"You are our king," she said, her brown eyes earnest, her hair like a pyre of flame in the sunset. "And you will lead us to victory. I do not know if Dorvin and the others will return. I do not know if Issari will claim the throne of Eteer. I do not know if Laira's heart will lie among the stars of Requiem or the might of her tribes. But I know this: I will fight for you, King Aeternum. I will forever fly by your side." She raised her chin. "Requiem! May our wings forever find your sky."

Jeid repeated the prayer, but it felt hollow to him. Tonight he wanted to be strong, proud, a great leader for Bryn and the others to follow. But he felt afraid. When he looked into the southern horizon, he wanted to think of King's Column rising there, of the glory and light of Requiem. But he only thought of the demon menace, of the host of many terrors flying here, of King Raem whom he would face in battle. For all her proud words, would Bryn die in this battle? Would he lose her and the others like he'd lost so many—his wife, his daughter, his father? Jeid's heart sank and he could barely breathe, and even the sight of Bryn's earnest eyes could not soothe him.

ISSARI

 
ISSARI

She marched toward the palace, leading an army of a thousand men, prepared to tame a demon.

The city of Eteer lay in ruin around her, eerily silent. Only a few cypress trees still grew upon the once-lush hills; most lay charred. Once hundreds of ships had sailed in the canal that flowed below the western hills; now only a few military vessels patrolled the water, all the merchants gone. Once many city folk had bustled on this very boulevard where Issari walked; now the people hid in their brick homes, the doors and windows barred. Even the great temple of Taal—she could see its columns a mark away upon the Hill of Vines—had lost its glory. The claws of demons had scarred its columns, and soot darkened its walls.

Tanin walked at her side, his eyes dark. He held his dagger before him. "Whatever happens, I will fight for you, Issari—with blade and with fire."

She looked at the young northerner. The sight of him—tall, a little awkward, clad in fur, his hair in disarray and his face so earnest—soothed her. Evil darkened the world, but Tanin was good. Tanin was loyal. Tanin was perhaps the brightest beacon of her heart.

"When we face Angel, I don't think bronze or dragonfire can help us." She opened her palm, revealing the amulet embedded into the flesh. "If there is any power to tame her, it lies with Taal."