"And when we return to the city?" Ark pressed.
A shadow crossed Azrail's dark gold face, tightening the lines around his eyes. "I've split the militia; you know this. Zamanya will lead one half; you'll rally the rest when we figure out what we're up against here. Which frees me up to face whatever the hell Ismene is cooking up wherever she's crawled off to."
"She'll come for Maia," Ark said quietly, not wanting his words to carry to her fae ears.
Azrail nodded, his jaw clenched. "Without a doubt. It's personal now. With the way Maia humiliated her in front of the dark saint, she'll want to make an example of her."
"Is your power enough?" Ark asked, frowning at the Sapphire Knight. "To stop a queen and a saint?"
"We'd better pray it is," Azrail replied. "Because I don't want to know what Ismene will do now she'sreallypissed off. The crucifixion was just a taster; her next punishment will be much, much worse."
"Right," Ark said decisively. "The next time we have a day free, you're going to begin training with your magic. You need to know exactly what your limits and capabilities are, and it needs to be second nature by the time you face Ismene."
Azrail groaned. "I'm going to regret making you a general, aren't I?"
"Absolutely."