Chapter 10

10

I straightened abruptly. “How many people have you got at the entrance?”

“Ten.” He glanced at the earth mage. “Rudy, get down there and raise a barrier.”

“I’ll go with?—”

“No, in Vahree’s name, you won’t.” Katter’s gaze snapped back to me. “There’s been enough royal blood shed on this soil already. I’ll not risk?—”

“You can’t not risk it,” I cut in. “I’m more than likely the best-trained soldier you have right now, and I’m a fire witch besides.”

He sucked in a breath, displeasure flickering through his bright eyes. But he knew well enough I could have easily pulled rank and overridden him. Not as a soldier—I was a captain, not a commander—but as a princess. I might not be my father’s heir, but my position still outranked his.

“Fine,” he snapped. “Follow Rudy.”

I dropped my pack, bow, and quiver onto the ground next to the table, then strapped on my sword and knife as I ran out after Rudy. The siren cut out suddenly, and the brief, deep silence was eerie. Then the sound of footsteps and voices rose again as those on the ground level were ushered up a level and into the deeper tunnels.

We ran down sweeping stone steps, then into a wide, unnaturally smooth tunnel lit by regularly placed light tubes. The sound of screaming echoed from up ahead, which definitely wasn’t a good sign, given the voices held a Jakarran accent rather than the guttural intonations of the riders. But even worse was the ground’s trembling, which became more and more evident the closer we got to the entrance cavern. Dust was shimmering down from the tunnel’s roofline and that was an even worse sign.

Because if this area was about to be hit by a quake, the tremors wouldn’t have been confined to just this part of the tunnel.

This was the work of mages, not nature.

“Rudy—”

“I feel it.”

“Can you stop it?”

“Maybe.” The gaze he cast over his shoulder was determined. “It will of course depend on just how many of them there are.”

“Then your best bet is to thin out their ranks.” I drew my sword, its blade bright in the semi- shadowed tunnel. “Stop here and feel for their weight on the ground—it’ll be different to that of the soldiers attacking us. When you find them, open a massive chasm underneath them and, once they’ve dropped, backfill it. If they survive the fall, they’ll be too busy saving their own lives to worry about us.”

It wasn’t an original idea—we’d employed it many times over the decades after our mages had made the discovery about the weight differences. It had stopped the Mareritt for a good while, but in recent times, their mages had simply taken to climbing trees before spelling and hiding their presence that way. Mareritt were many things, but they weren’t dumb.

“Nasty,” Rudy said. “I like it.”

As he dropped and pressed his hands against the stone, I ran on, sweeping around the tunnel’s curve. I came out into a small but natural vestibule and utter chaos.

Five guards were on the ground, writhing and screaming as their flesh bubbled and steamed. The stench of their burning flesh filled the air, though it was almost overwhelmed by the faintly sweet but musty scent of the liquid dung the riders used. Two men and a woman were hunkered behind the semicircular barrier that surrounded the jagged, angular entrance, alternately rising and firing arrows into the entrance tunnel. It was hard to say if the arrows were effective or not, as the tunnel’s shadows hid our foe, but two of the three were using standard metal arrowheads. The final two guards stood either side of the entrance, their swords sheathed but bows notched and ready. Both their arrowheads were Ithican glass. As I belted toward the barrier, the guard on the left of the entrance nodded at the other, who quickly stepped sideways, aimed his bow, and unleashed his arrow in one smooth movement, and then retreated. A stream of brown liquid chased after him, splashing across the area between the entrance and the barrier, melting the rock, and deepening the crevices that already crisscrossed the area. Gold glinted briefly in the deep of the entrance’s tunnel, moving with speed toward the small chamber rather than away. I called to my fire but before I could unleash it, two gold-armored warriors burst from the tunnel, one with an arrow still sticking out of his shoulder, both of them swinging wickedly barbed metal clubs that were at least four feet in length and a good fist wide. One of the guards immediately went down, his gut torn open by the club. The second was quicker, ducking and scrambling away; the club aimed at his head smashed into the wall behind him instead, sending thick shards of rock slicing through the air.

The guards behind the barrier were notching and unleashing arrows in a steady stream but none of them got through the riders’ armor or helmets. The two of them roared, raised their thick clubs above their heads, and charged, one at the barrier, the other at the guard who’d escaped. As he stood his ground and notched another Ithican arrow, I slid to a stop and unleashed my fire, lassoing it around the two warriors and pulling them tightly together.

