Page 67 of Ashes of Betrayal

A commanding voice pulled her up short. Spine straightening, Bree shot an imperious look at the Shee warrior, one of Mor’s captains judging by the fine silver cape that rippled from his shoulders, who strode toward her.

“I’m taking this prisoner to the Raven Queen,” she answered, her voice clipped.

The male’s tawny gaze narrowed as it settled on Cailean. “Shades, isn’t that—”

“Aye. It’s the chief-enforcer himself,” she cut him off haughtily. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must—”

“You’re going the wrong way, Fellshadow,” the captain growled, making it clear that although she didn’t know his face, he recognized hers. He then jerked his head left, toward where the crowd was at its thickest, where raven banners snapped in the morning breeze. “Mor is over there.” His eyes glinted. “I shall escort you.”

It was hard to keep her nerve then.

Iron smite her, this was what she’d feared. Her mind scrabbled, looking for an excuse, a way out. But there wasn’t any.

Nodding, she reined Feannag left, falling in next to the captain. She didn’t dare look over her shoulder, to try to catch her husband’s eye.

“Clear the way!” The captain shouted. “We must see the queen.”

The crowd parted, allowing them through, and up ahead, Bree caught the gleam of sunlight on obsidian. Mor’s crown. The Raven Queen was there, at the heart of her army, astride a great white elk, a fine cloak of crow feathers rippling down her back. Eagal hunched upon her shoulder.

Gavyn was there too. Tall and proud, resplendent in black like his queen, the Captain of The Ravens rode a leggy elk.

Neither of them had spied Bree yet. But any moment they would—and when they did, it was over for Cailean. And her.

Panic slammed into her chest. Shades, she couldn’t give him to them. She had to do something. Her fingers clenched upon the reins, sweat sliding down her back now.

Eyes fluttering shut, she silently asked forgiveness from the Ancestors, for she was about to draw a blade against her own people. Aye, she’d killed Shee before, at Mor’s instruction. But this was different.

Her breathing quickened and grew shallow.

Aye, she could fight like a cornered fae hound, but she was surrounded. At least this way, neither of them would be taken prisoner.

They’d die as they’d lived—as warriors.

A horn’s loud wail ripped through the morning then, causing the cold, smoky air to shiver.

Bree’s eyes snapped open. That wasn’t a Sheehallion trumpet.

Her gaze swept over the sea of silver armor around her. They were on higher ground here. She could see across the bulk of the Shee army. It spread out upon the grassy meadows around the foot of Cannich’s rock, to the edge of the woodland to the south—and the highway.

And there, a dark line of iron helmets and standards—spears bristling against the pale sky—approached. And as the army marched toward them and the ground shook under its weight, the morning sun illuminated a fluttering wolf’s head banner.

30: ONE TERRIBLE, VIOLENT SONG

“FORM THE LINES!” A call went up. Around Bree, the army shifted, the warriors and their mounts moving to obey.

The captain who’d been escorting Bree to Mor cast her a distracted glance. “Stay back … our queen will deal with the chief-enforcer later.” The male then strode away, no doubt in search of the elk or stag he’d ride into battle.

“The High King is here!” The news traveled swiftly, excitement rippling over the army waiting before Cannich. The Shee warriors’ eyes gleamed, while trow and powries chattered and whooped, and the hill-tribe warriors shared eager glances and violent grins.

Bree watched the captain go, her heart lurching into her throat.

Just like that, they’d been given a reprieve.

It must be now.

They wouldn’t get another chance. Whipping out a knife, Bree twisted in the saddle to find that Cailean had anticipated her. He was standing close, bound wrists upraised. Their gazes glanced off each other as she freed his hands and sliced away the rope from around his neck. An instant later, he’d vaulted up behind her.

Wordlessly, she passed him her hunting dagger and one of her fighting knives.

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