"Come, Hemlock Witch!" Rastlan shouted from the back of his chariot as he gripped the shining Bow of Stars in his hand. "Protect your pathetic gate if you can!"
The soldiers galloping in circles at the bases of the towering pillars of swirling snow and crackling lightning ran even faster, and the pillars transformed into funnels pointing toward the ground. The edges of the funnels crackled with brilliant golden lightning even brighter than the fading light of the sun, casting momentary shadows across the people sitting atop the wall.
Isabell furrowed her brows, briefly wishing that Erkembalt had finished the spectacles he'd promised her that would help her to see the flow of power around Rastlan. At the moment, she barely had time to act if she was going to protect the people on the wall…
Or did she have time?
Rastlan was in no hurry. He was posturing and shouting his challenge… But he was also waiting. Waiting, she realized, for her to make a move of her own.