They roared in fury, the harsh sound echoing. As one tore at the leash with the wicked points of metal littering his club’s length, the other batted away the Ithican arrows aimed his way. I fed more strength into the fire, increasing its intensity, until it was sheet of sheer flame that burned white hot around them. Their clubs melted first, then their golden armor began to ooze, gradually at first, then becoming thin, glittering streams that ran down their bodies onto the floor. They writhed and screamed, the sound a guttural echo of the men and women who lay scattered on the floor around me. Then their armor was gone, and only flesh and bone remained. They were ashed in seconds.

As their dust fell lightly to the floor, I flicked the thick, fiery leash deeper into the tunnel. Heard another scream, then the harsh sound of boots on stone, retreating fast.

For the moment, we were safe. I took a deep breath and called back my flames. It was only then that I realized the ground tremors had stopped. I glanced up at the ceiling. There were a few minor cracks closer to the entrance, but dust no longer fell.

The three soldiers hunkered behind the barrier rose and turned. I recognized the one armed with the Ithican glass arrows. His name was Tayn, and he was tall and thin, with a scar across his right cheek, the result of an arrow coming a little too close for comfort during a stupid hunting game he and Garran had been playing as teenagers. I hadn’t been a part of that one, though I’d certainly witnessed the fury that had descended on Garran for taking such a stupid risk.

It had never stopped him from taking risks, though, simply because caution was not part of his nature. It was probably why he was now missing—though as heir he should have retreated, it wasn’t in his nature to do so, just as it wasn’t in my father’s or even mine.

The injured had stopped screaming and writhing, but the silence remained heavy with their pain, and the scent of their agony and burning flesh still rode the air. I hoped the shock of their wounds had simply pushed them into unconsciousness rather than death, but I feared Vahree might have already claimed at least some of their souls.

Tayn ordered the woman standing next to him to go fetch the medics, sent another soldier to check on the injured and do what he could do to help, and the surviving entrance archer back to his post before finally turning his attention to me. “Bryn, I mean, Captain Silva, that was a well-timed intervention.”

“Not timed well enough, I’m afraid, and there’s no need for formalities right now, Tayn.”

He half smiled, then glanced past me. “You’re alone?”

His surprise was barely evident but understandable, given the situation and who I was—meaning the captain of a twelve-strong scouting squad rather than a princess.

“I just came here to get an update, as you’ve no working scribes and they damaged our harbor.”

He frowned. “How did you get here, then?”

“Long story.” I glanced around as footsteps approached. It was Rudy, looking drawn and yet triumphant. “I take it the chasm idea was a success?”

“Indeed. There were three of them out there—there was no way I could have held or repaired the earth against the combined might of whatever spell they were concocting.”

Three blood witches dead was a good win for us, but I couldn’t help but wonder how many more they had tucked safely away.

“When you were feeling for the mages, did you get any idea how many others were out there?”

Kaia and I had only seen a dozen birds, but that didn’t mean there weren’t also “regular” soldiers here on the island, well hidden from even a drakkon’s keen sight. Maybe it was nothing more than wishful thinking, but surely a force of twelve, however deadly their weapons, couldn’t so totally erase a town as large as Illistin, though I guess it was possible some of their numbers had already left for Esan. The Black Glass Mountains were vast, and an armed force could hide up there for years without us ever spotting them.

Not that I thought we had years. Hell, I doubted we even had months.

Rudy hesitated. “There were at least five close to the entrance and an odd weight on a ledge halfway up the mountain that’s obviously a sentry point. I couldn’t feel anyone farther down the slope, but it does get harder to differentiate between the weight of trees and stone from that of man the further away we get. It’s possible they are in the forest, just standing beyond my ability to sense them.”

I glanced at Tayn. “I might head down the tunnel to investigate?—”

“ We’ll head down the tunnel to investigate,” Tayn cut in. “Forgive me, Captain, but I’m more familiar with the area than you.”

I half smiled. “Fine, but I will lead the way if you don’t mind. My flames are a little more effective at wholesale destruction than your Ithican arrow.”

“Or even your sword.” He smiled and motioned me forward. “We discovered the hard way that those bastards have a long reach despite their short stature.”

I glanced at him sharply. “Do you mean the riders? Or have they a ground force here?”

The men who’d attacked us here were certainly wearing the armor, but that didn’t mean they were riders rather than regular soldiers.

“The riders, though they may well have a ground force here by now.”

I frowned. “How, though? They destroyed the harbor, and those birds are not drakkon-sized and wouldn’t be able to lift more than a couple of men.”

