Page 42 of Ensii
Yet Talitha could have sworn the flames rose up to snatch the beast, dragging it into the fire like burning chains.
Screaming, the thing went down. It writhed and tossed within the bonfire, screeching so loud the remaining tiles broke off the roof, exposing the wood latticing beneath.
It roared and shrieked and was silent.
Talitha laid propped on her left arm, blinking in disbelief. She breathed in and out, blood seeping down her right side. Was she alive? Had that just happened?
“Where are you hurt? Talitha!”
She jumped, looking up to find Ashek crouched over her, balanced precariously on the center of the roof.
“Talitha?”
“I’m…I’m fine.”
They crouched awkwardly on the top of the roof, overlooking the burning pile of everything Anakti had ever stood for.
“Is it over?” Talitha whispered, her voice coming out as a tentative wheeze. “Is it finished?”
Ashek kissed her temple, weaving his fingers through her hair. “It’s over.”
Talitha buried her face in his arm, catching her breath and letting her heart slow. Over—what a beautiful word.
“Come. Can you walk?”
“I think so.” Talitha cleared her throat. “It’s just my back and—ah!” Her ravaged back throbbed as she leaned forward.
“Here.” Ashek pulled her arm over his shoulders. “I’ve got you.”
He supported her carefully, keeping them balanced gingerly atop the gable. By the time they reached the window, both Gilsazi and Shaza were there with a small crowd of soldiers and more running after them.
“Did you get her? Talitha!” Gilsazi extended his arms to catch her. Shaza and several others grabbed the back of his armor to keep him falling over.
The massive tavrosi dragged her inside and Ashek followed. A press of faces surrounded her the next moment.
“We need to get her to her room,” Ashek ordered. “And send for Kasrei. Now!”
Talitha might have argued if her blood hadn’t been soaking down her side and the back of her thigh. She stumbled between Ashek and Gilsazi, head spinning. “Burn anything and everything to do with that whore,” Talitha muttered. “Gilsazi, I want you to work with Kasrei to start a purge of the city. I don’t care who or why anyone is keeping artifacts from that goddess. We’ll buy them if we have to. Just destroy all of it.All of it.”
“Yes, my lady,” Gilsazi answered. “I thought—” The tavrosi’s great head slanted in the direction of the massive bonfire. “It will be as you say.”
Talitha nodded. “I want that started by no later than noon.” It was a tight deadline, but Anakti had feared being overthrown and Talitha meant to become that demon’s worst nightmare.
“My lady!” Zula’s temple bled, crimson blood bright and glittering against her dusky skin.
“Zula, you fought well and will be commended. You all will.” Talitha waved her left arm haphazardly, limping along between her husband and general. Even on the way to her sickbed, she was still an ensaak.
“Thank you, my lady. I feared I wouldn’t see you alive again.” Zula inclined her head.
Talitha allowed an instant for a tired smile before she returned to business. “Care for the dead and wounded best you can and get some rest. We’ll need it for tomorrow.”
“Yes, my lady.”
As they rounded the corner to the warlord’s quarters, Talitha found herself leaning more and more on Ashek and Gilsazi. She hoped they didn’t notice how fast her strength was failing.
“One more thing,” she added as her head began to spin, “we need to transfer leadership of the army to me in public.” It was usually done after the old ensaak’s death or abdication. “The army must swear loyalty to me as soon as possible.”
“We will gladly swear loyalty, my lady, unto death.” Zula clapped a fist over her chest. “But you should know it will be a renewal of oaths—you were already given leadership of the army.”
