Chapter List

he Warrior of the Sunrise wandered out of the coolness of the cave and shielded her eyes from the bright light of the Chaer afternoon.

“There she is!” a voice shouted. Jessica watched the other Ajan Warriors wave to her.

“Hi Alanna! Hi Ranko!” Jessica shouted, waving back. All of the girls rushed towards their friend at the top of the dusty path leading up into the North Bronzewing Range.

“So glad to have you back and in one piece,” Shannon said, exhaling heavily after their short run. “I’d hug you but those huge metal sunbursts on your armor are kind of sharp.”

Jessica Hoshi giggled and the Huntress couldn’t help but smile. The red and gold adorned warrior who had come to be known by the harmless-sounding name “Minstrel” had become the inspiration for the other Ajan Warriors, and her considerable powers had been the difference in too many battles to count.

The five warriors stood together more or less surrounding their leader. Shannon glanced at the formidable golden sword with the flame crossguards and shining citrine pommel stone in the scabbard at Jessica’s side. It was a weapon that commanded respect from the other Ajan Warriors, because they knew its history and purpose. On several occasions, Reina had explained why the celestium blade of the Sun was unique among the Ajan Treasures. Even the Vicereine had considerable regard for its power. Then the Huntress reached up and scritched Teko’s feathered head.

Alanna smiled a little too, watching the little white bird and his blond, blue-eyed keeper. Things had seemed so ominous while the Warrior of the Sunrise was missing from the group.

Ranko was especially glad to see Jessica again. The weight of leading the Ajan Warriors had been a strain, even though Ranko would never have admitted it. The Warrior of the Storms had not been able to employ her trademark “reckless” approach to combat, and that had been particularly frustrating and limiting for Ranko. Alanna made a point of reminding herself to congratulate the Crimson Champion for balancing her leadership responsibilities with her affinity for “throwing down,” as Ranko called it.

“What about Jarthius?” Talitha finally asked. “What did you see when his summon appeared?”

The bright and cheerful expression on Jessica’s face faded quickly. “It was a demon,” she said, quieting the others. “Sai Jarthius broke the summoning spell himself. One of his Legionnaires tried to distract me, but I saw him break his rune circle.”

The other warriors considered Jessica’s confirmation of their own fears solemnly. They had been right all along. Sai Jarthius deliberately sabotaged his own powers and set a demon loose in Bronzewing Rift with no regard even for the safety of his own forces.

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