“There’s plenty of areas beyond the main harbor where a longship could be run aground easily enough.”

Such an action would make military sense, especially if you wanted to ensure your foe were kept unaware of the true size of your force. “Were you with Garran when the attack went down?”

He shook his head. “After your father sent word of Eastmead’s destruction and a warning to be alert for a possible attack, we enacted emergency procedures, getting everyone ready to move at short notice. I was in charge of covering the retreat, Riana’s crew were on the watchtower, and Garran the harbor guard. The latter was hit first. No boats survived, but I can’t say how Garran and his team fared. From the little I saw, the raiders seemed determined that none of us escape. They certainly weren’t taking prisoners.”

“That was their tactic at Eastmead, too.”

I slowed my pace as we entered the tunnel, my grip tightening on my sword and flames flickering around the fingers of my free hand. Like the antechamber, the tunnel’s stone was rough and uneven, and just wide enough to walk through single file, while its walls tapered to the right and up to a point. Anyone over six foot would have a painful journey if they weren’t mindful of their head.

“How in Vahree’s name did you get an entire town through here with any sort of speed?” I asked, fighting the urge to duck. Though I wasn’t quite six foot in height, the ceiling still felt uncomfortably close.

“We tend to be shorter around these parts, remember, and we’re well versed in emergency evacuations.”

No doubt, given how often tropical storms hit with little notice. Unlike most islands, there was no weather mage living on Jakarra—the old woman who’d held the position for nigh on a century had died a good ten years ago, and the island hadn’t had much luck luring a new one here.

We came across the first body around twenty feet in. He was face down on the ground, the glass point of an arrowhead sticking out the back of his helmeted head. Few men could survive a wound like that, but I nevertheless flicked fire at his helmet. A sword point could be ignored—I knew that from experience—but having your flesh lit or, in this case, your armor melting around your face? I doubted there was a man or woman alive who’d ignore that, no matter how stoic they were or what continent they were from.

He didn’t move. We stepped over him and walked on. The tunnel curved gently to the left, then opened out a fraction as we neared the entrance. Like the rest of the tunnel, it had a decided lean. It also had a “wing”—basically, a piece of rock that jutted out at an angle from the left, preventing anyone who might be below from seeing us. It had no top, however, so any rider flying past would spot us standing there.

I motioned Tayn to stop, then edged forward carefully and looked up. The skies were dark, without stars or moon, and the air crisp and still. The mountain rose above us, dark and brooding, but there was no sign of the sentry Rudy had mentioned. Hopefully that meant he wouldn’t see me. I moved to the end of the long outcrop and carefully peered around the end.

The first thing I noticed was the naked body lying halfway down the rough, debris-filled slope between us and the forest.

His skin was pale but heavily inked, though from where I stood, it was hard to make out what the images depicted. His wrists, neck, and his stomach had been sliced open, his entrails fat snakes that littered the ground around him. This was obviously the blood sacrifice, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d been a Jakarran defender or one of their own. As a general rule, inking had never been popular on the mainland, but it was amongst island fisherfolk; many liked to keep visual reminders of friends, conquests, and fishing triumphs to help them get through the often-long trips to find decent catches. Or so Garran had once told me.

Túxn, please don’t let him be dead.

I pushed away the grief that rose with the thought and studied the forests halfway down the slope. They were shadowed and dark, almost indistinguishable from the night itself. There were no campfires or anything else to indicate a force of men hid within those trees. Few military camps, whether small or large, were silent, so it likely meant no one was down there.

Unless, of course, they were using some sort of magical shield to cover their noise.

I couldn’t see Illistin from where we stood, but I could smell smoke, and there was a faint orange glow visible in the distance. She still burned.

Frustration stirred, as did anger. We had to find a way to stop these bastards before all of Arleeon met the same fate. Although right now, I’d settle for a means of protecting Esan against the riders, their birds’ acidic shit, and their mages. Hopefully, Damon could get in contact with his Angolan kin, and between them work out a protection spell large enough to shield Esan.

But that would take time.

Time we didn’t have.

Was that intuition, or simple fear? I suspected it might be a bit of both.

“Anything?” Tayn asked.

“No immediate indication they’re in the forest. Doesn’t mean they’re not there, of course.”

He stepped up beside me and peered out. Horror immediately flooded his expression.

“In Vahree’s name,” he whispered, “is that a warning? Or something else?”

“It’s a sacrifice.” My voice was grim. “Their mages were using his blood to raise their magic. If you look closely enough, you can see the disturbed stone just beyond him—that’s where Rudy opened his chasm and buried the bastards.”

