Page 260 of Of Empires and Dust
The wind whistled through the flat, rasping against the rocks around them.
“Why?” Alina roared this time, allowing the fury to fuel her. “After everything we have been through, fought for, died for… Why do you turn to Loren and the empire? You are Wyndarii …”
The woman closest to Alina lifted her head and stared back, green eyes looking into Alina’s. She had looked into those same green eyes in the sky above the battle only hours ago at the River Makeer, right before Rynvar tore the woman’s wyvern to pieces.
“Because you will set Valtara on fire.” The woman stared back at her.
“On fire? We are nearly free.”
“You are either naive or stupid, Alina Ateres. You?—”
Amari strode forwards and struck the woman across the face with a vicious backhand. “You are talking to your queen. Alina of House Ateres, First of the Wyndarii.”
“Not my queen.” Blood trickled down her lip, a bruise already showing across her cheek. She collapsed on her side, Amari’s second strike making the first look like a warm hug.
Amari made to draw her sword, but Alina shook her head. “What is your name?”
“Hanal of House Okur.” Hanal shifted her weight and lifted herself back to a seated position, her hands tied behind her back. “I was the rider to Tryaer before you left his body in a river.”
“You flew against me. That was your choice, and so the weight of his death lies with you.”
“Look what you’ve done.” Hanal gestured at the other Wyndarii beside her and those who stood watching. “You have split us in two. Valtarans killing Valtarans while Loria watches. Do you think I want to stand by the empire’s side? There is an army of forty thousand marching from Aonar. They will be here within two weeks. A fleet of a hundred ships sails from Aerilon, another two hundred from Antiquar. Valtara will be blockaded from north and south. What happened the last time Valtara declared open rebellion? My son was ripped from my breast, my firstborn, my love. What do you think they will do this time, Alina Ateres, Queen of Valtara, and First of the Wyndarii? What does a lion do to the lamb that keeps stepping on its paw? It crushes it. They will not let us live this time,my queen.If you have your way, Valtara will be erased from the annals. I followed you once, but I was naive. I was angry, hurt, lost.”
“And what are you now? Found?” Alina shook her head. “I would rather die trying to free my home than spend a lifetime in fear and darkness. Than live in a world where they take our firstborn, where they hold a boot on our neck because they fear what would happen if they didn’t. And do you know what, Hanal? They are right to fear. We will raze Achyron’s Keep, and we will turn the Hot Gates into a fortress. And we will honour our oaths and march with this new Draleid. We will burn the Lorian Empire to ashes, and their banner will never fly in Valtara again.”
“And what will you do when the dragons come? When they pour fire over everything you love?”
“I will fight. And I will die if needs be. But never again will I be their pet.”
Any arrogance faded from Hanal’s expression, her eyes holding only grief. “Hera was right then. You will die, and you will take all Valtara with you.”
“Hera was a coward and a traitor who cost hundreds of Valtaran lives when she led the assault on Lostwren – against my orders. She didn’t give a single fuck about your life or any Valtaran lives that day. All she cared for was her own gain, her own honour and glory. And when she learned the size of the force Loren had amassed at Achyron’s Keep, she turned coward again.”
Alina stood over Hanal, allowing her heart to calm. “Hanal of House Okur, for treason against the crown of Valtara and its people, I, Queen Alina Ateres, sentence you to death. Do you have any last words?”
“I pray to The Sailor and The Warrior that you are right and I am wrong.”
Alina inclined her head. She drew her sword, but Olivian approached with her hand on the pommel of her own.
“Allow me, my Queen.”
Alina gestured for Olivian to step back and sheath her sword. “What am I, Olivian, if I can cast the sentence but not swing the blade? I am exactly what Hera said I was. Exactly what this Wyndarii thinks I am.”
Alina moved so she stood at Hanal’s side and gripped the pommel of her sword with both hands. “By The Warrior and The Sailor, by blade and by blood.”
Hanal didn’t squirm or weep or thrash about. She simply leaned forwards and stretched out her neck. “If you do me one kindness, Queen Ateres, make it clean.”
Alina hoped that in such a position, she would have the same dignity and control. And in that thinking she couldn’t help but know pain at the thought of killing the woman. Valtara needed warriors with that kind of courage, that kind of strength. And yet, Hanal had betrayed them, and that betrayal had led to the deaths of hundreds. It had led to the death of Marlin Arkon.
Alina tightened her grip on the hilt, then swung. Her strike was clean, and Hanal’s head came free in one swing, dropping to roll in the dirt. Her body stayed upright for a few seconds before collapsing on its side.
Alina lifted her gaze and looked to Dayne, who stared right back at her. He gave her a sharp, approving nod.
Blood dripping from the tip of her blade, Alina moved to stand before the next Wyndarii. “What is your name?”
Even in thecold of winter, Alina dripped sweat as she moved around the sparring pit, a long wooden staff gripped in her fists.
Alcon, Glaukos, and Savrin stood before her, each with their own staff, each bleeding and sweat-soaked. Both Olivian and Saralis of House Toth observed from the sides while the rest of her Royal Guard watched over the entranceways.
