CHAPTER

27

Kael slowly weaved back and forth through the perfect row of trees lining the exterior of the mansion, enjoying the fresh air, when Clara found him.

“You have a hard time relaxing, don’t you?” Clara asked, her black dress a somber contrast to the pleasant weather.

“It’s felt like time hasn’t paused to take a breath since the day Marius burned down the Academy,” Kael said, accepting Clara’s offered kiss on his cheek. “Two days of quiet? This is just weird.”

“Well, maybe we can put an end to that,” Clara said. “My mother wishes to speak with you.”

“Am I in trouble?” he asked.

Clara offered him her hand.

“I don’t know,” she said. “Let’s find out together.”

It seemed her mother had similar ideas about relaxing, for she was not in her throne room but instead in the larger garden at the far rear of the holy mansion. She lay barefoot on a long white chair, two servants on either side of her ready with a platter of drinks and fruits. Unlike the formal wear Kael was accustomed to seeing her in, she wore a simple pair of pants with a short-sleeved blouse, their colors muted in mourning for her slain husband. She kept her eyes closed as she rubbed her temples with her thumbs. A pile of documents lay beside her on a small table. Kael snuck a glance at a few and saw a mixture of troop reports, supply tallies, and communications with the Archons of the other minor islands.

“We’re here, mother,” Clara said.

The Archoness sat up and retrieved a full glass from the servant beside her.

“Give us a moment of privacy,” she ordered. The servants bowed stiffly and left. Avila slowly rose to her feet, the pink liquid in her crystalline glass gently swirling.

“How is your sister?” she asked Kael.

“Fairly well, all things considered,” he said. “She has some nasty stitches, but her strength is returning, and Bree insists she’s already strong enough to fly again.”

“Good, good.” Avila gestured to the rows of flowers intermixed with fountains of angels flowing with water. “Among tragedy there is always beauty. When the demons fell we lost forests and fields, but this garden, a jewel of our island since the first days of Ascension, survived.” She took a drink from her glass and frowned. “But among beauty there is also tragedy. I’m beginning to see that now. What I thought were times of peace negotiated by my husband and I were only smoke screens against the building fire.”

“No one predicted this,” Kael said. “The only one who did was the one behind it all.”

“Johan,” Avila said. The Archoness spoke the word as if it stabbed her tongue upon leaving her mouth. “I’ve begun arresting members of his cult, mostly those too proud to hide or too stubborn to flee. I sent word to the other islands of Johan’s betrayal. Hopefully they will believe me and act accordingly instead of waiting to investigate on their own.”

“What about Johan himself?” Kael asked.

Avila took another sip and shook her head.

“Given his … abilities, I doubt we will ever find him, assuming he’s even still on this island. No, the best we can do is minimize the damage he’s done and ensure he can’t make things worse.”

The Archoness walked the long, winding stone path through the garden. Kael and Clara followed, still holding each other’s hand.

“I’ve spoken with L’fae twice since our first meeting,” Avila continued. “With her help I’ve begun piecing together Johan’s influence, which is vast. He slew the angel inside Galen during our attack, sending it to the ground and leading to our occupation. The collapse of the dome protecting us from the fireborn was certainly Johan’s doing as well. His constant warnings of war and invasion only prepared our people to accept that exact outcome. There is no doubt he is guilty of killing Isaac and Argus. I suspect even my son’s death upon liberating the Crystal Cathedral was by his order. Always keeping us angry. Always convincing us peace could never be reached.”

Avila stopped before a sculptured bush of white roses shaped like a long, feathery wing.

“Can it?” Kael asked. “Everything’s been quiet at Center. Will we finally seek peace?”

The Archoness took in a long breath. Whatever her answer would be, he could tell it pained her.

“Though Marius’s crimes are many, I will not pursue war against Center. I’ve attempted to convince the other islands, but it has been no easy task. I fear it may already be too late.”

“We’ll convince them,” Clara encouraged. “Give it time. No one wants to see this bloodshed continue.”

“I hope not,” Kael said. “Is there anything you wish from me, my Archoness? Or did you just want to check up on Bree’s health?”

Clara squeezed his hand painfully tight to show her disapproval of such a blunt request, but Kael couldn’t take the waiting. Avila chuckled, thankfully unoffended. Her smile quickly vanished, replaced with earnest gratitude.

“Kael, the only reason I discovered any of this was because you forced me to face the truth. Despite my best efforts otherwise, you brought me before L’fae. Our island is indebted to you, as am I.”

