To his credit, King Kance said nothing of my pale, tear-streaked face, though his heartsglass beat quick, erratic patterns of blue. He had drawn his sword during the battle, its tip bloody, and I wondered if he’d been fighting long, though it was doubtful that General Lode would allow many to get past him.
The bulk of the casualties had fallen to the Drychta, but many of the Odalians were caught in the indar’s deadly acid attack. One look at their heartsglass was enough for me to gauge fatal wounds from the less grievous, and it was a difficult task to move from one fallen fighter to the next, compelling them into sleep knowing they would never wake.
Likh had the runic wards wrapped around herself again as she bustled about, dressing as many of the soldiers’ wounds as she was able to. She, Khalad, and I all knelt side by side, tending to patients as Kalen and Kance remained deep in conversation, planning their next move. General Lode was coordinating transport to send the wounded back to Odalia, where they would receive better treatment in better facilities.
Althy had helped arrange most of those travel details. Now she was on the other side of the camp, healing other wounded. The older asha had taken great pains to avoid me since she’d arrived with her circle of asha, and the snub added to my worry, unsure if I would be arrested and if she would be doing the arresting.
Sadly, I wove another set of Compulsion, giving my patient a small measure of peace in his final moments, and tearfully closed his eyes after he had passed, mercifully, without pain. I gave quiet instructions for his body to be carried to Althy, and turned to Knox, who suffered from a broken arm.
“We were careless,” Knox said hoarsely, watching the other Kion asha remove the body. “Didn’t have much experience with daeva beyond the nanghait, and to see that black poison spurting out of that creature was a nightmare.”
“I’m sorry for your losses, milord.”
“No sorrier than I am. We ought to eliminate these bloody-assed demons, Lady Tea. We can’t live in the same world as they. If one of us’s gotta go, I’d rather it be them.”
“The daeva was being controlled by a Faceless. I doubt it would attack on its own.”
“The fact that it can be controlled makes it a danger. Begging your pardon, milady,” he added, with a nervous glance at the azi flying overhead, who patrolled against any unexpected assaults. “I know you’re fond of them. Or one of them.”
“No offense taken, milord. I can understand the fear.”
He’s right, I thought, setting his splint, I cannot keep resurrecting and killing daeva. Fighting the indar with the azi had already made me more exhausted than I remembered being in the past. But what could I do? Now that we’d learned that I cannot create shadowglass, bonding them to trustworthy Dark asha seemed the next best thing.
Likh and Khalad spoke quietly, the former’s eyes red. “Why not?” I overheard her ask. “I’m as much in danger of dying here with the runic wards as without them.” The soldier she was ministering to had sustained a severe head wound but was not in any mortal danger.
“You have a higher chance of dying without the wards as with them,” Khalad corrected. “We’ve had this discussion before, Likh. I’m not going to lose you on a maybe.”
“What would you have done in my place? Would you be willing to stand by, knowing you could make a difference despite the risks?”
“Not if I trust the people with me. Not if I ask them for protection as well. Your safety makes all the difference to the people you’re helping right now, Likh. You don’t need runes for that.”
Likh looked at him, then down at the unconscious soldier. “I just wish I could do more.”
I did a quick weave on her and saw the rune glow red. “This is ridiculous!” I exclaimed. “Likh, we’ve been eating the same foods, and none of us have exhibited any of the symptoms of Blight.”
Likh didn’t look as distressed as I was; strangely enough, she grew calmer the more I spoke. “Maybe the blight affects silver heartsglass more than it does regular heartsglass. We’ve never been able to make a comparison, and I’ve been the only silver-hearted victim to survive this long. But that’s not as important anymore.”
“But it is!” Khalad exploded. “Surely you can’t think that!”
“I think that I should learn to accept that which is beyond my control and make the best of my situation. I’m not scared. This isn’t the time or the place to be scared. Too much is happening.” Likh smiled at him. “I’m not trying to deliberately put myself in danger. But if I’m already cursed, then the least I can do is to ensure none of you wind up the same way.”
