by Amber Argyle
The witches sang three times, their songs dark and deadly. Then Sash rose into the night sky and sang with the combined power of many.
“What is she doing?” Lilette asked.
Jolin covered her head with her hands. “Fighting.”
The ground beneath Lilette shook as if the whole world was being rent asunder. Han pulled her into his arms, his body hunched protectively over her—just as his brother had done earlier.
In the city, more buildings collapsed. Lilette knew innocent people were dying, and a piece of her seemed to wither and die with them.
A jagged wall of earth rose between the palace and the city, cutting the army off. The witches in the circle started a new song, their faces determined. The sky turned dark. Black clouds boiled above them, lightning flashing along the bottom. Rain pelted them. Within a matter of seconds, dozens of lightning strikes flashed down inside the compound.
Lilette thought of all those women and children in the harem, and her blood turned to ice. “Lang got her out,” she said to herself. “He got her out!”
Han held her tighter. After what felt like forever, the strikes stopped. Opening her eyes, Lilette braced herself on her arms. Shouts rose up from behind them. She shifted, bits of earth scraping under body. The elite were coming at them from along the outside of the ramparts. Within moments, they would be surrounded.
“Go!” Sash cried. “Before it’s too late!”
Han lunged to his feet and took up position behind them. It was time to run again. Water dripping from her face, Lilette surged back through the crumbled brick ramparts with the rest of the keepers.
The unmistakable smell of burning flesh assaulted her senses as she entered the compound. Rain pounded her hunched shoulders, and she started forward into the ruined garden.
All around her were the still forms of the dead. Steam or smoke, perhaps both, rose from their bodies. A small cry of pain rose involuntarily from deep inside her, and she found herself looking for Chen’s body.
Han wrapped his arm around her shoulders and turned her face away. “Don’t look.”
She leaned into him, focusing only on his chest as they stumbled through the pathway of the dead. She had the distinct impression her body would soon falter. She was so far beyond the limits of her strength, but there was no choice but to go forward.
Behind them, lightning struck down the imperial soldiers in the city—the circle was attacking the army now.
The harem wall bordered the garden’s west side. Lilette gaze was drawn to it, but there didn’t seem to be smoke coming from inside. “They didn’t attack it.” Relief coursed through her. Even if Lang didn’t get Ko out, she might be all right.
When they bolted straight through the palace, eunuchs scattered in fear. The guardians flung open the palace doors and motioned for them to hurry. “Across the courtyard to the gates. Quickly now!”
But Lilette staggered to a stop. Before the gates, the ragged remnants of the palace elite had gathered. Geth pushed his way to the front of the group. He tipped his head toward Lilette and spoke low. “We haven’t time or numbers for a rear guard. Watch your backs.” Then he waved his sword above his head and sprinted forward. “Guardians, to me!”
Lilette stepped closer to Jolin. “What do I do?”
“Sing,” Jolin said simply.
Lilette hesitated. “Keepers, follow my lead.”
Marching forward, she started singing. Jolin and the other witches took up the song. Immediately, plants started snatching at the elite’s feet, tripping them.
When they were halfway between the palace and the gates, Han stiffened beside her. He took half a step to the side and then ran to kneel beside a still form.
The guardians clashed with the elite, the sound making Lilette flinch, though she couldn’t take her gaze from Han. “Jolin, keep them singing.” She trotted up beside him and forced herself to look.
No one couldn’t mistake the stunning robes, even damp with rain and partially charred. Lilette bent down and picked up the elaborate crown at her feet. It was burned on one side. Han slowly turned over the emperor—his father. He was dead.
Han hung his head, his hands fisted at his sides. Lilette started to reach for him but hesitated. After all, she’d caused this.
From behind her, she heard a cry of pain and whirled to see Chen standing on the palace steps. The witches gave startled cries and darted away from him, but he ignored them. He sprinted forward and skidded to a halt on his knees beside the emperor.
