Stark jumps in. “Tormun may be under Killian’s influence, whether via the Tear ring or even a thrall bracelet like the one that Meryn wears. But nevertheless, we’ll do whatever is necessary to neutralize the threat.”
All three of our wolves growl in vicious, slavering agreement, and the hair rises on my arms. Sometimes I forget that our wolves were just as betrayed by their comrades as we were.
I rise to stand, worrying at the hilt of one of my knives. “I hope… that is, we’re relatively confident that with Tormun removed, the rest of Phylax can be made to see reason. We’re trying to avoid a bloodbath. The Bonded forces are depleted enough as it is.”
“And Killian? Alistair?” Noemi manages to imply a world of violence with just those simple words.
I hold out a hand to her, hoisting her up off the ground, and keep my hand clasped around her arm as I promise: “I will do my very best to make sure you have a chance to address him before we end him. You deserve that much.”
After that, there isn’t much to say. My stomach clenches with nerves as Icinch up the leather straps binding my packs to Anassa, but as soon as I mount, it settles.
Whatever happens, we’re in this together. Until the end.
The ride passes in a blur. We’re too focused on our goal, on what’s coming next, to pay attention to much else.
Egith’s provided specific details about the location of Killian’s camp, as he made no attempt to hide their approach. Our wolves are as filled with anticipation at the clash ahead as we are. I ask Anassa through the bond if we should slow down, make sure we’re conserving energy.
“The pup doesn’t teach the Alpha to run,” she snips back at me. I laugh and let it lie.
I glance to my left and right; for a moment, everything but admiration for my companions leaves my head. Both of them death on wolfback in their own way.
But Stark especially…
On Cratos, he almost doesn’t look human. It’s as if the two of them are heroes of legend. Or some dark god of vengeance, aimed straight at their prey.
I muse on my own confident seat on Anassa. It’s been less than a year since she and I first met. Now, I’m more comfortable on her back than anywhere else.
My mind is centered in a way that it hasn’t been in a very long time. I know this feeling: It’s the one I used to get before a fight against an opponent I’d faced in the ring before.
Someone whose moves I knew already. Someone I knew I could beat.
“Thisisright,” Anassa murmurs in my mind, sensing my mood.“This has gone on too long. One way or another, it’s time for this to end… before the Bonded are destroyed. Before all of Nocturna is.”
I pull us up a good distance before we reach the fiefdom of Blumenfall, and we all make a quick meal of cold provisions before Noemi departs to scout ahead for Killian’s camp.
Stark and I are discussing the best way to truss him and Cratos up and make it look realistic without causing any injury when she returns with news.
“It wasn’t hard to find,” Noemi says, voice disgusted. “They haven’t been subtle about anything, that’s for sure. It seems that Tormun has grown quitecomfortableas Killian’s lead general. His tent is enormous, in bright Phylax colors.”
“Compensating much?” I quip, and Noemi laughs. “You’re confident you can get to him unnoticed?”
She nods. “Under the cover of your magic? It shouldn’t be a problem.”
Stark and I exchange glances.
“Well, then. I think we’re ready.”
A crackling energy fills the small clearing where we’re gathered as we each soak in the moment. Stark and I mount up, and Cratos and Anassa flick their tails and paw at the ground.
Then, with brutal efficiency, Noemi turns Ephyse toward the camp and says, “Let’s end this.”
It takes almost no time at all on wolfback to reach the war camp.
We pause to ensure that Noemi’s veil of shadow is complete. I take the wolf crown out of my pack and place it on my head for additional power because I’ll need to use several types of magic at once.
I focus on the channel of power that shields Noemi and Ephyse from view, memorizing the feel of it so that I can maintain it at a distance.
When we’re certain she’s as near invisible as possible, Noemi curves off to the side of the camp’s perimeter, having identified a vulnerable point in the defenses where she plans to sneak in. With my Kryptos magic shrouding her, she and Ephyse are nothing but a slip of a shadow, a play of the light.
