53

Ash

Kaylin holds me under the archway, the only structure around us that hasn’t crumbled. Fog and dust obscure the entire boulevard, and all I can think is, What in all the B’dakin blazes just happened?

Only moments ago, I sat at my library desk, putting the last touch on the records. Yellow-robe savants, the both of them! I nearly gushed with pride, recording that. And then my inner voice blasted in my head “Get out!” the same instant Kaylin thundered up the second-story steps and into the room. The look on his face launched me from my seat. He threw the records into my bag and raced me out of there so fast I thought there was a fire. The whole time, he shouted at everyone else in the library to run.

I literally flew out the door and across the street, he moved so quickly. We ducked under this very arch as a massive rock smashed into the library tower, toppling it to the ground.

I cover my head with my hands as more rocks plummet down. Kaylin does the same, leaning over me. When the dust clears, I see the temple proper, farther up the broken street. The doors are crushed and the courtyard fountain… It’s gone. My eyes fill with tears at the rush of muddy water bubbling over piles of rubble. That’s when it hits.

“Marcus!” I cry and try to run to the training field. I whimper when Kaylin pulls me back.

“Not that way.” For the first time, my sailor looks shaken. “We have to get off the island. An Aturnian fleet attacks.”

“Aturnians? Attack?”

“Aye. A hundred ships strong.”

“We’re under attack?” I say it again but still don’t comprehend.

“Let’s go.” He makes to pull me along.

I dig in my feet. “We can’t leave without the others.”

“Why not? They’re warriors.”

“So are you.”

“Aye, and I’m using my skills to get you to safety.” He tries to shuffle me along again, but I won’t budge.

“No,” I insist. “They’re our people.”

He looks confused.

I grip his forearms so tight his hands must be losing circulation. “Kaylin, we don’t leave our people behind.”

He stares at me for a long moment. With how protective he is, I’m afraid he’ll just toss me over his shoulder and flee the island. Maybe he sees my desperation, because finally, he relents. “Where’re Piper and Samsen?”

Thank the bones. I release his arm and pull on my coat, then secure the satchel straps onto my back. “They were watching the game, I think.”

“Marcus and Belair?”

I close my eyes and try calling to De’ral.

He doesn’t answer in words, but I receive a clear picture in my mind of where he is, high on the lookout, gazing back toward his class, still on the field.

“Near the stables, with Zarah,” I say.

“All right.” He takes my hand and leads me into the chaos. “Let’s go get our people.”