I lose myself in dodging and parrying Dayton’s flaming blows, barely escaping a killing strike by ducking down onto one knee, letting the blades cleave the air above me. Beside me, Kairyn’s strikes are as precise as they are relentless, our mother’s blade glinting. His form is surprisingly good, much better than I’ve seen before. Though if he doesn’t watch his left side?—
Farron sends a blast of magic straight at Kairyn’s open left flank.
“Kai!” I kick Dayton in the chest and dart toward Farron, slamming the base of his spine with the hammer. He topples to the ground, and I stand back-to-back with Kairyn, hammer extended outward.
Dayton and Farron both rise, strange smiles on their faces.
“They’re unstoppable,” Kairyn says.
“We can’t beat them in combat. There’s got to be another way to subdue them.” I look around. The keep where I spent so many days of my childhood has burst into chaos incarnate. Green flames lick across shattered columns, and one of the walls is caved in, revealing the woods that border the keep.
“There. Outside,” Kai says.
I follow his gaze, but there’s nothing but broken stone and towering fir trees?—
A memory flashes in my mind. Another throne room destroyed. The Hall of Vernalion, where Kairyn, in possession of the blessing of Spring, covered the ground with plants and entangled us so thoroughly, no weapon or magic was strong enough to free us.
I take a deep breath and feel my body alight with magic. “Alright, little brother. Let’s see if I can learn something from you.”
“Humility from my big brother? Sure you’re not possessed too?”
I huff a laugh. “Let’s hope we survive this so I can kick your ass for that later.”
Kairyn raises his sword and steps in front of me. “I’ll hold them off. Don’t take too long.”
“I’ll try.”
Kairyn runs forward, his sword parrying a devastating thrust from Dayton as he dodges Farron’s flames. My vision narrows, blocking out everything except the fir wood outside the windows. I reach out with my consciousness, the fibers of my magic surging through the earth, seeking any living thing.
They connect with something great and powerful and strong.Come to me. Obey. Obey.
The trees answer. Their roots rupture through the frozen ground. As if they were sentient, the huge roots propel the trees forward, clambering over the fallen wall and into the throne room. Like massive, wooden sentinels, they march one after another, coming to my command.
My body hums with power. “Kairyn!”
Kairyn kicks Dayton in the chest, then bows his head and charges Farron. His enormous horns send Farron flying. With the moment of freedom, Kairyn sprints back to me. I make my move.
Six firs have made it into the throne room. Using my hand as a conduit, I direct their movements, the great roots spurring them forward. The first one reaches Dayton, who’s just picking himself up off the floor.
Eat. Eat. Keep them safe within your bark.
Roots entangle Dayton, lifting him up toward the trunk. Dayton thrashes against the hold, but the tree is too strong. Its bark peels back, branches pulling in. I feel a great heat in my chest, but I keep pouring every drop of magic I have into these Winter woods. Dayton lets loose an angry roar. It’s soon muffled as the bark wraps around him, swallowing him into itself. For a moment, the tree bucks, then shivers, then its branches pull back. Within its trunk is an imprint of Dayton’s screaming face.
I can’t let up. Another tree reaches Farron, who’s smashed against a pillar. He shakes his head, but the tree captures him before he has time to get his bearings. He doesn’t scream or make a sound as he’s engulfed inside the wooden sentinel. It quivers before revealing Farron’s stern-faced visage, encased in bark.
The throne room is quiet. Kairyn looks to me, then cracks a smile. “Did we?—”
Despite everything, I smile back. “I think so.”
Kairyn begins to rattle on about something, a maneuver he used, the weight of the sword. But I can’t make sense of it. There’s a heat in my chest, too hot. I need to get my breastplate off. My insides are onfire.
I look up. The tree that swallowed Farron is alight. My woods, engulfed in green flame.
82
Rosalina
Ipull myself over the top of the icy wall, my heart racing asthe wind tears at my hair and dress.
