Witch Fall(50)

Lilette turned at a flurry of movement off to the side. A girl wrapped her arms around one of the older women. “No, Grandma, don’t,” she begged.

The older woman hugged her fiercely. “Just don’t—” She shuddered and took a calming breath. “Just don’t waste it.” Another keeper pulled the young girl away.

Sash was crying hard now. “It’s not enough.”

“Keepers, what is your answer?” Chen asked again, his patience obviously gone.

“There aren’t enough.” Sash wiped her cheeks. “You older women—those of you who are injured—you won’t be able to run. This way if you die, you’ll be dying for something.” Four of the younger keepers joined them.

Sash gave a shaky smile. “Does anyone have any water? We’ll be able to last longer with it.” A few water skins were passed forward.

“Thank you, your sacrifice—” Sash began.

“They’re forming a circle! Charge!” Chen cried.

“Form up!” Sash ordered. “We’ll clear the courtyard and guard your backs. Creators’ mercy, I hope you make it.”

The women curled into a circle, eight women strong. “Get down,” Sash said.

All the witches and guardians around the circle dropped, Lilette and Han half a beat behind. The other witches joined hands, their song shooting forth just as the elite surged forward.

The barrier again rose into the sky. A shock wave rippled out from the witches, whipping the flames from the dying tree and flinging the brittle, burning branches into the nearby elite.

The witches sang three times, their songs dark and deadly. Then Sash rose into the night sky and sang with the combined power of many.

“What is she doing?” Lilette asked.

Jolin covered her head with her hands. “Fighting.”

The ground beneath Lilette shook as if the whole world was being rent asunder. Han pulled her into his arms, his body hunched protectively over her—just as his brother had done earlier.

In the city, more buildings collapsed. Lilette knew innocent people were dying, and a piece of her seemed to wither and die with them.

A jagged wall of earth rose between the palace and the city, cutting the army off. The witches in the circle started a new song, their faces determined. The sky turned dark. Black clouds boiled above them, lightning flashing along the bottom. Rain pelted them. Within a matter of seconds, dozens of lightning strikes flashed down inside the compound.

Lilette thought of all those women and children in the harem, and her blood turned to ice. “Lang got her out,” she said to herself. “He got her out!”

Han held her tighter. After what felt like forever, the strikes stopped. Opening her eyes, Lilette braced herself on her arms. Shouts rose up from behind them. She shifted, bits of earth scraping under body. The elite were coming at them from along the outside of the ramparts. Within moments, they would be surrounded.

“Go!” Sash cried. “Before it’s too late!”

Han lunged to his feet and took up position behind them. It was time to run again. Water dripping from her face, Lilette surged back through the crumbled brick ramparts with the rest of the keepers.

The unmistakable smell of burning flesh assaulted her senses as she entered the compound. Rain pounded her hunched shoulders, and she started forward into the ruined garden.

All around her were the still forms of the dead. Steam or smoke, perhaps both, rose from their bodies. A small cry of pain rose involuntarily from deep inside her, and she found herself looking for Chen’s body.

Han wrapped his arm around her shoulders and turned her face away. “Don’t look.”

She leaned into him, focusing only on his chest as they stumbled through the pathway of the dead. She had the distinct impression her body would soon falter. She was so far beyond the limits of her strength, but there was no choice but to go forward.

Behind them, lightning struck down the imperial soldiers in the city—the circle was attacking the army now.

The harem wall bordered the garden’s west side. Lilette gaze was drawn to it, but there didn’t seem to be smoke coming from inside. “They didn’t attack it.” Relief coursed through her. Even if Lang didn’t get Ko out, she might be all right.

When they bolted straight through the palace, eunuchs scattered in fear. The guardians flung open the palace doors and motioned for them to hurry. “Across the courtyard to the gates. Quickly now!”

But Lilette staggered to a stop. Before the gates, the ragged remnants of the palace elite had gathered. Geth pushed his way to the front of the group. He tipped his head toward Lilette and spoke low. “We haven’t time or numbers for a rear guard. Watch your backs.” Then he waved his sword above his head and sprinted forward. “Guardians, to me!”