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Cal

Onlykeepsout of the crater I must find him, I must If not for myself then for the cause, to protect the retreat He’s worth a hundred good soldiers He’s a golden shield But he’s probably gone, escaped, having an to crumble

No, he wouldn’t run He would never run fro

I hope he isn’t already dead

"Get him up, Kilorn" In the Hall of the Sun, the late Lady Blonos taught me how to speak like a princess It is a cold voice, unyielding, leaving no room for contest

Kilorn obeys, but Shade still has it in hiize for that later," I reply, helping hi attention to the"

"Mare, if you think we’re leaving you--"

When I turn on Kilorn, I have sparks in my hands and deterlances pastsecond Telkies andthe obliterated ith resounding scrapes of ain, he obeys and Shade can do nothing but liwest, I take measured steps east The ar second, the Reds slow, their chains clinking as they halt Behind them, Silvers balance black rifles on their shoulders, as if they were nothing at all The war transports, greatstop soh h now that I hear officers bark orders "The lightning girl!" "Keep the line, stand firing out against the suddenly quiet street Ptolee

"Make way for the king!" he shouts

I stagger back I expected Maven’s armies, but not Maven himself He is not a soldier like his brother, and he has no business leading an ar troops, with Ptoleeline on his heels When he steps out from behind the Red line, my knees almost buckle His armor is polished black, his cape cri He still wears his father’s crown of flah it has no place on a battlefield I suppose he wants to show the world what he’s ith his lies, what a great prize he’s stolen Even frolare and his roiling anger It burnsbut the jets whistle overhead; it is the only sound in the world

"I see you’re still brave," Maven says, his voice carrying down the avenue It echoes a ive hier and fear