“Get Fortuna and fly to our family’s temple in the mountains. Take your armor and weapons. Go quickly. Don’t delay and don’t stop until you get there.”
Cassia’s brow furrows. “Brother?”
Antony’s arms tighten, one around her, one around me, holding on to us both. “Will you obey me, Cassia, or do you intend to defy your king?”
She stares at him for another second before she slips her arm up to swipe at her tears. “I’ll do as you ask.”
With a nod, he releases her. “Then go.Now.”
She teeters a little before she regains her balance, spins on her heel, and hurries away.
Antony is suddenly galvanized into action. “We need to move to the landing platform. Stay ahead of me so I know you’re safe. I’ll tell you which way to turn to get there. Quickly.”
I don’t hesitate, breaking into a jog that becomes a run when he matches my stride and urges me to go faster.
Together, we race along the corridor outside the training room, ignoring the rapidly kneeling guards, catching sight of Cassia’s disappearing back as she heads along one of the other walkways.
“Left,” Antony commands, and I turn in that direction, taking the corner sharply but smoothly, pounding along the new corridor, following his directions left again, and then right, before we shoot through the opening into the clear air.
Out in the distance, seven eagles have already taken to the sky, soaring away, and I’m certain I make out Quintus’s golden-haired form on one of them.
Azul waits directly ahead of us, his blue feathers fluffed up to make himself appear even bigger than he is, and I can only imagine the way the other birds would have steered clear of him.
Only one other eagle remains on the platform, its wings spread, about to take to the air.
Rohan faces away from us, hunched over his bird.
Antony barely slows down, giving a sharp whistle, a low note quickly followed by a high one.
Azul immediately responds by launching himself, not toward us, but in front of the other bird, blocking its path before it can take flight. To that eagle’s credit, it doesn’t cower, veering to the left and seeking the open air beyond Azul’s extended wings, but its change of direction brings it across Antony’s path.
“Rohan!” Antony roars. “If death is what you want, claim it now.”
Azul is blocking his way, and his eagle rears up wildly.
Rohan leaps off its back, landing lightly opposite Antony, his expression anything but blanknow.
Antony shoots me a final, quiet command before he steps into the other man’s path. “Move with me, Thyra.”
Every muscle in my body tenses as I anticipate their moves, darting left and right, keeping the chain loose while staying clear of the fight on Antony’s other side.
Within seconds, Antony kicks Rohan’s legs out from under him, forcing him to his knees, one arm around his throat, his armored forearm pressing hard against Rohan’s neck.
Antony’s voice is now low and controlled. “Did you volunteer?”
Rohan’s only response is a caged snarl, rasped as he tries to free himself.
“Did you fucking volunteer?”
“No!” Rohan’s arms drop to his sides, and his shoulders slump. “But I would have, if given the choice. Life with Galla Vividari is a slow death. At least you’ll make it quick.”
Antony releases him, and Rohan slumps forward, his hands planting on the platform.
“I’m giving you the chance to spend your final hours with Cassia.”
Rohan’s brow furrows as he lifts himself slowly to his feet. “What?”
Antony shrugs. “You’ve been ordered to shadow us, yes?”
