Along the edges of the hall, frightened children hid behind their mothers’ legs, wrapped in woolen blankets. The sick and injured were helped onto carts to be wheeled by those who could bear the weight. It was not a long journey to the docks, but the passageways were treacherous in their own right, with steep inclines as they wove down into the mountain and again when they would climb back out toward the shore. The people who would be traveling to the docks were alerted to bring nothing more than the clothing on their backs and a small sack with any valuables or heirlooms they could not part with. The small bags were always packed in Skiatha, despite this being the first time the isle was ever attacked. Thalia did not carry anything but her weapons, those would be more useful than her books or any jewels she collected over the years.
Fineries could be replaced. Lives could not.
The only items she kept on her other than her daggers and bow were the two gifts Dimitris had given her the night before. The arrow pin she affixed to the leather strap of her quiver. The drawing was rolled tightly, protected in a pocket within her cloak. She only hoped they would not be the last things the prince ever gave her.
A hush settled over the room as the castle walls began to shake. Small stones rattled down to the ground and Dafne clutched Thalia’s hand so tight it felt numb. There were fewer people here than Thalia expected, but not because the Skiathans were not told where to go. No—even those who should not, chose to fight, to stand their ground, protect the peace and sanctity of these lands. Warmth bloomed in Thalia’s chest at the thought. She only wishedshe could be out there fighting as well, but this was as important a task.
Clearing her throat, Thalia beckoned the people toward her. “Although we never expected the war to be brought to our shores, we have trained for this. It will be a long walk through the tunnels to the shore, but the ships will be ready when we arrive. Men have been sent ahead on horseback to alert the captains and crew. We will be safe on the journey. Our enemy does not know these passages. They will not breach them, but we must make haste.”
“What if they make it inside the castle? Could they not find them? Follow us through?” a woman’s trembling voice called from across the hall.
“They will not. Our soldiers are the fiercest in all of Odessia. The castle doors will not break,” Thalia exclaimed—more to herself than to the woman. “Now, follow me. There will be soldiers dispersed amongst us. If you need anything—water, medicine—please let us know.”
Soldiers—there were only ten of them. Ten men if anything did happen. It was not enough, but it was all that could be spared.
Thalia turned toward her sister, her lips narrowing to a thin line, voice lowering to a whisper. “Dafne, I know I said we would not be attacked, but if we are, I need you to fight. You take your blade and you go for the weak points—just like Dimitris taught you. You are strong, you can do this.”
“I will do what I can. They will not take me.” This time the words were harsher, and a fire lit in Dafne’s eyes.
“They will not take you,” Thalia repeated as they began to make their way to the tunnels. “You will notdie today.”
So they walked, guiding the vulnerable citizens of Skiatha with a single oil lantern through the mountains to safety. Mykonos and Nyx trailed behind the group as a precaution if their adversaries somehow did make it to the tunnels. They would be able to smell them coming.
No one spoke as they traveled. Too fearful of what might find them or too exhausted to speak, Thalia was not sure. She didn’t mind the silence, it was calming, allowing her to focus solely on each step she took toward the end. For hours they continued, until there was a break in the passages. The hoard began to move toward the left tunnel, the one that would lead them to the shore in only another hour. The only other way out, the passage to the right took them to fields a mile from the shore. There was no time to rest now, not when they were so close.
A low rumble sounded in the walls of the passage. The ground beneath Thalia’s feet began to shake, dirt and small rocks rustling above and trickling their way down the walls. The noise increased with every step until it was all-consuming, so loud that the people around her cupped their hands over their ears. Crashing stones echoed in front of them and Thalia took off running toward the sound.
“Skata!” Thalia cursed, sliding to a halt in front of a mountain of boulders blocking their route to the sea.
“What is it?” Dafne called as she raced up beside Thalia, flanked by two of the other soldiers.
“Something must be happening above. We…we won’t be able to break through. We must go the other way.” Thalia clutched her hands together, picking at her nails. It was dangerous, but they didn’t have another option. They could not turn back.
She could only hope the battle had not made it that far.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Dimitris
Swift as the rising tide on a full moon, the walls around the castle fell. Stone could not burn—or rather, it should not—but all around Dimitris, the walls were reduced to nothing more than cinder. He ran as fast as he could, sprinting through the packed streets that wrapped around the castle. Soldiers were placed about the streets, directing both young and old toward the bronze doors of the castle. Once inside they would be herded to the tunnels, where they could escape through the expertly crafted tunnels to the northern shores of Skiatha. Ships were docked there in case there was ever an attack, but that thought had seemed impossible before today—that they would actually need to use the escape plan Alexander and his men devised years before. Thalia and Dafnewould be able to protect the citizens who fled on their journey to the sea, he was sure of it. But what if the army that attacked made it inside? What if they found their way to the tunnels as well? More men were needed.
Howling screeches came from behind the smoke that masked out the sky. The sound was reminiscent of Aidesian and it made Dimitris want to hurl the contents of his stomach on the dirt beneath his feet. The last time that foul noise filled his ears, the woman he loved—because he did love Thalia, without regard for expectations or whether she felt anything close to that for him—almost died. She would not fall again, not when he could protect her.
It wasn’t as if he needed to protect her, but Dimitris could feel it in his bones, in the tether that kept him grounded, that he had to. He would rip the throats from every creature that dared harm her. He hadn’t realized it that day he cut thedaimondown in Aidesian, but the preternatural obsession with making any living or dead thing perish if they harmed her was so much more than loyalty. He’d convinced himself time and time again that was all it was. Yet here he stood, ready to face those vicious creatures—or something so much worse—all for her. All to see herlive. If he perished, then a sweet death it would be.
Dimitris headed for the stairs to the turret facing south. From that vantage point he would be able to see above the smoke, at least he hoped so. The echo of stomping boots mixed with the clangs of metal coming from between the outer wall and the castle itself. Orders were shouted down from the parapet to the ground below where long bow archers hurried into formation. Above, soldiers with cross-bows lined the inner wall walk, shooting downat whatever enemy attacked below. The gate to the inner walls of the castle rattled as more soldiers reinforced it with wooden balusters and chains.
Sweat dripped down Dimtiris’s forehead as he raced up the stairs taking two at a time, the liquid seeping into his eyes with a sting. His chest heaved with each step and he chastised himself for drinking so much the night before. Battle was sobering in its own way, however, a clear head would have been better. Voices sounded as he approached the top.
“We need larger crossbows! I will not accept no for an answer,” the first voice yelled. Dimitris recognized that ferocious tone—Amalia.
“We do not have any remaining at the castle. They were sent to the ships for when we sailed into battle,” the second responded, his voice grave. Sebastian. Although Dimitris did not particularly enjoy the man’s company, he was a fierce soldier and they needed the most gruesome of men today.
“It is the only thing large enough to shoot them down! Again, I repeat, I will not accept no for an answer, so find one!” Her command was deafening.
Shoot them down? Large enough? What were the creatures that loomed in the distance? Once again, creatures sounded from afar. The noise was still muffled, though it was louder than before.
Boots sounded and Sebastian ran directly into Dimitris. He was covered in soot and lacerations peppered his face and arms.
