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  Chloe gave a brief overview of their quest and how they had opened the rift. The waif’s jaw dropped when she mentioned KieraFreya and Shikora, and fell farther open when she told him that the rift was still open—at least, she hoped it was.

  “The gate is open,” Gan’gor murmured, deep in thought. “After all these years. Finally…”

  “Oh, no,” Tag said, noticing the hungry look that fell over the waif’s face. “If you’re thinking what I think you’re thinking, you can forget it. We didn’t spend all this time and energy opening the rift just for you to unleash your race upon the world again.”

  “We?” Ben interjected. “What’s this ‘we’ business? You disappear for weeks, and then claim all the glory when you return?”

  Tag’s cheeks grew red. “That’s not the point I’m making.”

  Chloe rolled her eyes.

  “Not at all,” Gan’gor protested. “I wouldn’t dream of… For someone who has spared me… That’s not what I was suggesting!”

  “Well, here’s a suggestion,” Chloe offered, the idea popping into her head. “Since you’re more familiar with these lands, how about you lead us to where we need to go? We’ve been walking for hours and have no idea if we’re heading in the right direction. Do you know where we can find Shikora?”

  The waif thought for a moment, then shook his head. “I do not know this Shikora or her location, but I do know where some of the banished reside. Far from this canyon and onto the Etheric Plains. There are fields as far as the eye can see, scorched and under an eternal mist. That might be a good place to start.”

  “Then that is where we will head. Are you in?”

  The waif nodded eagerly. “Yes, O great Chloe. Anything to repay the debt I owe.”

  “‘O Great Chloe?’” Gideon laughed. “What about the rest of us?”

  Ben grinned. “Sure, make up to the girl with the big ego.”

  “I haven’t got a big ego!” Chloe gave Ben a friendly punch in the arm. “Come on, let’s get going. I’d like to get to Shikora before Fukmos’ army comes, if possible.”

  “Smart move.”

  They turned to set off, Chloe only realizing as they headed down the path that the waif was lagging.

  “Gan’gor? What’s wrong?”

  “There is one thing I forgot to mention,” he said hesitantly, ears folded to his head. “In order to get to the Etheric Plains, there are some…obstacles you must overcome.”

  Chloe rolled her eyes. “Of course, there are. I’d expect nothing less.”

  As they headed back into the canyon, Gan’gor described the impending dangers. Chloe sighed and exhaled loudly.

  Nothing in this world is ever easy, is it?

  KieraFreya chuckled. The best things in life come from the hardest of efforts.

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Where has the sun gone?

  Therese looked over the city and out toward the farmlands beyond. The once-blue sky had turned dark and gray. Clouds roiled and rolled above, turning from lighter shades of gray to black.

  There was a flash of lightning.

  That’s not good.

  The burst of light silhouetted the figures down below.

  Hundreds upon hundreds of blessed now lined the parapets, NPCs and blessed alike having heeded the royal summons to defend their kingdom.

  And yet the enemy never stopped coming. Even as they busied themselves behind the scenes, rallying troops, working blacksmiths to their bones crafting new weapons, sending apothecaries into frenzies to concoct a vast store of strength, mana, and stamina potions, the enemy kept coming.

  They arrived in waves of a hundred or so twenty or thirty minutes apart. The relentless horde kept the city busy, eyes fixed on the gates, unable to attend to the root of the problem while something large was brewing out there.

  Abe came and stood beside Therese, unconsciously grasping her hand. They looked over their kingdom and sent up a prayer, waiting with bated breath for Chloe to return through the ever-shrinking rift atop the glorious steed that had the power to end this.

  She was their one shot at saving the kingdom from darkness.

  The first Veronica knew of the invasion was the ghostly glow of faint blue light.

  She had logged off, resting after an exhausting day of rallying troops and speaking to the various guilds to instruct them under the queen’s command. When she logged back in, she could see the ghostly pallor through the open window.

  What the…

  Leonie, Huk, and Talbot lay asleep beside her. Blueballs stirred and followed as she crept across the room and headed outside.

  The streets were quiet, which seemed strange, considering the battle at the gates went on. She looked up and down the street for the source of the glow and followed it to her left.

  She walked quickly, her light footsteps barely making a sound. She was aware of Blueballs behind her and thankful for his company. If she were to suddenly be attacked, she was thankful to have some muscle in the form of the ferocious toffet.

  Up ahead, three women walked in single file, holding hands with a ghostly blue man. The man hovered an inch off the floor and glided along as if guiding the women toward some unknown destination. They did not speak, but the goofy looks on their faces told of drunken happiness beyond explanation.

  “Ghosts,” Veronica murmured, her blood growing cold. The last time she had seen ghosts in Obsidian had been in the underground bunker beneath the town in Rivermere, with Fukmos, Dryana, and Myaris.

  Had they penetrated the city? Was this the work of the dark gods?

  Veronica couldn’t see how it was possible. Surely, in all the infinite magic of Obsidian, it was possible for ghosts to exist beyond the dark gods’ control. Perhaps they rose under some hidden moon phase. Maybe a quest was linked to the mystery of the risen dead?