Without warning, Khalad yanked Likh to him and kissed her so thoroughly that I averted my eyes with some embarrassment. “I don’t care,” he snapped, breaking away, “I’ll protect you because I want to believe we have more years to spend together, and anything coming out of your mouth saying otherwise is a lie.”
Likh’s eyes widened. Her face softened with adoration. I finished my work on Knox’s dressing and gently assisted the Yadoshan back to the main camp, allowing the two a private moment. Nowadays, those were rare.
“Lady Likh and Lord Khalad?” Knox asked. “I had no idea. Isn’t Likh a…well…”
“Lord Khalad finds no issue with that,” I told him. “And Lady Likh is Lady Likh. That’s all that matters.”
“If you say so, Lady Tea. They’re both fine people.” Gingerly, Knox touched his sling. “Thank you for the aid. Though I fear this may render me useless should more battles break out.”
The loss of their kinsmen had had a sobering effect on many of the Yadoshans, and they were more than eager to scale Mithra’s Wall and avenge their fallen comrades. I drew myself up, prepared to scold their recklessness, but a new voice broke into the conversation.
“If all works out for the best, Lord Knox, then the next Drychta fight will be the last that both the Odalians and the Yadoshans shall concern themselves with. And the Kions, for that matter.”
Gulping, I turned to face Althy. Zoya stood with her.
“If you would give Lady Tea and I a moment, Lord Knox?”
The man obliged. Awkwardly, I shuffled my feet. “I was surprised to see you here. I didn’t think Ankyo knew about the Drychta yet.”
“The pigeons we sent to Yadosha never returned. It made Empress Alyx suspicious. So she sent out a small entourage of asha under my charge to investigate. That was a week and a half ago. If truth be told, I convinced her to send us here, just in case. By the time she and Fox sent us word of your warning, we were already a day’s ride from Mithra’s Wall.”
I exhaled in relief. So Fox had heeded my call. “And I suppose you’re planning on bringing me back to Ankyo for my trial?”
The asha snorted. “I don’t condone your decision to leave, Tea. But I am concerned with all the choices you have made since then. You were only to stay in Yadosha and lie low there until Mykkie and I could concoct a way for you to return. And now I find you here, among the Odalians and the Yadoshans, with a Faceless camped within reach.”
“I couldn’t sit by and do nothing, Althy.” Quickly, I related everything that had happened since we had parted ways—the discovery of Blight runes in Thanh, my subsequent journey to meet with the Gorvekai, the trials within Stranger’s Peak. Althy’s brows were pinched together in concern by the time I was done.
“It is troubling,” she said. “I think it was ill-advised of you to volunteer for the mountain’s tests. But I’m relieved that you have emerged unscathed. And here in Mithra’s Wall…you’re much stronger than before, Tea. Controlling a daeva normally takes concentration, yet you were able to handle two with ease, while fighting off a Faceless in one’s head besides.”
“I’m almost jealous,” Zoya said. “Serves me right for staying behind. Stranger’s Peak would have been marvelous to see.”
I shuddered. “I would have gladly traded places with you if I could, Zoya. It wasn’t a pleasant experience.”
“I can prepare some more herbs for you, to help calm you,” Althy offered.
“Kalen has been giving me the Calming spell nearly every day since we left Kion.”
“The fool,” Zoya scoffed. “Surely he knows it saps his strength.”
“I’ve tried. You know Kalen.”
“I’ll make sure to yell at him for it later. And how is Likh?”
I bit my lip. “She still has the blight, but I don’t know why. We’ve been so careful…”
Althy mulled that over. “I’ll have a talk with Khalad and see what other options we have. Perhaps the Blight rune affects those with silver heartsglass differently.”
“That is what she said. How…how is Fox?”
Althy looked at me without saying a word.
“I see.”
“Tea, he’s as busy as you are, what with the princess and the—”
“There is no need for an explanation, Althy. I understand all too well.”
“He believed you about Druj,” Zoya persisted. “He’s still in shock. With the blighted courtiers, we didn’t have much time to—”
I startled. “Blighted courtiers?”
