ch I did, and which I have done ever since. Gareth never came back. I still have his sword and ring, but only because I hid like a coward while he gave his life for his people. I was never anointed, I never asked to be his heir, and I certainly won’t stand before his people and claim otherwise.”
Silence followed, then Basil said, “Gareth adopted you. That means he chose you as his heir.”
“Well, I don’t want it. Not that way.”
“How can you be this selfish?” Trina’s face twisted in anger. “When did this rebellion become about what you want?”
“It’s never been about what I want!” Now my own temper flared, and it was all I could do to keep my voice down. “I fought when I was ordered to and killed when I had to, every single time hoping this would be the moment that made a difference! And finally, through battles and chaos and every kind of treason, I found someone that I want to make part of my life, but she’s gone now. Accuse me of being foolish, or shortsighted, or cowardly, but don’t you ever say that I am here because this is what I want!”
“Hush!” Trina said, her eyes locked forward.
Commander Mindall had fallen to the side of his soldiers, waiting for us to catch up. I worried that he’d overheard me, but instead he fell in beside Basil as Trina and I rode directly behind them.
In one hand he carried a halberd, which he handed to Basil. “Your weapon of choice, I believe?” Basil thanked him, but Mindall immediately moved on to strategy. “Captain Tenger informed me of the Dominion’s plans. I’ve ordered a full defense of Nessel, and of all the Hiplands. It’s time for the Halderians to stand our ground.”
“That ground is not worth their lives,” Trina said. “Sooner or later, the Dominion will break through whatever defenses you have in place, and they won’t distinguish between a Halderian with a weapon and a civilian.”
“Send them to Reddengrad instead,” Basil offered. “We’ll offer protection to your civilians in exchange for your soldiers fighting with us against the Dominion.”
Mindall laughed. “You mean, in exchange for our men dying for you? It is not our fault that the Dominion is headed our way. That blame rests with Kestra Dallisor.”
“How is it her fault?” He must’ve sensed my irritation for he reacted with a sharp turn of his head.
But Mindall quickly recovered to say, “The Infidante was supposed to marry this prince of Reddengrad beside me. If she had, the Dominion would have had their alliance. But thanks to her defiance, my people are facing extinction.” Addressing Basil again, he said, “We’ve worked hard for what little land we have. I won’t lose it.”
“What if you had a king who ordered otherwise?” Trina asked. I cast her a glare, but she ignored me.
Mindall turned back to her. “The Halderians have not had a king since Gareth was executed by the Dallisors three years ago.”
“He might’ve named an heir.”
Now Mindall turned his horse to face her directly. “Gareth died after living alone in hiding for some time. He could not have named an heir, and if he had, surely that person would have come forward by now.”
“Sir,” one of Mindall’s men said, a note of warning in his voice.
But Mindall continued, “The Halderians have no king, and the Infidante is missing. I am in command.” His eyes shifted to me. “We welcome your help in fighting alongside our people. With a little luck, a few of us might survive.”
After that he signaled to his men to pick up their pace. We followed, but I felt as if a stone had lodged in my gut. When had the Halderians ever benefitted from a little luck?
It surely wasn’t now. Because one of Mindall’s men, highest on the hill of the road ahead, suddenly called back, “The Dominion! They are coming!”
I withdrew my sword and turned my horse to get a look for myself, but the worst of my imagination could not have prepared me for what I saw in the distance. Hundreds of Dominion soldiers were on the march toward us. Most were on foot, but with a garrison this size, I knew Endrick would also send his oropods and giant condors and every other foul creation of his magic. We were now only skimming the surface of the battle that was coming for us.
Trina was beside me but leaned forward in her saddle and squinted ahead at a horde of four-legged hairy beasts trampling over everything in their path. “I think those are carnoxen.”
I hadn’t heard of them and apparently, neither had Basil, but between us, Trina cursed and added, “The carnox has the body of an ox but the ferocity and speed of a wolf. Their flesh is thick and leathery, so you’ll have to stab direct and hard. Above all, don’t let them gore you with their tusks. That’s how they tear their prey apart.”
Basil had a sword but reached for his new halberd instead, rotating it with one hand as if he’d fought with one many times before. I doubted it would be enough for the creatures who were quickly approaching. However, before either of us could act, Mindall rode up near us.
“How fast can the three of you ride?”
“Fast.” Trina didn’t blink as she spoke.
“I’ve already sent my daughter to Nessel, and she has no idea any of this is coming.” Mindall gathered his reins in his hands. “I need you to ride ahead and warn my people to arm themselves.”
“You see now what we’re facing,” I said. “Send your people to Reddengrad.”
I noticed that Mindall had been examining my sword as I spoke, but if he recognized it, he said nothing. Instead, he stifled a deep cough before saying, “Anyone who can hold a weapon will stand at the gates of Nessel and defend it. We’ll try to delay them here, but we might only give you until dawn to be ready.”