  She followed them through the city, a procession now; a couple dozen living women and men were walking with their ghostly counterparts as if attending some formal occasion.

  They took an unfamiliar route and were soon passing through wrought iron gates. Veronica felt earth and grass beneath her feet and was alarmed to see they’d entered the cemetery.

  Headstones covered the area. The grass was damp with dew. Still that unearthly silence ensued…

  They stopped at the end of the cemetery before the door to a mausoleum. The door opened by itself, and the ghosts began to usher the living inside.

  “Wait!” Veronica shouted, suddenly finding her voice. She couldn’t explain it, but she knew something bad would happen if they were to go inside. “Stop. It’s not safe!”

  Only the ghosts’ heads turned. The living kept walking, the first woman heading through the door.

  “No!”

  Veronica ran across the slippery grass, almost skidding into the front of the mausoleum. The ghosts watched impassively as she grabbed the first lady by the shoulders and shook her.

  The lady’s eyes snapped open as if from a dream. “What… Harold? Where am I?”

  “You’re at the goddamn circus,” Veronica said sarcastically. “Where do you think you are?”

  The woman looked around the cemetery, seeing the headstones. She found the ghost who had guided her and all the color drained from her body. “Harold? It’s…it’s not possible.”

  Harold did not speak, only watched her without comment.

  She reached out and touched his face. Her hand slipped through it, and goosebumps rose on her flesh.

  “Oh, sweet Harold.” She smiled affectionately.

  “Look, lady, I love a good reunion as much as the next woman, but can you perhaps help me wake these people up?” Veronica nodded at the next few women who had walked through the doorway.

  While they went about snapping everyone out of their reverie, the ghosts watched. Veronica kept expecting them to attack and hypnotize or drag their victims into the mausoleum with them.

  But that didn’t happen.

  After a short while, all of those led by the gh
osts were awake. Confused, but awake.

  “What in the name of hell happened here?” a disgruntled man exclaimed, unable to believe the ghostly figure of his late wife standing before him.

  “How is this possible?” another asked.

  Veronica calmed them all down, the group staring at the gathering of ghosts before the doorway.

  “Can we…talk to them?” one woman asked.

  The first woman shook her head. “No. They don’t respond. I don’t think they can hear us.”

  “Please…” another woman implored. “If you can hear us, show a sign. Please!”

  Instead of answering, the ghosts simply stared. It was unsettling. Veronica got tired of waiting for something to happen.

  “Blueballs. Sic ‘em.”

  Blueballs dropped to his haunches and closed the gap in seconds.

  He pawed and swiped at the ghosts, although he did no damage. His powerful limbs passed straight through their ethereal bodies and out the other side. The only thing that happened was that with every attack and growl the ghosts faded, like a large fan blowing away thick smoke.

  “What do you think they were going to do?” the first woman asked Veronica.

  Veronica shrugged. “I don’t know, but I’d like to find out.”

  Running out of the cemetery, she managed to find a torch. She brought the light back and descended the mausoleum staircase, careful to look around the ancient building as she spiraled down the steps and into the mountain.

  Rocks crumbled and sprinkled dust below. The torch’s flames licked hungrily at cobwebs that had been undisturbed for centuries.

  Halfway down the stairs, Blueballs suddenly pulled Veronica back.

  “Blueballs! What’re you…”

  She didn’t finish her sentence. He pointed ahead to where the stairs faded into nothingness, the last step cracked and ruined. One more step and she would’ve fallen to her death.

  Veronica sighed and swiped a hand down her sweaty face.

  Not seeing the childlike pair of eyes hovering in the darkness below.

  “You’re certain?” Therese asked.

  Veronica nodded.

  They were in Therese’s chambers. She and Abe sat on the edge of her bed, Veronica leaned against the wall, and Heather was on the ottoman. Blueballs rested cozily in the corner, curled up and breathing deeply.

  “They’re coming at us from all angles,” Therese said more to herself than the others. “Everywhere we turn, they’re coming for the city. We can’t even rest now without the enemy taking advantage of us in our sleeping state?”

  “How is this even possible?” Abe asked. “In all my life, I’ve never seen ghosts around the city. Many have reported sightings, but for a dozen to appear and try to lure our innocents to their deaths? That doesn’t seem possible.”

  “Well, it is,” Veronica said. “I would’ve fallen to my death, too, if it hadn’t been for Blueballs. It was like they were in a trance, lured by the ghosts of deceased lovers, relatives, and friends.”

  “Cannon to right of them,” Therese muttered, remembering the old poem she had learned at school. “Cannon to left of them. Cannon in front of them…”

  “Volley’d and thunder’d,” Veronica finished. “They’re surrounding you. Hoping you retreat. Forcing your hand while you try to gather your full force.”

  There was a knock on the door.

  “Who is it?” Abe called.

  “Beverley, Your Highness. I saw the lights on and heard voices, and I wondered if all was well?”

  Therese growled.

  “All is fine.” Abe grinned. “Thank you. You are dismissed.”

  Veronica chuckled at the sour expression on Therese’s face. “Still not getting along with the help?”

