Bend Her novel · Chapter 23 of 24

Chapter 23: The Storm

Linnet's POV

The dawn horn blew three times, and the northern army began to move.

From the wall of the Hollow, I could see the whole pass.

The front ranks came on in good order, with spears up and banners snapping in a rising wind.

Behind them, the sky over the mountains had gone black.

"Storm," Ansel said, beside me. "A heavy one. It has been building since midnight."

"Good."

"Linnet?"

"I'm going to borrow it."

He did not argue.

He stood on my left, bare-headed, and put his scarred hand over mine on the parapet.

I felt the current rise in both of us, clean and bright.

Far down in me, I felt something else.

It was the old fear.

The square, the roofs, the screaming.

I knew exactly how easy it would be.

Eight thousand men stood packed in the pass between two cliffs.

I held enough fire in my hands to burn every one of them.

"Don't," Ansel said quietly.

"I'm not going to."

"I know."

"Then why did you say it?"

"Because you needed somebody to say it aloud."

I laughed, a short, shaky laugh.

Bess came up the stair with a pot of tea and a cloak.

She set both down on the stone without a word.

Then she stood at my right shoulder with her arms folded and glared down at the army.

A herald rode out ahead of the northern line, under a white flag, and stopped below the gate.

"Princess Linnet of Tarnmere!" he shouted. "My lord's bride!"

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