“Coming!” Azelie’s voice bounces down the hallway. She sounds slightly out of breath. She appears a moment later, several vials and notebooks in her hands, followed by—
“Kasmira!” I shout.
Heedless of the black fever, I meet her partway down a hall leading off the library and rush into her open arms. She chuckles softly as she embraces me, clearly not yet aware of the extent of the danger—and to my amazement, there’s not a hint of strain in her breathing.
“So you finally conquered the fever,” I say, drawing back to see that her gray eyes are as clear and alert as ever.
“Only thanks to my friend here,” Kasmira says, nodding to Azelie. “I’mcured.”
Azelie lifts her chin proudly as she holds up the vials and notebooks. “I was able to recreate Hadrien’s research on a cure for the fever. It was a lot of work—alot—since I could only find a few scraps of his notes that weren’t destroyed. Still, it was enough. I would’ve told you sooner, but I didn’t want to get anyone’s hopes up until it was ready to test.”
For a moment, all I can do is stare, amazed by the power Azelie holds in her hands: an end to so much death and agony. A cure for the black fever. Finally. I’m so grateful for all she’s done for Karthia in her short time living here.
The three of us hurry to rejoin the others in the library, only to find them all standing by the doors, tense but ready to leave. Simeon and Jax hold some of the youngest students’ hands.
“We’ll take theParadise, of course,” Kasmira says. “We’ll fit as many people as we can...” Her voice trails away as she scans the faces gathered by the doors. “Wait. Where’s Elibeth?” she demands.
“Danial and the others will warn her when they reach Noble Park,” Valoria explains.
“That’s right,” Jax says brusquely. “Now, we need to get the queen out of here—”
“Danial and the others might not make it to warn anyone,” I interrupt, unable to look at Simeon as I say it. “They were being attacked by Hadrien’s army, last we heard.”
“You’re right. I have to go to her. I have to make sure she’s safe,” Meredy says softly. Meeting my gaze, she adds, “She’s the only family I’ve got left. I’ll meet you all at the ship, if I’m able, but don’t wait for me.” She closes the distance between us, and the others step back slightly to give us room.
“I don’t like it, but... I understand,” I murmur. “At least let me come with you,” I add, though I see the answer in her gaze before I’ve even finished speaking.
Meredy shakes her head, her eyes shimmering slightly. “There’s no guarantee I’ll make it back. And besides, Valoria needs you.” She pushes a finger against the sapphire pin on my chest. “Trouble with the Dead has your name all over it, Master Necromancer. I know it seems impossible right now, but you’ll figure this out. You always do.”
“I could still come,” I press, even knowing she’s right. “You can’t stop me.”
“Of course not,” she agrees, leaning closer, our lips almost touching. “But you’ll do the right thing—getting our queen as far fromhere as you can—no matter how much you grumble about it. That’s part of why I love you.”
“I hate this so much,” I whisper as her face begins to blur.
“I know,” she murmurs against my mouth. “But we’ve survived worse.”
She kisses me, long and slow. Usually, her kiss tastes like strawberries, but this time there’s nothing lingering on my tongue but the ashen aftertaste of a goodbye.
“I’ll be safe. I have Lysander,” she says as we draw apart.
In the absence of her touch, I struggle for breath. The ending in that kiss hit me like a blow to the stomach.
“Protect our queen, love. Protect our friends. And the cure.” She gives me one final embrace before climbing atop Lysander’s back. He sometimes grumbles about being treated like a horse, but today, he seems to understand the gravity of the situation and accepts his rider without so much as a growl. “See you on the ship!” she calls over her shoulder as Lysander dashes out the temple doors.
Simeon grabs my hand, and I hold on tightly. Both our hearts are in other parts of the city now, out of our bodies, out of our protection, and out of our control.
With everyone else ready to leave at last, our small group of soldiers and mages—and one dragon—charges into the night, leaving behind the shelter of their new home.
There’s nowhere in Karthia you can run, Hadrien said.
So we flee to the harbor. To the sea.
XXXI
With only occasional moonlight to guide us when there’s a break in the clouds—a lantern would attract too much unwanted attention—it’s easy to pretend that the dark forms slumped on the ground here and there are just shadows. Not people.
But we can’t ignore or imagine away the screams as we run through the mists of the Ashes toward the harbor.
