Destiny's Blood by Marie Bilodeau (best authors to read .TXT) 📗

“Their weapons won’t make much of a difference,” Yoma whispered.

“No, but it has been a long time since they have had hope, and they wish to buy you the time you’ll need.” Gobran turned to Ardin. “You have some captain’s training, and so I leave you in charge.” He looked towards the Victory with regret. “I would stay, I really would...”

Layela placed a hand on his arm. “You have to go, Captain. These people depend on you.” He nodded gratefully and opened his mouth as though he would say something, but instead he bowed fully, then turned around and started shouting orders for the ships to take off.

Zortan turned to Ardin and Avienne. “When Yoma and Layela release the sun’s ether, the creatures should vanish. Hold as long as you can.”

“What happens if the sun rises before they do that?” Ardin asked, tying the sword to his back.

“Then we’re all dead, but the universe has a chance.”

Avienne turned to Yoma. “I’d aim for before sunrise, if I were you.”

Layela stood up, looked at her sister and finally caught her eyes. “We’d better be off, then.”

Yoma nodded and walked toward Zortan. Ardin grabbed Layela and held her, whispering in her ear, “Be careful. A vision doesn’t need to come to pass.”

Layela hugged him back, losing herself in the smell and feel of him for an instant, before letting go. “You be careful too,” she whispered and walked away.

“Aaaah, how cute,” Avienne said. She called to Yoma, “You keep that one alive, and I’ll keep this one alive. Surely we can’t waste such a pretty love.” Ardin playfully hit his sister on the back of the head and Yoma smiled back.

“That’s a promise, Avienne,” Yoma said. Her voice was too soft for Avienne to hear, but she was looking at Layela when she said it.

Layela felt a shiver run down her spine, and wished for the sun — a safe and gentle sun — to warm her.

CHAPTER 41

Yoma and Layela walked side by side, following Zortan in silence. The shields barely sparked and would soon collapse. The Malavants would be fighting to stay alive, and to buy them the time they needed.

Yoma looked ahead, her steps faltering for a second as the buildings gave way to a courtyard. In that courtyard, past a bridge, was the temple. Its old stones gleamed in the light of dawn, as though bleached by sunlight a long time ago and unyielding to the forces that had wounded so many other buildings. The symbol of Mirial was above the temple. Yoma shivered, remembering the vision. Her hand fell to her gun as Zortan stopped just outside the courtyard, pulling his sword free.

“What’s wrong?” Layela whispered, her eyes wide. Yoma grabbed her sister’s hand, and Layela looked at her. She was certain the same fear was reflected in her own eyes.

“Not yet,” Zortan said, stepping carefully into the courtyard and keeping an eye out. Layela and Yoma still held hands, both remembering the vision, both remembering the warm blood as they crossed the bridge.

Yoma squeezed Layela’s hand and smiled at her. Layela smiled back, the fear still deep in her eyes.

“Stay close,” she mouthed and Layela nodded.

Stay close, Yoma finished the thought, so that when the blow comes, I can take it for you.

i

“So, you like her?” Avienne teased her brother as he leaned over the side of the rampart to check that nothing blocked the nozzle of the gun.

“So, you like your teeth?” Ardin replied with a grin as he hopped back down.

“I knew it!” Avienne grinned and waited for Ardin to take a deep gulp from the water skin she handed him, timing her words. “I’ve always wanted nieces and nephews!”

Ardin spat out the water, and Avienne barely caught the skin as he tossed it at her head.

“How are your guns?” Loran called from the other rampart, her team milling around her. Just over two hundred souls to stop an army seemed foolish to Avienne, but she wasn’t about to desert her brother now, and she knew he wouldn’t leave Layela. Besides, she thought, this place isn’t much, but if we manage to win the day, it could be home. One that I don’t even have to drag Ardin to!

Ardin shouted at Loran, “They’re fine! Yours?”

“Seem to be working!”

He waved and turned back to his sister, who was watching Loran.

“That woman completely froze on the bridge when we were attacked by wraiths,” Avienne said quietly. She looked down towards the valley stretching below them. Dawn was just beginning to blanket the dead grounds that would soon be overrun with monsters — monsters that frightened her and made her skin crawl. Yet, she would face them. She had to.

“Everyone finds their courage at some point,” Ardin replied. It was one of Cailan’s old sayings. Avienne felt a heartstring resonate at the familiar words and she smiled.

“You’re right, they do,” she said, and Ardin shot her a grin.

“Getting contemplative in your old age, little sister,” he teased. She was about to reply when the sky cracked. The shields turned white for a split second, then vanished. Avienne and Ardin stood frozen for an instant, looking out at the oozing army quickly closing ground toward the capital.

“Guns!” Loran shouted from the other rampart, and Avienne shot a grin at Ardin as they each manned one. They only had five shots per weapon, so they waited.

“Prepare weapons!” Ardin yelled. The rest of the Mirialers were protected by the ramparts, their weapons aimed out of old artillery holes. They would do nothing more than slow the creatures down, but that was all that was needed. Time.

Engines gunned and the Victory, the last ship to leave, flew overhead, warm air playing in the loose strands of Avienne’s hair as she waved at them. The engines kicked into high gear and then all that remained of her was the sonic boom she left behind, and a streak in the sky as she escaped the atmosphere.

Avienne took a deep breath and focused