For every fae creature we passed in the streets running toward the wall where the Summer court crept behind our enemies, three more were running the other way towards the designated point for evacuees. 

My boots were slick against cobbled stones still damp from last night's rain. Wet leaves stuck to walls, signs, rooftops, and everything else in the city on fire with autumn colors, though now with far more brown than I'd ever seen it before. 

Thanantholl was falling in more ways than one. The very trees mourned Baeleon's passing to the extent that I now spotted barren branches where there had been none before. And now the walls were under assault by the Winter court and Bara Khalja's horrid army of abominations. And the sad truth was that there was likely little we could do now but remove the most vulnerable civilians and watch the rest of it fall. 

Our footfalls were loud and rushed as we raced to the spot where we would push through to Aithne. I glanced at Schula, hoping she was right in her trust for the Summer court to help us. Technically they were cutting down our enemies from outside the city as surely as we were from within, but after our encounter at the outpost I wasn't so sure where Aithne's motivations might come from. 

So I clenched my jaw, squared my shoulders, and faced forward by Schula's side, ready to tear open a hole in the enemy.

And by the Mother and Stars, there was a lot of the enemy.

We hadn't reached the low cliff yet. Hadn't even come close, when we could see clear as day where the unnatural movements of the dead as they clamored over each other to reach the heights above my beloved Thanantholl, my home, and descend into the streets below.

"Fire!" A fae soldier yelled from in front of the oncoming enemy, and a line of bows released their arrows into the dead. Most hit, few stopped the bodies from their path. Without completely capacitating them, injuries didn't appear to stop them. 

I watched one particular arrow fly, piercing the eye socket of one such body. My stomach twisted violently when I saw that it wore a dirty, tattered Autumn court tabard. Ours. It was one of ours, from the battle in the valley.

"Don't look at them," Schula said, taking my hand. "Just... just look at the big picture. Don't try to look at the details."

I nodded, numb, and we rushed to the line of able fighters awaiting the enemy descent. 

"Lady Schula, and the Wyde Witch," one of the warriors announced, causing more heads to turn our way. 

"We need to punch through to the outside," Schula said. 

"Are you mad?" Snapped the one who had called for open fire on the enemy. "We need to repel them, not open the wall for them!"

I gestured to the wall they continued to clamor over, pulling down the earth and stone as they tore their desperate way into Thanantholl. 

"If we don't act soon there won't be a wall to defend anyway," I argued. "We just came from Varthas, we are to find an out for the evacuation, and we choose here."

The sirens still sounded in the background, adding a panic to the chilled air. The fae creatures standing here, firing arrow after arrow, and tending to the injured all heard. And none argued.

"Can I ask why here?" The warrior asked, less sharpness to his tone this time.

I gestured to the wall. "On the other side of the enemy from this point is a group of Summer court, fighting their way in."

Recognition crossed his features. "And the enemy of our enemy could be an ally."

"We need to get the ones who can't fight to safety before anything else," Schula said. "Let our warriors rise up without worry for the civilians."

The fae nodded sharply, turning to his line of fighters once more. "Bracken, Toulli, get under the lowest point of the wall and bring it down. The rest of you, ready an arrow or your magic and be prepared to unleash the seven hells on them!"

The resounding shouts and energetic thumping of boots and weapons told us all we needed to know about the Autumn warriors defending their home. We were all ready to do what needed to be done, even setting aside mourning for our fallen kin and king.

Schula and I watched as the two named fae pulled free from the line and rushed in. A big female with stark black antlers sweeping back from her head, and a male sprite of some kind or another that I couldn't identify with skin like cracked stone. They ran to a point in the wall where the top had already begun crumbling away under the constant strain from the risen dead that clawed at it tooth and nail. 

From below, the two fae landed a sudden and precise blow to the same place. The wall shuddered, but held. Not surprising that two fae alone couldn't knock it down, as it was intended to defend a city. But their blow was strong and swift, and the moment the first one had ended, they landed one again. 

Another and another, and more strikes against the wall until the shuddering of the foundation itself began to show cracks. The unbalanced enemy began to fall from the top. At first it was only one or two of the still-moving bodies which were quickly dealt with by the awaiting Autumn court. Then it was more, and still more. 

"We need to begin moving the evacuees," I said, turning to Schula who was watching the proceedings with strained eyes. 

