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  “We’ll be attacking a fort that belongs to us, one Center has no right to disarm,” Argus interrupted. “And if Edwin and Lance had spines, it’d still be ours. Those cowards handed it over without a fight, but their appeasement only weakens our resistance instead of getting us closer to an actual solution.”

  “So where do I come in?” Bree asked, gesturing to the map.

  “You’ll be flying at my side,” Argus said. “I’ll be reorganizing our Seraphim into squadrons, and you’ll be part of Wolf Squad.”

  “No more Phoenix Squad?” Bree asked.

  “There’s no Phoenix Squad until there’s a Phoenix.”

  Bree nodded. Fair enough.

  “I’ve over a hundred men making their way to Fort Luster,” Varl said. “I’ll be joining them just before your attack. Give us weapons, and I promise you, we’ll pile up enough dead to make even you Seraphs jealous.”

  “A boast I pray you make true soon enough,” Rebecca said. “We’ll attack an hour before nightfall, in case the troops are prepared for a nighttime assault like our last. Each of you has much to do, so I suggest you get to it.”

  She bowed quickly, then marched off. Varl gave a quick two-finger salute to Bree and Argus.

  “It’s a long walk to Fort Luster, so I best get started,” he said. “See you on the battlefield.”

  When he was gone, Argus gestured for Bree to follow.

  “Olivia told me of your hesitancy about combat with ground forces,” he said. “While we have the time, I’d like to give you a crash course on proper tactics. Afterward, we’ll run some drills with the new squadrons, and get everyone acclimated with one another.”

  “Very well.”

  He turned to her, and he lowered his voice after a glance at the many people hurrying about.

  “We won’t need your fire when we assault the fort,” he said. “But afterward, when knights come flying in to their aid...”

  “I’m aware of the danger we face,” Bree said. “The decision is still mine to make.”

  “For our sake, I pray you decide soon,” Argus said. “We need every Seraph we can get, but we need the Phoenix even more.”

  CHAPTER

  10

  Bree flew at Argus’s right side, the tips of their wings nearly touching. The rest of Wolf Squad trailed either side of them in a tight V formation. The ground flashed by in a great green blur, far too close for comfort. Bree knew they had to stay low to avoid being spotted, but sometimes she swore she could reach down and touch the tall grass swaying with the air of their passing.

  Argus reached out his right hand, and he made four quick symbols with his fingers.

  Attack speed on mark.

  Bree relayed the message. The two Seraphs on the tail end of the formation flared out wide, flying closer to the other two squads trailing on either side so they could relay the message yet again. Bree kept her finger tight on the throttle, waiting for Argus to give the signal. The plan was to approach Fort Luster at full speed just prior to spotting distance.

  I want us to hit them like a thunderclap, Argus had told the lot as they gathered in the Aquila Forest. The only warning they get will be the flash of our elements.

  Bree lifted slightly as they passed over a particularly tall hill. The temporary rise allowed Bree to see a town far to their right. Porth, she believed. That was where General Varl was gathering a large portion of his soldiers. Assuming the attack went as planned, and they ransacked Fort Luster, the gear was to be taken back to the town, and from there, disseminated throughout the island to those still loyal to Weshern.

  If the distant town was Porth, then Fort Luster was a little over a mile away. Close enough. Bree didn’t even need to see Argus’s right arm shoot out, fist clenched. She swung her own fist, then punched the throttle. The other two squads had no need of the signal. Wolf Squad’s sudden burst of speed was obvious enough. Three squads, thirty Seraphim. Another thirty were broken into squads of ten and then sent out on distraction duty. Given how most knight patrols still flew solo, or in groups of two or three at most, Argus felt confident their ten could bring them down without casualties. Bree prayed he was correct. They couldn’t afford the loss of a single Seraph. An entire squadron would be disastrous.

