"Or the monsters following them," Ferris said.
I glanced at Lady Rohan's flushed cheeks and repressed the urge to touch her. She had no other skin showing, and reaching out to caress her face might come across poorly.
Now wasn't the time. I shook my head, trying to rid myself of my endless impulses.
Countless bodies congested the square ahead. People leaned out of their windows and doors, trying to get a better look at what was going on.
Two lovers, sculpted from ice in an eternal dance, watched over the group of bloodied men pouring through the gates.
Soldiers, armor rent and torn by claw marks, flew past me, dragging frightened mounts behind them. Some men arrived in stretchers, wrapped in bloody gauze.
A familiar face stood beneath the dancer's statue: Lord Ishida. His dark, slick-backed hair framed his narrow face, and he wore his captain's uniform: deep blue Shatterblade robes with edges embroidered in silver.
He was locked in conversation with what must have been Minsawa's commanding officers; both wore similar uniforms, though one's helmet was severely dented and the other's was gone.
A fresh scar traced up his face.
Reese held up a hand for us to stay back and approached them. Only Lady Rohan tried to obey him. When Ferris and I followed Reese, she reluctantly jogged after us.
Grabbing Ferris' arm, I dragged him in front of me.
"What?" He whispered.
"I'm using you as a shield." I nodded toward Ishida.
"Is that your father?"
"No. Fiancé."
"Oh.” Ferris stepped in front of me protectively. "I've got you."
My shield did his job nicely. Lord Ishida turned toward us, but only saw three—a Solheart and two Stormborns. "Paragon Tiernan.” He pressed a hand to his chest and bowed.
"How many of you are there?" Reese demanded.
The scarred Minsawa commander answered. "Only a quarter of the garrison. Our scouts say we're being followed—but they have yet to attack."
"They are toying with us," the helmet-clad officer said. "With an intelligence they have never shown before."
Reese turned to Ishida. "Deploy your men to the walls. We could be attacked at any moment."
Ishida nodded and turned to leave, but the scarred commander called out. "We were told Paragon Ishii would be reinforcing us—is he here?"
My fiancé hesitated to answer. A booming, gravely voice answered in his stead.
Father.
"Ishii is dead." General Yuudai marched from the north, Shatterblades in tow.
That slimy Solheart, Quinn, walked in his shadow.
"Paragon Tiernan," Yuudai said. "I had not received word you had arrived."
"Apologies. I was delayed." Reese glared at Quinn, but said nothing further.
The Solheart wore a faint smile.
"Your presence is most welcome." Yuudai's stern glare slid from Reese onto Lady Rohan. "Tell me. Why does this woman carry Cierthine?"