Althy shot Zoya a scathing look. “We’ve had our own share of blighted attacks. There is no reason to worry. The queen and princess are fine, as is Mykkie. Fox was instrumental in saving them.”
“Lady Altaecia,” Kance greeted, nearing us with Kalen and General Lode by his side, “And, Lady Zoya. Thank you both for your assistance.”
Zoya curtsied. “We nearly didn’t make it in time, Your Majesty, given the late start we were afforded. What do you intend to do now?”
“We need to head to Mithra’s Wall and confront King Aadil,” Kance said abruptly. “I will not leave until I have that madman out of my kingdom, preferably in chains.”
“And I would like to have a talk with the Faceless who stands behind him,” I added bleakly.
“What if they raise another daeva?” General Lode asked. “I am leery of having to face another so soon.”
“How many of the bezoars do we have now?” Kalen asked.
“Five.” It had taken nearly two hours and a host of Fire runes to evaporate most of the poisonous bile the dead indar excreted in death before I was able to retrieve its sapphire-blue bezoar. “Including the azi, that makes six. There’s one more daeva not yet accounted for.”
Zoya frowned. “That would be the akvan. But if I remember correctly, it won’t be ripe for resurrection for another two years.”
“Unfortunately, the Faceless may have found a way to speed up the process. The Gorvekai claim such a rune exists but refuse to divulge the secret.”
“Then Druj must have gleaned it through some other text,” Althy theorized. “And recently. We had no such problems with them in the past. He must have reason to believe the First Harvest is somewhere inside Mithra’s Wall.”
“Then we must go after it immediately!” Zoya protested.
“It’s not as easy as it sounds, Lady Zoya,” Kance said. “The close, cramped caves within the Wall will not be advantageous for large armies. The azi will not be able to enter short of burning down the whole mountain.”
“Then let’s level it.” There was a nasty glint in Zoya’s eye.
“As a last resort, yes. But I would much rather take less drastic means to lure the Drychta king out, milady.”
“Why bother luring him out?” I interrupted. “I brushed against Druj’s mind for a few moments while the azi fought his indar. He’s smarter than Aenah, but not as feckless as Usij. I doubt you will get them out of the mountain for any reason until they find their prize, and time is running short. I understand that we might have the disadvantage going in, but with his soldiers depleted, that may be the best course of action.”
“Mayhap it would be better for everyone if it did burn,” Althy murmured. “Let the First Harvest burn.”
“I don’t think it would take to fire that easily,” Kalen said. “Lord Agnarr gave me the impression that it would endure whatever we did to destroy it.”
“Then who do we send into Mithra’s?” Kance asked.
“Tea and me, Zoya and Althy if they’re up for it, a half dozen more asha and Deathseekers. Some soldiers to guard the entrance, perhaps, and the rest to make sure the Drychta survivors don’t try anything else,” Kalen replied.
“The Drychta survivors are down to manageable numbers,” Althy agreed. “They’re the lucky ones, given the fates of their comrades. Perhaps they will be amenable to surrender now.”
King Kance sighed. “This will put you all in greater danger.”
“There’s not a lot of choice at this point.” Kalen allowed himself a smile, drawn tight at the edges. “And that’s part of our job description. In fact, I’d rather start sooner than later. Once Tea has rested enough.” There was a question behind his words.
I nodded. “I’m fine, and I’m ready. The Drychta think we’ll be licking our wounds, and they’ll surely be tending to theirs. They won’t expect an attack so quickly after the last.”
Althy nodded. “I’ll send for the other asha.”
“Are you sure, Tea?” Kance asked, momentarily forgetting to be formal. “This is…” He paused, and his heartsglass supplied the rest: This is asking too much of you.
“This is bigger than any of us, Your Majesty. Aadil’s actions imperil the rest of the kingdoms, including his own.” I cleared my throat. “We won’t have much communication once we’re in the Wall, and I might need someone to scry in too, so I can inform you of what happens inside. I propose that Khalad be my—”
“No. Let me do it.”