  Wind blasting through her hair, Bree followed Argus over the landscape, which shifted from tall grasslands to shorter pastures full of dull orange and brown bovines. Argus tilted right, leading them toward a distant road, then straightened out, following it. Bree’s pulse increased as the fort came into view far ahead. It was smaller than she’d expected, little more than a wood mole on the face of the land. Throttle pushed to maximum, Bree took care to manage every twitch of her muscles, eyes focused on her destination at all times. At such speeds, it would only take a momentary twist of an arm or leg to go veering off wildly, and with how close they flew to the ground, such a detour could be fatal.

  Bree relayed another signal from Argus, this to arm their elements. Wolf Squad had two Seraphim with stone affinity, and they would be the opening barrage, knocking down the front gates along with portions of the surrounding wall. The rest of the elements would follow, raining death through the newly created openings.

  “Don’t expect this to be as easy as our ambush on the wagons,” Argus had warned them all before taking flight. “Fort Luster was designed to repel an aerial attack. Surprise is our greatest advantage. If we don’t hit them hard, and immediately, we’ll be left with two options: a time-consuming barrage from beyond arrow range, or a costly melee engagement. Neither one is acceptable. When we fly that first pass, by God, make it count.”

  Bree’s chest tightened with frustration. What would she be doing during that all-important first pass? Nothing. Not unless she wanted to burn through her single fire elemental prism in one clumsy ranged attack. That would deny her the option of wielding her burning swords, and given how the angelic knights were the true threat, she wouldn’t dare leave herself so vulnerable.

  If only you could control it, she thought as they raced toward the fort. Of course, there was another option. She could ignite the flame about her blades and go blasting through the troops, without a care as to who might witness and survive. This left her just as nervous as facing Center’s knights without any fire element, and she pushed both ideas aside for the moment. Fort Luster was almost within reach, and she couldn’t spare the distraction. The two stone wielders of Wolf Squad unleashed their barrage of pale gray boulders twice the size of Bree. The boulders soared to either side of her, gently turning as they flew. Bree kept one eye on Argus, the other on the stone, as the rest of Wolf Squad began their assault.

  Fort Luster’s outer wall was tall and circular, built of thick wood logs nailed together, the tops carved into points. Behind the sharpened points there appeared to be a thin rampart for soldiers to stand upon, and her glance saw only two atop it when the boulders smashed through the wood as if it were glass. The front gate shattered, the wall collapsing in on itself as supports broke and logs twisted and ripped down the center. Bree spotted dozens more soldiers wearing the red tunic of Center fleeing like ants behind the ruined wall, and then the rest of the elements hit. Balls of flame struck the ground, exploding outward in fiery rings. Lances of ice pierced armor as if it weren’t there; those that missed and hit ground shattered into thin, deadly shards that flew in all directions. Last came the lightning. They were moving far too fast for any accuracy, so thick bolts of it slammed into the center of groups, killing those they hit and dazing others nearby.

  Bree had but a moment to take it all in before a second barrage flew from the three squads. A ten-foot gap separated the outer wall from a second interior wall, this one half the height, twice as thick, and protecting a stone barracks. The boulders had far more difficulty with this wall. Wood splintered on contact, and even from up high Bree heard the loud crack of boulders hitting their targets, but they only managed to knock over a single portion of the wall, and only then because two other Seraphim focused
their fire upon it as well. Ice and fire followed, first slamming into the wall, then raining down upon the barracks itself as the three squads flew overhead, doing little damage to the squat structure.

  Another pass, Argus signaled. He waited two seconds for Bree to relay the order, then their leader lessened his throttle, twisted his shoulders, and arced left. The rest followed, looping back around. Coming in from the other direction, Bree better saw the soldiers scrambling about. They raced up stairs on all sides of the outer wall, others climbing ladders leading toward the top of the interior wall. Nearly every soldier carried a bow, their quivers bristling with arrows. Bree thought Argus would lift higher, out of reach of the arrows, but instead he punched his throttle back to maximum and dove low.

