"Sophia." Kael's hand on my shoulder.
"We need to go. The wounded need attention. Black River needs us."
"Someone's been using Alaric," I said, my voice hollow.
"All this time, we thought we were protecting him. But someone's been turning him into... something."
"We'll figure it out," Kael said.
"But right now, our people need us."
He was right.
I could spiral into panic later.
Right now, there were wounds to tend. Dead to count. A kingdom to hold together.
I let Kael help me to my feet.
Looked out at the battlefield one last time.
At the bodies scattered across the blood-soaked ground.
At Seraphine's army, standing uncertain, leaderless.
"What do we do with them?" Kael asked, following my gaze.
"Let them go," I said.
"They followed Seraphine. Without her, they're just...
