28. Firion

Chapter 28

Firion

A drenaline coursed through my veins as I leaped off the back of the mundrek, landing squarely on the ground. If only I had more than a simple stone blade in my hand. It would have to be enough. I positioned myself between Talia and the oncoming threat, my body tense and ready for battle.

“Stay on the mundrek,” I told her, my voice steady despite the pounding of my heart. “If you see an opening, ride hard into the forest. Don't stop, and don't look back.”

“Firion, no—”

“I will do everything in my power to keep you safe. Trust me?”

Her choked sob rang out and I heard, rather than saw, her maneuver the mundrek to the side to keep it out of the skirmish. Davon's mundrek sidled over to Talia's, though my friend was already on the ground, the crystal sword in his hands. He watched the Veerenads come close with a grim expression, and I was grateful I'd be fighting them, not him.

As one of the Veerenads lunged toward me, another took on Davon, the third hanging back but working his way around to the right to flank one of us. He appeared to be ignoring Talia. Good.

I pivoted, narrowly avoiding the thrust of the first Veerenad's spear. With a swift, upward strike, I slashed at his arm, drawing a hiss of pain from his throat. Though smaller than the Veerenad's weapon, my knife was razor-sharp and deadly in my hands.

Davon’s sword clashed with the second Veerenad's spear with a sound that made my teeth vibrate. He moved with fluid grace, his larger size and strength giving him an advantage as he forced his opponent back.

I ducked beneath a swipe from the Veerenad's claws and drove my shoulder into his midsection, knocking him off balance. My knife found its mark, cutting through the scaled armor that protected his torso. He roared in pain, lashing out blindly in an attempt to land a hit.

My muscles coiled as I dodged another attack, my blade slashing through the air with a lethal gouge. The Veerenad's eyes flared with rage, but I wouldn't let up. Every instinct screamed at me to protect Talia, to end this threat quickly and efficiently.

Sweat beaded on my forehead and stung as it dribbled into my eyes, but I didn't dare wipe it away. Instead, I used the momentum of my opponent's wild swings to my advantage, wearing him out while dancing around him with practiced ease. The stone knife felt like an extension of my arm, its edge hungry for another taste of the enemy's blood.

To my right, Davon moved with strength and skill. The crystal sword in his hand sang through the air, deflecting the Veerenad's spear, again and again. Their clashes rang out, echoing in the forest.

A cry overhead made me blink. It sounded like my ryvar, Perrin, but it couldn’t be. I didn't look up but kept my attention on the Veerenad, slicing at his thick hide when I could and deflecting his blows before spinning or tumbling out of his reach.

The third Veerenad made his move, attempting to circle around Davon's flank. But my friend was ready for him, and his sword arced through the air, its crystal surface gleaming in the sunlight. The Veerenad backed away with a snarl.

Enough of this play. With a growl, I lunged, driving my knife deep into the Veerenad's side. He howled, his spear falling to the ground as he stumbled backward, clutching at the wound.

My gaze met Talia's, who watched the fight with terror blazing in her eyes.

“Remember what I said,” I called out. “Run if you have to.”

Davon grunted and landed a powerful blow, his sword cutting through the second Veerenad's spear and biting into his shoulder. The lizard male's roar was cut off when Davon neatly lobbed his head off his body.

The third Veerenad howled out a battle cry and loped toward me, his spear lifted. I braced myself to take on this new challenge. But then a shadow passed over us. My ryvar, Perrin, with someone mounted on his back, dove down, his enormous wings folded back to increase his speed. His sharp talons stretched out, ready to snatch up his prey. His powerful hind legs struck the lizard with full force, carrying them both to the ground. The Veerenad snarled and thrashed, but with one snap of his beak, Perrin ended the lizard’s existence. The male’s body went limp.

My breathing raging, I stood where I was, my knife still clutched in my hand.

The battle was over. We'd won.

“Brother.” Nevarn leaped off Perrin's back and while my ryvar scanned the area with his dark eyes, my brother strode over to me, his silver hair shining in the sunlight and his teal eyes gleaming with concern.

“Nevarn?” I croaked.

“I'd say I got here at the right time.” A hint of a smile tugging at the corners of Nevarn’s mouth. Striding close, he clapped a hand on my shoulder, squeezing.

“I believe you did.”

Grinning, we grasped arms and then hugged.