“I can do that.” She couldn’t help them with their magic, but she could at the least figure out how to disable the quick release…whateverthatmeant. “You seem knowledgeable about this.”
“Weapons always fascinated me.” Yonlin’s breathing was becoming heavier. Luckily they were almost at their destination. “Any tools of war.”
“Much to my personal dismay,” Olivin muttered. “You make it hard enough to keep you safe.”
“The shadow and the war expert, what a pair both of you are.” Eira grinned at Olivin, who returned the expression. Though his fell some when he glanced back to Yonlin.
“You find odd hobbies with a background like ours.” He seemed to very much wish that wasn’t the case for his brother.
“Don’t I know it?” Eira agreed under her breath.
“If only he’d let me help him more.” Yonlin gave Olivin a glare.
“I never wanted you to be at risk,” Olivin said.
“Good thing I’m going to be perpetually at risk from here on. The hero-ing isn’t just up to you anymore.” Yonlin didn’t sound upset in the slightest.
Eira could feel Olivin’s discomfort radiating off him at the idea. She could see it in the conflict on his face. He knew Yonlin was no longer a boy, but he would always see his younger brother as the child he once was.
Just like, no matter how much she grew or how capable she became, Marcus had always seen her as his younger sister. Someone to protect and take care of. Nothing in the world would change that, not even his better sense.
She wanted to reach out to Olivin and grasp his hand, letting him know that they would keep Yonlin safe, together. But there wasn’t an opportunity. Yet, as they jumped again from building to building, his eyes met hers.
Time seemed to slow again in the way that only he could cause. He gave a small nod. She returned it. There was an unspoken understanding between them. Yonlin would be kept safe. No matter what happened, they would both look after him.
16
Fortunately for them, it seemed like the guards weren’t paying close attention to the trio running along the rooftops, instead focusing on the boat still drifting down the river. That meant they had the element of surprise at best. Or, at worst, a few extra moments.
“There’s a door down there.” Eira pointed to a door at the base of the archway that was guarded by a man and a woman.
“We’ll be met with resistance on the inside route.” Olivin took a step closer to her, holding out his hands. “There’s a faster way, if I may?”
“Go ahead.” Eira didn’t even have to think about it; the only thing that mattered was moving as quickly as possible. She wasn’t sure what he had been planning on doing, but she certainly hadn’t been expecting him to sweep her off her feet.
Olivin leaned forward, wrapped an arm around her back and reached down behind her knees. Despite her surprise, instinct to stabilize herself kicked in. Eira wrapped her arms around his shoulders, holding on tightly as he straightened. The odd feeling of weightlessness settled into her lower stomach as he lifted her, adjusting slightly, settling her weight in his arms.
“I’m capable of walking, you know,” she murmured. A crack of distant lighting lit up his profile in sharp outlines that quickly faded into the night. She shifted her grip. It somehow resulted in her being pressed even more tightly against him…not that it should have been possible.
“Not like this.” Olivin shook his head and looked up at the archway with fierce determination. He began running to the edge of the rooftop.
“Olivin?” Eira’s voice grew somewhat shrill with panic. “What?—”
As he jumped, he said, “Mysst xieh.”
Light spun from underneath his toes, forming a circular disk.Mysst xieh—shield. Eira had always known it for use in combat. But Olivin used it like a stepping stone, sinking into his right leg before lunging forward.
“Mysst xieh!” Another circle of light appeared, this time under his left foot. Olivin sank low again and then bounced upward.
Circle of light by circle of light, they made their way upward. Yonlin was behind them, doing the same. Eira was vaguely reminded of how Cullen could step on pockets of air to rise upward. But she had never joined him while he was performing the act.
She had moments of weightlessness combined with seconds where her stomach was in her throat before Olivin landed on solid magic once more and repeated the process. Again, and again, they rose.
Until a beam of lightwhizzedby Olivin’s head. He swayed, falling to the side.
“Olivin!” Eira shouted. She was helpless to be of assistance. If she’d had her magic, she could summon a ledge of ice for them to land on. But all she could do was cling to him as they fell through the open air.
“Mysst xieh!” he shouted, almost deafeningly loud in her ear. A circle of light spun out beneath him.
