Page 145 of Earthbound

Something eased deep within Yeeran, a muscle she didn’t know she’d been straining. She laughed with relief, tears stinging her eyes. Giving up was exhilarating–she’d never done it before.

‘Now it’s time to lay down your weapon,’ Golan said with triumph. His eyes also burned bright with unshed tears.

Many of the Lightless were sobbing freely.

‘It feels good.’ Yeeran smiled and looked to Furi, who caught her eye. She was smiling too.

It was done.

Furi turned back to the crowd. ‘You have made your will known. For those who wanted to fight, know that we still fight for who we are. But now it is time to stop enduring, now is the time to thrive.’

There was no cheer, no smiles, but the relief was palpable. It rippled through Mosima like a breeze, smoothing brows and straightening wrinkles. Many people were embracing, others clutching hands; even those who voted to fight seemed swayed by the course of the tide.

No more were they at war, and that was freedom enough.

‘Go, pack your belongings, be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. We do not know how or when the elves will strike once we open the tunnel to surrender,’ Furi instructed her people.

The crowd began to disperse just as quickly as it had gathered. They had made the decision and now they had to be prepared to carry it out.

Golan and Yeeran waited by the stage for the royals.

‘Did I see you vote for surrender?’ Furi asked Yeeran as she helped her down the steps.

‘Yes, you were right. There would be nothing to be gained by war, only more death,’ Yeeran said.

Furi brought Yeeran’s hand to her lips and kissed the centre of her palm. ‘I’m glad this vote didn’t go against you. I don’t like disagreeing.’

Yeeran let her hand linger on Furi’s neck. ‘Are you sure about that? Because you always seem to love arguing about who’s going to be on top.’ She was rewarded by feeling Furi’s flush run from her chest to her neck.

Furi’s mouth opened to retort back, but Rayan interrupted her with a gasp. His eyes were unfocused, his expression grave.

‘Ajax is free,’ Rayan said urgently. ‘Lettle…Lettle’s in danger. No, oh three gods, no.’

Yeeran gripped Rayan’s forearm. ‘What do you see?’ she asked urgently.

Pila, be ready.

I’m coming.

Rayan turned to Yeeran, tears in his eyes. ‘She’s by the boundary—’

‘Is she hurt?’

Then all blood drained from Rayan’s face. ‘We need to go, now.’

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Alder

Seeing Lettle give up terrified Alder more than anything else he had seen that day. Her scream echoed around the camp, lifting the hairs on his arms.

When she was spent, Malak laughed. ‘Keep it up, they might have even heard you in Mosima.’

‘Lettle,’ Alder said, trying to draw her vacant eyes to him. But she didn’t even twitch in his direction.

Panic surged through his body, as thick and hot as blood. He could not lose Lettle, she had been his anchor through everything. She knew all the parts of him and was the one person who could help him maintain the line between him and Afa.

And beyond that she was his friend.