“And thank Vahree he did. If this is what they intend to do to all?—”

“None of those in Eastmead met this fate.” At least, none of the ones I’d seen had, anyway. I guess it was possible the bottom layer of bodies might have been sacrificed in this manner, but something within doubted it. Eastmead had been utterly destroyed, but it was the destruction that came with a white-hot fire rather than the earth rising up. Of course, it was also very possible the intensity of the flames had been a result of magic. “Did you know him?”

“His face doesn’t look familiar, but his inkings are reminiscent of ones done on Halcraft.”

Which was the second smallest island in the Jakarran cluster. If this man was from there, then that island and the three others might have already been decimated, though we’d had no word from them and there was no indication so far that was the case.

While it did make strategic sense to attack the largest island first, it was unlikely they’d have left the other four untouched.

I scanned the long expanse of slope then said, somewhat grimly, “What we need is a means of stopping any more of those riders or soldiers getting into this tunnel.”

“What about a trapping pit?” Tayn said. “With the weight of their armor, they shouldn’t be able to jump very far, so a deep pit around the entrance that also takes in the first couple of yards of the tunnel should more than do.”

I hesitated and glanced down. “The stone here is straight lava stone. It’s notoriously hard to excavate, especially for one man.”

“Then we just—” He stopped abruptly, cocking his head sideways. “What is that sound?”

I frowned and, after a few seconds, caught the creak of leather accompanied by the soft sighing of wind. The former very much reminded me of the noise you sometimes got with new saddles when the panel leather rubbed against the back of the flaps, or when there was a problem with the tree or head plate. Given there were no coursers on this island, let alone halfway up a steep mountain, there could be only one source.

“Back, get back,” I whispered and followed him quickly into the mouth of the cave.

The sighing sharpened and, a heartbeat later, gold glimmered as a bird and its rider swept over our heads and swooped toward the forest. Deeper in the trees, light flashed, two quick pulses that briefly lit the night.

We might not be able to see them, but there were definitely men down in those trees.

“We’ll need to work on our defenses tonight, I’m thinking,” Tayn said grimly.

“Yes, and don’t just rely on the pit. Maybe something simple like greasing the ground would at least slow them down.”

He nodded. “I’m not sure what we’ve got, but we’ll work on it.” His gaze shot to mine. “It would help, though, if Esan came to our aid.”

“They will. Are.”

He studied me for a moment, then spun and led the way back through the tunnel into the antechamber. There were twenty or so people crowding the small space now, most of them healers and stretcher-bearers taking care of the injured and the dead.

“I’ll go report to Katter. Good luck with everything, Tayn, and keep safe.”

He smiled and lightly saluted. “You too, Captain. You too.”

I nodded, wove through the crowd, then increased my pace once I reached the larger tunnel. Katter glanced up from whatever he was reading as I entered the temporary war room. “Thank you for your assistance down there.”

Obviously, the woman who’d been sent to call out the medics had also reported to Katter.

“Welcome.” I hesitated. “I need to rest up before I head back out—is there somewhere I can bunk down for a few hours? And if you can write up a list of everything you need, I’ll scribe it once I’m back in range.”

He nodded and glanced at the woman to his right. “Layla, escort the captain over to the officers’ quarters.”

As he got back to reading the missive, the woman said, “This way.”

I collected my pack, bow, and quiver, then followed her out. The officers’ quarters lay across the other side of this level and were basically a deep tunnel holding a series of narrow stone chambers that could be curtained off. Each contained little more than a bed and a storage shelf.

Layla led me past the first ten—at least four of which were empty—then swept aside the curtain and motioned toward the bed. “The noise from the lower chamber should be less noticeable here. The privies are down the far end, and there’s a washroom there as well, if you want a quick clean-up. Fresh towels and soapweed are kept on the open shelving there.”

“Thanks. Can you ask someone to wake me up in four hours?”

“Will do, Captain. Sleep well.”

She turned and immediately left. I dropped everything onto the bed, then went down to make use of the facilities and clean up a little. After stripping off my boots and jacket, I lay down and closed my eyes. It seemed I’d barely fallen asleep when there was someone beyond the curtain calling my name.

“Yes?” I said, struggling into a sitting position. My eyes felt heavy, and there was a deep ache in the back of my head, which was due to either doing too much on too little sleep, or my courses coming in. While all female soldiers took a specially designed potion to prevent both pregnancy and the inconvenience of actually bleeding every month, that never stopped us getting all the usual symptoms. Mine was generally headaches, crankiness, and an overwhelming urge to eat sweet things.

