“Ah yes, the success of a stronghold burning to the ground. What a stunning accomplishment Morgana, capturing a city already being destroyed to prevent us from gaining one of the capitols.” Jeshau needled, sneering at the sights below. “Tell me, what will the emperor think of this loss?”

Her lip curled into a sneer and she swept out a hand to gesture at the fires below.

“This stronghold would have been doomed no matter who led the assault on their defences. If I recall correctly, you could not even pass their first wave. We lay waste to their precious homes, what is left has been fortified to withstand war and it is with that we shall rebuild. To weak to sacrifice themselves for the preservation of their secrets, we have many a hostage awaiting His Glory’s arrival.” She bit back, the short fuse of her temper already having run out with just a few short words.

She saw the victory in his eyes, and he crossed his arms.

“Who was it that caught some of those fleeing the city through their tunnels? Your show of force through those walls did not successfully capture the commanders, I did.”

“A truly stunning way to say that you didn’t have the strength to hold the offence. How proud the emperor must be, to know one of his ‘elite squadrons’ was useful for little more than capturing fleeing Earthborne.” Morgana taunted, enjoying the way his smile faded into a snarl.

His expression was dangerous as he began a leisurely advance, Morgana saying nothing but raising her chin in challenge. She could feel the magic that radiated off him as he finally came to a stop in front of her, close enough for his breath to just barely reach her.

“I could end this competition right here, right now. A single push, that would be all it would take. High enough up to look like an accident, there would be no one left to challenge me for the position of commander.” He murmured, his threat delivered as a taunt.

She surveyed him for a moment before reaching out, slender fingers trailing up over his arm to come to rest against the back of his head as she pulled him down closer to her. She tilted her head, a slow grin forming as fangs flashed.

“Then do it. If I managed to fail such a simple escape, I’ll be taking you with me. I won’t be losing to you darling, not now, nor ever.”

His gaze was unbroken as he watched her, before letting out a low laugh as a hand settled possessively on the small of her back. He took a step back from the edge, pulling Morgana along with him as they moved further onto the black stone.

“Now where would the fun be in that. Both our names tied to failure, left behind in the dust of the next war. No, not yet. I wish to see each and every earthborne fallen at our feet.”

At his words her expression darkened slightly, Morgana smoothly twisted from his grip approaching the small crevice against the cliff wall near the cave entrance. Reaching within she grasped one of the many tubes within, withdrawing it to reveal parchment encased in glass.

“What do you have there?” Jeshua questioned as Morgana withdrew the parchment within and unrolled it.

“Declaration of the emperor.” Morgana responded, “One that went out to a restricted number of captains tasked with front line assault.”

His expression twisted in displeasure, he could tell by the colour of the seal it was not something he had been privy to.

“I suppose it gives you great amusement to find yourself in possession of chosen knowledge?” He bit out, Morgana ignoring the opening his words left her.

“If it’s contents offered me any sort of joy I just might. As it happens, I find our newest direction repulsive to what I am here to fight.”

He took the orders from her outstretched hand, eyes scanning it’s contents quickly before with a series of curses he shoved it back into her palm.

“To integrate the Earthborne, because they have become accustom to our environment. He wishes for us to show mercy to them and their spawn?!”

The parchment crumpled in her hand, blackening with magic.

“He has entered into negotiations with the Earthborne, discussions of allowing their kind to settle amongst ours. The emperor is growing soft, swayed by the exotic gifts offered by those who would take our lands and home from us for the sake of war glory. Giving away pieces of these planes even after all that has been done.

Rage burned in Jeshau’s eyes and he watched as Morgana dropped the order of mercy, parchment becoming dust under her boot as she twisted her foot.

“He would call for our mercy after our sacrifice, how very Earthborne.” He spat the name like a curse, poison dripping from his words. “Wishing to save them and their homesteads.”

Morgana said nothing, but approached the cliffs once more. The wind blew the smoke away, allowing them to see the outline of the blazing buildings that stretched across the city.

“Is this not beautiful?” She breathed, “Their presence burning into ash. This to be our legacy, one he seeks to silence.”

She felt his approach, him hovering at her back so close they were nearly touching. He leaned his head down, breath ghosting along her ear.

“A legacy of blood and fire, this is your desire?”

The flames reflected in her eyes and she smiled, the expression chilling in it’s joy.

“The emperor may have his gifts, but we shall take our victory. There is no peace, not until we see every last Earthborne dead in the ashes of their cities.”

Without warning she was spun to face him, his eyes glittering with reckless abandon.

“Are you proposing an uprising? To turn the darkness against it’s ruler?” He purred, “You could serve as my right hand.”

“I do not bow.” She said slowly, sweetly, her smile betrayed by the venom in her eyes.

Morgana reached up, hand closing around his throat. Her nails pressed into his neck, leaving crescent indents on scarred skin, but Jeshau only laughed. A thumb ran lightly over her lip, swiping over the cut in its path. As he pulled away she could see her blood on his skin, Morgana gesturing to it. He only raised a brow, bringing it to his mouth and licking it away.

“You may not, but the emperor will. He has forgotten our place in this world, it is time to remind him.”

The bloodlust danced in Morgana’s eyes and with one last look below she turned on her heel and stalked towards the caves.

“The soil shall run red under the Earthborne.”

Jeshau only smiled at her words, cloak billowing as he followed her into the darkness.

Smoke hung heavy in the clearing they left behind, their magic lingering within the fire’s aftermath. A new war was brewing, one fuelled by the hunger for carnage. Yet, in that moment things held still, unchanging, the last moment of normality ticking away into nothingness.

“You left me alone. How could you?”

“I thought it was a test, I needed him to like me!”

“Right, so your dad is worth more than me. I was nice to you when no one else was! I didn’t have to be, but I thought you deserved it.”

“I never said I wanted you to do any of that. Don’t blame me for your stupid decision.”

“He doesn’t even like you for who you are.”

“You don’t understand. He’s my father. He’s the man I’ve dreamt of meeting since I was a baby. Since I knew that my dad wasn’t there. Since the day I realized no one wanted me, I’ve imagined a father who did just that. You can’t change me now. I’ve made up my mind. I thought you would understand. I guess I was wrong. Find Lorna yourself, and go back to your own dad. I don’t need you.” I turned my back to him.

“Jackson...” he sighed, “I didn’t mean for you to...fine. Fine, you know what? I’ll go. I hope you’re happy with a father who doesn’t care about you at all.”

“He likes me! He cares about me!” I wasn’t sure who I was trying to convince more: myself or him.

And a bonus second excerpt because I am happy and have written so much today:

“I know you want to get out of here, but we have to think reasonably. If we get careless, we could get killed out here.”

“Being killed would be better than living with it at this point.”

“Dammit, Jackson, snap out of it!” he screamed. I sat up, staring at him. “We are not going to die just because you’re upset your father didn’t want you, because I want you! And I’m not losing you! So you’re going to sit here and you’re going to eat the rest of this beef jerky, and then I am leading us until you’re feeling better and you can actually think clearly!” He snapped.

I lowered my head, but reached out my hand for the package. He handed it over, and I nibbled on a small piece. “What if I’m not hungry?”

“That’s a lie. That’s a lie and you know it. Eat.”