  “She has her uses, but her nose is so far up our asses, sometimes it’s uncomfortable to sit down.”

  Veronica, Heather, and Abe laughed.

  When they were done, Veronica scratched her chin. “How do we defeat ghosts? Surely there’s a way to conquer the dead?”

  “Agreed,” Therese said. “We can’t risk losing any more of our civilians because the dead are luring them to their doom. We need all the people we can get.”

  They fell into a thoughtful silence.

  “Lock the gates,” Abe said, coming to a decision. “If the cemetery is locked, the ghosts might be able to enter but the people won’t.”

  “But what if they find another way in?” Therese countered. “Won’t they just find another way to fulfill their evil purpose? There are loads of ways to kill a person if one were to get creative.”

  “‘One?’” Veronica smirked.

  “Oh, behave.” Therese giggled. “So what if I’ve picked up the royal vernacular?”

  “We set up patrols. A guard on every street. Should the guard notice anything awry, he’ll communicate to the others, and the people will be protected.”

  “No,” Therese said. “That’ll take men away from the gates. We need all fighters down at the walls if we’re to stop the enemy from breaking in.”

  “They’re already inside!” Abe replied.

  Another knock on the door.

  “What!” Therese cried.

  Beverley’s cautious voice. “I heard raised voices…”

  Therese’s fists trembled. “Go to bed!”

  “Very well.”

  Rapid footsteps headed down the hallway.

  Therese took a moment to inhale a calming breath. She closed her eyes, exhaled, and when she opened them again, her demeanor was one of authority and peace.

  “Abe, honey, if we’re going to set up patrols inside the city, we’re going to need more bodies. We’ve already got shifts set up on the wall, and we’re losing people by the day. The blessed are recovering, sure, but only after several hours, and the natives of the city are falling one by one. We can’t spare any more people.”

  “I’ve put out calls. More will come.”

  “When?” Veronica asked. “Have you had any word? How are they going to get here? It’s not like they can march through the forest. Isn’t that Fukmos’ territory?”

  “I don’t know!” Abe threw his hands in the air. He stood and began pacing around the room. “I don’t know, okay? I have faith. I have faith that reinforcements will come. People will rally to the aid of Hammersworth, I’m sure.”

  “Faith doesn’t win wars,” Therese stated.

  Abe scoffed. “Faith keeps a leader strong.”

  They fell into silence once more. After a few moments, footsteps came running back down the hall.

  Therese took a sharp breath.

  “I swear to the gods, if that’s…”

  “Your Highness, it’s Beverley.”

  Therese shuddered.

  Abe raised a hand as if to say, “Hold on. Patience.”

  “Yes, Beverley.”

  “I’ve been passed an urgent message for you. Look out at the southern skies. More are coming.”

  Without hesitation, they all ran to the balcony. The skies were so dark it was hard to make out what they were supposed to be seeing.

  At first there looked to be a small dark cloud flying their way. After a moment, they realized that it was moving too fast to be a cloud, and it began to break up into a hundred or so smaller figures.

  Commands were shouted below, calls of “Hold fire,” and “Steady.” The mass approached at an impressive speed, and now they could see wings on either side of the figures.

  “What the…” Heather whispered.

  The figure at the front of the pack back-winged, letting a large white sheet fly across the field and to the ground.

  “Is that a surrender flag?” Veronica asked.

  Therese shrugged.

  “Friendly forces.” Abe sighed with relief. “Friendly forces have come.”

  “But what are they?” Therese asked.

  The figures grew larger as they approached. They swooped low over the city, drawing the attention of every man and woman in the str
eets. With unmatched grace, they soared back into the sky and made their way toward the palace.

  Several figures broke ranks, spotted the king, and aimed for the balcony. Orders were shrieked and the rest of the force immediately dove back down, heading straight into the fray in front of the gate.

  Abe, Therese, and the others were hard-pressed to hold their ground as the wind generated by the beating of wings threatened to throw them back. The first figure landed, followed by the other two a moment after.

  “King Abaxis of Hammersworth?” the creature crowed.

  Abe nodded, straightening his back. “Yes?”

  “I am sorry for the sudden intrusion, but if your note was anything to go by, your city is in jeopardy. It is in times like this that formality falls out of the window and action must be taken. My people are here to serve and protect the north and to fulfill our duties as neighbors of this realm.”

  Abe studied the speaker, who was twice the height of a normal man and covered top to toe in feathers. “I’m sorry. I am eternally grateful for your presence, but you have me at a disadvantage. To whom am I speaking?”

  “Tag’kir,” the creature replied. “First Commander of King Dang’thor and the cowladites of Nauriel. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

  Chapter Forty-Five

  “Well, I think we can safely say we know where the bad guys came from.”

  Led by Gan’gor, they had been walking through the canyon for hours. Chloe had tried to imagine what the walk would be like in real life and couldn’t imagine herself making it. For a precious city girl who taxied most places and only walked to the bathroom, she doubted she would have survived this long.

  The canyon had wound on and on, each section looking like the previous one. But now…

  Now they had finally found a marker, somewhere that looked noticeably different than everything they’d seen so far.