Gilded Serpent by Danielle Jensen (top 10 novels txt) 📕

with early-winter rains, which mark the end of the season of war with the Anuk. Tonight, we will celebrate.”

Rain or not, celebrations weren’t in order, because the Anuk were the least of Mudamora’s concerns. But Lydia inclined her head. “Thank you for your hospitality, my lady. But in truth, I seek only an escort to General Calorian’s camp.”

“He is in no need of healers,” the woman answered, stepping under the cover of the building and accepting a towel from a servant. “The rains make passage through the mountains nearly impossible for the next two months, so his camp will be idle. You could do more good helping those in need within the city, as we’ve long been deprived of a healer’s touch.”

She didn’t have time for this. But before Lydia could open her mouth to politely insist on an escort, the bellow of a horn split the air, making her jump. “What was that?”

Ria blanched. “Impossible. They wouldn’t dare.”

A heartbeat later, a soldier strode rapidly down the corridor toward them. “My lady,” he said, inclining his head. “Marked One. Excuse the interruption, but we’ve received word that a significant force of Anuk is on the march toward the mines.”

“That’s impossible.”

“They’re coming, my lady. Visibility is bad due to the rains, but estimates put their force between two and three thousand.”

Ria’s eyes widened. “The Six help us…”

“General Calorian has moved to intercept, but he’s requested reinforcements. I’ve men gathering, ready to ride at your order.”

“Do it. Then have the gates closed and our walls manned in case Rotahn is attacked.” Ria turned on Lydia. “If you are agreeable, I’d have you go with our forces with all haste. Our losses are destined to be catastrophic.”

Lydia’s blood chilled. “Why do you say that?”

“Because,” Ria answered. “Until reinforcements arrive, General Calorian is outnumbered three to one.”

 54KILLIAN

The scent of rain was thick in the air, the storm rolling in from the south ready to break against the mountains, where it would then dump all the water it carried with it onto the dry ground.

If only it had come a day sooner.

Finn raced toward him, a full quiver flopping on his back, which he handed to Killian.

“You stay here,” he ordered his young friend. “If we call for retreat, you head with the rest of the camp to Rotahn, understood?”

Finn scowled. “I can fight. You know I can.”

“Not this time.” He caught Finn by the shoulders. “You will abide. And if I catch you disobeying me, we’re through.”

“Fine.” The word was clipped, the boy’s eyes shadowed.

“We’re ready to move out, sir!” one of his men shouted over the thunder. Killian nodded, slinging his quiver over his shoulder. But then in his periphery, he saw a large winged shape fall from the sky. Turning, he watched the enormous hawk land on the ground, its outline moving like liquid until what stood before him was not a bird, but a man.

A man he knew.

“Niotin?” The shifter lived in the north and scouted for Dareena. What in the name of the Six was he doing in Rotahn?

“Killian.” The shifter panted for breath, his eyes bloodshot and hooded, one hand braced against a hitching post. “I’ve fell news from the King.”

His blood turned to ice. “What’s happened?”

“The blighters overran Hegeria’s temple,” Niotin said between breaths. “The King and the Royal Army have regained control of the city, but the losses were devastating.”

He couldn’t breathe.

“The King gave me orders to relay: you are to remain in Rotahn and hold the border against the Anuk at all costs. We cannot afford to lose ground against them.”

The words were nothing but noise. “Devastating,” he repeated. “The healers…”

“All dead.” Niotin scrubbed at his eyes. “I was there for their last rites. Rows and rows of them, all dead. And Dareena is missing.” His voice cracked. “Serrick fears her lost.”

All dead.

A dull roar filled his ears, the world around him growing brighter and brighter.

Lydia is dead.

And he’d known she’d been in danger. Known that she needed his help, but instead of being there to protect her, he’d been caught up in Ria’s and Serrick’s plots. Had been slaughtering Anuk raiders when he should’ve been fighting to save everything he loved.

Twisting away from Niotin and Finn, he stumbled to his knees, retching into the mud.

She’s dead.

Dimly, he heard Sonia’s voice. Finn’s frantic explanation of what was wrong. But none of it mattered.

“Killian.” Sonia was next to him. “Your pain is my pain, but we must go. The Anuk are less than an hour away.”

“She’s dead.” Tears flooded down his cheeks. “I should’ve been there.”

Sonia pulled him against her, his forehead pressing against her armored shoulder. “I grieve for her. She was my friend. But we cannot abandon the living for the sake of our grief. The Anuk come for vengeance, and they won’t care that the harm done to their people was at the hands of only Ria and her minions—all living in and near Rotahn will fall to their blades.”

Lydia is dead. He squeezed his eyes shut, seeing her face. Seeing those green eyes that had captivated his soul from the moment he’d first set eyes upon them. “You take the men. You lead. I can’t…”

“You must.” She pushed him back, then gripped the sides of his face and forced him to look at her. “We need you. Do not dishonor everything Lydia fought for by giving up now.”

Get up.

The command echoed in his head, and though he wasn’t sure who’d given it, he obeyed. “Let’s go.”

They raced up the steep paths leading into the hills, the mountains forming the border barely visible through the thick clouds, the air streaked grey with the deluge of rain falling upon them. The endless narrow streambeds that wove down from the peaks would no longer be dry, instead filled with debris and water, merging together into rivers as they flowed toward the great washes that drained onto the plains.

“What’s the plan?” Sonia gasped out between breaths, struggling to keep pace with him.

“Pick our ground,” he replied.