And at the helm, atop a huge reindeer, rides Keldarion.
84
Keldarion
Lookingdownatthebattle from atop the hill, I know we arrived not a minute too soon.
The usually golden field before Coppershire glimmers with white frost. Autumn’s soldiers are pushed to the wall, their own dead rising up against them.
And Perth Quellos still lives.
Eirik Vargsaxa, captain of the Kryodian Riders, comes up beside me, his moose glimmering in silver-blue armor. “On your command, my Prince.”
With the full might of Winter’s most valiant cavalry, I let loose a cry and surge down the hill. The Riders follow me, charging upon the living dead with claw and tooth. An owl screeches from above as its rider lobs flaming arrows. The Autumn troops stagger backward as we flow across the battlefield, their stunned expressions finally registering that we’re here to help. They throw their swords up in cheer.
With one hand, I hold tight to the reins of my steed, and with the other, I hack the heads off any wraiths in my path. There’s no sign of Farron or Quellos amidst the chaos.
A familiar glint of dark metal catches my gaze, and I usher my reindeer forward. With a single swing, I cleave the wraith facing off against Ezryn in two. His armor is streaked with frost and blood.
He tilts his head up at me. “Little late to the party.”
“Fashionably so.”
We hold each other’s gazes for a moment and then he gives that familiar shake of his helm, the one that lets me know there’s a smile deep behind the metal.
“Come on.” I hold down my arm to him. “Let’s find my vizier.”
He swings up behind me on the reindeer. “Is an I-told-you-so in order?”
“If I let you kill him, are we even?”
Ezryn snorts, and I take that as a yes. “I last saw Farron heading for the center high ground.”
I redirect my steed and snap the reins. We ride, weaving between soldiers and wraiths alike.
Ezryn’s breath is heavy. “You couldn’t have told us you were leaving to go get aid instead of just running off?”
My shoulders stiffen, and I’m glad he can’t see my face. “I wasn’t sure I could convince the Riders to follow me. I didn’t want you to count on me if I failed.”
Ezryn sighs. “Come on, Kel. We can always count on you.”
I stay silent, focusing on maneuvering through the conflict. Two giant polar bears crush a small horde of wraiths beneath their massive bodies, their riders swinging flaming swords at the ones that scramble out. My reindeer leaps over a fallen frosted horse.
“We’re never going to find him in this chaos—” I begin when I feel it. That terrible, nagging thing in my chest. That thing I wish I could rip out.She’s here.
I dig my heels into the side of the reindeer, the rest of the battle fading away as I follow that tether.
“There!” Ezryn yells, pointing.
Up ahead, at the base of the central hill, are our brothers. Dayton fights sword to spear with Perth Quellos, while Farron’s got one hand on a scroll, the other desperately clinging to his chest. And beside him, standing radiant and strong, is Rosalina.
That cursed woman.
Fury and terror surge within me seeing her here in the middle of a battle. She was supposed to be in the keep, away from all this!
But Rosalina can’t follow orders if her life depends on it.
Which it does right now.
