Erenhall - , Later That Night
The whole kingdom was lit with fire and song. From the low towns to the high keeps, every brazier and hearth burned. Shadowspire's armies had been broken. Valen Ashencrow was dead. Ravenna Nightshade was dead. For the first time in a decade, people slept without fear of drums in the night.
In the king's chambers, the maps were pushed aside. Wine sat untouched. Kael leaned forward, Harlen stood with arms crossed, and Orion and Keiren gave their account.
Orion spoke first, voice rough from riding and shouting.
*Dragon's Teeth:*
"I caught Ravenna's host pulling back from Dragon's Teeth. She'd hit the western holds, burned two villages, and was dragging her undead south to join Valen. We struck at second watch. The shadow guard hit her flanks, Keiren's Ember's Fury broke her center previously . She escaped, but she lost half her rotborn. That's why she waited at the ridge instead of charging Redkeep. She needed time to rebuild."
Keiren took over, rolling his shoulder where armor had cooled.
*Redkeep Pass:*
"We rode north hard. Orion's Shadow Knights hit Valen's rear, I took Ember's Fury straight into the undead. Lilith tried to meet us. Didn't last. My fire's not Harlen's, but it was enough to turn her swarm to ash." He gave a grim nod to Harlen. "Close enough to make me sweat."
Orion continued. "Garrick Blaze held the breach with what was left of the Firemane Knights. Ellyn Ashclaw 'Ashclaw' Vorn fell taking down the second tower. Captain Dain Ironhand of the Stoneward Sentinels died covering the east wall. Lord Bran Hawkshield of the Skyfalcon Order went down at the breach, shield in hand. We arrived just in time. Garrick held long enough."
Harlen listened in silence until Orion finished. Then he asked the question that had been sitting on all of them.
"How did Ravenna die?" His voice was low. "She doesn't die at walls. If the battle turns, she retreats. Shadowspire doctrine. She'd have fallen back to the Citadel, licked her wounds, and waited ten years for another shot. I never expected her head on an arrow."
Orion's mouth twitched. "She expected the same. She thought me predictable. Thought I'd retreat to Erenhall for replenishment, not ride straight for her ridge. She called me out. I answered."
He set Ravenna's head on the table. The pale eyes were closed now.
"She raised the dead. I unmade them. She bound shadow. I am shadow. She tried to break me with a wave. I let go, and the dark swallowed it. My blade touched her throat before she understood."
Keiren added, quieter: "She never saw it coming. Neither did Lilith. Lilith ran. Ravenna didn't."
Harlen stared at the head, then at Orion. He didn't ask more. He didn't need to.
Kael finally spoke, looking between the two of them. "Then it's over."
Orion shook his head once. "The battle is. The war? That depends on who crawls out of Shadowspire next."
Outside, Erenhall kept celebrating. Inside, the men who'd won it finally let themselves breathe.