Page 135 of A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash

A section of the great stone wall collapsed in an avalanche of rock and dust.

Kage’s blood ran cold.

Nyx was already upon the watchtower, its talons raking against the stone, the sheer force of its landing threatening to tear the structure apart. Ash’s dragons circled nearby, their frenzied cries echoing across the battlefield.

Kage and Freya banked low, sweeping in wide circles over the chaos. Below, Nyx lashed out, its spiked tail cleaving through the crumbling tower, sending chunks of stone plummeting to the earth. Mal and the others fled, racing against time, their escape veiled by the wyvern’s onslaught. And then, beyond them, the land shifted.

One by one, green flames flickered to life across the barren fields. At first, they seemed like mere wisps of fire, harmless in their distant glow. But then the flames grew, morphed, took shape—and out of the emerald haze, they appeared.

Witches. Warlocks.

Their figures solidified like specters stepping out of another realm, their eyes gleaming with the same eerie, unnatural purple glow Mal possessed.

Kage veered downward, pulling Freya’s steed towards the wall. He landed in a crouch, sliding off the horse in one smooth motion. The horse’s great wings folded as he patted its side—a silent gesture of thanks—before turning to face the storm of war brewing before them.

More witches manifested, one after the other, until the field crawled with their presence.

A hand lifted. Magic burnt at its fingertips.

A bolt of green light shot forward, colliding with the wall.The stone shuddered under the force of the explosion.

Freya’s breath hitched. ‘Witches, but they…’

‘I think we’ve all been deceived.’ Kage’s lips pressed into a thin line.

Another explosion ripped through the air.

Mal had taken to the skies, Nyx’s wings spreading wide as she soared towards the enemy. A heartbeat later, Ash followed, his dragon cutting through the wind like a blade.

Kage clenched his fists.

Fools. They would die if they flew straight into the witches’ line of fire.

‘Get back on the horse,’ he barked at Freya, already preparing to launch back into the air. ‘They are going to get themselves killed.’

But before he could move, Freya gasped.

A witch had appeared behind her, one hand clutching the valkyrian’s throat, forcing her to her knees. The markings on the witch’s arms shimmered like ink against her bronze skin, pulsing with unspent magic.

Kage took a step forward, rage surging—but before he could strike, a second shadow materialised from the green smoke.

Vera.

The witch moved with lethal grace, her elbow snapping into her enemy’s skull before she could react. The captive witch crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

‘We need to leave,’ Vera said, purple eyes flashing as she turned towards Kage. He hesitated, watching her warily. As if sensing his doubt, Vera sighed, her gaze burning with a strange conviction. ‘I know they are my people but the curse is more important. If either Mal or Ash die, we all die. Revenge can be taken care of later.’

A roar above them. A streak of blue flame.

Kage made his choice. He moved.

But then—

Vera stopped. Her purple eyes widened in horror. Kage followed her gaze, his heart seizing in his chest.

The witches—all of them—had turned their attention towards the wyvern.

Towards Mal.

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