He pressed his hand on his father’s still chest. His gaze swept across Lilette to land on Han. “How you could do this?” Chen’s voice broke. He gestured to the utter destruction of the compound, his voice rising with every word. “You let the witches free? Helped them kill elite—your own men—and our family? Stole my wife? Why?”
Han did not flinch. “It’s wrong. Invading Vorlay will destroy us.”
Lilette’s eyes widened. Chen was planning an invasion, and no doubt planning to use her sister and the others to do it.
“Our islands lack so many natural resources,” he explained. “Is it wrong of us to want to better the lives of our people?”
Han’s mouth tightened. “Using the keepers as our weapon will spark a war we will not win. The entire empire will be destroyed because of your folly. Our people will be the ones to pay the price.”
“You’ve known all this for days and done nothing,” Chen replied.
Han spoke through his teeth. “You would have killed Lilette.”
Rising to his feet, Chen pulled his swords from their sheaths. “I bested you once, Brother. I can do it again.”
Lilette opened her mouth to stop Chen. Jumping up, Han cut her a look that instantly severed her song. “Do not interfere. Not this time,” he said.
Her mouth clamped shut. She wanted to protest, but she remembered what Ko had said about regaining honor. Han had to do this alone if he was to ever live with himself.
Amid the sounds of the guardians and keepers battling the elite, the brothers circled each other. “When I win,” Chen said, “I will take back what’s mine.”
Han’s jaw hardened. “Just to kill her?”
Chen’s gaze flicked to Lilette. “You take her to Grove City, she’s as good as dead anyway.”
“Liar!” she cried.
Han made a choking sound. “Lilette, go. I can’t fight him while I’m worried about him coming after you. Join the others.”
Knowing he was right, she backed away. The brothers lunged at each other, their swords cutting through the air with a hiss before clashing in a ringing of steel.
Wiping rain from her face, Lilette took in the elite battling the guardians and the witches singing with all their might. They were outnumbered, and the guardians were clearly exhausted. They might manage to fight their way through, but so many would die seeing it done. There had to be another way.
Lilette caught sight of the stables, which were two stories high. An idea forming in her mind, she ran toward them and threw open the doors. The dozen or so grooms jumped. Their eyes swept over her and they bowed. Lilette realized with the weak light, all they could see was her armor—Han’s armor.
After tying up her faceguard, she stepped out of the rain, her gaze traveling down the rows and rows of horses in their stalls—all of them saddled and armored. A grim smile touched her mouth as she dropped her voice an octave. “See that all the horses are ready. Now.” She strode straight down the center of the stables without looking to one side or the other and stepped through a short gate into a two-stories-high room. She startled at movement far, far above her.
She craned her head back to find herself not a half dozen steps away from the elephant. Though the howdah was gone, Jia Li was still outfitted in rich trappings covered in tassels that swayed as she studied Lilette with intelligent eyes. Her enormous trunk prodded Lilette’s arms, as if searching for something.
A slow smile spread across Lilette’s face. “Oh, yes. We can use t
his.”
Keeping her movements smooth, Lilette undid the pin that held the bar across the entrance and opened it wide. Pretending she knew what she was doing, she repeatedly slapped the elephant’s shoulder and said, “Lift leg!” To her utter delight, the elephant sort of crouched down and raised her leg.
Fear and a burst of excitement rushed through Lilette. She stepped onto the crook of the elephant’s leg and scrambled up. And promptly slipped off onto the beast’s rear. The elephant looked at her with something close to amusement in her eyes.
Brushing off her backside, Lilette tried again. She hiked her foot up and stepped on the elephant’s leg. Her other foot went in the loop hanging from a sort of harness around Jia Li’s neck. Lilette still wasn’t at the top. Grabbing the loop, she pulled herself belly first over the elephant’s neck and swung her leg around.
The elephant straightened up, a motion that felt like a tree swaying. And Lilette was once again much higher than she liked. But at least it was warm and dry beneath her damp legs.. Scooting forward, she blew out all her breath and nudged the back of Jia Li’s ears. “Go.” The elephant started forward, and in two steps, they were out of the stable. Lilette kicked behind the elephant’s left ear to turn it left—only the animal turned right. “Gah!” She tried again, kicking the opposite ear. Jia Li turned left. In five strides, Lilette could see the entire battle.
