Page 136 of To Kill a King
Elessan nodded and shoved his bow over his shoulder before drawing his sword.
The thane turned toward the ranks behind him and raised his hammer. “Cavalry, charge!”
As one, the dwarven forces surged forward. Elessan wrapped his too-long legs around the stout torso of the pony and held the reins with his free hand. The beast’s jarring gait almost threw him from the saddle.
As they approached the city’s entrance, he leapt from the steed with a flip. He’d be more effective and mobile on foot.
Peering through the gates to the town beyond, he paused for a heartbeat. He’d kill to know if Aliya was in there somewhere.
A human charged him, sword raised.
Elessan drew his second blade and braced himself.
At least this close to their own capital, the humans wouldn’t dare use Whisperers.
His gaze flitted around the field as the flow of battle left him with a few moments to catch his breath. Bodies—human, dwarven and pony—littered the ground. Red-stained mud coated his boots and a coppery tang wafted to his nose.
Most of the humans had fled the parapets in favor of stemming the dwarven flood into the city. The remaining archers, and those manning the Dragon Sticks, abandoned their posts when the press of flesh became so mixed, they risked hitting friend as often as foe.
Elessan held his sword aloft. “Charge!”
A dwarf ran by and hoisted his axe. “Kill the King!”
Elessan blinked.
Well, yes, that, too. Though he’d leave the taking over to Princess Tsara and Thane Hedul.
A flash of movement in the shadows caught his eye. Jalius!
Elessan pushed through the crowd to where the older man waited for him with a falcon sitting on his shoulder. “What are you doing here?”
One corner of the gnome’s mouth turned up. “I could ask you the same, mountain elf. Her Majesty was convinced you were dead.”
Aliya thought he was dead? He grabbed Jalius by the shoulders, resisting the urge to shake him. “How? Why?”
“She said you were killed by a Whisperer in the elven forest while trying to rescue her.”
Oh. Goosebumps broke out along his arms. He paused, relaxing his grasp on the other man. He likely would’ve been, if Tsara hadn’t stopped him from immediately plunging into the forest to chase after Aliya.
Jalius shook off his grip, stepping out of range. “Something’s gone wrong. I think Her Majesty’s in trouble.”
Elessan’s attention snapped back to the mage as a burst of heat exploded through his chest. “Explain.”
“The king’s guard arrested her.” He pointed to his forehead. “The man with the magestone—”
“What?” Elessan stepped forward again, bringing his swords to bear. If the Mage Underground had betrayed Aliya…
“Peace, elf.” Jalius held both hands up. “I don’t know what happened, as I was able to escape before they dragged us down to the dungeon. But Sky here—” he gestured to a falcon that landed on his shoulder— “returned without his master. They’ve been gone too long.” He shook his head. “Something’s happened.”
Valek. That was an understatement. Elessan tilted his head to the sky and squeezed his eyes closed. Why couldn’t Aliya have waited another hour or two? Then he could’ve helped her.
Elessan took a deep breath and raised his voice over the din. “To the palace!”
“To the palace,” the dwarves around him echoed.
Thane Hedul lifted his hammer. “Do not hurt innocent civilians!”
Elessan nodded. Slaughtering women and children would win Queen Aliya little support. He spun, cutting a soldier’s throat before leading the charge through the city streets.