Kael felt his cheeks flushing.

“I, uh, it was nothing,” he said. “Just doing what I thought was right.”

“Then may we all do better at doing what is right,” she said, smiling warmly.

One of the dismissed servants hustled down the path, head bowing the moment he caught sight of Avila’s glare.

“My Archoness, Commander West brings a message she insists is most urgent,” he said.

“Send her in.”

The servant vanished, replaced by a frowning Olivia with a curled scroll in her left hand.

“Reports are coming in from our men keeping eyes on Center,” she said. “The retaliatory strike has finally begun.”

“Which islands?” Avila asked.

“All three. It appears to be a coordinated attack on Center.”

“Then my missives for peace were too late,” Avila said. “The other islands think only of revenge.”

“Archoness, our Seraphim are eager for your orders.”

“Whether we’re joining in, you mean,” Clara said. She looked to her mother. “Are we?”

The Archoness looked away, her small mouth locked into a frown. Kael shifted his weight from foot to foot. He would accept whatever answer she gave, despite the dread that filled his heart at the thought of facing off against more knights of Center.

“Any Seraph who wishes to watch the battle may do so, but I forbid them from entering. Weshern seeks peace, whether with the theotechs of Center or the new government that replaces it. Our island is done with war.”

Oliva bowed low.

“As you wish.”

Was that disappointment in her voice, or relief? Kael didn’t know. No doubt a large number of Seraphim wanted vengeance for Center’s invasion. Hopefully the number tired of the death and loss would be greater.

“I’d like to watch as well,” Clara said once Olivia left.

“I understand,” her mother said. “Stay safe.”

They hugged, and to Kael’s surprise, Avila turned to him for one as well. He accepted it graciously, for once feeling like he was part of their family. Not that much remained. Avila’s husband was dead, her two sons lost during the occupation. No wonder she was tired of war.

“Don’t you worry,” Kael said, unable to keep quiet as he felt the sorrow draping on him. “If she tries to fly into battle I’ll lock her in a block of ice and float her back to Weshern safe and sound.”

The Archoness smiled.

“My daughter would murder you if you tried.”

He glanced at Clara, who nodded in agreement.

“I would.”

“Well then,” he said. “For my sake, let’s hope she behaves.”

The mood was somber and tense at the armory. Few Seraphs talked to one another as they put on their wings and inserted their elemental prisms into their respective compartments. A few nodded or saluted in respect to Clara before leaving. Kael eyed their reactions carefully, wondering how many were second-guessing their Archoness.

“Are you ready?” Clara asked.

“Ready,” Kael said, tightening the last of the buckles.

They stepped outside, gently powered their wings, and flew northeast for Center. Weshern rolled beneath them. Kael wished it were nightfall. In the painful light of day, nothing hid the ruined cities and scarred fields. How many years would it take to rebuild? Would it ever be the same? It was hard to imagine a restored Weshern, but Kael knew time was the most powerful healer. He prayed he saw it blossom again in his lifetime.

Weshern vanished, the Endless Ocean now visible below. Silver wings clustered ahead of them, Weshern Seraphim flying as groups of friends instead of tight formations. Clara led them through slices of clouds, their wings a pleasant hum. Slowly the dot of green and brown that was Center grew closer, more distinguished. It took another ten minutes before they closed enough distance to see hints of battle. There wasn’t much to them that they could see, not yet, just tiny specks occasionally punctured by a blip of flame or flash of lightning. Up ahead, and far closer, more than thirty Weshern Seraphim hovered together. By the time Kael and Clara joined them they’d closed enough distance to watch the battle unfold.

The invasion had split into three major engagements, the forces of each outer island battling a portion of Center’s angelic knights. The regal white outfits of Center helped distinguish them from the outer island’s jackets, giving some semblance of organization to the engagements. They were still too far away to make out individual fights, but the spheres of battle ebbed and flowed in a visible pattern. Amid the flashes of elements they could see combatants fall, see which formations pulled back in retreat and which pushed their advantage. After a few minutes of watching, Kael felt a real sense of who was winning which battle.

“Elern has the advantage,” he told Clara. “Same with Candren. Only Sothren appears to be losing.”

“It’s only the beginning,” Clara responded. “Things can change in a heartbeat.”

It didn’t seem to be swinging in Center’s favor, though. The two battles over the eastern and western edges crumpled, the knights retreating inward. The third quickly followed. To their surprise, the outer islands didn’t chase with their Seraphim. It seemed they were grouping together, perhaps to ensure Center couldn’t suddenly retaliate while they were scattered. That didn’t explain the flashes of elements they saw dot the formations, though.

