He’d assessed their distance from Cassius and Elena, and even if they rode their mounts to a lather each day—something he refused to do, he was a Firenz after all, and horses (and animals as a whole) were not treated thus, no matter the reason—it would take them at best, ten days to reach the Night Heights.

It was likely more akin to fourteen.

And the closest being on this earth he had to a blood brother was Cassius. They’d known each other since youth. Cass had saved him during an attack and prevented him being violated. He was the only person outside his father and mother, and Silence, who had given Mars loyalty and love that was not attached in some way to duty.

Like his father, who had died nearly six years previous, and Mars still could not reconcile it, he could not imagine this earth without Cassius on it.

But there was no way, save a miracle, he was going to get to his friend in time.

He was praying in vain, he knew, but he was still doing it to all his gods, The Muse, The Grace and The Spirit, in hopes they would come to him and bestow a miracle.

He was doing this when he pulled so sharply on Hephaestus’s reins, his steed did a full circle beneath him.

“Arresto!” he shouted.

He heard his men come to a halt behind him.

“Faith,” Silence breathed from beside him.

Mars sat astride his mount and stared at the unicorn stallion in front of them.

The stallion had his head slightly turned in order to stare Mars directly in the eye.

“Bellezza, go to the back of the line,” Mars said.

“All right, my love,” she acquiesced immediately, and he felt her leave his side, but did not look away from the unicorn.

“Kyril,” he called.

“He’s already following her,” Basil said behind him.

Mars gave his queen time to make her way to where she needed to be.

Then he jerked up his chin.

The stallion turned and galloped away.

Mars bent over Hephaestus’s neck and dug his heels in his mount’s sides.

They burst forward and followed the unicorn, and he heard the thunder of horses’ hooves behind him as they did the same.

They could not have gone half a mile before the stallion curled his front legs and pushed off his back ones, leaping in the air in order to clear nothing.

Hephaestus followed suit.

There were noises of alarm behind him that Mars ignored, for all about them turned purple.

And then the purple was gone as they landed in wet turf in the middle of a blinding rain.

121

The Battle of the Heights

Prince Cassius

Valley at the Base of the Night Heights Mountain Range

AIREN

They had several advantages.

The first was the element of surprise.