Ashes And Spirit (Book 3) (36 page)

“I want her dead as well, however, that is not our duty this day. Our duty is New Sharren,”
Shryden sent, drawing Kellinar’s attention back to the city.

“You are right, of course.”

“Of course.”

“Have Abrax alert Varnen that I’m going to have to divert my attention from the storm,”
Kellinar sent.
“The people of New Sharren have to be evacuated. Varnen and Nordhas should be able to take the extra load long enough for me to get everyone out of here. Have Paki alert Taela that there will be an influx of people to Markene. Kalila will need to be ready as well. I would have Sumara and Keta evacuate everyone, but right now they are too busy keeping the Shadow Dragons tied in knots.”

“Consider it done.”

Kellinar sensed Shryden reach out to the other dragons as the blue angled his wings and dove through the rain toward the surrounded city.

“Abrax passes along his assurances that Varnen can take up the slack with the storm,”
Shryden sent.
“He also says not to worry about Nordhas; they will pick him up before they leave.”

The blue landed on the flat rooftop next to where Nordhas stood, his gaze locked on the storm above. Kellinar shouted over the noise that raged around the city walls. “We are evacuating. You and Varnen will have to control the storm while I move people. Varnen and Abrax will pick you up just before they Slide from here.”

Nordhas nodded as green embers from the burning wall flew past his bald head. “Just get the people out of here. Varnen and I can handle it alone for a while.”

Shryden leaped into the air again before Kellinar could answer. The flight to the University was more of a hop through the air for the dragon. He landed in the wide-open space in front of the large building.

Kellinar loosened the safety straps and jumped to the ground. A practiced flick of his wrist undid the catcher strap. He ran up the steps and used a weave to shove the wide double doors open.

Belan and Vesnar raised their weapons before recognition registered on their faces. Belan lowered his zahri and frowned. “What is happening?”

“We have to move—now.” Kellinar beckoned to the hundreds of people crammed in the building. “This battle is lost. It’s only a matter of time before the walls are breached. We must evacuate.”

“This is our home.” Belan shook his head. “We are not leaving. We will fight for it.”

“Burn it, Belan! This isn’t like Trilene. There is nothing you can do except get yourself and everyone in this building slaughtered!
There. Is. No. Hope
.” Kellinar ran a hand over his soaked braids. “Not this time.”

Vesnar glanced out the door where more acid-green embers sailed by, driven by the wind. “Where will we go?”

“For now, back to Markene.” Kellinar’s gaze swept the people who edged closer. “I know this isn’t the outcome you hoped for. However, buildings can be rebuilt, but only if you are alive to do so. New Sharren is your nation now. It will be reclaimed from the Shadow Riders, and then we will set to rebuilding it.” His eyes rested on Belan. “Sometimes it’s best to concede a battle and live to fight another day.”

Belan heaved a deep sigh and stood straighter then turned toward the crowd at his back. “He is right. Our deaths this day will accomplish nothing. This battle may be lost, but the war is not. Let us take our leave of New Sharren for now. When the threat of Shadow Riders has been put down, we will be back to pick up where we left off—even if that means starting from scratch.”

Vesnar nodded. “The Shadow Riders can take our home. They cannot take our spirits and our hope.”

“We had best get on with it then,” Po said, stepping to the front. “Standing here talking until a shadow decides to swoop in and dine on us won’t do us any good.”

Kellinar suppressed his relief. They understood and agreed. “Everybody outside. Shryden is going to open a Slide to Markene and then you must run as if your life depends on it.”

Po chuckled. “Because most likely it does.”

Everyone started for the door, walking quickly and helping those that were too young or too old to keep up. Po paused by Kellinar. “Clarene is not here. She refused the shelter of the University and chose to remain in her home.”

A knot tightened in Kellinar’s stomach. “Go on, I will get her and come through the next Slide with the soldiers and the mages.”

Kellinar hurried across the courtyard area as Shryden lifted off. While the Slide opened behind him, Kellinar ran through the streets, choking on the thick, black smoke created by the shadow fire. It stuck in his throat and coated the inside of his mouth. He coughed, gagged, and brought up a wad of black-stained phlegm spitting it on the wet stones under his feet. More of the foul smoke swirled on the wind and tried to choke him. He kept running, coughing up more of it. Already soaked he didn’t bother avoiding the large puddles that formed in the partially paved streets.

He finally reached Clarene’s small dwelling and pounded on the door. Only silence answered. Kellinar shoved the door open. “Clarene!”

No answer.

He charged into the small front room and through the curtained doorway of the sleeping room beyond. Clarene lay on the bed, her gray hair spilling across the pillow, looking more frail than he could have ever imagined.

“Clarene?” Kellinar moved to the side of the bed and took her hand. “Why are you here instead of safe with the others?”

