Page 87 of Memory of Ashes

“He did it!” Ruven said, cheering. “This might actually work!”

“I thought you were confident that it would?” Amelia asked.

“I was overly optimistic,” he replied with a grin.

Ruven left to join the army whilst she stayed close to the rift.

Danae remained beside her. Neither spoke.

Tiryn’s army came into sight as their armour glistened on the horizon. She could make out Casyl at the front; his silver breastplate shone as he led his men.

Relief struck first when she saw Casyl, followed by dread when she saw Tiryn behind him.

She hoped desperately that they’d be able to save him from this, from his father.

The mountain vibrated as the enemy charged towards the central force. They were blind to the rest of Elthar’s army waiting to attack from either side.

She had a good view of the whole fight from her position on the mountain. The enemy slammed into Elthar’s army.

She winced at the roar of clashing metal and men screaming.

There were shouts of confusion and anger as Tharos must have dismissed his illusion. The army encircled them, penning them in. She released her breath, realising that she’d been holding it until that moment.

The fighting was thick. The ground at the bottom of the mountain churned into a muddy bog.

There was Casyl. Her eyes never left him as he fought below. His movements were slow, almost awkward. He’d lost some of his grace.

She suppressed a scream when an axe flew at him, momentarily forgetting that he couldn’t be killed on this side of the rift. It hit him in the chest, knocking him off his horse.

Ruven was forcing his way through the battle, heading straight towards Tiryn. His personal guard surrounded him as he stood helplessly gripping a sword. It was clear that he had not wielded one in a long time.

The fighting was intense around Tiryn. Fae swarmed towards him. Elthar and his men followed Ruven, beating back Tiryn’s guards. Ruven seized the king and dragged him through the battle with unearthly speed and strength. Elthar’s soldiers opened a path for them, then closed ranks behind them to hold back the enemy. Screaming and cursing, Tiryn was hauled up the mountain towards her and the rift.

She braced, ready. His power felt stronger the closer they got. The air vibrated around him, and she knew what to do.

He saw her and shouted, “You little round-eared bitch,” before Ruven pulled him completely through the rift with a cry.

She ignored his outburst and followed them, reaching for the power she could feel emanating from him. She smothered its energy like a blanket over a fire, willing it to stop.

Tiryn recoiled beneath her attack and fought back with everything he had. She sank to her knees as a forceful wave of magic engulfed her. It swept over her, threatening to wash her away. Her body tensed as she pushed against the force, fighting it with every part of her being.

He would not win. She would not let him.

His power had grown weak, and hers had grown stronger since their first meeting, when he had raided her mind for memories. She now knew how to control her power and how to block his.

The vibrating air stilled around him, and he was defenceless as Casyl came through the rift.

She saw the moment he regained control of his own body: the light returned to his eyes, their colour flashing from deep blue to silver.

Casyl headed towards his father with his sword raised. Amelia searched his face for hesitation. For a moment she feared he would not do it.

Tiryn’s head rolled across the ground.

She paused, as if expecting him to still rise.

He didn’t. Tiryn simply lay there, finally silent.

Amelia let out a sob.