“This is the dawn of the end, mia vita,” she said. “And whatever shape that end takes, I will face it at your side.”

True frowned at her.

Then he said, “Gods dammit,” before he yelled, “We ride!”

The leaves about them instantly stopped swirling.

And they floated to the ground.

King Mars

On the Journey to the Great Wohd

WODELL

“Not good,” Basil grunted, handing Mars a ribbon from a raven.

Mars unwound it and read in Firenzii,

Ambush planned. Night Heights. 12,000. They’re clearing skies. No way in for scouts. Orders?

Mars let the ribbon fall to the ground and looked to Basil.

“Send a raven to the Airenzian border. They ride. Another to Lorenz, I want Firenz warriors guarding The Enchantments. Tell him to send more to the Bay. Another raven to Aramus. He must engage. Find Kyril. He will take some men and escort my queen back to the palace.”

Basil nodded and asked, “Ride or ship?”

“I cannot control the passage of a ship, but I can control the hooves of Hephaestus.”

Basil appeared relieved.

Not a surprise. Firenz were not seamen.

Not a one of them, including Mars, had been looking forward to the journey up the Wohd to the Bay.

“Go,” Mars commanded, turned on his boot and moved to the tent where his wife was dressing.

When he slapped aside the flaps and entered, he saw her sitting a stool, Tril dressing her hair.

“May I have a moment with my wife, Tril?” he requested.

The maid took in his face, bobbed a curtsy, touched her queen’s shoulder and scuttled out.

Silence slowly rose, her gaze riveted to him, and when she had her feet, she asked, “Oh no, my love, what new is amiss?”

“The war begins in Airen. In earnest. I am certain Cassius knows this could happen at any time. I am not certain he knows it is going to happen imminently. My scouts have seen the traitors preparing for an ambush, but there is no way to get word to Cass to warn him, and they’re clearing birds from the sky in his direction. He’s outnumbered. Significantly.”

“Oh no,” she said again, this time in a whisper.

“I have but scouts in that land, no help to him and he needs reinforcements. I ride to him. You ride back to Fire City.”

Her head twitched as if this idea confused her.

“I must go with you,” she declared.

Had she gone mad?

“Silence, I ride to war. You will not be going with me.”

“But, I must,” she returned.

“This is not the Beast, my queen. There is naught you can do but be in danger. We are declaring our intentions, meaning our allegiance. When we set foot on Airen soil, for some there, we are the enemy.”

“I can’t leave you.”

He loved her very much, thus he loved she did not think she could leave his side.