From the Ashes by Josh Hilp

Author:Josh Hilp [Hilp, Josh]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-12-09T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

- Home Sweet Home -

Empress Reyla was standing atop the walls over the West gate of Selaffe for the second morning in a row. After they had not returned on the first morning, she wanted to send more people, but Easton had urged her to wait another day. If they sent another group, it would never catch them before they arrived at Slaver’s Bay. He’d also emphasized the concern if both Wes and Isabella failed in something of such importance.

So there she was, standing over the gates with Easton and Dalia beside her, and Wendra behind her practicing her forms, because she refused to both stop practicing, and to leave Reyla alone. But she wasn’t as scared as she’d thought she’d be, not as scared as she was on the day Alexis and Lily were taken. Because she trusted Isabella, and she trusted Wes.

And then she saw them, a group of horses riding up the Southwest road. Dalia must have seen them at the same time, as she called out to the gate guards below them. A dozen guards rushed out of the gate and stood in front of it, ready for whatever was coming down the road. As it became clear who the riders were, the guards relaxed, and Reyla took off down the stairs of the wall at a dead sprint, Easton hurrying after her, followed quickly by Dalia.

The Empress rushed down the stairs, and out of the open gate of the city, standing inside the ring of guards, but eagerly watching as the group, headed up by Isabella, got closer to the safety of the city walls.

After what felt like hours of waiting to Reyla, the group finally pulled into the ring of guards, and she saw Alexis on the back of Isabella’s horse.

“Alexis!” She shouted as she reached up and helped her sister off of the horse, holding her in a tight bear hug. “Are you okay? Did they hurt you? What happened?”

“Yes. No. And.” Alexis said as Reyla finally loosened the hug enough for her to speak as the rest of the horses rode into the city gates save Isabella’s and two others. “Wes killed a lot of people.” She said, pointing at one of the horses that had stayed behind, which contained Wes and Lily. Wes slowly dismounted, nearly falling as he landed, and then helped Lily down off of the horse. As soon as Lily was down, Wes was wrapped up in a similarly tight bear hug by the Empress.

“Thank you.” She whispered into his ear. “Anything you want, absolutely anything.” She said, pulling away from Wes, and bending down to hug Lily.

“No.” Wes replied as she stood back up.

“No?”

“I’d never ask anything of you.” Wes shook his head. “Not for something like this.”

“Thank you.” Reyla said, fresh tears in her eyes. “Are you alright? They said you were hurt fighting the demons, and then you left as soon as you got back.”

“I’ll live.” Wes nodded, his eyes betraying how mentally and physically exhausted he was in that moment of finally reaching safety.

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