Chapter 24

She ran back to Yaliana’s side. “I lit them.”

“I can see that,” Yaliana said, her voice breathy. “Thank you.” She squeezed Yaliana’s hand and smiled.

From overhead, the sound of aircraft coming in began. Soon, Yaliana ducked her head as the resulting wind flung grit into the air. Knights in heavy armour came running to them, and without any fuss, scooped them up, bringing them to the aircraft. They strapped Ulissa into a seat, then saw to Yaliana.

The knights put her on a stretcher. They redressed her leg and administered a shot of what Ulissa assumed was an antibiotic. She was too far away to reach, and so Ulissa unstrapped herself in order to sit beside Yaliana on the floor.

“Miss, you need to be strapped in,” said one of the knights.

His name was stamped on his armour. “Gevery,” she said, “I’m not going anywhere. Just let me be.”