27. Tahlia

Chapter 27

Tahlia

T ahlia slipped through the sky end over end. Her view of Ragewing and Marius blurred, but the blood flecking out from the top side of Ragewing's tail was unmistakable. The bolt wasn't visible, but it had surely been the cause.

She hit the water hard. Cold enveloped her, but she couldn't be mad. At least it was water instead of cobblestone or one of Bodwin Bridge's spikey torch posts. Lungs burning, she swam toward the surface. She broke through at last, gasped, and looked up to check on Ragewing and Marius. They were no longer tumbling, and they had flown toward the city gates.

"Get her," Durniad commanded from the bank side.

His guards did as ordered, splashing into the drink after her, but the people of Midhampton were less than thrilled with the day's events.

The crowd shouted at Durniad.

"You tricked us!"

"We won't be shoved about with dark magic!"

Some were simply confused.

"What is going on?"

"Was that really a dragon or part of the magic?"

"Are you Unseelie, Durniad? Are you Fae?"

"Someone bring him down here to explain himself!"

Flustered, Durniad ignored the yelling and focused on Tahlia. She couldn't exactly remain in the water and no doubt Ragewing had to leave the city and find someone to patch him up. So she thought she might as well go along with the guards.

She swam over to them. "Fine. You have me. But be aware, fellas. The big red boy up there isn't the only dragon I know. And I'm pretty sure Big Red will return fairly soon and he will be powerfully angry."

The guards grabbed her under the arms and hauled her out of the slanted riverside. To their credit, though they paled at her warning, they held her tightly and didn't make a sound to give away their fear.

"Listen, I'm half-human. I am a lot like you. You can see this Durniad arsehead is a complete wreck of a person, right? Why follow him? The crowd is behind us. Let's overthrow him right now. It'll be fun!"

"Shut it, woman," the guard on her right snapped.

"Don't act like you're not thinking about it," she whispered as they dragged her toward their fool of a boss.

Durniad's dark blond hair stuck to his sweating forehead. He pointed at Tahlia with a thick forefinger. "I have a delightful surprise for you, my dear."

"I seriously doubt my reaction is going to match your expectations."

"No, you don't understand."

"I don't comprehend you? I agree."

The madman chuckled and came close. Tahlia could break out of these guards' sad little hold on her arms, but it would be smarter to wait for a better moment to escape. Granted, said adventure would need to happen before they locked her into a dungeon somewhere or lopped off her head or whatever sick stuff Durniad had planned for her.

"I am going to make you my queen."

Tahlia's mouth fell open. She nodded slowly and exhaled. "I have news that's going to disappoint you, good sir."

He frowned, then one of the guards holding Tahlia said,"She's mated to that Fae male on the dragon, my king."

Durniad waved off the man's words like they were annoying gnats. "We aren't in the Realm of Lights now, are we? We are in the human world. I can be her human husband. We will wash that Fae side right out of her."

"Why in the name of all the gods would you want to wed me? I loathe you. And let's get really honest here. I could kill you. Pretty easily."

A laugh boomed from Durniad as they started down the steps of the festival stage. Durniad must have ordered more guards into the streets because the crowd was breaking up now under the strike of clubs, swords, and fists.

"You entertain me, lady. Now, what is your name?"

"Why don't you call me whatever you like since you seem to think you're a god."

"I am rather like one, aren't I? Fully in control of my fate despite setbacks. I am unbeatable even without the crown."

"Are you though? Because my mate isn't finished with this fight. I can promise you that."

He chuckled again—a disgusting sound that included a sort of wheeze—and led his men forward. Tahlia didn't tug at her captors, but instead, she let them carry her along, giving herself some rest. She'd be slipping away shortly and she needed the energy to run and climb.

"Well, if I am going to be your sweetheart, maybe you could give me some food? I'm starving."

"Of course!" Durniad smiled at her over his thick shoulder. "You'll have everything you want. You'll be a queen. We will reign here on the off-seasons."

"Off-seasons of what?"

He lifted a hand. His sleeve fell back and a pirate's inking showed—this particular rendition being a skull and a sword. "Pirating, of course."

"Ah, yes. I forgot you don't restrict your arseholery to land-based situations."

"Such a naughty tongue."

"Please don't make a disgusting joke. That's such a droll, villain thing to do. Be more creative."

The madman's shoulders shook as he laughed. "I'll have to sharpen my wit for you, my dearest."

"Well, listen. This has been fun, but I have things to do and places to be."

Tahlia dropped her weight. The guards grunted and their holds on her arms loosened. She slammed her elbow into one guard's groin and spun to knee the other's stones. Whirling, she lunged away from them and the three who had been walking behind them. She smashed into the smaller of the three, sending him into the taller two, and then she was running.

Down the road. Through the guards beating the hells out of the crowd. Around a cluster of angry men and women brandishing kitchen cutlery at Durniad's men.

"Keep that up!" she shouted, trying to encourage them. "I'll come back with a dragon or two and help you out!"

They cheered her as she climbed a downspout and headed for the rooftops. The sun blazed onto her head as she jumped from building to building. Shouting erupted from the streets she leapt over. More guards. The city walls were only three roofs away. She could do this. She'd climb down the walls, fight whom she had to, then run into the forest and find Marius and Ragewing. Unless they found her first, which would be even better because that would mean Ragewing was patched up enough to fly them to the Witch's house to deliver the crown and end this wild mission.

With the last big jump, Tahlia landed on the city's three-Fae-wide protective wall. She smiled, hope making her feel like she could best ten of these guards with one hand tied behind her back.

Twisting, she fell from the wall and darkness swept over her before she could see what had struck her.