By the time Roxanne is certain that every assassin had been slain, including the infamous leader of the Black Covenant, Lord Umbra, the battlefield had already fallen into a chilling silence. Only then did Vivianne push open the carriage door, and the heavy air outside rushed in at once.
The iron-sharp stench of blood clung to the wind and slipped quickly into the carriage, thick enough to sting the nose. Vivianne calmly instructed the viscountess to close her eyes, then called upon Tempest's wind to swirl gently through the carriage, carrying away the worst of the metallic scent so that it would not suffocate those within.
"Vivian!" Roxanne's voice broke the silence as she rushed toward her before Vivianne's feet could even touch the blood-soaked earth.