“Your Majesty—”
“Khalad still has a lot of work to help the wounded, and my other generals need to focus on other matters should Aadil attack again. Allow me to be your Scrying vessel, Tea. Let me be useful.”
I took a quick, surreptitious glance at Kalen, who inclined his head ever so slightly. “As you wish, Your Majesty.”
• • •
The planning was quick but meticulous. There would only be a handful of people heading into the mountains with us, mostly asha and what Deathseekers General Lode could afford to spare, while the rest surrounded the mountain in anticipation of further attacks. Mithra’s Wall, I learned, had dozens of entrances, and Knox supplied us with most of that knowledge. He too had volunteered to accompany us despite his injury.
“Most of the caves inside are interconnected,” he told us. “And from what King Kance’s spies have reported, Aadil entered one of the topmost entrances. I’ve explored those caves before with my buddies in the past, and I’m the only one here experienced with the routes and passageways along that tier. They’re not as many as the ones below it, and almost all the openings lead into a large chamber, so you should have no trouble finding anyone hiding inside.”
The remnants of the Drychta army were unlike what anyone expected. All the fight had leached out of the men. They were waiting almost meekly when we arrived and, once we were near enough, deliberately threw down their spears, axes, and bows.
“They’re surrendering,” Zoya noted with astonishment. “But why? Could this be another trap?”
“Let’s find out.” General Lode strode forward and barked a command in Drychta. One of the men responded in a long, halting monologue, and all sank to their knees in unison.
“They’re frightened,” the man translated. “They’ve been worked hard and nearly starved the last few days. The blighted were the last straw. All they want is some food and water, and they’re more than willing to let us pass. This man says they’ve been mistreated terribly. They were promised good wages for their families if they followed Aadil into battle, but they have not been paid. He says their king is a madman.”
“That’s horrible,” Althy breathed softly.
Lode frowned. “I’m not sure if I translated this correctly, but they claim there is forbidden magic in their bones, and that they have been condemned to the seven hells by Aadil, who threatened to turn them into demons if they disobeyed.”
A chill ran through me. I knew what that meant. Had Aadil allowed all his army to be blighted? “Stay away from them,” I barked at the general and wove my Delving. My heart lurched at what I saw: the runes festered red in the air before them, all compromised.
Kalen was already one step ahead of the others. “Channel wards on them all!” he barked at both asha and Deathseekers alike. “Do it quickly, while we still have time!” His hands were a blur, wrapping tendrils of protective magic around the Drychta who had spoken, then hurried to the next.
The others were quick to act, and before long, the air was alive with brilliant magic, spells cloaking the poor soldiers to keep them safe from further harm. “What tyrant would blight his own people?” Kance gasped. “His own loyal soldiers? This is unthinkable!”
“I am entirely unsurprised, given all the stories I’ve heard of Aadil,” Zoya said drolly, firmly tying off a ward around another grateful fighter. “Good thing we didn’t think to wait for them to come. Aadil could have sent them after us next.”
“Too late!” Althy shouted. Some of the other half dozen soldiers who had yet to be warded were starting to change. Desperate, still beseeching, their features warped, and I could only watch helplessly as their new, grisly forms sealed their fate. The other, more fortunate Drychta scrambled away from their transformed comrades, shouting frantically.
But how? Who had woven the rune? All the men were within my line of sight, and not one of them had moved.
Some instinct told me to look up. High above a ledge, a cloaked figure stood, an arm raised. There was a quick, cutting gesture, and the last of the unwarded, blighted men completed their horrific metamorphosis. The hooded shape lingered for a few moments, staring down at me. The distance was too far for me to make out any features, but I knew who it must be.
A blast of lightning erupted from Zoya’s fingertips, aimed at the cowled stranger.
But the figure stepped away, avoiding the attack, almost dismissive of the attempt, and the lightning sizzled harmlessly against the escarpment. The figure twisted its head in my direction. I could not see its face but knew its eyes were on me, cold and assessing, before it turned and disappeared back into the—