The vulture burst down from the sky and landed on the north-most wagon, crushing it. Pain cracked through my bones as I felt two people die upon impact.
I ripped my eyes from the carnage, turning to face the horde of vine-creatures. Ferris' emerald dragon rose from the embers of its shield and rushed in front of us in an arc. An eruption of lightning and wind covered the eastern street.
Burning coated my nose, and horrible, inhuman wailing followed.
With the dome gone, the horses galloped away in terror. The giant vulture rose from its nest of wreckage, preparing to crush another carriage.
A javelin whistled through the air and grazed its wing, drawing the creature's attention.
The monster whipped in its attacker's direction: one of the garrison. Five of them were still alive, fighting back a shardwolf near the horses.
I could but watch as the vulture dove, its enormous talons tearing through the group with ease.
Normally, when I felt someone die, I closed my eyes. I looked away. This time, I saw the talons tear them in half, sever theirthroats. Guts spilled from one's belly, and blood covered his friend's chest.
Faint threads appeared, like spiderwebs criss-crossing the world. It connected the guards to . . . something. Something far away, high above.
When the vulture struck, the men's threads snapped. Faint shimmers gleamed on their broken tethers as the men slumped, and the rest of the cords that led into the great unknown vanished.
The shimmers died, the broken threads faded. I reached out, futilely, trying to grab them. To save them.
Horrible magic blossomed on my fingertips. Magic I had not called upon in years.
The dying men's threads soared toward my fingertips. Their spines snapped, dragging back into a standing position. Eyes glazed over and empty, they turned toward their new master—me.
The rest came easily; it always had—a thought.
Attack.
The corpse puppets turned toward the vulture and charged.
The vulture hissed as swords and spears dug into its legs and wings, tearing holes. It lunged at one of the men, ripping his head from his body.
The headless corpse continued its attack, driving its spear into the beast's neck.
A powerful downburst knocked me back as the vulture took off, shrieking in pain. Radiance chased it up into the black sky. An emerald dragon darted into the vulture's chest and burst.
A bolt of lightning shot through the bird's body, emerging out of its other side in a shower of blood and violet light. Its body fell to the ground. The impact sent a tremor through the road.
Bile rose in my throat, and I let the threads between the guards and me snap. Nausea blurred my sight and made the world spin.
All I could feel was death. Pain. Life, snuffed out.
The stench of corpses covered the world. All became sulfur and brimstone.
Silence doused the living—and the violent death that claimed them.
Chapter 21
Mare
Awall of fire set the fields south of Gwynford aflame and rose toward the heavens. Shrieking beasts fell from the sky, wreathed in fire. One thudded into the ground at my elk's feet, grotesque scales twisted by the flame.
My steed reared, bucking me from the saddle. I hit the ground and felt the breath flee my lungs. Coughing on the plumes of smoke, I crawled to my feet.
The horde of monsters pouring in from the gap in the wall charged into the fire. Their burning bodies illuminated the night.
Such was their need to destroy the village, they ignored Reese's barrier entirely. Far too many beasts to count or stop flew past us in tides of shadow.
