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‘Amayan Fire!’ Nyomae guided Elodi’s gaze to the night skies to the north and east. They sat upon their horses on the foothills bordering the Borrund Road. Elodi wished to see for herself what lay to her right flank, keen to determine whether the enemy could make it unseen through the valleys.

Elodi’s pulse raced. ‘My blade blazed blue at the warlock’s touch in the Great Hall. But what of the green?’

‘Alas, it means they fight one another.’ The sky lit up. ‘Yes, there. That flash of green tells me another has fallen to the Ul-dalak.’

Elodi nudged Sea Mist a little higher up the slope. ‘Ah, that is most regrettable.’ Her hands clenched. ‘Our allies shrink each passing day.’ She stood in her stirrups. ‘They’re close to Omstrad. It must be Eryn and her sisters. Can they free the possessed warrior? We cannot afford to lose just one Amayan.’

Nyomae turned her horse. ‘Sadly, she’s already lost. Only a warlock can turn an Amayan, perhaps even two committed the act. And once a servant of the Dark Verses, only death will release her.’

‘Then I pray another doesn’t fall in this tragic conflict.’ They rode to the last ridge and looked down to the South Forest. Elodi dismounted. ‘Our riders report Omstrad still stands. If our foe intends to outflank and attack our rear, we can hope their progress will be at least slowed through the dense woodlands. And thankfully, there has been no sign of them attempting to circle the forest.’

Nyomae slid from her saddle. ‘I don’t think that’s part of their plan. As I’ve said before, I believe they’ll focus all their strength against our main force. They’ll want to finish us with one blow. Warlocks see themselves as invincible, but that is also their weakness. They cannot envisage a defeat by conventional means, and I believe they’ve yet to learn of my discovery at Telamir. My hope is they will come to rue their overconfidence too late in the day. If I can free Dorlan, and perhaps Uleva, or at the very least, Uldrak, we may yet win the day.’

Elodi kneeled and dipped her hand into a stream that glistened under the starlight. ‘Yet many will die while you make that attempt.’

Nyomae sat by her side. ‘I’ve seen too many good people perish in this seemingly eternal conflict.’ She looked up to the stars and let out a long sigh. ‘Is this what the gods had in mind when they brought order to the chaos? And if this is order, what horrors did the chaos inflict upon the land?’

Elodi searched for the lights of Omstrad, but the forest was too thick. ‘I am informed Toryn’s company will attempt to destroy the aralaks’ nest come dawn.’ Her hand rested on Nyomae’s. ‘We will undoubtedly lose more good people tomorrow. But if left untouched, more will die in the weeks to come.’

Nyomae plucked a blade of grass from the hillside. ‘Perhaps this is the order the gods intended.’

Elodi scooped up water from the stream and let it trickle through her fingers. ‘Surely, this cannot be considered order?’

Nyomae rolled the grass between her palms. ‘In a strange way, perhaps it is. If the aralaks outgrow their food source, they’ll fight each other, and their numbers dwindle. But if we defeat our enemies, will we grow to the extent we don’t have sufficient land to feed every mouth? Would we then fight over scarce resources?’ She sat and scattered the grass. ‘It may be painful, but over the centuries, the balance asserts itself and order is maintained.’

Elodi’s gaze wandered back to the plain. ‘If we fail tomorrow, will we ever recover? Or does the darkness become the new order?’

Nyomae lay back and brought her hands to her face. ‘None can claim to know the mind of the gods.’ Her voice faltered. ‘And… I can’t be sure if I know my own at this time.’

Elodi placed a hand on Nyomae’s shoulder. ‘Then you’re not alone. I too have my doubts. But this is the enemy’s doing. They wish to wear us down, break our spirit to make us believe we can do nothing to counteract their evil. But we mustn’t lose heart. If we do, they have won before they raise a single weapon against us. Perhaps…’ she looked to the brightest star, ‘perhaps the Maidens may yet aid us. The light must prevail.’ Elodi stood. ‘Ah. The green fades, the blue triumphs.’ She took Nyomae’s hand and pulled her to her feet. ‘A good omen perhaps.’

Nyomae took a deep breath. ‘Thank you, Elodi. You speak the truth.’ She grasped her horse’s rein. ‘Tomorrow’s outcome…’ she glanced to the horizon, ‘today’s outcome will determine what unfolds for centuries to come. A victory will save many thousands of both the living and those yet to grace these lands. We must not condemn them to a life of slavery, spending their days longing for the release of death.’