Kingdom of Ash

throat.
But Bane soldiers were rushing to the gate
doors. Heaving them closed.
Aedion opened his mouth to roar at them to
stop. To stop, stop, stop.
Gavriel lifted his sword and dagger,
glowing golden in the dying light of the day.
The gate shut behind him. Sealing him out.
Aedion couldn’t move.
He had never halted, never ceased moving.
Yet he could not bring himself to help with
the soldiers now piling wood and chains and
metal against the western gate.
Gavriel could have stayed. Could have
stayed and pushed his shield back long enough
for them to shut the gates. He could have
remained here—
Aedion ran then.
Too slow. His steps were too slow, his
body too big and heavy, as he shoved through