The central tent was packed with freed soldiers—thirty men and women who had woken from Void corruption to find themselves in an enemy camp, surrounded by rebels, with no memory of how they had gotten there.

Their fear was palpable. So was their confusion.

"You are not prisoners," Queen Elara announced, her voice carrying the authority of someone born to command. "You are victims. The Void Emperor corrupted you, turned you into weapons against your own kingdom. We freed ...