“You asked to be woken in four hours, Captain.”

“Yes, indeed, thanks.”

“Administrator Reed wishes to know if you would like something to eat before you leave.”

“Trail bread and a flask of water will do just fine. Thanks.”

“He waits for you in the war room, Captain.”

“Tell him I’ll be there shortly.”

“Aye,” the soldier said, and then left, his boots echoing on the stone.

I lightly scrubbed my hands down my face, then pulled on my boots and staggered more than walked down to use the facilities and splash my face with cold water in an effort to get some wakefulness happening.

After tugging on my coat, I dug the pain herbs out of my pack and took them, then strapped on my sword and knife, and slung the bow and quiver across my back. After clipping the backpack to my belt, I headed out. The pack bumped against my thigh with every step, but at least it left my hands free—a good thing, given I’d be climbing rather than descending through the mountain tunnels this time.

Katter was almost in the same position as he’d been when I’d left a few hours ago.

I greeted him, then said softly, “You should get some rest, Katter. You’re no good to anyone if you drop from exhaustion.”

He smiled and scrubbed a hand through his hair. “I will once dawn wakes and things calm down at the entrance.”

“There’s been another attack?”

He grimaced. “Let’s call it a prelim skirmish. No riders this time, and they weren’t wearing the golden armor, so we had no problems driving them back. Good suggestion about the grease, by the way. It helped.”

I nodded. “Has Rudy managed to set up the trapping pit?”

“He had to grab some rest first, but he’s working on it now.” He hesitated. “Jay and Riyale will accompany you back to the exit, and secure the scribe tablet once you make the report. We’ll set up another sentry point there, just to be safe.”

I nodded again. “It’s unlikely any reinforcements and supplies we can get here will be able to use that entrance. It’s too high up the mountain and would take too long for those on foot to reach.”

“Indeed, but it is the perfect place to scribe. We’ll also be able to see incoming ships from that vantage point and arrange an easier—and likely safer—docking area.”

If the weather hadn’t closed in around the peaks, that was. I accepted the ration pack he gave me, then formally saluted. “Please send my regards to Hanna, and tell her I’ll see her in happier times.”

“I will.”

“Thank you, Administrator.” I hesitated. “Perhaps we can share a fine jug or two of mead once this is all over?”

“I look forward to it, Captain.” He lightly returned my salute, and once again got back to his missives.

I glanced at my escort, then turned and headed out. We made good time out of the main cavern and moved quickly through the closer tunnels before slowing when we reached the one that looped up to the upper ledge. The light from the tubes danced across the dark stone, lending it a bluish-purple glow that was almost pretty. I ate some of my rations along the way and sipped at the water, but really didn’t feel any better. The headache remained, and it was bad enough that I wished I’d brought more pain relief along with me.

It was hard to know the precise time we finally reached the key-shaped tunnel exit, because clouds hugged the mountain close and there was nothing but a deep blanket of damp gray as far as the eye could see.

It wouldn’t disrupt the scribe’s ability to make contact, and it would certainly offer good protection as I scrambled down the mountain to meet Kaia, but it would make that descent damnably unpleasant.

I tugged the tablet and pen from the pack and squatted against the wall while I sent a quick rundown of the situation, then asked if the boats had left yet.

Will two hours after dawn has risen .

I frowned and sent back, What time is it now? And why wait so long?

The sun rises in an hour. We wait because the riders have been sighted a few hours after dawn and before sunset.

Which suggested that it was really only the middle of the day, when the sun was at its strongest, that they were restricted—and that was not good news. Has there been another attack?

No, but several outposts along the Blue Steel range have reported sightings. They appear to be scouting beyond Esan.

Planning their conquest over the rest of Arleeon if they succeed in overrunning us, no doubt.

Yes. The tiny ink blot that was the quill he was holding pulsed gently for several seconds. What of Garran’s family? His parents?

I hesitated. This really wasn’t a question I wanted to answer, especially when we had no confirmation as to their fate. But I was a captain, and this was not the first time I’d had to be the bearer of bad news.

Hanna and their son are alive. No reports yet on those who remained to defend the city. Glenda is currently unaccounted for, but they haven’t yet registered all the survivors. She may be here but helping with the wounded. Which was highly unlikely, given if that were true, Katter would have known. I’m leaving the tablet with Katter’s men. They have a list of supplies they need ASAP, if you’ve time to add them to the boats.

We have. The ink blot pulsed for a second or two. Stay wary.

