Queen of Light (The Light-Bringer Trilogy, #3)

Twenty-Two

Lucineans jumped out of the way as they thundered through the city streets. Gasps and murmurs arose, the world slowly grew darker.

"Is that the crown princess?"

"Princess Calista?"

"She brought Krigereans with her!"

Pyro castle loomed before them. Cal could faintly hear soldiers shouting from up on the battlements. She reached down into her magic, drawing it up as she drew closer. Soldiers gathered in the battlements, bows and arrows in hand.

"Ready! Aim!"

Flames danced on her hands.

"Fire!"

The arrows flew straight for them. Cal raised her hands and brought up a wall of red and gold flames. Ash rained down on them.

Boom!

A cannon went off not too far behind her. The cannon ball soared over her head and crash into the castle gate.

"Ready, men!" Akaljot shouted over the cannon fire. "Load your muskets! Aim! Fire!"

Dozens of muskets fired behind Cal. One by one, soldiers fell as the muskets continued to fire.

People screamed and scattered at the sounds of the cannon and muskets.

Sweat beaded on Cal's brow as she kept the fire burning. After several minutes of no one returning fire from the battlements, Cal let down the wall of fire.

The cannon was brought closer to the gate. Three Eirineftens tended to it. The rest of the soldiers hid in either side of the gate. Cal dismounted Khalesi and covered her ears.

Boom!

The iron ball crashed into the gate. It remained intact. Cal watched as muskets were reloaded and bayonets were secured.

Boom!

Wood splintered as the gate broke. Silence.

Musket fire from inside the courtyard rang out. The three Eirineften soldiers collapsed, blood blooming on their clothing. The musket fire halted as several dozen guards rushed forward. Her crouching allies sprang up and impaled the enemy forces on their bayonets. Cal and Matias unsheathed their swords and ran into the fray.

They cut down anyone in their oaths. Cal sent a burst of fire at the soldiers. They caught fire and fell to the ground screaming. The smell of burnt flesh filled the air along with musket fire and screaming. Cal ran for the stables; Matias followed close behind. They opened the door to the servants' stairwell and ascended the steps.

They kept their swords drawn and watched each other's backs. The sound of multiple sets of feet running up the stairwell reached her ears.

"Cal," Matias whispered. She turned to face him. He jerked his chin at the descending stairs.

They raised their swords, ready to fight whoever was climbing the stairs. The steps grew closer, and closer, and closer, until-

Akaljot, Lance, and Lucas came into view.

"It's just us!" said Akaljot, his eyes wide.

"Gods above, we thought that you were Tenebraran soldiers!" said Matias, lowering his blade.

"We're much better than Melania's men," said Lucas. "We can actually think for ourselves."

"Onward and upward," said Lance, pushing past Cal and Matias.

"Onward and upward," Matias repeated and followed suit.

They made their trek up the rest of the spiral servants' stairwell. At the top of the stairs, Lance's ear was pressed against the door, listening for anyone on the other side.

"We're clear," he said. "There's no one on the other side."

They stepped out into the strangely empty corridor. No, not entirely empty.

Matias scowled, his grip on the hilt of his sword visibly tightening. "You," he snarled.

Halfway down the corridor, looking exactly as he did eight months earlier, was none other than Prince James.