I watch as Storm lifts off the man just as quickly as he arrived, flying away into the dark sky above us. Grigori’s hand barely reaches his neck in surprise before his skin begins to burn, the area cascading into itself in a revolting color of charred grey. I watch in horror and awe as his tanned skin starts to crumble and then flake away into the air around us, the ash traveling both up to his head and down to his chest, the full of his full bodybeginning to sag. He lets out a terrifying scream before the ash takes over his lips, his eyes moving frantically in my direction as I sit atop Millie in fearful wonder.
“Ride!” Lord Daniel yells, breaking me out of my trance.
I yank on Millie’s reins and tear my eyes away from all the ash that now clouds the sky. There’s absolutely nothing left of the man who just a moment ago was sitting next to me, nothing but the vacant clothes that now sit on top of the saddle and the sturdy sandals that have fallen to the ground.
Millie whinnies and sets off in a strong gallop, the ground rumbling again as Lord Daniel flicks his hand to bring up another wall of rock from the ground. Cal rides up beside me as we charge down the road towards Fumagalli, the Bird of Ash remaining hidden in the night sky as best he can as he flies directly above us.
I turn around to see Daniel not far behind, the Lord riding impressively with just his knees holding onto the saddle as he forgoes the reins of his horse. He keeps both of his hands free to manipulate the ground behind him, a clever tactic as there are three Leviathans trailing quickly behind him.
“We need to help him!” I yell at Cal.
My friend turns in his seat to look at Daniel and shakes his head. “No, Alexis, just keep riding!”
I scowl and lean forward, urging Millie to move faster than she ever has before. The earth below us begins to shake again, and I turn around to see Lord Daniel bringing up another barrier wall of stone that forces the riders to move quickly around it or crash.
Three riders.
Three.
Which means the Prince may not be giving chase.
I look back at the men following Lord Daniel, not spotting any that look like the Prince. The Lord raises his hands again, this time summoning a boulder out of the ground like he did at our campsite. I ride on and watch him flick his hands behind his back, the rock throwing itself violently in the direction of two of the riders. One is able to move out of the way in time while the other is smashed instantly by the weight.
The earth begins to tremble again as Lord Daniel repeats the same maneuver. The head of the rock starts to bound out from the plains in front of him, but before he can summon the rest of the boulder his hands reach frantically for his neck. I can see his eyes widening in pain, even in the dark, and immediately pull on Millie’s reins to turn her around. It’s pure stupidity that I start riding straight for the remaining two Leviathans behind Daniel, but seeing his face contorting in agony has my heart pounding to do anything to help.
I gallop straight towards the Leviathans, towards the one on the left that has his hand extended out in front of him and aimed in Daniel’s direction, as if he’s squeezing the Lord’s neck from afar. I lift the edge of the small blade between my fingers and ride towards that man who is soobviously summoning, yelling out in anger just as Daniel sags in his saddle and his arms fall limp at his sides. I arch my hand back and aim the dagger straight for the man’s neck, watching as the blade flies true and pierces his throat in a violent thrust.
The force immediately drops the man to the ground. Millie skids to a halt next to Daniel’s horse, the Lord suddenly heaving a deep breath as if he’s been given the chance to live again. He coughs out over his saddle, his breaths coming out in raspy chokes, as Cal quickly rides in front of the two of us to act as a barrier to the last Leviathan. The rider brings his horse to a hasty stop in the middle of the road, looking at Cal and the blades in his hands, then around his shoulder to Daniel, who is still incapacitated. He decides on the Discerni still being the bigger threat and lifts his hand in front of him to perform whatever summoning his counterpart was doing before that. I hear Lord Daniel gasp again just as Cal flings his blade at the man’s shoulder. His larger dagger pierces straight through and reemerges behind the man’s back, the Leviathan yelling in pain as he quickly reassess my big friend again. He eyes Cal’s second dagger for a moment and then turns around in a quick gallop, clutching at his shoulder as he rides back into the darkness.
“We need to go,” Lord Daniel wheezes, leaning forward to grab his reins, “he may send for more men.”
I look down at the dead Leviathan laying sprawled on the dirt not far from us. His unmoving hands are gripping the green agate blade in his neck, blood pooling heavy onto the ground around him.
“My dagger.”
“Leave it, Alex,” Cal gives me a hard look.
“We need to ride,” Lord Daniel coughs out in a hurry, “now.”
We ride hard, harder than I’ve ever ridden in my life. None of us say a word, just keep our heads and bodies bent forward until the creep of dawn starts to settle in front of us.
The sun slowly begins to shine on the dense forest surrounding the Kingdom of Disce, our woods never looking so inviting as we all heave a sigh of relief at the sight. Lord Daniel looks behind him to the open and empty plains of yellow and then turns back around with a heavy pat on his steed’s neck, slowing him down as Cal and I do the same.
We all dismount for our horses’ sake and walk them the remainder of the way to our woods. The edge of the forest creeps closer with each step, the sight of the green banners of Disce a welcoming greeting as the morning sun begins to shine overhead. Stormfall finally decides to fly down to my shoulder, the Bird of Ash reaching under my hood to situate himself back against my neck. His breathing is just as hard and frantic as mine, and when we finally pass under the green banners, the cool of Fumagalli provides a level of calm that has no business greeting us right now.
I glance at my other two companions. Lord Daniel’s eyes are hard and looking down the road, his brown hair and beard disheveled from the ride. He looks okay, given everything that’s happened to him, though I donotice his eyes have lost a bit of that sparkle. Cal is wind-ridden as well, heaving a deep sigh as his head juts up towards the trees in genuine appreciation before he closes his eyes. Both look properly exhausted, just as I’m sure I do, but I can’t help but wonder if their hearts are beating as wildly as mine. Everything about me is thrumming with exhilaration.
Ancients, Alexis, you killed a man. Stop smiling.
But I can’t.
I can’t even describe the feeling coming over me, just continue to walk along the cobblestone road as the moody forest surrounds us in silence. At some point Lord Daniel gives a small sigh and moves his horse off the road to where Yara is standing amongst the trees. She has her arms folded over her chest and is watching Daniel approach with anxiety hidden in her features. I walk Millie next to Cal and quietly tell him that the Discerni woman is a patron of Fumagalli. My friend just nods, not thinking more of it.
“The Prince and the rest of our crew are behind us,” Daniel warns his second in command, “Leviathans were on the Great Road. Ready yourselves for their return. I’ll come back after I get these two situated.”
Yara nods, needing no further explanation. She catches my gaze in her retreat and falters at the edge of the forest, noticing Stormfall’s yellow beady eyes watching her from under my hood.
I glance back to Cal, watching as my big friend leans on his horse in exhaustion. Lord Daniel returns and the three of us walk all the way back to the little village in complete silence, never once stopping until we’re in the courtyard of the inn.
