Pain flickered over Micah’s face. For a long moment, he said nothing. Then he took a deep breath as if knowing the words would cost him. “If she’s alive, I know she is wearing it. She wouldn’t take it off.”

Han stared back at Micah, then decided to believe him. “All of you, come with me,” he said, aware of his dwindled magic supply. “I might need help.”

C H A P T E R  F I F T Y - F I V E

BACK INTO
THE FLAME

Wolves howled all around them, their shapes flickering through torchlight.

Amon’s eyes met Raisa’s. Making a quick decision, she shook her head. There was little chance they’d win their way out, but no chance at all if they surrendered.

Ardenine soldiers flooded into the Market Temple sanctuary from the chapels on both sides. The Wolves formed a ring around Raisa, their swords a bristling wall to the outside.

“For Hanalea the Warrior!” Raisa cried.

Overhead, glass shattered. Shards rained down on them, clattering on the stone floor.

Longbows sounded. The two Ardenine soldiers nearest to Raisa staggered backward, clutching at the arrow shafts protruding from their chests. They teetered, then collapsed to the ground. The bows sounded again, and two more fell. The Ardenine soldiers ducked back into the side chapels, under the protection of the stone roof.

Nightwalker leaned from the tall window on one side of the nave and nocked another arrow, training his longbow on Karn. Cat stood in the aperture on her other side, her longbow aimed at Fossnacht.

“Was it blades, you said?” Cat called. “My mistake. I thought it was arrows.” Her voice went dead serious, then. “Any of you flatland swine move a muscle, you’re dead.”

“How reassuring to know that I can always count on the double-cross where Arden is concerned,” Raisa said, blotting blood from her cheek. “Now, set my sister free and nobody else has to die tonight.”

Her eyes were fixed on Fossnacht. She saw his eyes shift, his expression change, and knew immediately what he meant to do. The black priest turned toward Mellony, the torch in his hand.

Everything seemed to happen at once. Cat’s bow sounded as Raisa barreled forward, slamming her fighting staff into Fossnacht with a satisfying thud and sending him sprawling. But the torch flew out of his hand, landing at Mellony’s feet. She screamed, trying to kick the flaming torch away.

Now Karn was on top of Raisa, his meaty hands around her throat while she struggled to reach her dagger. Magic stung her skin, seeping into her, undirected but stunning just the same.

Karn was gifted?

Amon dragged Karn off of her, grunting as he tossed him against the nearest wall.

Raisa heard more glass breaking. More longbows sounded. More longbows?

Raisa rolled to her feet, sucked in a ragged breath, and croaked, “Help my sister!”