  Argus had insisted they hit hard and fast, and he showed every intention of maintaining that strategy. Bree clenched her jaw and focused on following him as arrows launched into the air, a great upward rain. Arrows from the soldiers on the ramparts, arrows from the men atop the barracks, even arrows from thin slits carved into the stone of the barracks’ walls. There were so many firing in all directions, Bree saw no way to dodge, only race through, trusting their speed.

  Ice focused upon the archers atop the barracks, easy targets to the thin lances. Those with stone blasted the soldiers atop the ramparts of the two walls. Fire wielders bathed the barracks in long waves that burned across the sides, hitting window after window, letting their flames flow into the interior. Amid it all tore bolts of lightning, taking down exposed soldiers attempting to climb to more advantageous spots. It was incredible the concentration involved, to aim at such speeds while fighting off any instinct to dodge the many arrows, but their foes showed no less resolve. Despite the destruction crashing down upon them, the soldiers released arrow after arrow, flooding the air with deadly bolts. Several passed within mere feet of Bree, at least two ricocheting off her silver wings. Others were not so lucky. One member of Wolf Squad took an arrow to the throat. He twisted sideways as his body went limp, spiraling wildly toward the ground. Bree counted herself lucky she couldn’t see the moment of impact.

  The second pass ended, and Argus looped the three squads around. Bree glanced left and right, counted at least three Seraphim dead, and several more wounded from arrows still stuck in their flesh. Argus’s right hand twisted, three quick shapes.

  Break rank.

  Fort Luster was a broken, burning mess, but soldiers still rushed about, most heading toward the stone barracks. Protected within, they’d force the Weshern Seraphim into close quarters. Argus saw this, and he was giving the Seraphim free rein on attack. He led the way, flying both higher and slower, better able to aim. Bree followed him a moment, then decided against it. If she were to brave the arrows, at least she might accomplish something at the same time. Bree fell back, letting all others gain distance before resuming. Her wrists pushed down against the loops atop the hilts of her swords, connecting them to the safety cords before drawing the weapons free. She watched their next barrage pummel Fort Luster, dozens of soldiers dying in the blink of an eye, and then she punched her throttle.

  She flew straight for the crumbled front gate, the grass a blur mere feet below. Archers stood upon the devastated ramparts on either side, firing arrows before ducking down to prepare another shot. Bree slowed, needing greater control lest she end up a splatter of flesh and metal on the interior wall. She shot through the broken gate, two arrows crossing the air above her, and then arched her back and slowed even more. Bree hovered for a brief moment, and once she’d straightened out she gave her wings a slight burst, charging two archers preparing their bows.

  Her first swing opened up a gash across one archer’s arm and chest. The second swing shoved aside the other’s bow so his arrow shot wild. Momentum carrying her forward, Bree punched both swords into his chest, lifting him up and over the spikes of the wall as she poured power into her wings. The corpse slid off her blades as she looped to the right. She focused on an archer whose back was to her, but a blast of lightning ripped through his body before she could get to him. Another two dashed through the gap between the walls in a panicked run for the barracks. Bree dove, trusting her fellow Seraphim not to kill her with friendly fire.

  Just before impact, she shut off her wings and flipped herself feetfirst. Her heels slammed into an archer’s back, and despite the pain to her knees, Bree maintained presence of mind to kick off toward the other. She thrust her sword, puncturing his rib cage and into lung. Blood soaked his tabard as she yanked it out, turned. The first had scrambled to his knees, bow in hand, arrow nocked. Fighting panic, Bree kicked left while flashing the throttle to her wings, just enough to give her some speed. The archer’s arrow missed her waist by less than an inch. Bree’s feet had barely touched ground before she leapt again, flashing her wings to give herself another boost. She landed heel first on the archer’s abdomen, swords slashing before he might fire. His bow blocked one hit, but the other sliced across his throat, ending any resistance.

  An arrow pinged off her wing, and Bree leapt into the air without daring to look for the shooter. A second arrow knifed the air beneath her as her wings thrummed to life, ripping her skyward. She turned, tracing the trajectory of the two shots to find her would-be killer, but an explosion of fire overwhelmed the wall where he’d have been. A Seraph flew past her, too fast for her to catch his face, but she heard his voice shout above the din.

