Page 160 of Faeling
Oberon buffeted her face with his warm breath, nuzzling her cheek.Brave girl. Keep your courage.
Ducking under his head, Ravenna hugged his neck and buried her face there. His warmth and horsey musk filled her senses, a momentary relief from her terror.
Thank you for being with me.
Always, Crow. To the end.
Wiping at her eyes, Ravenna refused her tears. Instead, she took a running leap, throwing her leg over Oberon’s bare back.
Oberon turned to walk down the gangplank, the other unicorns behind him. Along the stone docks, they gathered in a diamond formation around Ravenna and Oberon, a wall of horseflesh to protect her—or at least, to get her to the palace.
It left Asta free to look out for Leita, who discreetly walked alongside Thalia at the rear of the formation.
At the head of the dock, a fae lifted a horn to her lips and blew. A melancholy sound echoed across the water, stealing Ravenna’s breath.
The escorting fae fell into formation at the front and back of the column of berserkers. Off the ships, there was nowhere to go but forward.
The fae led the way through their city of winding cobbledstreets. Even the main streets were narrow, lined on each side by tall limestone buildings. It forced the berserkers to march just three abreast, making them grumble and exchange unhappy looks.
Ravenna bit her cheek, willing them to stay the course. She’d explained to them, standing atop her stump and shouting so everyone could hear, what Allarion meant to do. She described what she could of the city and what the warriors could expect. And most of all, she emphasized that upon reaching the palace, they were to secure Vallek at all costs. He was their priority.
Their long column snaked up the gentle slope, passing beneath peaked arches crowned in coral. A few curious faces peeked out from otherwise shuttered windows, but no one moved on the side streets or alleyways.
The city almost seemed empty, a ghostly remnant of a civilization that had rotted away long ago. More arches denoted other main thoroughfares, just as narrow. From these they finally found others.
Fae soldiers, armed and helmed, began to fall in line, surrounding their column. Encased in fae escorts, the air grew tense.
Careful to keep her face expressionless, Ravenna turned her head to look at the new arrivals.
Her breath caught in her throat to see a familiar face glancing up at her.
Beneath the brim of his helm, Allarion winked at her.
Ravenna had to bite back a heaving sigh of relief.He’s done it.
Indeed,confirmed Oberon,just look how many are his.
Looking more closely at the fae soldiers, she realized some didn’t wear gloves, at least one in three. That had been theiragreed upon mark, one she’d advised the berserkers of.
They weren’t alone in this fight.
Have Thalia tell Leita,she told Oberon.
It was hard to say exactly with their forces kept to the narrow roads, but Ravenna thought, when it came to the fighting—for this would surely come to fighting—Allarion’s recruits and Vallek’s berserkers would be at least evenly matched against Amaranthe’s forces.
She clung to that hope as they ascended, getting closer and closer to the palace.
As they rounded a corner, a strange noise echoed up from the harbor. Ravenna and others turned to see a heavy chain rise from the water between the two pincers of seawall, effectively barring the way in or out.
Shit.
If the orcs were to sail from Fallorian, Amaranthe would have to be dead.
As if Ravenna needed any more reason.
Up through the city they marched, hundreds of boots the only sound in the white city. No wind stirred, no birds flitted between roofs. Fountains sat dry, workshops closed, and the decorative plum trees stood wilted, their dark red leaves gathering on the cobbles.
It was a city abandoned. Had the citizens fled before the arrival of the orcish force? Or had they been driven away?