Hoping to be home by dusk.

If you’re not back by then, we’ll send out a search party.

That would be pointless, given I could be anywhere between here and home, and the tracking stone’s range is not that good.

You taking the same route?

Yes—it’s safer than flying direct, especially with the riders being active beyond dawn.

Then at least this time, your mother will have a good idea where to send the gray hawks.

It would probably take the hawks far too long to find us, given the sheer scale of the search area, but they’d certainly offer a better chance than simply relying on the tracking stones.

Handing you over to Katter’s people now. See you soon.

You will.

I smiled and passed the tablet over to Jay. “They’re waiting for the list.”

“Thank you, Captain. Safe journey down the mountain.” He briefly scanned the blanket of gray. “It’s not going to be pleasant in this weather.”

“At least it isn’t raining yet.”

I rose and, after a nod to them both, started the long hike down to the ledge. With the thick damp clouds clinging to every surface, it was every bit as treacherous as I feared. I slipped more than once, and though quick reflexes saved me from multiple tumbles, I nevertheless gained multiple scratches. My jacket was thick, but even leather could tear if sliced with a sharp enough knife—and many of the rocks littering this slope were honed by wind and weather to a point any smith would be proud of. I was close to the ledge and bleeding from a half dozen wounds scattered across my hands and shins when I finally reached for Kaia.

You awake?

Bored.

I couldn’t help but smile at the tartness of her reply. Did you hunt?

Hunger remains.

Being aboard a very hungry drakkon probably wasn’t a great idea. Once we reach the mainland, we can take a break so you can hunt.

Longhorn? We fly near.

Sure.

Satisfaction rumbled through our link. I smiled and continued on warily, sliding down the final few feet to the platform. The world remained a sea of gray, but I could hear the distant sigh of air and feel Kaia’s ever-increasing closeness. I quickly treated the worst of my wounds, then dragged the harness out of my pack and climbed into it. Once that was done, I slung the quiver and bow over my back and attached the pack.

As the wind of Kaia’s approach grew stronger, I stepped back, not only to give her more room but to avoid being accidentally squashed. She appeared out of the gloom, her scales gleaming with golden fire, and wings banked as she braked. I couldn’t help but smile. I would never— ever —get over the beauty and the elegance of our drakkons.

She landed lightly, then snaked her head around for a scratch. Once I’d complied, I scrambled up her extended leg and clipped on the spine rope. She crouched and then leapt skyward, her wings pumping hard as she climbed slowly but steadily.

The tumultuous stream of icy air blasting my face and fingers soon had me shivering, and I once again tugged the long collar of an undershirt up and pushed enough heat through to my extremities to keep frostbite at bay. The jacket and layers were doing enough to keep the chill away from the rest of me, even if I wasn’t toasty warm, so I resisted raising the inner fires any further. We remained in enemy territory, and my headache and overall weariness meant my reserves weren’t what they could and should have been.

We’ll need to fly faster once we’re clear of this fog, Kaia. The winged ones have been sighted flying in the hours after sunrise.

Will. Not cloudy over water, so see if near.

It wasn’t seeing them I was worried about. It was outrunning both the birds and whatever weapons their riders might be carrying.

Am faster.

I hoped she was right but feared we just didn’t know enough about them to be certain of anything. Besides, they were now aware of the drakkons’ presence in Arleeon, so it was very possible they’d develop a weapon to neutralize them.

We soon cleared the mountains, and Kaia increased her speed. As the low-lying fog began to dissipate, the day brightened, the last flags of morning color lending the heavy clouds dotting the sky a pastel hue. The seas far below were white capped and wild, and its blue emptiness stretched on for as far as the eye could see. It wasn’t like our boats would be anywhere close to Jakarra yet, even if they had risked leaving earlier, but that didn’t stop me continually checking for them. If our ships didn’t make it this time, the survivors would be in big trouble.

As one hour became two, and the distant, shadowy mountains that lined Arleeon’s shores finally came into view, I began to relax.

I should have known better than to tempt Túxn like that.

Kaia’s head snapped around and she bellowed, the sound echoing harshly across the roar of the wind. I turned, gaze scanning the shroud of clouds behind us. And there, in the distance, was the subtle glint of gold. Not one, not two, but three riders.

Vahree help us...

Fly hard, I said urgently.

Fight, she snapped. Better.

We can’t beat three, Kaia.

You have fire. I have teeth and claws.

And they have spears and liquid shit that burns.

What shit?

I sent her images of both courser and bird manure.

Kak no burn , she replied.

