Cole’s rebel soldiers surrounded them, marching through the halls. The fighting outside had mostly died down, but tiers of smoke rose from sections of the wall surrounding the courtyard. A giant hole now stood where part of the wall used to be. The smell of copper and ash tainted the air as blood ran through the streets of Madra.

Death hung over them all, but Dell kept his eyes facing forward, his mind on one thing. He had to get to that ship.

He no longer cared for Madra or the people he left behind. Many of them fought with the rebels. Others refused to fight at all.

And one girl had stood strong for them. Had fought for them.

The soldiers led them to a wagon that sat at the bottom of the great staircase in front of the smoldering palace. Bemus put Kassander in the back. The boy stirred and lifted his head, his gaze finding Helena.

Dell set the princess in the wagon gently and climbed in. As soon as Bemus took the reins, there was no more palace. The streets of Madra whipped by, but Dell didn’t see them. He didn’t look into the faces of citizens who’d been roused from their beds with news of fighting at the palace.

The full moon cast a silver glow across Helena’s pale skin.

Kassander spoke, but his words were lost to the sound of the wagon.

And then they heard it. Quiet at first before growing louder. Estevan Rhodipus was addressing his people.

“Citizens of Madra.” His voice hung over Madra like a cloak of hope, protecting them from the evils of that night. The words carried on the breeze of Edmund’s magic. This was why he’d had to stay behind.

Estevan continued. “The king is dead, but we are not without hope. To all those loyal to the crown, I tell you to stand down.” His words sounded scripted, lacking the anger Dell knew was hidden underneath. Cole wouldn’t risk any secret meanings. “There is a new king. I have given up my place in the line of succession to my brother, Cole Rhodipus.”

He paused. “I have suffered much and do not have it in my heart to lead any longer. Cole is one of the last remaining children of my father’s bloodline. In the coming days, Madra will be made stronger than ever before. Troops are being called home from wars we should not be involved in. The priesthood has been disbanded.” Dell flashed back to the slaughter he’d found at the monastery. “Madra will no longer be shackled to the past by priestly traditions. We welcome a brighter future. If you are a foreigner in this land, I advise you to return to your kingdom. Madran will belong only to Madrans from this point forward.”