“There’s something I need you both to know,” Eira whispered, not ready yet to tell the rest of them.
“Now really isn’t the time for emotional confessions of love,” Ducot said over his shoulder.
“I already tried that, didn’t work out so well,” Eira muttered. “My magic is gone.” She tried to speak quietly enough that no one but them would hear.
“What?” Ducot and Noelle both said in unison.
“I’ll explain more later, once we’re safe—if we’re safe.” She had to flee. Even though her uncle was still an unknown. Even though her parents were somewhere between the coliseum andRisen, hopefully they’d never made it to the coliseum despite her uncle’s suspicions… Maybe she’d meet them in Risen.
Even with all the unknowns, she couldn’t stay. If she did, Ulvarth would find her, and he would kill her. He wouldn’t hesitate anymore. He wouldn’t give her second chances.
Because she had taken his magic from him.
Eira had mixed their channels. For a brief and glorious second she had known the full depths of his power and then felt it silenced for good. But, just as her uncle had warned, the act was complex and she was inexperienced. So far as she could tell, when she’d closed off Ulvarth’s channel, she’d closed off her own, too.
And now, he was going to stop at nothing until he found her. She just had to find a way to open her channel back up before he did.
The doors lurched. Eira had been timing them and she shouted just before their next strike. “Go!”
The lock came undone with a pulse of magic. The doors flew open and in toppled Pillars, straight into Noelle’s fire. They charged through the flames. Ahead was the river and, with it, freedom.
Lavette and Alyss both carried Cullen on one side. Behind them, magic flew. Olivin had stayed, just as he had said he would. He was holding them back, buying the rest of them time before making his own escape. His eyes swung to hers and she mouthed,thank you. A brief smile crossed his lips before they were too far to see each other.
She hoped he would be all right. That somehow, he’d make good on his word and find Yonlin. She’d see him again down the river… Something in her gut told her he would.
“Eira, you’re looking for a boat with one sail,” Ducot said, bringing her attention forward once more. “Do you remember it?”
“I do!”
Ducot slowed and held out his hand. Worry crossed his features. “There’s too much chaos in the air right now; I can’t lead. I can’t—”
She knew what he needed without him having to finish. Eira clasped her fingers around his and tugged in the right direction. “This way!” she called to the rest of them. “This one!”
Luckily the boat was close to the warehouse.
The moment Eira put Ducot’s hand on the railing, he jumped over, instantly looking more confident. He quickly caught his bearings, making a lap around the deck with his fingers—and no doubt pulses of magic—affirming that it was the right vessel and everything was as he remembered.
Varren rushed around them, throwing their stuff into the vessel and jumping over the low railing. Lavette and Alyss passed Cullen to them as Noelle continued to send bursts of flame behind them.
Olivin was nowhere to be seen in the distance. Had he escaped? Or had they already captured him? Eira resisted calling out. He’d made his choice. They’d made theirs. She had faith their paths would cross once more, sooner rather than later. She had to.
“Take your time, no need to rush! I’mfineover here!” Noelle shouted over her shoulder, back on the docks and sending tongues of flame to keep the remaining three Pillars pursuing them at bay.
“Come aboard; we’re almost ready!” Eira was putting every summer she’d spent helping sailors in the docks of Oparium to work. Her hands were clumsy on the knots. No matter how hard she tried, they didn’t seem to come undone fast enough. Her fingers were still trembling from pain and exhaustion.
“Let me help.” Ducot moved with the confidence of a man who had undone the ropes a thousand times.
The boat rocked as Noelle jumped on. Eira and Ducot finished casting off as the Pillars rushed toward them. Noelle lifted both her hands, sending a whirlwind of fire at them. It had the added effect of propelling the boat in the opposite direction.
“I can help, too.” Lavette stood, spinning the bracelets on her right arm. The wind was behind them. Eira quickly unfurled the single sail, fumbling along the way.
Ducot pushed her back gently. “I can take it from here. Rest.”
Flashes of magic and fire lit up the air around them. But, somehow, their little boat made it through all the magical attacks. With Ducot telling Lavette what direction to sail in, they sped down the river and away from the chaos.
The town and the smoldering coliseum faded into the distance behind them as the sun began to dip low in the horizon, illuminating the uncharted waters ahead. Other boats sailed next to them, no doubt crewed by equally terrified people, fleeing the carnage. The river would soon be cluttered with them.
Eira stumbled against the railing and sank down, catching her breath. They’d made it out. She wondered briefly if Deneya or Rebec would come looking for the vessel and be trapped without it. They’d find another way.