This one does. I sent more images, this time of the damage it had done to the men and women defending the cavern’s entrance.

I not soft human.

This liquid cuts through stone, Kaia, so it will certainly ash drakkon scale.

Fury burned through her thoughts, but she nevertheless increased her speed, her wings pumping so fast they were almost a blur. The riders neither drew nearer nor fell away. It was almost as if they were herding us...

I swore, untied the long viewer from the side of my pack, then lifted it to my eye, twisting the focus ring around until the shoreline became clear.

And once again saw the distant glint of gold.

Riders. Two of them of this time, coming straight at us.

We fight , Kaia said. No choice.

No, we didn’t. Not now.

We need to punch through the two ahead and keep on flying.

I rise into cloud then dive behind. You flame. Stay on.

I half-laughed. That’s certainly the plan.

Her amusement rumbled through me, but it was mixed now with excitement and the bloody need to rent and tear. The queen was eager to begin her quest for revenge.

I wished I could say I was totally behind that emotion, but in truth, all I felt was fear. There were just too many unknowns for me to be entirely comfortable battling these people and their birds. But as my father often said, fear was a means of keeping focus as long as you didn’t let it gain control over your actions.

I drew in a deeper breath and released it slowly, imagining all the emotion, the fear, and the uncertainty flowing out of my body—something all raw recruits were taught, and a lesson considered almost as vital as sword and bow craft. Then I shifted my feet a little deeper into the stirrups and double-checked all the knots and clips holding me onto Kaia.

With that done, all I could do was watch and wait.

The riders behind us had spread out and drawn closer, no doubt anticipating us diving either left or right in an attempt to flee once the riders ahead came into plain sight. They didn’t, not for what seemed like forever. The sun was riding higher in the sky now, making me wonder how much longer the riders could keep their birds aloft—if, that is, we’d been right about their restrictions.

We were about to find out the hard way.

The birds directly ahead shone like golden stars against the gray of the clouds. Kaia flew on at speed, her mind focused and ready. I’d seen many drakkons hunt over the years, but this was different.

This really was Kaia going to war.

As the birds drew closer, the riders became visible. One was holding a spear at the ready, the other a larger version of the metal tubes we’d discovered near The Beak.

You need to be upwind when you attack , I said. That metal tube is what sprays the kak.

Will . Her tone suggested any idiot would know that.

A smile tugged at my lips again, but quickly faded as I glanced behind us. The three riders had now formed a half circle, the two on the ends higher than the one in the middle. Fire burned around my fingertips, but I clenched them hard, resisting the urge to unleash. They were too far away for either flame or arrows to be effective; better to save both until a kill was a true possibility.

But Vahree only knew it was hard to sit here and do nothing except watch possible death fly ever closer.

The birds ahead were close enough now that I could see the wicked point on their beaks and the talons that protruded from the fluff of their underbellies. They were long, sharp, and deadly looking. Almost as deadly as the long spear one rider held.

Hold, Kaia warned, and then swept up vertically, climbing hard and fast into the clouds.

I gripped tight with my thighs, one hand on the rope, the other burning with so much heat my fingers were almost incandescent. Then, with surprising agility for a creature so large, Kaia belly rolled and dropped back down the way she’d came. It all happened so quickly I barely even lifted from her back. We came out of the clouds hard and fast, dropping underneath and behind the riders. As Kaia rolled onto her side and raked her murderous claws along one bird’s soft underbelly, I unleashed my flames, spearing them toward the rider’s helmet and weapon. As the metal melted around his face, he screamed, a harsh sound echoed by his mount. It lashed out with its long legs, its dagger claws scoring the sky where Kaia had been only seconds before. As she continued to bank away, she flicked her long tail, smacking the end across the bird’s head and neck. There was an audible snap as it was sent tumbling through the air.

It was then I saw the stream of brown arcing toward us. Horror dawned. Kaia!

See.

She flicked her wings and rose so sharply that I slipped back before the rope snapped tight, bringing me to an abrupt halt. The dark spray splashed across the end of her tail instead of her body and she bellowed again in fury and pain. I twisted around and threw flames at the bird and its rider, though there wasn’t a whole lot of heat behind it. They fell away from the stream, the flames doing little more than scorching tail feathers before fizzing out.

Kaia body rolled again and came up under the bird. The rider twisted around and aimed his weapon, but before he could hit the trigger, Kaia’s teeth ripped into the bird’s unprotected underbelly and tore it apart. As feathers, blood, and gore spilled all around us, the bird screamed, and dropped away. Kaia raised her head and swallowed the thick chunk of flesh and muscle she’d torn from the bird, then bellowed her triumph.

