Yun-Jin woke with the King's fingers under her jaw.
He held her up for the drones.
Blood had dried along one side of her face and glued strands of pink hair to her cheek. Her ribs pulled wrong when she breathed. One knee hung useless for a second before she forced feeling back into it.
The crowd above her sounded far away, packed behind glass and metal and money.
"Stay awake," the King said.
His voice sat near her ear, gentle enough for the broadcast to love.
Yun-Jin tried to pull away. His hand tightened with careful pressure, a reminder that he could smile while holding a throat.
Below them, Lieutenant Heissman was on his knees.
His helmet was gone. Blood ran from his hairline into one eye. He kept both hands wrapped around the hilt of a broken sword, using it like a post to stay upright.
Osalf stood in front of him with his blade raised.
The drones dipped lower.