  “You owe me!”

  Bree rose higher, wishing to survey the battle while out of bowshot. Turned out there wasn’t much of a battle left. Any soldiers outside the barracks were dead or dying. Inside the barracks, though, was another matter. Bree watched as Argus had four of his men line up and flood the interior with flame. Others flew about the fort, scanning for potential survivors. Turning south, she spotted a trail of men and women approaching from Porth. General Varl’s soldiers, coming to claim the gear they’d liberated. Though they were distant, she could tell they were jogging. Time was far from on their side. Bree unhooked the latches connected to her sword hilts, sheathed the blades, and then dropped down into the interior of the fort.

  Everywhere was broken wood and spilled blood. Portions of the outer wall still burned, a faint, lazy fire steadily blackening the sides. The smell was the worst, of blood and meat and ripped-open bowels. Bree held a hand over her mouth and nose, focusing on keeping her breathing steady.

  This is just the beginning, she told herself. It’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better, so don’t you lose it now.

  Easy to tell herself, hard to do. She saw the burn marks marring the stone sides, the melting ice shards, the great boulders that lay in piles of splinters. The entire fort, designed for battle, now in ruins, and at the hands of thirty Seraphim. Meanwhile, Center had hundreds of knights at their disposal. What could they do to a town or village? How great would such devastation be? And what could anyone do to stop it?

  Seeing the unleashed power of the elements, Bree both understood the dire need to defeat Center and the utter hopelessness of the task.

  “Are you all right?” Argus asked, startling her. He’d come up beside her, and lost in her own private fears, she’d not noticed or heard.

  “No,” she said. “But I will be. We don’t have much choice in the matter, do we?”

  Argus glanced about the fort, understanding the reason for her unease.

  “I’ve fought more aerial battles than most alive,” he said. “But it’s different on the ground. The damage feels more permanent, more real. We wield tremendous power, you and I, but it’s an inescapable fact that so do our enemies. We can only hope to be better, and protect those we love from a similar fate.”

  “And if we’re not?” she asked. “If we’re not better?”

  “We will be,” Argus said, and he squeezed her shoulder. “As you put it, we don’t have much choice in the matter, do we?”

  Together they walked to the clearing before the barracks’ entrance, where the rest of the Seraphim
gathered. The door into the barracks was thick wood, presumably locked and barred from the inside. The door itself was incredibly narrow, and Bree had a feeling the interior was equally small. Argus was right; the building had been designed against attacking Seraphim. No pair of wings would fit through that opening, and even if they could, maneuvering the tight walls would be impossible.

  “There’s at least six inside,” Olivia said upon their arrival. “We’ll need to take them out. That, or wait for Varl’s men to come and do the dirty work.”

  “There’s no time to wait,” Argus said. “We’ll do this now. Olivia, Chernor, you two with me. The rest of you, take positions on the walls and keep an eye out for knights while Varl’s men make their way here.”

  The other Seraphim scattered to take positions, but Bree remained behind.

  “Let me help you,” she said as the three Seraphs removed their wings so they might fit through the entrance. “I’m good with my swords, you know that.”

  “Your skill is in the air,” Argus said. “We’ll be in cramped quarters. You’ve no experience there.”

  “I can still help you.”

  “You’ll help us more alive. At least, you will once you unleash your fire.”

  Bree gestured to the roof of the barracks.

  “Can we not break through the ceiling or the walls?” she asked.

  “Stone’s too thick,” Olivia said, setting her wings beside Argus’s. “It’d take time and elemental prisms we don’t have to spare. Best to do this quick.”

  Argus said something to Chernor, patted him on the shoulder. Chernor Windborn was one of the biggest Seraphim she’d ever seen, making even Loramere look small by comparison. He had the same build as Brad, and Bree wondered if Instructor Dohn had given Chernor similar harassment because of it. His black hair was twice as long as Olivia’s, tied back in a ponytail with a pale blue cloth.