She looked to me, then her eyes flickered into the heart of the city. "I'll get them, you get Spaulder. Meet back here."

"Right," I agreed, then I turned and ran for the gate.

Ash rained in the air heavier than ever. A whisper on the wind of the destruction that Bara Khalja's abominations brought in their wake. They made it hard to see, but not so hard that I couldn't find the giant black figure looming close to the battle at the gates. 

Bodies. Dead, injured, and somewhere in between, lined my way as I drew near. I tried not to look at the faces. Now was not the time to break down over more losses. The time for that would be after Bara Khalja was in his own grave, and DuVarick with him. When Thanantholl was free of these monstrosities and the survivors could rest. Rest, and mourn.

I could see the battle raging on. Perhaps with less fae than before, but still it lashed ferociously with the fire of the Autumn court against the endless onslaught of the moving dead. 

My one beacon of hope was the endless ferocity shining like a beacon in the heart of the battle. A dark blue creature of fangs and wrath, and a shining golden fae of swift strikes and fire. 

I ran to Spaulder, brushing my fingers along his smooth scales as I came to a halt at his feet. 

"Spaulder, we're evacuating the ones who can't fight," I said.

He brought his huge head around to face me, his golden eyes intent on my every word as he begun moving to his feet. Puko flapped up, weary of the movements of Spaulder's horns where he had been resting a moment ago.

"We're pushing through to Aithne," I said. "Even if it means taking our people to the Summer lands, we need to get them out."

He nodded. 'Understood, little one. Let us go then.'

He craned down in a motion I didn't need to ask for to understand as I climbed him swiftly, sitting at the base of his neck and holding on as he leaped into the skies above.

We circled around to the meeting point for the evacuees. Schula was there, herding them toward the wall. There were so many of them. Some holding bags, but most with nothing. The fear that clouded them was thick enough to grip my heart. So many uprooted lives. 

DuVarick would pay. Bara Khalja would pay.

'We need to tell Nassir and Eberon what's going on,' I said.

'It shall be done,' Spaulder promised. 'Where shall I place you?'

'There, by that wall,' I gestured out of habit, though Mother knows he couldn't possibly see me on his back.

'I will inform the others and return to you,' Spaulder promised as he descended. 

'Wait,' I said. 'Take me to Aithne instead.'

'And if she attempts to capture you?' Spaulder asked.

I snorted a laugh. 'She can try. I'm about to blast the enemy from behind in a shower of fire that will make room for the evacuation. If she wants to get in the way of that, Stars help her.'

Spaulder purred, a warm sound of merriment vibrating from his chest. 'Good. I shall take you there.'

And so he did. He flew over the wall, the enemy paying no attention to us as we drew low and he landed outside the city. Past the battle, and behind the Summer court, I slid off of Spaulder's back and he took to the skies again. 

Adjusting the strap over my shoulder of the bag I still carried with me, my eyes searched for which Summer fae were watching me and whether or not I needed to be weary of them. 

Aithne appeared from the thick of battle. Bruised and bloodied, some of it was even hers. Her scale-patterned skin blazed with heat and her eyes hungry for the fight. She reminded me of Thain in that way, but not nearly as intense. 

"The Wylde Witch," Aithne addressed me. 

"I don't have time for your games, Aithne," I said. "I'm punching through this wall and bringing out my people."

She paused for a moment, her eyes flicking to the skies and back. "The dark spirit that was with you at the outpost. So he was a dragon."

"Yes, and our triquetram," I said. 

I could see the shape of her chest move as she sighed. "We have the same goal, it seems. Let's open up the wall."

"My people are free to go where they will, Aithne," I warned. "They do not belong to the Summer lands. Your laws are not ours."

She gave a dark laugh. "And where would they go, witch? My queen offers hospitality to the Autumn court, it is only you and Schula she has a special interest in."

Her eyes were intense, hungry, as they took in my every movement. Watching my face for something. Acceptance? Relent?

We didn't have time for this, I had to free the path for the evacuation. 

"Get out of my way before I consume you in flames," I threatened. 

Before she could say another word, my hands were stretched in front of me, consumed by brilliant purple flame as I drew the witching powers from around me and released. 

Large, billowing flames ate up the enemy ahead. I barely missed several Summer fae creatures, but I couldn't stop to mind their movements. They had the mind to get out of the way, the risen dead did not.

