Forty-Five Vincent

The portal whirled before opening to the snow-capped mountains of Flagerun. A chill wind sent snow flurries spinning into the air, casting the area in shades of white and gray. Armored hooves stomped around me as my legion rode in two lines on either side of me, spears at their sides.

The huroehe we rode were thick six-legged beasts. They were strong, adaptable, and deadly. Nismera had equipped them with their own armor, designed to protect them in battle. The addition of spikes along the breastplate, leg guards, and head meant they were able to slash and kill even if their rider could not. My favorite thing about them was they feared nothing and didn’t spook. They were much more likely to run into trouble than away from it, which was invaluable in a time when Nismera had us venturing into other realms.

I pressed a spot on my left gauntlet, and a light flashed beneath my finger as the portal behind us closed. Quill had outdone himself with the gauntlet, and he had accomplished it in very little time. It made me wonder what else he was capable of. How had he achieved such quick results? The stench of blood and death permeated his lab. Was he brilliant? Did he use blood magic? Or was it a combination of both? I made a mental note to dig a bit deeper into his past.

“It’s quiet.” Abbie trotted up next to me, her beast stopping when she pulled on the reins. “Too quiet.”

I glanced toward her through the slit of my helmet, and even past her own armor, I could see the apprehension.

“It’s Flagerun,” I answered. “Nothing but mountains and skyrippers.”

A few of the soldiers nervously glanced up as if searching for the damned feathered beasts. I knew the risk in coming and so did Nismera. Skyrippers had adapted to the harsh climate, eating every bit of their prey, including bone, to survive. They were driven by hunger and mean as fuck. We would be relatively safe once we made it inside the prison, at least from them. I wanted to get in, do what we came to do, and leave.

The skyrippers were why Nismera had sent damn near a hundred soldiers with me, but I wasn’t going to tell my legion that. If the beasts were starved, a hundred might not be enough. Nismera said she wished for me to return but was not too concerned about the others. I would have rejoiced in her care at one time, but now I knew it was hollow. It wasn’t like when Camilla spoke to me or looked at me. I didn’t feel that warmth in my chest. After years of having friends and family, I knew what true love and care felt like now.

I shook my head, trying to clear it of the witch who was probably pacing her floor until her magic burned it, waiting for me to return. Despite every horrible thing I’d done, she still cared about me. I didn’t deserve it, but I would accept her care and friendship.

“Move out!” I shouted, pointing toward the rising cliff above. Snow crunched under hooves as we began the climb.

“IT’S TOO QUIET,” ABBIE SAID AGAIN AS WE TROTTED UP THE mountainside. The soldiers had been quiet, keeping their eyes on the sky.

“You keep saying that,” I answered.

“We would usually hear a skyripper by now, especially with us getting closer.”

I shrugged, holding my reins as we turned onto a path that hugged the steep cliff, grateful for the rolling clouds that offered a reprieve from the bright sun. “Perhaps they are well fed.”

“Or perhaps something far worse is here,” she said, her eyes scanning restlessly.

“Does Nismera know you fear the sounds of small animals?” I asked her.

Her eyes cut to mine. “It is better to know all of your surroundings than not.”

The cliffside opened as we leveled out, the wide trees coated in fresh snow. Abbie was correct, even if I did not say it. I didn’t hear any skyrippers, and we were well enough up the mountain to be in their territory, but we held our pace. The trail continued between the cliff face and snow-capped rocks as we neared the prison.

The ground leveled out, and I held up my hand. Every soldier behind me came to an abrupt stop, our breath forming clouds in the cold air. I folded my reins and hopped off, my legion doing the same. Abbie approached and stood at my side.

“Where is the prison?” Abbie asked.

I raised a finger, pointing to the edge of the mountainside. “There.”

She cleared her throat. “Sir, there is nothing there.”

“Exactly,” I said through gritted teeth.

The wooden bridge that led to the prison was gone, along with half the mountainside. I raised my hand again, telling my legion to stay where they were.

I walked to the edge of the clearing and looked over the cliff. There was nothing left but jagged rock and rubble. The prison had been destroyed. It looked as if a force of nature had hit it hard, reducing it to dust and stone.

“The prison is no more,” I said loud enough that they could all hear. “We’re leaving.”

Murmurs started between the soldiers, and I felt a spike of fear from them.

Abbie shook her head, shushing the ones behind her as the second in command before turning back to me. “Gone? No skyripper invasion could do that. What has the power to take down an entire prison?”

I shook my head and turned around, scanning the area. What had I missed? At the side of the clearing, snow fell off the massive rock formation, and an eyelid blinked open. I stared into a single crimson eye, my heart thudding as if it would burst from my chest. This was a trap.

The dark, misshapen stone moved again, and I realized that those were not jagged edges but spikes. Dianna’s Ig’Morruthen form had grown tremendously. It was my last thought before I yelled for the legion to move back. She raised her massive scaled head, opened her mouth, and set the mountains of Flagerun ablaze.