She turned her head toward him. Her pale blue eyes, nearly hidden by the wrinkled folds of her face, held nothing but peace. “This is my home, young man. I’m too old to find another. Too old to want to again.” Her voice was weak and thready.

“You can’t just lie here and wait for the Shadow Riders to kill you.”

“They won’t kill old Clarene. I feel the Fates; they already separated my string from the loom. It’ll be snipped soon.”

“Clarene…you can’t die.” Kellinar’s voice was soft with the sorrow that tugged at his heart.

“I told you once that I weren’t afraid to die. I have been around a long time. I’m ready for that nap I told you about.” She squeezed his hand weakly.

Kellinar hooked his foot around the leg of the small wooden stool near the wall and dragged it over. He settled down on it and clasped her hand in both of his. “When I was a boy, you were always there for me. I will stay with you until you no longer need me.”

“You risk your own life. I’ll be all right. You go on and get yourself out of here. I can sense the battle; it goes badly for New Sharren.”

He smiled gently. “I will not leave you alone. When you are gone, then I will leave.”

She sighed and shook her head but didn’t argue further. Her eyes drifted closed and her breathing shuddered slightly. Then she looked at him again. “I dreamed last night of New Sharren.”

“You did?”

Clarene nodded and a sad smile played on her lips. “It was beautiful. There was tall spires reaching toward the sky. A wall, higher than the one we have. Big gates. And people. So many people in the streets. No Mallay. Gardens growed food next to every house. It was beautiful.”

“Was it another of your dreams that are more like visions?” Kellinar couldn’t help the hope that sprang in his heart.

“I don’t know. I only dreamed it once, and I won’t live long enough to know if the dream would come again.” A sad smile trembled on her lips. “I wish I could see it like that. But it felt distant. A time well beyond my death.”

“I wish you could see it too.” He swallowed the lump in his throat and smiled back at her.

“For your sake…for everyone’s sake…I hope the dream is true…” Her hand went slack and the life in her eyes faded…she was gone.

Kellinar bowed his head and prayed to the Fates for her safe passage. After several minutes he pulled his hands away and quietly left her home, barely noticing the tears that slipped down his face. Clarene had deserved to pass with a prosperous nation around her, not the destruction of all she had hoped for.

Maybe her dream was true and at least the rest of the New Sharrens would one day see the city she’d seen. For now, he walked through the deserted, half-made streets as everything they fought for, hoped for, and dreamed of slowly caught fire around him.

M
aleena walked the city wall with Raylah. Like the riders from Boromar, Raylah held her emotions carefully in check. A characteristic common to the Boromari it seemed. Although her bond with Nydara eased the difficulty of being around others, it was nice to be in the company of someone who had no overflow of emotions. The woman was easy to be around. Maleena found herself gravitating toward her when issues in Calladar needed to be discussed.

Raylah wasn’t a ranking person in the nation, but as Arandrall’s wife she still held quite a bit of power and had become the official emissary between Maleena and the Council of Nine. Though the men of the council were well trained at maintaining their own mental shields, Raylah was better.

They walked past one of the newly widened areas of the wall where a launcher had been built. Loaded with a sharpened spear made of steel with weaves laced through it from Galdrilene, it sat ready in case of an attack. The Border Guards had spent weeks practicing with the launchers. They’d sent many of the dull wooden practice spears at the flying dragons to learn how to aim at a moving target. Their willing targets didn’t make it easy for them either.

The sunlight reflected off the length of steel, and Raylah’s voice faded into the background.

The launcher no longer sat still. It was manned by bloodied men. Scorched bodies lay scattered on the wall walk. Soot and ash blackened the sun and the mountains across the river spewed smoke and fire into the sky. Kojen swarmed over the villages outside the wall.

“Maleena, are you all right?” Raylah’s voice cut through the images and the unmanned launcher faded back into view.

Maleena put her hand against the wall and looked out at the peaceful villages. Dread crawled through her, and she realized Raylah had sent one of the guards to find Mckale. Maleena turned toward her. “There’s no time.”

“Time for what?” Raylah frowned. Her uneasiness was so acute that Maleena sensed it as clearly as if it were her own.

“We’re about to be attacked.”

Raylah didn’t question her further. Instead, she pulled up her long skirt and ran down the wall to the nearest stone steps, shouting orders.

The empty wall sprang to life. Guards ran to their positions and launchers were pulled back and locked, ready to be released. Maleena barely registered the well-organized commotion or the warning bells clanging all over the city.

Emmaleen was with Grandme at Mckale’s family’s house, outside the wall.
“Nydara!”
she shouted the dragon’s name in her mind.

“I’m already over the house. Do you want me to fly to you?”

“There’s no time, you saw that. Get Emmaleen out of here.”

The sky darkened with black Jumps.