Dreams of Fury: Descendants of the Fall Book IV by Hodges, Aaron (most important books to read .txt) 📗

Amina raised her eyebrows at Sophia’s speech. “So you taught the beast a trick.” She snorted, then glanced behind her, in the direction of the distant hills. “But it matters not if one can speak. Make no mistake, her kind are the enemy, along with our cursed false gods. When the battle is joined, only one species will emerge as victors.”

“The Tangata and Anahera are controlled by another,” Lukys struggled to explain, to fight back against her attacks. “An Old One by the name of Maya. She seeks only destruction—for humanity, for the Anahera, for the Tangata even. All so she might one day restore her own kind to life.”

Amina chuckled at that, before abruptly turning her horse, presenting them her back. “Very well.” Her voice carried on the breeze. “Then I will make my last stand here. At least my death might give courage to the faithful of Mildeth, that they might cast off your tyranny.”

“Amina!” Lukys cried, suddenly panicked, that she might truly lead her army in a suicidal charge against the Tangata.

Below, the queen glanced back, one eyebrow raised.

Lukys swallowed, glancing sidelong at Sophia. He could sense her anger, a reflection of the others, of his own, but there was no choice.

“As I said,” he continued, clearing his throat. “We came to negotiate. Humanity cannot stand divided against this threat. Whatever the cost, we must work together, or face annihilation alone.”

A stirring came from along the wall but Lukys did not take his eyes from Amina. Instead, he ploughed on, not daring to give the others a chance to object.

“Your people will be permitted into the city, on your agreement there will be peace between them and those inside. What crimes you have committed…” he paused, then ground out the last words,” will be forgiven, at least until the war has ended.” He drew in a breath, guilt weighing heavy on his soul. “I warn you though, do not seek to betray us.”

Amina watched him for a long time, and reaching out with his mind, he struggled to pierce the fog of her thoughts, to sense her mind amidst the swirling colours. Grey doubt flickered, the purple of hope too, but a hundred other hues too, mixing and changing as she considered his words…

…until finally Amina shrugged, as though his offer was of no more consequence than a pebble beneath her horse’s hoof.

“So kind of you, Sovereign, to offer me safe passage into my own city,” came her reply. Then a smile touched her lips and he saw a flicker of triumph in her eyes. “But very well,” she said, gesturing with a hand. “My soldiers are disciplined. They will not break the peace.” Her grin spread and her gaze turned on Erika, who seemed barely able to constrain herself. “Just be sure to keep your monsters and the barbarians under control. My soldiers will not hesitate to defend themselves.”

Abruptly she raised her hand. Horns trumpeted from the gathered lines of her army, sounding the call to advance, as though she had arranged the signal with her soldiers beforehand. As one, the Flumeeren army surged forward, marching in ranks towards the waiting gates.

For a moment, Lukys stood frozen atop the city walls. Terror rose in his chest as he watched the army approach. Had Amina outmanoeuvred him? If they did not open the gates now, chaos would ensue, and anything might happen in the confusion. Sensing Erika’s rage, the pain of Sophia and her Tangata, already he found himself regretting his decision. And yet…

…there was no other choice. The weight of humanity’s survival—of all their survival—settled on his shoulders.

Turning, Lukys nodded for Dale to signal the attendants below to open the gates for the Flumeeren Queen.

26

The Fallen

Adonis and Maisie slipped into the Tangatan camp beneath the cover of night. Once the Flumeeren army had retreated into the city, they’d waited all day to see whether Maya would attack. But as the sun dipped beneath the horizon, it became obvious the Tangatan army was making no move towards the granite walls. Watching Maya’s hesitation after her previous aggression, Adonis couldn’t help but wonder whether something had happened, if perhaps the children…

His heart quickened at the thought, but he pushed it aside. He couldn’t think of that now, could not allow himself to be distracted. It was difficult enough to concentrate with the thrumming of Maya’s Voice in his mind again…

All was quiet as they slipped through the long grass of the hillside, down towards the waiting camp, towards the shimmering bonfires in the Flumeeren night. It wasn’t long before movement appeared in the darkness. A Tangatan guard stepped before them, her face creased with confusion.

A…Adonis? her voice whispered into his thoughts, hesitant.

True to Maya’s word, word of his exile had obviously reached even the lowliest ranks of his people. Still, Adonis was not without his own strength, his own cunning.

Yes, he replied, reaching out with his Voice. He might not be a match for Maya, but Adonis still had a power over the lesser generations. I have been gone on a secret task for Maya, but now I have returned.

You were…banished, spurned, the guard whispered, struggling against the waves of Adonis’s mind.

But she could not have been more than fifth generation, her resistance futile.

You will let us pass. The human has vital information for our Matriarch.

With these words, Adonis felt the last remnants of the guard’s resistance crumble. She bowed her head and stepped aside, allowing Adonis to pass. Gripping Maisie tightly with one hand, as though she were his prisoner, he strode into the disorganised camp—though he kept his grip on the guard’s mind still, infusing her with confidence, with a joy that she had served her masters well. It would suppress her doubt, for a time at least.

Shadows shifted in the night as they made their way through the camp. With their enhanced vision, the Tangata cared little for the dark, though he noticed how