“He betrayed Rulene. Using some magic—I do not know how—he locked her in her temple. Then he flew off into the horizon. Gods only know where.”
A low growl—adragon’sgrowl—rumbled from Callamus. For the first time since Andrian had met him, the god truly looked furious. The galaxies in his eyes blazed with energy, his skin rippling with indigo magic.
Callamus turned to Mariah. “I am sorry,” he said softly. “But I must go to her. I must free her. I know the magic he used to bind her; it is cruel but easily broken and can only be broken by another god.”
Mariah nodded. “I understand.” She hesitated. “When you’re there, can you?—”
“When Rulene is free, I will do what I can to placate the rebels. And yes, I will make sure your people are safe.”
“Take them to Leuxrith, if you can.”
Callamus nodded. “I agree. I will send your Armature to you, though.”
Indigo light flashed across the clearing. A great purple-blue dragon leaped into the dusk sky, trees shaking with the booms of his wings.
It had been less than twenty seconds since Amasis had given them the news and Callamus was already gone. No time for further discussion, no time to plan for what now awaited Mariah at the end of this journey.
Fear wormed its way into Andrian’s gut. No army, no allies, and now no gods to stand beside them.
Mariah had faced Kol once. She’d held her own, to be sure.
But she’d been unable to beat him that day.
He reached for her, wanting—no, needing—to talk to her. “Mariah?—”
“I should follow.” Amasis hadn’t heard Andrian, their gaze lingering on Callamus’s quickly vanishing form. “I should return with him to Kreah.”
“You know that isn’t safe for you, Amasis,” Mariah said. “Wait for Callamus to settle things. In the meantime, you should fly north. To Leuxrith. Find Signe. The Leuxrithian informants can keep track of when it might be safe for you to return to Kreah.”
Amasis hesitated but slowly nodded. “You’re right.” They dipped their head. “I am sorry, again. Truly. I never thought Natia would go so far. I should’ve listened to you.”
Mariah gripped the High Counsellor’s shoulder. “No. I should’ve listened toyou.” Regret tinged Mariah’s voice. She’d told Andrian all that had happened in Kreah—Quentin’s encounter, the confrontation with the Elders, the rebel she’d slaughtered the day she’d left for Leuxrith. How she’d done everything she could to keep her people safe and still worried that they might’ve been all the wrong choices.
He hated—loathed—that all those inner fears she carried were coming true.
Amasis smiled sadly. “As leaders, we always strive to do what is right. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. But no matter what, we never stop fighting.”
Mariah nodded and stepped away.
“Skies carry you, Mariah Salis.” Blue light flashed. The sleek falcon hopped from foot to foot, spreading its wings, and vaulted into the sky.
Chapter 81
Agreat dragon with scales the color of fresh-tilled earth waited in the palace courtyard. He swung his head to Sebastian and Ciana, mossy eyes glowing in the morning light.
Ydros.
“Your compliance, Armature, is most appreciated.” The god’s voice rumbled through Sebastian’s skull.
“We willnotcomply,” Ciana seethed, struggling against her captors. Her feet kicked at the air, tattered dress catching around her ankles.
“You will, if it means keeping your queen alive.” The dragon lifted his head, sniffing imperiously. “You are both coming with me. Kol has made his summons; it is time.”
“Why even bother with us?”
“Because my offer to aid Kol came with a condition. There will be no unnecessary loss of life,” Ydros said. “There is no need to kill the Onitan Queen; only subdue her so Kol may assume her throne. And the two of you will be helping with that.”
“Why in Enfara would we ever help you to overthrow our queen?”
