“Ready yourselves to fight the beast,” I shouted. “And then stand your ground. Gaven, stay out of sight and prepare to loose your fire on the bridge. The enemy army will be upon us in moments, and we’ll take out as many of them as we can.”
Tessa slid her hand in mine and squeezed tight before she drew her sword. “There must be something more I can do.”
“Just stay with me. And if I fall, flee to the city with your sister.”
“I’m not leaving your side, no matter what.”
I took her face in my hands and kissed her fiercely. “I love you with everything I am. I hope you remember that when we’re nothing but a memory written in the sky.”
She shuddered against me, nodding. “Let’s make the stars weep.”
Forty-Six
Niamh
The sight of Aesir stirred a breathlessness in me. I paced the deck, wishing I could force the ship to move faster. We’d sailed into the cove along the southern edge of the continent, where the mountains backed up against Albyria and Teine.
I could see the break in the mountains now, along with the empty plains beyond it.
Only they weren’t empty.
Val hurried to the wooden railing and gripped it. “Do you see that? When the lightning flashes, look left. There’s an army of thousands, and they have…they have lots of shadowfiends.”
Her face paled, and she stumbled back. Alastair gently rested his hand on her shoulder.
“What’s happening?” Val whispered.
Vera strode to our side. She gazed at the storm-shrouded lands, her hand on the pommel of her sword. “If I were to guess, your people have fled to Albyria, where they are making their final stand against the gods.”
“Then we are too late,” I said darkly. “There are too few of us on these ships to make a difference. Look at the expanse of them.”
“Ah, but look,” she said with a smile.
I turned to follow her gaze. Dozens of ships had already converged along the right side of the cove. Their torches illuminated the beach as hundreds of fighters swarmed onto the shore, just outside the path of the storm. A distant flash of lightning revealed the side of the largest ship. I gaped at the familiar symbol.The Sea Fae’s Curse II.
“I don’t understand. That ship got destroyed. We wereon it,” I said, unable to keep the shock from my voice.
“It’s a different ship,” Vera said. “And it brought the other half of our armada here, rather than returning them to Talaven like we thought.”
Alastair grunted. “Bit odd. Did you know about this?”
“Of course not. I would have told you.”
I exchanged a knowing glance with Alastair. This made little sense. Even so, now wasn’t the time to argue about it. Our king needed us. If the enemy army had gathered around the chasm, that meant they’d backed our people into a corner with nowhere to flee. But I understood why Kalen had made this move. There was only one way into Albyria, and it was across that bridge. The gods could fly, but the fae and beasts could not.
It was a solid strategy, even if it wasn’t perfect. Probably the best one they had.
“We’ll reach the shore soon,” Vera said. “Once we do, we’ll get everyone into formation and go on the offensive. Prepare yourselves as best you can. I left some leathers in your cabin for the human girl.”
She moved away, likely to inform the rest of the soldiers on board. Val still clung to the railing, and her emotions were written all over her face. She was scared for her people. And she was likely scared for herself. This was unlike anything she’d ever faced. I hoped if we survived this night, she’d never have to face anything like it again.
“I suppose I better get changed into those fighting leathers,” she whispered, turning to go.
“Val, wait.” I caught her arm.
Alastair cleared his throat. “I need to polish my sword. It gets to cut through enemy flesh soon, so it should do it looking good.”
He wandered off, winking as he went.
