Kingdom of Ash

of Morath soldiers were trying to enter the
small, vulnerable passage. Manon slammed
the stone into the water before it. The Thirteen
dropped their stones as well, the splashes
carrying over the city walls.
More and more, each trip across the river
slower than the last.
But then there were rocks piled up,
breaking the surface. Then rising above it,
blocking out all access to the river tunnel. Just
high enough to seal it over—but not give a leg
up to the Morath soldiers swarming on the
other bank.
Abraxos’s breathing was labored, his head
sagging.
Manon twisted in the saddle to order her
Second to halt piling the rocks, but Asterin
had already done so. Her Second pointed to
the city walls above them. “Get inside!”
Manon didn’t waste time arguing.