Hungry flames licked at the enemy, melting bodies and charring bone. Up, up it climbed with the crawling foes as their numbers threatened to overtake the wall of Thanantholl. But it was their crowded numbers that betrayed them, for as closely as they moved together in an unbroken chain, so too did they burn. 

Burning, burning in a purple hell of fire and anger. 

And ash. 

Dark smoke rose, a towering banner that promised more of this for any more who opposed me. I let it loose, not trying to control the smoke one bit as I locked eyes with Aithne.

This was a warning, and a promise. She could try to take me after this was all over, but it would not be without a terrible fight. 

The enemy burned away, but so did I. Strain from the overtaxing of my magic backlashed tenfold. I gritted my teeth, locking my knees to keep upright as I fought more power through my fingertips. Flames, rising flames to burn down the dead. 

I chocked, coughing up black smoke as my arms finally fell from the exertion. 

Movement to my left caused me to turn my head. The Summer court were moving my way. Slowly, but I still caught the movement. 

But my heart sputtered and my head spun. 

"Don't come any closer!" I warned, but my voice was even weak.

Mother, what had I done? My body was failing hard, and if I blacked out from emptying my powers again...

Roaring. A terribly screeching in the sky as the rush of comforting wind from overhead drew closer.

The Summer court backed away, making room for the giant black dragon to land. I even saw the first signs of the Autumn court through the now crumbling wall, a bright white fae in the lead as she pushed aside the last remnants of the enemy that hadn't quite burned.

With a hard shudder of the ground itself, Spaulder landed. He stood with his back to me, facing Aithne. He said nothing, or at least nothing that he let me hear, until Schula could make it to my side. Puko flapping behind her.

"Wren!" She called as she came to a stop at my side. "Wren, are you okay?"

"Yeah," I said softly. "But I'm spent."

She leaned over and propped me up against her. "I've got you, but we have to move. Spaulder! Can you carry her while I help the others?"

Spaulder, instead of answering, let out a dramatic roar. Probably just to remind Aithne exactly who was here to watch over me. Puko cawed out as well, even as he clung to Spaulder's horns. Then, the great black dragon turned and allowed Schula to help me onto his back. 

With smug satisfaction, I watched as Aithne and her court could only watch while the Autumn creatures poured out of the wall. Tens, hundreds, they came out as quickly as they could, helping each other the whole way. Stepping over charred earth and rotten bodies, following Schula's every direction. 

The last of them were only just outside the walls when the first tremors started. 

"What?" I managed to say just as the shaking of the ground grew strong enough that Spaulder had to flap his wings to stay upright. Everything shook, and more than a few people fell from the force of it. 

"Faster!" Schula called out. "Whatever is about to happen, we don't want to be near it!"

My heart froze.

'This could be as the valley was, little ones,' Spaulder warned. 'Quickly, on my back. We guide the Autumn court to safety.'

I had no words. No protest to give, though every part of me screamed for something I couldn't quite name. Thain. Eb. Thanantholl. Everything we were leaving behind. 

For some reason the fact that evacuating the city would mean I was leaving with them hadn't occurred to me. And now, there was no turning back.

Schula climbed onto Spaulder right behind me just as another tremor hit. Spaulder held his ground, not budging and watching over the Autumn people as they recovered and raced forward.

'Where do you wish to go?' Spaulder asked.

"We go to..." Schula called out, an attempt to lead the evacuation to safety. But she hadn't thought of the answer yet, and her words fell away. 

"Take them to Yusellia," Aithne called up to Schula. "You have my word they will be housed."

"And what of us?" I snarled. 

Aithne met me with a hard expression, but no answer.

Another tremor. This one was big, it shook more fae of their feet than the others had. I looked up to Thanantholl, and I couldn't see much through the haze of dust and ash. Wetness hit my eyes as all the air was knocked out of me. What was happening to Thanantholl? What was happening to my city?

"Fine!" Schula cried out. "Autumn court... to... to Yusellia. To the Summer lands."

The evacuation looked up at us on the back of a great black dragon. A walking myth, with a living elf and witch at the side of DuVarick's daughter. What a sight we must have been.

But they were desperate. No matter what they may have thought of us, they listened. The Autumn court marched for the Summer lands.

And as Spaulder took to the skies to fly the lead, I affixed my eyes to Thanantholl until it disappeared behind us. 

Dust, ash, and ruin.