Harsh sunlight radiated down on Lady Ragna as she stood before the wall that for hundreds of years had kept the Dominia Empire out of their lands. But no longer.
Tents were set up behind her along the sandy hills, filled with House Friere’s military. She had left her own forces behind at Rook Castle and the strongholds around the mountain area, ready to move upon a word from her. Over the last few months, she had carefully dropped hints and woven the idea of aligning with the empire for the good of the mountain people into her military. Her commander and captains were primed for when she announced the real deal. And for those who balked at the idea, they could either obey or be replaced. Permanently.
A hot wind pulled at her silk gown and headscarf. It would be a while before she was back at Rook Castle and the cooler air. This heat was abominable, and it was only spring.
Far off, near the wall, Lord Ivulf spoke with his own commanders. His scarlet cloak rippled in the wind. Not for the first time she wondered if she should have made a more permanent alliance with Lord Ivulf all those years ago, instead of with Caiaphas. But her mother had ruthlessly crushed the idea. Ravenwood women never married the heads of other Great Houses, and so she had obeyed.
Unlike her traitorous daughter.
Her nostrils flared, and Lady Ragna smoothed her gown in an effort to bring her emotions back under control. It wouldn’t matter soon. At this moment, Amara was taking care of the plague that was House Maris. She might not be the strongest Ravenwood woman to ever live, but Amara was tenacious and driven. She would get the job done. Once Lord Damien was dead, Selene would be next.
With the Dark Lady at Lady Ragna’s side, and her increased nightly walks, which had been steadily strengthening her own gift, she would be ready to confront her daughter. And in the end, she would win.
Lady Ragna smiled to herself as Lord Ivulf broke away from his commanders and approached the wall. The sand-colored wall towered over the area, several hundred feet high, with jagged teeth at the top, making it difficult to climb over. The few who made it between their lands and the empire had done so by boat, circumventing either the maelstrom to the south or the watchful eyes of House Vivek and House Maris to the north.
But soon the great divide between the nations would be gone.
Lord Ivulf came to a stop, a small figure next to the massive barrier. Her smile widened as she watched him spread out his arms and prepare to use his gift. It had taken both the lords of House Maris and House Friere to erect the wall, combining water and molten earth together to form the boundary.
Today, it would take only one man to bring it down.
At first, nothing happened. Then a resounding crack filled the air. A split appeared at the top of the wall, right above where Lord Ivulf stood. The crack widened as it tore down the middle of the wall. A moment later, Lord Ivulf brought his hands together, then pulled them apart as if opening a door.
Like a set of double doors opening, the split widened until she could see blue sky and desert landscape on the other side. And not just landscape, but also an army. Tens of thousands dressed in burnt orange and olive green, with hundreds of Dominia Empire standards fluttering in the wind.
When the crack became as wide as to let in five men, shoulder to shoulder, Lord Ivulf fell to one knee, and the wall stopped moving.
Lady Ragna held up her gown and ran across the sand. Had he overexerted himself? Neither had been sure how great his gift was, or if he would even be able to do it.
Now they knew.
Just as she reached Lord Ivulf, a man came walking through the gap, flanked by four other men. He was tall and broad, with dark hair that curled around his head. There was no facial hair along his chin. Instead, a scar ran across the left side of his face, from the tip of his mouth up to the end of his eyebrow, giving him a fierce appearance. He was dressed in an elaborate uniform of the same burnt orange and olive green. A matching cloak fluttered behind him as he approached.
Lady Ragna bent down and reached for Lord Ivulf’s arm, but he brushed her away forcefully and stood on his own. From the corner of her eye, he appeared very pale, sweat coating his face and dripping from his chin.
The man stopped a couple of feet away and looked them over. Lady Ragna came to her full height and looked back with as much haughtiness and chill as she could. There was no doubt who stood before them, and she would remind him of who she was, and the power she brought with her.
A few seconds later, Lord Ivulf bowed, but Lady Ragna remained where she was.
“Welcome, Commander Orion of the Dominia Empire.”