It was a sound that turned to pain. A heartbeat later, we also began to lose height.

Kaia?

Wing.

I quickly scanned the right wing, and then left. The latter was in tatters, the membrane destroyed by a thin, sweeping arc between three of the wing’s phalanges.

I looked down and saw the rider raise his weapon in triumph even as he fell to his death.

Drop to the sea , I said urgently. The salt will sting but the water will stop the liquid from destroying any more of your wing.

Others catch.

They’ll catch us sooner if you don’t stop that acid eating the rest of your wing. You must soak it for ten minutes, at least.

A deep, unhappy sounding rumble vibrated through her, but she nevertheless dropped sharply and swept down toward the waves. I twisted around; the remaining three riders weren’t yet within firing range but the distance between us was ever decreasing, and the land remained a very long way away.

We would get there. Somehow.

I would not let these bastards win. Would not let them deprive Gria of her mother when they’d already taken her brother.

Kaia banked sideways and skimmed the choppy ocean, dragging both her battered wing and her tail through the waves, forcing me to grip tightly with legs and hands or risk tumbling from her back. I have no idea how she was managing to stay aloft in the position, and I didn’t dare think about it too hard because I just might jinx things.

Her pain flooded our link, dragging tears to my eyes, but she kept her wing and tail in the water. A flume rose behind us, the spray glittering in the ever-increasing brightness of the day.

The riders drew ever closer. In Vahree’s name, how were they still aloft? We were well past sunrise now, so why didn’t these bastards just leave?

Had we really been that wrong about their capabilities? It was possible, I guess, but something within me just didn’t believe it.

We flew on in that impossible position for what seemed like ages but was probably little more than ten minutes or so before Kaia right herself and flew on. She remained low, the broken bits of her wing flapping like sheets in the wind. Pain continued to rumble through our connection, but so too did determination. She had no intention of dying today, either.

We flew on, but with a large chunk of her wing’s membrane torn, Kaia’s speed was dropping, and the birds were now within fighting range.

The one to our right made the first move, arrowing in hard and fast. He raised a long spear and drew his arm back, the black arrowhead gleaming with deadly intent against the blue sky.

I called to my fire and flung it toward him. Pain erupted through my brain, but I narrowed my gaze and blinked away the tears, watching the progress of my fireball. His bird banked away at the last minute and my fireball tumbled past them both. But as the bird resumed its original path and its rider raised his weapon again, I looped the fireball back around and arrowed it straight at the two of them. A heartbeat before it hit, I flicked my fingers wide, increasing the intensity of my weapon and wrapping the two of them in white-hot flame.

They went up in a whoosh, their agony barely given voice before the flames consumed them.

As they became little more than molten metal and ash, what sounded like a battle cry rose from the remaining two. They were giving chase, not giving up.

I swore and studied the distant shoreline. If we could get there, if we could find somewhere to shelter, we might have a chance of surviving....

Kaia tried to increase her speed, but the damage to her left wing—and the stress she was putting it under—not only meant more of the membrane was tearing, but also that her thrust was reduced. She was relying more and more on her right wing and that, in turn, meant we were slowly moving to the right.

I called to my fire, but pain seized my brain, and the mote in my eye burst. Blood trickled over my eyelashes, but I ignored it, forced flames to my fingers, and cast it toward the nearest rider. It banked away, and I flicked my fire after him, forcing him further away before the distance became too great between us and the flames faded.

The other one continued to follow us, neither coming any closer nor falling away. Waiting, I suspected, for Kaia’s wing to fully fail.

The headlands grew closer, the sun brighter as it rose toward midmorning. The waves grew larger and more numerous as we raced toward the dark sands that designated home but not safety.

My gaze rose and, after a second, I recognized where exactly we were. I’d been to this area a long time ago. Had saved a young female drakkon here once....

The thought had barely crossed my mind when Kaia bellowed, a long and haunting sound that resonated with unusual strength. It was a cry that washed across the waves below us, swept over the shoreline, and rose to echo amongst the peaks.

If it was a call for help, there was no response.

She bellowed again, this time with more force.

For several heartbeats, the only answer was the distant cry of kayin.

Then a red drakkon rose over the top of the mountains, her scales dripping like blood in the brightness of the day. Another drakkon rose behind her, also red, but smaller.

Three against two were far better odds....

It was at that very point when the brown liquid tore through Kaia’s right wing.