The roar of the flames intensified as we advanced, their lingering tongues of red and yellow licking at our feet. Adaptive Resistance shielded us from the heat, but nothing could protect me from the sickening crunch of charred bone and armor beneath our feet, or the acrid scent of scorched flesh mingled with blood. I coughed as acrid smoke filled my throat and squeezed my eyes shut, as much to keep back tears as to shield them from the gruesome sight.
"Easy," Luxxa said, running close to me, her voice a steady anchor in the chaos. "Don't get squeamish on us now. The hard part's still to come."
I nodded, attempting to swallow past the dryness in my throat. Gritting my teeth, I steadied myself and urged Fable faster. The ashes of hundreds of soldiers swirled in the wake of our passage, leaving a gray cloud of embers in our wake.
"Gayron's something else, isn't he?" Jenna muttered, glancing back the way we had come.