She scanned the keepers. “Jolin!”
Her friend broke away and gaped up at Lilette. Jolin’s face was slack with wonder—she’d probably never seen an elephant before.
Lilette pointed back to the stables. “Get the witches on the horses. There are a few stable hands, but they shouldn’t be much trouble. I’m going to break down the gates.”
“What—” Jolin cried, but Lilette was already nudging the back of the elephant’s ears and heading straight for Han. The two brothers were still fighting, their blades carving paths through the rain. Han moved like a shadow, his strikes swift and smooth, but Lilette had the distinct impression he was holding back.
“Han!” she called. “It’s time to go.”
Chen’s head turned at the sound of her voice, leaving himself open and vulnerable for half a second. Sword gripped in his fist, Han punched his brother in the temple. Chen crumpled to the ground. The rain tapped against his leather armor as if to wake him.
Han looked up at Lilette, his face filled with darkness. She reared back and Jai Li came to a stop. The murder slowly dissipated from Han’s eyes, replaced with hopelessness. “If you stay here, you’ll die,” Lilette said. When he still made no move, her voice went soft. “I need you.”
He looked down at his brother. “I should kill him.”
“Can you live with yourself if you do?”
Han slid his swords home. “Not like this.”
She slapped the elephant’s shoulder. “Lift leg!” She reached out to Han. After snatching a bow and quiver from a dead man, he scrambled up behind her.
Lilette turned to see keepers coming out of the barn astride the horses, the women’s dresses tucked up around their thighs. Each woman held the lead ropes of additional horses.
“Leader Geth!” Jolin yelled.
Geth glanced back at her before calling out the order to fall back. His men began retreating toward the horses as the witches’ song held the elite back.
Lilette gripped Jia Li’s harness, her fingers turning white. Han nocked an arrow. “They won’t touch you,” he promised her.
She hoped he was right. The mounted witches pulled back on the reins, slowing their mounts so the guardians could take the extra horses. They spurred forward and took up flanking positions around the elephant.
“Follow me!” Lilette turned Jai Li toward the gates and nudged her ears until she was half trotting, half loping. Elite leapt out of the elephant’s way as they cut toward the gate.
Behind her, the bow twanged as Han loosed arrow after arrow at elite who tried to stop them. “Cursed thing is wet. Range and accuracy are off,” he muttered behind her.
Clearly realizing they had to stop the elephant, the elite sheathed their swords and scrambled for bows. Lilette ducked low to make herself a smaller target. One man swung at Jia Li, cutting her across the chest. The elephant trumpeted in fear and dodged away from any elite who came too close. Arrows rained down on them, but the witches sang from atop the horses. A wind shot out, turning the arrows.
Finally, they reached the gates. Without hesitation, Jia Li lowered her head and charged it. Han swore and pushed Lilette flat against the elephant’s head, covering her body with his own. There was an enormous crack. Splinters and wood went flying.
Lilette felt a sharp sting as something imbedded in her arm. Han grunted in pain. Then they were through. Guardians and witches burst into the open in front of the palace. They crashed down the city streets, lightning and thunder at their backs.
Chapter 19
Elephants are useful for many things—most especially for clearing things out of the way. ~Jolin
Dozens of lightning bolts struck behind the palace compound. Sash and the others were still alive and fighting. Before them, a scattering of imperial soldiers converged.
Han tossed the bow and the empty quiver. “I’m out.”
Lilette patted her sheath—she still had the jeweled dagger. “Which way?”
“There.” Han pointed from behind her. “Take merchant’s row.”
Lilette turned the elephant down the street and looked back. The witches still followed her. Surrounding them, the guardians had their swords out.
