. They are dying for one male’s perverse vengeance. My rage rises like a tidal wave.
No more.
“Your Majesty.” Jihun flies down from the top of the wall and grabs me by the arm. “It is not safe here.”
“Jihun.” I dig my heels in. “The queen is awake. We need a bowl of water for her to moon shift here from the palace.”
“Is she well enough?” My royal adviser glances at the burning sky with a grim frown. “I guess she has to be. This madness has gone on for long enough. While a bowl is easy enough to procure, water is another matter.”
An arrow whooshes past Jihun’s ear and over my shoulder before either of us can react. Then I hear the heavy thud of a body hitting the ground behind me.
“Are you all right, Your Majesty?” Hailey bounds up to me, nocking another arrow to her crossbow.
“Yes, thanks to you,” I say through the pounding of my heart. I meet Jihun’s eyes just as they widen with realization.
“Hailey.” He spins his wrist and summons a small, earthenware bowl to his hand. “We need water.”
His lieutenant fills the bowl without question, her trust in Jihun implicit.
I nod my thanks at them and take the bowl of water. We place the bowl on the ground, close to the wall, so the Queen of Sky will be less exposed. Then we stand on the other side of the bowl, leaving just enough room for the queen to step through.
“We might have a few—” I begin, but I’m interrupted by the queen’s arrival.
“I asked you to wait thirty minutes,” I protest.
“I knew you were underestimating yourself.” She smiles serenely. She has more color on her face and stands strong and steady in front of us. The speed of her recovery astounds me.
The Queen of Sky is truly a powerful shinbiin, as I assume all the kings and queens of this realm are.Will they truly bend the knee to me?I shake away the intrusive uncertainty. We have a long way to go before we get to that part.
“Your Majesty, I am glad to see you awake,” Jihun says, with Hailey standing quietly by his side.
“It’s good to see you, Captain.” The queen looks to the sky, then shudders. “Though I wish it was under better circumstances.”
“We have to go. I will shield the wall so you may speak to your army.” I guide her up the steps with a gentle hold on her elbow. “General Bak has lost his mind. He is using the soldiers as cannon fodder.”
“Yes, I can see that.” She steps to the edge of the wall, anger and hurt bracketing the corners of her mouth. “Whenever you are ready, Hyeok.”
Jihun and Hailey flank me as I spread my arms wide, calling to my magic. I have never covered an expanse this large before, but there is no room for doubt. Thegiof Mountains rushes into me—fluid, vibrant, and powerful.
Thank you, Mountains.
When my body practically vibrates with power, I thrust my hands up to the sky and unleash my magic across the wall. I grunt as the shield snaps into place. I close my eyes and reach out my senses, pushing gingerly at the boundaries. It holds strong. With a relieved exhale, I nod at the Queen of Sky.
“Hear me, my people.” Her voice carries far into the night. “I am the Queen of Sky. And I command you to stop fighting.”
