House of Shadows (Royal Houses 2)

Kerrigan shuddered at the thought of what they’d had to do all those years to survive. “Then, they must have released it. Does that mean they don’t plan to escape?”

“We don’t know what their plan is. All we can do is our next move. If we can’t block the river,” Alura said with a savage grin, “then we destroy the boats.”

58

The Boats

Kerrigan tapped her boot on Tieran’s back as she watched the Battle of Lethbridge from the trees. She and Fordham had found a hidden space to the west of the docks. Audria and Roake were somewhere to the east. They waited for the signal from Alura.

“Do you think this is going to work?” she breathed.

Tieran tugged on the bond. He had been doing it reassuringly the last couple days. It must.

“I know. I know. But oleander-tipped arrows.” She shuddered.

We will work together, as we have always wanted to. Don’t worry. You’re not that bad.

She chuckled. That was the Tieran she knew and loved. Always making fun of her. At least it kept her centered on the attack ahead.

Alura zipped out of the trees, heading straight toward the northern tower. Archers had been stationed at the top with enough arrows to keep anyone from getting too near the docks. Most of the fighting was taking place to the south, where the main gate was. The boats and the river had been mostly ignored.

As Alura drew within their range, the Fae were suddenly alert, and arrows volleyed down from the tower. Alura was a sight to behold. She maneuvered from Gemina’s back with speed and agility. Kerrigan’s jaw dropped as she watched her evade the first arrows with ease. One hadn’t even scratched her shield.

“Wow,” she whispered.

Together, they are straight out of myth.

Tieran wasn’t wrong. The archers had enough time to pull another arrow and let loose. Gemina swerved to avoid the arrows. This time, just one grazed her shield but didn’t break it. Not a direct hit then.

Then, they were there. Alura launched off of Gemina’s back and dived headfirst into the tower. She pulled her sword from its sheath and cut two of the archers down before they even moved from their station. She flowed through the motions as if she were an element all on her own. Every movement timed perfectly to block and parry and slice. The archers were no match for a trained warrior, and Alura was one of the best. Within seconds—seconds—the tower was empty, and Alura jumped back down on Gemina, who slammed her body into the top of the tower, sending the roof tumbling inside. No more archers could come up and disturb them.

“That’s our signal,” Fordham said.

Kerrigan leaned into Tieran as he took off toward the city. They flew harmlessly over the burned husk of the outer ring. They came into range, and another volley of arrows shot toward them from the parapet. Kerrigan waved her hand, a blast of air knocking them off course. Fordham pushed forward, diving in while they were fitting another arrow to the bow, and Netta let loose a full blow of fire.

The majority of the archers were smart enough to duck behind the stone for cover, but a number were instantly set on fire and ran screaming toward the nearby water trough.

Kerrigan led Tieran into a steep dive as the archers were distracted with Fordham. They came up on the first set of boats, and Tieran let loose his own breath of fire, whipping his tail into the first mast and sending it toppling into the second.

“Look out!” Fordham shouted.

She looked back, tugging Tieran far away from the battlement, and wrapped her shield harder around them. The first puncture of the arrow felt like a stab wound. She gasped as it knocked the shield out entirely. She jerked another one up in place, even as the poisonous oleander felt like it’d hit her personally.

Tieran circled as she caught her breath. Already, a team of water Fae attempted to douse the dragon fire. She wasn’t strong enough in water to counteract them. And it didn’t matter—no one was moving a ship with no mast.

Fordham regrouped near her as Alura made a second run, dropping onto Audria and Roake’s side of the wall and cutting down archers like picking daisies.

“Second run?” he asked.

She nodded. Fordham flew Netta in for another run of the archers. They were smarter this time, and only one was still up when he came through. That one managed to get an arrow into Fordham’s shield.

“Traitor!” The word echoed through the clash of battle.

Fordham used his air magic to nimbly grasp the arrow out of the sky. Then, he whipped around and threw it straight back at the Fae who had uttered that terrible word at him. The force of his throw, propelled by the weight of his magic, thrust the arrow straight through his throat.