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Such silly hopes Now, even if I save the world, he’ll never know

"Elisa?" My sister starts toward me, one hand half raised

I turn my back on her "Storm, Hector, with ates opened The rest of you stay here" We’re halfway to the door when an unbidden prayer for safety and luck springs to isurprise

When I’m in the doorway, I turn around and say to my roomful of new vassals: "Pray for me"

33

HECTOR knows the palace well, for he held it under martial law for several days while we deposed Cosh the corridors, never hesitating, and I folloithout question

We burst into sunshine The courtyard tee buckets of water and quivers of arrows to the wall There’s an order to the chaos, with organized lines and officers stationed at regular intervals barking orders to their e wooden double doors are shut and barred They rattle every few h the crease

"Now, Cosmé," I say

"Oh, God, Elisa, are you sure?"

"I’ to try

She takes a deep breath and yells, "Raise the portcullis and open the gate!"

"Storm, Hector, stay near so I can keep the barrier over us all" They close in at my shoulders I plant my feet, reach with my awareness into the depths of the earth

Hector bends and presses a kiss tohis lips there, and then says, "For just in case"

Cosmé repeats her command, because no one can believe she would want to do such a thing, but she does, and they do, and the doors open wide to reveal a ss

The Deciregi face ht of thee of satisfaction at the surprise on their perfect faces Arrayed behind thei All are surrounded by robed, barefooted acolytes Other acolytes lie cru beneath their slit throats Willing sacrifices

I draw erly, alus raises his glowing staff and flings a bolt in my direction I whip up ainst it

I draw even le and the power is like a thousand flies buzzing beneathto burst free

"Walk forith me," I whisper to Storm and Hector "When I say ‘noe attack hard and fast Storht, Hector the left Try for a killing blow, but don’t linger Get back into position iether, we step outside the gate The Deciregi level their combined power at us, and bolt after bolt ricochets offwith rit us thrusts his staff to the side and reaches for an acolyte--a young Inviernolazed with either fear or rabs his hair, yanks his head back, and slashes across his throat with a dagger, and oh, God, it’s such a faht that bile rises inushes froround where it puddles--and then the earth begins to absorb it

The power inside me flares, and suddenly I understand Their blood sacrifices don’t power their Godstones But soi fro too quickly This is why they only needed a brief rest after razing the fields, how they were able to pound bolt after bolt against ainst whatever cohtly as he retrieves his staff, raises it high Blue-white fire curls into a ball at the tip; the air around it shi, and the ball streaks forward, too quickly to track

The impact is like a thunderclap My barrier crackles and sparks, but then the fire dissipates and we are left shaken but standing

The other Deciregi shift uncoround!" their leader yells in the Lengua Classica

"Keep ainst , their bolts are nothing They have no idea what is co at theer, let the zafira’s strength seep into it I sense Stor blade Almost there Just a little er around, and slingshot a bolt so hot it blazes white Their shield collapses like shards of glass that evaporate into steaus behind the leader staggers to her knees

The rest are stunned A split second is all I need "Now!" I yell

I leap forward, slashing with us’s throat open His skin sizzles, and blood puround He stares at me, his oily black eyes unreadable, and he tries to speak but can’t

The earth loves his blood, slurps it up like it’s spring rain in the cracked desert I reach for the zafira, and it’s as though his blood becoh my veins

I take the barest moment to assure ets "Back!" I yell, and I slae of firebolts rains down around us

Two Deciregi are slain, toppled across the bodies of their willing sacrifices Another bends over, clutching his abdomen, which steams and reeks of liquefied skin

"I should have hit harder," Storusted voice "I didn’t kno i are backing away One turns to flee

"Wait!" I yell, and I thrust out with ht, tight, tighter, until they are completely frozen So that’s how they do it "I would speak with you"

I give the, "I will not require your surrender I intend to let you go In return, I ask only for a peaceful audience"

Gradually, ready to snap it back in place at the slightest provocation, I loosen lance around at one another, wide-eyed and breathless

Finally a wo them, and she looks almost exactly like Haith her kohl-black eyes and shi white hair Unlike Hawk, tiny lines spread froh the rest of her skin is stretched as taught as a girl’s, I have a feeling she’s as old as the stars

"We trapped you," she spits "You were captive in the bearer’s pit"