Siege (The Warrior Chronicles, #5) - K.F. Breene Page 0,93

what the Joining was.

She closed her eyes, not having to block out the encroaching enemy or the thought of losing everything yet again—Cayan was already doing that. He was shielding her from reality while she tapped into that place deep inside. She thought of her family, who had given their lives for their people. Her grandfather, who had stayed behind in that first battle so that he might guide the next generation. The ghosts of her people drifted around her, clenching her heart and bringing tears to her eyes. She thought of her people, reunited at last. Of Rohnan, prepared to give his life for her, and traveling the land to find her again and give it all over again if need be. Then the boys and girls who trusted her with everything they had. Who allowed themselves to be beaten and battered, to be tricked and fooled, to be shoved into battle and then marched to unknowing places, all because of their love for her. And their belief in her cause.

Tears came to her eyes as emotion rode everything. She felt the power rising up around her, carrying both her pain and hope, and then blasting out in all directions. It blanketed the city, sifted down into locked homes and wrapping around scared or angry citizens. She felt the people latch on, picking one emotion or more, and gripping with all they had.

“Now it is my turn,” Cayan said softly. The blast of power sparkled. The hope turned into a tangible thing, injected with Cayan’s confidence. Urgency fueled the power, not pleading for aid, but appealing for people to fulfill their own destiny, to grab their freedom with both hands.

He was giving them a silent call to action.

One by one, she felt people moving. They left their homes and walked outside. Some climbed the roofs. Some swirled in heat and vengeance. Some drifted with aid and healing in mind. She called the people; he would lead them. They were the Chosen.

“What the fuck is going on?” Sanders stalked up with a surly expression. “We’ve got a mass of Graygual headed this way, sir. You need to put that woman down.”

Cayan stepped away from Shanti with the fizzle between them strong. In a voice that carried to the whole of the army, he said, “Today we unite the people against all odds. Today we claim our freedom. Together!”

A cheer went up, bolstered by the power that still blanketed the city. Locals on roofs pumped their fists as the army shouted. Across the city, Shanti felt the Shadow Lord and Portolmous organizing their people.

“Today, we fight!” Cayan started walking. Another cheer went up as the army started walking with him. People moved across the rooftops. Ladders were thrown over the sides and boards dropped between buildings, letting them travel where they would, unimpeded by brick walls.

A roar and the sound of running boots echoed all around them. Shifting leather and clinking metal announced someone coming. A blast of mental Gift slapped her shields.

An answering roar of pure, raw power erupted from Cayan in thick, heavy waves. As the Graygual came into sight, filling the streets and running at them with swords in their hands, the torrent of pain rammed them, dropping them to their knees. Another deep, earth-shaking blast battered them, shaking them to the ground with the awesome might. Shanti whipped and slashed with her Gift, using the power to splinter the Inkna shields.

Like an avalanche, the third force joined the mental fray. Power rolled and heaved before crashing onto the Inkna. Their brains, exposed by Shanti, suffered from a dexterity of power that could only come with a lifetime of use. The Shadow people held apart those shields, preventing them from being reconstructed, while the Shadow Lord brutally beat and scraped at their fragile minds.

Arrows rained down from above as Shanti ran forward. Sword in action, she hacked down at a Graygual, cutting off his hand at the wrist. Whirling, she slashed through a ribcage and then kicked out, catching someone in the chin. She slashed down, chopping halfway through his neck before she ripped her sword out and shouldered into a Graygual.

Cayan slashed the Graygual’s back, making him scream and convulse, allowing Shanti to knock him away. More arrows rained down behind enemy lines. Rocks flew from rooftops, along with anything else they could find.

“Push them toward the Shadow Lord,” Cayan yelled, movements so fast they were hard to see. He slashed and cut, a perfect specimen. His