“We need to get closer,” Clara said.

“What if it gives the impression we’re joining in?” Kael asked.

“I don’t care. I must know.”

She tilted her body parallel to the ocean and pushed her wings out of a hover and into a soar. Kael followed, and a glance over his shoulder showed that the other thirty Seraphs followed. They passed several more miles, Center filling their vision. Clara slowed back into a hover. Kael did the same, his throat locking tight and his eyes watering.

The Seraphim weren’t chasing the knights because they were bombarding the many towns across Center’s edge. Fires spread throughout fields and homes. Docks shattered beneath concentrated blasts of lightning. Roof after roof smashed inward under the weight of ice and stone.

“They’re daring the knights to come back and fight,” Clara said. Her voice was cold, passionless. It was as if she were so shocked, so numb she couldn’t afford emotions. “Either fight or watch their people die.”

For ten long minutes, that was what they did. They watched people die. The knights grouped up in formations. They too watched. They too must have felt similar horror, for finally they charged back into the fray. The knights split back into three even groups, looking to equally engage the other islands’ Seraphim, but the far eastern group suddenly turned and cut west mere minutes before engaging with Sothren’s forces to join the fight against Candren. Their wings shone a brilliant gold, outracing their Sothren foes easily. The outer islands had grown too confident. They’d forgotten their wings were still the slower.

While the knights had been heavily outnumbered for much of the battle, this time they had superior numbers to go with their superior skill. Candren’s Seraphim attempted to disengage when they saw Center’s reinforcements coming in, but they couldn’t break away. The knights bore the faster wings. Forced into a battle, the Candren Seraphim took the offensive, furiously blasting away with their elements. The knights kept close and defensive. Time was on their side. The Sothren forces would not catch up for another few minutes. Kael held his breath, eyes peeled as the two groups merged together, and the knights retook the offensive.

Even from their distance, Kael could tell it was a slaughter. The Candren Seraphim took the best course of action, pushing through the reinforcements in a desperate bid to reach the Sothren forces still attempting to catch up. The battle turned into chaos, too much of a blur to follow accurately until the Candren and Sothren merged together. Even then their numbers were now only equal to the knights. It would be a losing battle, and they all knew it.

They couldn’t hear the horn, but they saw the reactions when the call to retreat sounded. Both Candren and Sothren flew toward the edge, defensive walls flinging up behind them coupled with blind shots to fill the air and endanger their chasers. Sometimes a few would break off from the rest, sacrificing their lives to buy the others time. Kael winced with every shimmer of gold that blinked out of existence.

With two islands in full retreat, a portion of knights split off from the chase to join the attack in the west. Elern had seen the crumbling of the other two and their Seraphim quickly pulled away while they still had the numbers advantage. Knights gave chase, but it seemed halfhearted.

“Center held,” Clara said, breathing out a long sigh. “Just barely, but for good or ill, they held.”

The three islands clustered together on their flight home, their numbers painfully diminished from their initial invasion. It seemed they purposely avoided any path that might fly them close to Weshern’s watching group.

“What do you think it all means?” Kael asked.

“I don’t know,” Clara said. “I pray this means we may finally restore peace among us, but …”

She looked to the fleeing forces of the other islands.

“But what?” Kael asked when she hesitated to continue.

“But I fear we made enemies of our allies.”

“It still wouldn’t have been worth it,” Kael said, shaking his head. “Imagine what would have happened if Center lost.”

“Our war would be over,” Clara said.

“Except it wouldn’t. Hundreds of Seraphim can conquer the skies, but what of the miles and miles of land below? Who will occupy the territory? Who would take out the thousands of ground troops? Center’s knights would retreat, lick their wounds, and prepare for another defense … and what do you think the Seraphim will do after what Center did to us here?”

Clara’s face paled as she realized his point.

“If our combined Seraphim can’t conquer and hold Center …”

Kael looked to the distant capital island.

“They’d bombard everything they can from the sky. If we’d joined in, we might have participated in slaughter on the grandest scale since Galen’s collapse. Your mother did the right thing. We did the right thing, Clara. You know that.”

Clara gestured to the diminished number of Candren, Elern, and Sothren Seraphim flying back to their homes.

“And if they don’t?”

“Then I’m glad your mother is charge instead of me, because I haven’t the slightest idea.”