Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 127722 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127722 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
That was how the hierarchy worked in my family.
Huntley.
Ian.
Me—in dead last.
Whenever Huntley and Ian were in the same room, it was as if Ian didn’t exist, but once it was Ian and me, I took third place.
Felt good.
With a straight posture and his hands behind his back, he gave a nod. “The road was quiet. We made good time. The outpost has been abandoned, but hopefully no one realizes that it’s unprotected. We made an enormous bonfire that should last for days.”
“We can always rebuild a lost outpost,” she said. “But we can never rebuild the people we lose to Necrosis—or their souls. I’m glad that you and our people have returned. You must be tired, so you should get some rest.”
Ian gave a nod.
She turned to me, her stare noticeably different, with just a tint of resentment. It was the same look she wore any time she looked at me. Huntley was the only one who basked in the glory of her affection and respect. “What is it, Elora?”
She pissed me off so much that I’d nearly forgotten why I was there. “When I went to my forge at sunrise, someone had broken in to my shop. I’d never seen him before. When I cornered him, he informed me that Necrosis would be here at nightfall tomorrow.”
Her resentment vanished—and her authoritarian look ensued.
“He didn’t take anything from my forge. In fact, he left behind an element called Ice.” I pulled the blade from the scabbard and displayed it to her on my open palms. “It’s thin and sharp like glass, but it’s forever cold. It doesn’t melt like snow. It retains its coolness eternally. Even now, with it embedded in the blade, it’s cold to the touch.”
Ian stepped forward, getting a closer look at the sword.
“He said Ice can kill Necrosis much quicker than any other blade. Maybe it’s the truth. Maybe it’s a lie. We won’t know for sure until tomorrow night.”
Queen Rolfe took it from my hands and pressed the blade to her palm. The second it made contact, she yanked her fingertips away, like she felt the cold sting her fingers.
“I thought you should have it.”
She kept her attention on the blade for a long moment before she looked at me. “How many blades can you forge?”
“That’s all the Ice he gave me.”
“Where can we get more?”
“He said it’s so rare I’ll never find it again.”
She lowered the blade to her side, her fingertips gripping the handle. “Did this man have a name?”
“He wouldn’t share it with me.”
“How do we know this man isn’t just spinning lies?” Ian asked.
She turned to him. “How do we know he’s not? If Necrosis marches on HeartHolme tomorrow night, then I can only assume this Ice is real.” She lifted her blade to him. “Touch it, son.”
He dropped his hand on the hilt and gave a slight flinch at the chill.
Never once did she call me daughter. I was always Elora and nothing else. I felt more like a niece who became the queen’s burden after my parents were killed in war.
“We’ll prepare for battle.” She turned back to me. “Supply the wall with everything they need for the siege.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Did this stranger say anything else?” she asked.
He did say one more thing—one very terrifying thing. “Necrosis isn’t here to feed. They’re here to destroy HeartHolme. Their forces will not be scattered to the Teeth or the Plunderers. They’re coming for us—and us alone.”
She processed that statement with a stony face.
Ian spoke. “Should we call for aid?”
She kept her eyes on me, the anger entering her gaze as if I was the one who had made the threat rather than just delivered the message. “No. Nothing would make them happier than if Necrosis wiped us out for good.”
31
ELORA
HeartHolme was always supplied with enough weapons for the army, in case there was ever an attack on our city. But arrows constantly needed to be replenished—and there could never be enough of those.
It was also rare to know of an attack before it came, so that gave me the opportunity to fortify the wall even more. I took the basket of arrows out of the rear of the carriage and carried it to the first cannon.
“What have you got there?” Ian appeared, in his full armor with his short sword at his hip. His broadsword and shield were hooked to his back. He never carried a bow and quiver of arrows because he was more lethal with a blade than an arrow on a tight string.
“We use the cannons to wipe out our enemies, but the radius of impact is so small. So, what if we fill the cannons with arrows instead?”
“Do we have enough arrows for that?”
“I’ve spent every waking hour making them in the forge, so yes, I think we do.” I piled them tightly inside, making sure they would continue to point straight once the cannon exploded. They would fan out on their own once they were in the sky and hopefully hit their marks accurately. “Want to give it a try?”