Page 308 of Burn of the Everflame

I managed a soft, broken “thank you” to Brecke, then Luther led me to my horse and helped me mount. The image of their Queen, godstone painted on her face and forged in armor on her body, must have been a fearsome sight, because the gathered army instantly hushed as their rainbow eyes turned upon me. I spotted my mother’s in their midst, gleaming as she took me in, and my mate’s, blue-grey and reverent, fist thumping to his chest in fierce salute.

Others joined him—my advisors first, then the Royal Guard and the women soldiers of Ignios, then Runa and Enness and their crew, the half-mortals from Umbros, a contingent of Unhoused Descended, and, finally, the Houses of Lumnos City. The mortals were too proud to echo a Descended salute, but their ripple of bowing heads was, for me, hardest won and most deeply cherished.

At the far edge of the grounds, the Centenaries watched from their camp, the only tents that still remained. Symond stood the furthest, hands in his pockets, dark eyes fixed on me.

My gaze swept across my gathered army. I could not really call them mine, when they were driven by their own survival more than fealty to my command, but they’d allowed me to lead them. The Crown I wore had won me their attention. I, Diem Bellator, had won their respect.

And when I asked them to fight, they answered the call.

“The enemy we face is united by one thing: vengeance,” I said loudly. “Great wrongs have been done to them, I won’t deny it. Too many of you here can say the same. I understand the anger that brings. I know it well myself.” My eyes fell on Doriel, whose gaze guiltily dropped. “But healing, true healing, doesn’t need revenge. It needs change.”

I pulled Sorrow’s Edge from its sheath, the gold writing on its godstone blade glittering in the blood sun’s scarlet light. “We fight today for a future that all of us deserve, but none have ever seen. A world where no man, no Crown, and no god may decide who or what we will be. We fight so the borders we’re born in don’t become the bars of a cage we can never leave. We fight together, not in spite of the wrongs of our past, but because of them. Today, we fight for a new Emarion.”

“A new Emarion,” my mother shouted.

“New Emarion,” the Guardians cheered. The chant spread across the grounds, joined by more voices with every round.

“And when we emerge victorious,” I yelled, “let us remember our past, and let it never happen again.”

Another deafening cheer rose from the gathered crowd, fists and blades pumping the air. I pointed the tip of Sorrow’s Edge at the blood sun and hushed my voice to a whisper meant only for the gods.

“I’m no one’s Herald of Vengeance, and I’m not your Ravager of Realms or your Destroyer of Crowns,” I growled, recalling the titles they’d once bestowed. “But I am the Daughter of the Forgotten.” My eyes narrowed. “And I’ll choose my own fucking fate.”

69

DIEM

Because of our late departure, we were forced to move at a grueling pace. As the blood sun neared its crest, the heat grew unbearably thick, so we moved off the Ring Road and into the forest. Though the shade was a cooling relief, the infinite stretch of trees made our trek seem to stretch on forever.

I’d spoken little since we left. Luther and Alixe rode on my right with Lonard, the mortal I’d promoted to Commander, debating what we might find in Fortos. The rider we’d sent ahead had not returned, and I’d ordered Sorae to stay above the clouds and out of sight, so it was anyone’s guess whether we’d be greeted by friend or foe.

Ophiucae’s aura was growing faster than we were moving, leaving one question answered: wherever we were headed, so was he.

Teller rode on my left, equally quiet. Our mother was leading the mortal contingent, and Lily had chosen to ride in a wagon with the healers. I’d gladly accepted both offers to keep them away from the vulnerable front of our pack. I would have preferred to do the same for my brother, but Alixe was keeping the Royal Guard’s newest recruits under close watch.

I glanced at Teller. “Stay away from Ophiucae today, okay? I don’t want him taking revenge on you and Luther for what happened in Sophos.”

Teller’s eyes darted to Luther, then back to me. “Does that mean you’re going to try to face Ophiucae alone?”

“It’s safer that way. I can’t do what I plan to do if I’m trying to keep one of you alive.”

“And what is it you plan to do, D?”

I turned my gaze back to the path, saying nothing. Mercifully, Teller’s attention was stolen by a whispered argument growing louder behind us.

“I need to tell her.”

“Stay out of it, love.”

“But knowledge is important. The most important.”

“Staying alive is most important.”

“What if the Blessed Kindred spared me to do this?”

“If the Blessed Kindred wanted us to get involved, they would have left us our Crowns.”

“If you really believed that, you wouldn’t be here. I have to tell her. What if I don’t and she⁠—”