BooksBarbecue
Back The Endless Skies
Chapters (57)
  1. Copyright Notice
  2. Dedication
  3. Map
  4. PROLOGUE
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. 22
  27. 23
  28. 24
  29. 25
  30. 26
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. EPILOGUE
  54. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  55. Also by Shannon Price
  56. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  57. Newsletter Sign-up

“Lord Cambor. Lady Marradoa,” I say, meeting Hammond’s eyes for a moment. He gives me a tiny nod. “Of the horselords, we ask you to strengthen your city’s defenses. We would also seek to bring some of your healers to the Heliana, on the chance they can teach ours something to delay the disease’s onslaught.”

“A reasonable ask,” Lady Marradoa replies, eyes ever watchful. “We can agree to that. The defenses on our shores will be strengthened, and our most vulnerable evacuated should the humans attack. That said, we would return to Vyrinterra as soon as possible to inform the other lords of the plan directly.”

“Thank you, Lady Marradoa. The boat will be readied immediately, and a team of warriors will help lower it to the sea whenever you are ready.”

I turn, looking Princess Freanna in the eyes. “Princess, we ask the most from you. You know the Leonodai rely on metals from your mines. We’d ask that not only you provide us with additional materials, but your blacksmiths as well.”

Freanna’s eyes go wide. “The bear-kin do not share their secrets of weapon making.”

“Princess—”

“No,” she says sternly. “You may have metals, but I won’t order our smiths to leave home for this. As I mentioned, the bearkings need not fight at all. You are in our debt.”

A hundred years of protecting your hides so your people could get lax up in the mountains, and this is the thanks we get? I grit my teeth. “Yes, we are. If you need more time to consider, please take it. But for now, the Leonodai graciously accept an increase in raw materials.”

Freanna sits up. “I will return with the other ambassadors to inform my father of what has occurred and ensure the supplies are sent promptly.”

“Skies keep you all. Thank you,” says the king. He rises, and those gathered do the same. “We will waste no time. At the hour, Sentinel Shirene, call the warriors to the Tower. We will send the teams that Sentinel Renna has chosen tonight.”

“Yes, Your Grace.” I bow my head. Then, for a moment, I doubt. “The High Summer festival is our people’s most revered day. The citizens will know something is wrong should we interrupt it.”

“The citizens will know soon enough when they notice children missing,” the king replies solemnly. “At the hour, Sentinel. Sound the bells.”

3

CALLEN

Rowan is with Ox when I finally find her in the High Summer festivities. Her hair is braided to her neck with the rest of it flowing down her back. I’ve never realized how much I liked that style until now. Practical, but pretty, too.

Focus, warrior.