Warrior Queen - Karpov Kinrade Page 0,8

of the spider silk in her beak and flies across the chasm, wraps it around a bridge post and flies back.

As I tie my end, Nefeli pushes, “Then, what is this answer?”

“I need your help,” I say. “We’ve got to get the townspeople out of their houses and onto the streets. Wake them up, do whatever you have to do. Try freeing Hailey. Just get them out and let them know I’m back. It’s imperative.”

“Very well,” she says, fluffing her feathers a bit.

After that, we work in silence. From time to time, I check to make sure Clay’s men aren’t catching on to us, but they don’t. I guess a white raven flying back and forth across the chasm isn’t all that unusual for them. We continue wrapping the ends of the Arachne’s silk around the bridge posts as together, we weave an invisible bridge.

Finally, our task is done, and the instant I tie my last knot, I pocket the rest of the silk and grab the guide threads.

The bridge is sturdy, and while it’s basically a collection of tightropes, they don’t budge an inch. It works.

“Don’t look down,” I tell Cerb as he barrels after me.

I’m halfway across when I catch a movement from the corner of my eye and glance over to see the manticore slinking over a section of fallen roof. Its head is turned my way like it’s studying me, but I’ve nothing to worry about. Not with Cerb at my side. The creature watches us leave, flicking its tail in the light of the rising moon like a frustrated cat. It knows better than to attack. One swipe of Cerb’s paw would break every bone in its body. I can only hope that Clay’s men will have the same hesitation.

Then, my feet are on solid ground.

“Hurry,” I tell Nefeli. “It’s time to take back my queendom. Clay’s reign of terror ends tonight.”

“As you wish,” Nefeli caws.

She flies off as I move through the shadows with as much stealth as I can muster.

Ahead, my palace is alive with light. Torches spit in the night air, casting shadows that dance over the outer walls. I count the pikes on the wall. Eighteen. Eighteen heads of my people. I clench my fists tight.

Laughter rings through the night, and I wave for Cerb to wait in the darkness before creeping closer to crouch behind an olive tree. A few seconds later, a company of soldiers in leather armor arrive at the mouth of the road leading down to the town below. They’re greeted at the palace entrance by a few guards. None give the temple ruins a second glance. Obviously, they don’t even consider an attack from this direction. I snort and grip my spear tighter. Their mistake.

Once the men vanish into the palace, I dart forward, but when I reach the line of heads, I pause long enough to stare at each one. It’s an acknowledgement of their suffering—and a vow.

“Justice,” I whisper as anger burns. “I’ll bring you justice. I swear I’ll make Clay pay.”

When I reach the end, I bow my head in a last sign of respect, and head for the section of wall where the palace is built directly into the cliff. Part way around, I see a ledge of rock with tree branches hanging over the wall. There’s a lip of rock running along the perimeter that leads to it, wide enough for me to inch along if I plaster my back flat against the wall.

I grin. My way inside.

After taking only a few steps, I glance at my feet. Big mistake. It’s dark, but there’s enough moonlight reflecting on the town’s rooftops far below to drive home the point that one wrong step and there’s nothing between me and them but air.

I draw my breath in a hiss but keep going. I’m nearly at the ledge when the ground beneath me rumbles.

It’s Cerb, clambering after me.

“Stay, boys,” I hiss, twisting to shoo him back.

All three heads flatten their ears, but Cerb keeps coming, crawling over the rocky ledge like a spider, finding footholds on protruding rocks more than ten feet below and half clinging to the wall. Each step dislodges chunks of rock, sending them cascading into the valley below.

The ground under my feet cracks. “Back, boys. You’re too big.”

But it’s already too late. A section of stone vanishes under my left foot. Then, they’re all crumbling, and I run for it. I dive headlong onto the flat shelf of rock as