Shouting came from the one of the side streets. Imperial soldiers ran toward them. Knowing they couldn’t afford to be trapped, Lilette nudged Jia Li to go faster. People and animals moved out of the elephant’s way. Anything that didn’t was simply ran over. More than one merchant cart was knocked down, its wares trampled in the streets.
“Not much farther now,” Han said.
There were more shouts, and Lilette turned to check on the keepers. Still coming. Feeling some of her tension ease, she faced forward. “Oh, no.”
“What?”
Wordlessly she pointed to the blockade of carts. Han leaned around her and promptly cursed. With no side streets, there was nowhere to turn.
“Can she go any faster?” Han asked.
Lilette shook her head.
“Hang on!” He gripped her middle so tight her side pulsed with pain. He pressed her flat beneath him just as Jia Li hit the blockade. She blasted through carts and broken furniture that had been piled higher than a man, but quickly lost momentum. Lilette kept kicking. Jia Li trumpeted, her ears flapping at the sides of her head.
With a yell, imperial soldiers charged them from above. Han leapt to his feet, his swords whirling above her. Clutching her dagger, Lilette hugged Jia Li’s neck. “Come on, girl. Come on!”
From the ground, the soldiers cut at Jia Li’s legs.
“No!” Lilette sobbed. “Leave her alone!” Trumpeting, Jia Li reared up, shaking loose the soldiers and Han with them.
“Han!” Lilette reached for him, but he was already gone.
Jia Li dropped back to all fours and began picking up broken bits of furniture with her trunk, flinging it at the soldiers swarming them. “Good girl!” Lilette rubbed her rough skin. Guardians quickly joined the fray, protecting Jia Li as she cleared a path for them.
Finally, they were free. Witches booted their horses forward, guardians swinging up behind them. Lilette looked around for Han.
“Lilette!” he called. “Go on! Don’t stop!” He grabbed a loose horse and jumped on its back.
She could see the docks. They were going to make it! She kicked Jia Li back to full speed. A group of soldiers darted in front of them and disappeared in a narrow space between buildings.
Before Lilette could make sense of it, they shouted. “Now!” A rope as thick as her leg snapped up. Jia Li skidded, trying to avoid it, but she couldn’t stop. She trumpeted as she hit the rope. Lilette went fl
ying, skidding across the paving stones before coming to a stop.
Quickly she assessed her injuries—nothing seemed to be broken. She braced herself on her arms and looked back. From atop their horses, guardians were fighting more soldiers. Jia Li lay where she’d fallen, her enormous body seeming so much smaller now. Oblivious to the chaos around her, Lilette stumbled toward the elephant and knelt beside her head. Jia Li was covered in cuts, blood pooling around her. How could something so magnificent and strong fall?
Lilette reached out and rested her hand on Jia Li’s face. The animal looked at her and touched Lilette’s stomach with her trunk. With a start, she remembered the boy giving her a bunch of bananas. The elephant wanted a treat.
“I’m so sorry, girl. I don’t have anything.”
Jia Li kept searching until her trunk flopped on the ground and her eyes went unfocused. A strangled cry left Lilette’s lips.
A sudden hand gripped her shoulder and pulled her to her feet. Han lifted her onto a horse’s back. “Come on! We’re not dying. Not today.” He swung up behind her. His arms came around her, and he urged the horse forward. Lilette turned back to watch Jia Li’s body and the pursuing soldiers grow smaller.
“Lilette! Answer her!” Han shouted practically in her ear.
She swiveled around to find Jolin riding directly beside them. “Which one?” Jolin asked.
Shaking herself, Lilette followed her gesture. There were hundreds of ships docked in the wharves or simply tied to some free spot on a pier.
Lilette’s mind grabbed onto something familiar to keep the grief at bay. She scanned the ships and found a suitable-sized zhou with a sea-going, curved hull and tumblehome topsides. It appeared to have some sort of hold and sat low in the water, meaning it was loaded, hopefully with food. The craft’s sails were stretched between horizontal battens, making them look like the membranes between a bat’s wings. It would be fast, hold all of them, and handle all but the roughest seas.