Endure - Sara B. Larson Page 0,76

Armando had framed in his library had somehow found their way inside of my body and were digging into my belly and lungs and heart.

After passing through the destroyed wall, The Summoner grabbed my horse’s reins and tied them to his saddle as he usually did for the long treks during the day, rather than holding them. King Armando must have been very certain of his victory, if he was confident enough to tear down such a huge undertaking for the sole purpose of letting his men through faster. The army was rushing forward into the city, breaking into the closest homes and shops, pillaging for anything of value. The sounds of their destruction sent a spike of fury boiling through me. It was good that these families had fled, that they weren’t being killed by Armando’s army. But it still broke my heart to see their homes, their gardens and belongings, being torn apart, set on fire, or stolen.

As we passed through the city, I made myself turn away to stare at the massive Naswais Mountains, which jutted up into the sky above the rooflines of Bikoro, far beyond the destruction I was being forced to witness. The peaks disappeared into the dark, roiling clouds of the storm that still spat rain down on us. In the distance, a lone bird of some sort circled in the sky, its wings spread wide, nearly touching the clouds. For a moment I imagined I was that bird, free to soar away from everything.

Before long, the army had completely taken over the city, filling it like dark ants, with their black hoods pulled up against the rain. The Summoner rode to the end of the houses, where King Armando sat upon a massive black stallion. The horse’s nostrils were flared and he kept tossing his head, especially as we drew closer to him.

“We will stay here tonight,” King Armando said in Antionese, for my benefit. “Let the men feast on their spoils and enjoy roofs over their heads.”

The Summoner nodded. “They will enjoy that, Your Majesty.”

The king laughed, a sound tinged with viciousness. “I don’t care if they enjoy it. I just need them full and rested, because tomorrow, we are burning down a jungle.”

I forced myself to stay still, to not reveal my shock. “Your Majesty, there’s a road — just there.” I tilted my head toward the muddy path that wound away from Bikoro and on into the jungle, since I couldn’t lift my hands to point — the same road that would take them directly to Tubatse and the palace if they followed it long enough. “There’s no need to burn the jungle down.”

King Armando’s gaze fell on me and he smiled, a cruel twist of his mouth. “Do you think I honestly care about protecting this horrific excuse for a kingdom? Why do you think I sent Hector to be king of this one, rather than letting him have Dansii, even though Antion is closer to Blevon?”

I clenched my jaw, refusing to respond to him. It had been foolish of me to say anything to begin with. Now he would only be more determined to destroy Damian’s kingdom — my home — if only to make me suffer.

“I let him fight the battles for me, to weaken Antion and Blevon, while I worked to create sorcerers who were powerful enough to accomplish my ultimate goal.”

I thought about what Rylan had overheard — the rumors that he’d grown nervous and impatient because I’d killed some of his most powerful sorcerers. The ones he’d spent so long creating. Was that why he was suddenly moving forward now?

“For years and years, I worked and waited,” he continued. “It takes time to destroy kingdoms, but I was patient. And now, finally, I will take what is mine.” His smile slid away and his voice turned cold. “We will burn it all.”

I stared past him to the jungle. His black sorcerers could do it, with their unnatural fire. Even if I did escape, there was no way to stop him from destroying Antion.

“Keep her with you,” the king said to The Summoner, brushing us off. “And make sure you get some rest tonight as well. I need you in the morning.”

The Summoner nodded. “Yes, my king.” Then he turned his horse back toward the city, taking me with him.

The Summoner found one of the bigger houses to stay in for the night. He released our horses in the fenced corral out back, letting