Chapter73:A New Altinna

*Maerilee* The Oceanan army has breached the gates of our kingdom now that the barrier is down. We watch from above as their forces pour into the city, clashing with what remains of our warriors. Splintered wood and twisted metal lie strewn across the marble road like bones of a fallen titan. The Oceanans pour through the breach like a tide long held at bay. Steel flashes in the sun. Magic explodes in the air, shards of ice, jets of water, bolts of sky fire. The scent of blood clings to the wind, mixing with the acrid tang of smoke. Screams rise above the chaos, but I don’t flinch. I’m not afraid anymore. I can tell by their posture that our enemies think they have won. But they don’t know yet what’s happened. They don’t know their fates are sealed.  We fly down to the edge of the barrier, the gold of our wings catching the sunlight and glinting onto the battlefield. I had barely felt my wings in the moments after the binding ceremony, just a strange pull, a tingle along my back. But a