I saw the despair on her face and knew it didn’t matter. There were too many constructs bearing down on us, determined to make Gaelung the latest in their string of conquests.

“I’ll stand here with you,” I told her.

“Then you’ll stand with me to watch my palace and our countryside burn.” She opened her mouth, hesitated, but then continued. “Jovis is gone, then?”

I hardened my heart. “He is.”

“He would have given them hope.” And she left it at that. She would not countermand the orders of the Emperor. I’d already explained that I could no longer trust him to fight on our side.

Past the brightness of the lanterns in the camp, I began to see pinpricks of light in the distance. They moved like an ocean of stars, a high tide coming across the fields to drown us all. Perhaps Jovis had been right. Perhaps I should have stayed back on Imperial. Instead, I’d die here with the people I’d sworn to protect, and no one would mourn me.

A shout went up from the opposite wall. Urame whipped her head about. A guard ran to us. “Sai,” she said breathlessly to Urame, “someone is coming from the direction of the harbor. A large group.”

“More constructs?”

The guard shook her head. “I’m not sure. But they’re approaching quickly.”

A moment and then more shouts. I strained to hear. “Friendly!” someone was saying. “They’re friendly.”

I watched the wink of lanterns appear around the bend, my heart daring to hope as they climbed the switchbacks toward the gates. Both Urame and I went down to greet the new arrivals. They were quicker than the constructs, and they made it to the gates with time to spare.

A tall, broad-shouldered woman led a disciplined group of guards, a man the same size keeping pace next to her. Someone held a lantern near her face.

Phalue.

“This doesn’t mean I support your rule,” she said gruffly as I approached, Urame on my heels. “I’m just not willing to let people die over my stubbornness.” She nodded to Urame. “Looks like you could use some help.”

I put a hand over my heart in greeting. “Sai.”

“Eminence.” Phalue shook the rain from her cloak and brushed a wet piece of hair back from her face. “Tythus here is my Captain of Guard, and he’s trained these men and women well. We may not be as many as the constructs, but one of us counts for ten of them.” Her guards straightened, chins lifting, the praise bolstering them. They’d follow her into the Endless Sea if she asked them to – I could read it on all their faces.

“My general will know where best to put them.” I nodded in Yeshan’s direction.