CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT The Battle to End all ThingsThe Swift swarmed over the battlements and I held my breath. I should have guessed they’d come. Despite the cold, their movements proved quick and accurate as they darted fast enough to devour bees still on the wing. My heart sank as the battled turned against us. I used my remaining arrows to spike numerous fleet black and white adversaries. One bolt took out two birds at once, but it made little difference to the multitude surging through the courtyard in wide circles which decreased with each pass. I saw the company of Swift riders appear below me, their dark cloaks billowing out behind as they commanded the dumb creatures overhead. Metal reflected the whiteness of the snow as they sent up their clockwork spies.
“It’s not fair!” Sorrel g
