Caldon crossed his arms. “And why do you think I’ll listen?”
“Because you might not feel much for Galdric aside from respect, but you love Tipp like a brother,” Kiva said, looking toward the exhausted young boy, his face smeared with travel dust, his hair like a red bird’s nest. “I need you to get him safely to the city and make sure he’s protected. Both your sword and your magic can ensure that.” She locked eyes with Caldon and whispered, “Please, Cal. I know I’m asking a lot.”
“At the risk of sounding arrogant, I’m one of the best fighters in the kingdom,” Caldon pointed out.
“I know — you trained me,” Kiva said softly.
“And you’re putting me on babysitting duty,” he said flatly.
Kiva chewed her lip and looked down at the leafy ground.
“Compromise,” he bit out. “I’ll wait until they can move, then I’ll get them to the city and stash them somewhere safe — but then I’m coming to you. I don’t care what you say, you’re going to need me. And even if you don’t, there’s no way in hell I’m going to let you face your sister on your own. We’re in this together, Sunshine. You and me. Got it?”
Tears blurred Kiva’s eyes, and she lunged forward to embrace Caldon, whispering in his ear, “Thank you.”
“Gods, why do you always cry when you’re hugging me?” he muttered, patting her on the back. “We really have to work on that.”
She eased away from him, smiling through her tears. “We will. I promise. But for now —”
“You need to go,” he finished for her on a sigh. She knew he didn’t like her plan — at all — but the fact that he was willing to listen, to protect Tipp, meant everything to her.
“I love you for this,” she told him solemnly.
“You love me for a lot of reasons,” Caldon said smugly. But then he turned serious. “No goodbyes. I’ll see you soon.”
She leaned up and kissed his cheek. “Soon,” she agreed.
And then she strode over to Tipp and Galdric to say, “You’re both staying here with Caldon to rest for a bit, and then you’ll meet us in Vallenia.”
Tipp shook his head blearily, but Kiva placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, moving in close to explain, “You know what I have to do, and I can’t do that if I’m worried about you. Please, Tipp — I need to know you’re safe. And I also need to know you’re not going to tumble off your pony and break your neck. So wait with Caldon, just until you can stand without falling, and we’ll be back together before you know it. All right?”
She could see he wanted to argue, but she held his eyes until he — reluctantly — nodded.
“B-Be careful,” he said, his voice cracking with exhaustion.
“I will,” she whispered, pulling him into her arms, then easing him down onto the ground. To Galdric, Kiva said, “Is there anything else I need to know about the Hand? Do I just put the rings on and send my magic through them?”
“As long as they already have Vallentis magic, that should be all you need to do,” Galdric confirmed, his voice so weak it was barely audible.
Kiva squeezed his arm. “Thank you for pushing yourself so hard for us,” she said, with feeling. “Now rest, and let Caldon take care of you. Healer’s orders.”
“Wait — Kiva —” he called as she began walking away. She turned and caught his soulful brown eyes as he said, “With your sister, don’t let her strike first. Don’t forget what she’s capable of. Don’t hesitate.”
Nerves returned to Kiva’s stomach — but determination steeled her spine. “I won’t.”
She then remounted Zephyr and listened as Jaren, Naari, and Cresta uttered brief goodbyes, before the four of them were racing along the road again, their path familiar this time as they left the forest and flew along the coastline. The day was clear, the weather perfect, and if not for what Kiva knew was ahead, she might have thought they were out for a pleasant midday ride. But then they crested the last sea cliff and saw Vallenia laid out before them.
There, they came to a sudden, shocked halt.
Because rising above everything else was the shining River Palace.
And it was on fire.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Navok had come.
That was all Kiva could think as she and her friends galloped the remaining distance to Vallenia, before tearing through the city streets and along the winding River Road at a harrowing pace, urgency thrumming them forward.
Ever since they’d learned that the Mirraven king was on his way, Kiva had prayed they would arrive before him, if only to be one step ahead before he ordered his anomalies to attack. But her hopes had been in vain. And now, not only did they have to get the final ring, but they would also have to face both Navok and Zuleeka.
At least the anomalies weren’t attacking the city — yet. Only the palace was under fire, and the closer they moved to it, the more Kiva could see that the flames were contained to the barracks, the stables, and the grounds — on both the eastern and western sides of the river. Despite that, the streets of Vallenia were mayhem, with citizens screaming and running as far as they could from the center of the city. Kiva, Jaren, Naari, and Cresta were the only ones foolish enough to be riding toward the danger, but they didn’t stop, pushing their horses faster until they finally reached the palace gates.
There was no one guarding them — and they were sealed tight.
Jaren cursed as they all quickly dismounted and rushed forward for a better look through the cast iron fence. Their view revealed a large portion of the extensive gardens bordering the path up to the palace, and while normally those gardens were perfectly manicured, right now they were in shambles. The earth was shifting and cracking, the plants unnaturally overgrown, many places raging with fire, others being lashed by river waves — and in the middle of it all were guards and anomalies fighting ferociously with both magical and mundane weapons.
Kiva recognized the dark armor of Evalon’s soldiers and the silver of their Royal Guard, even the gray leathers worn by Navok’s anomalies — and by his Gray Guards too, since not everyone fighting for Mirraven was using magic. There were no soldiers from Caramor, thanks to the dissolution of their alliance, but Kiva’s relief was brief, and it fled entirely when she spotted people dressed in everyday clothes. Her heart clenched when she saw the figure leading them, right in the thick of the battle, his sword raised as he roared instructions that she was too far away to hear.
Torell.
He’d rallied the rebels. And with him, fighting back-to-back, was Rhessinda, her braided ashy hair swinging wildly as she defended herself and her general.
Kiva wanted to tear through the fence and run to help them, but she knew she would be useless in large-scale combat, only getting in the way. That knowledge solidified as she watched Tor swing and parry and push back the Gray Guards, as he ducked and dodged magic from the anomalies, reminding her he was capable of handling himself. But still she longed to pull him to safety. He would never let her, though. She knew her brother — he would always fight for what he believed in. And right now, he was fighting for Evalon.