I snapped a kick up to his face, which knocked him back… into Ahmaia’s writhing cloth-arms. A moment later he was sucked into her magic pockets.
“You’re bleeding,” Ahmaia said, stoically.
I looked at my arm and shrugged. MyHerogift meant I was feeling little pain. Before I remembered I was wearing armor, I reached for my midsection and some webbing. The armor over my belly parted, like flowing water once again, and I was able to gather some webbing into my hand. The armor closed up as I moved my hand away. I could definitely get used to this. I spread the webbing over my injured arm, stopping the blood for now. “I’ll be well enough. There are more.”
Ahmaia blinked then nodded. Midnight and the other Fey were finishing up with the two other Nobles who’d been asleep in the pavilion, and we spread out into the camp.
Claw’s scream had woken others.
A man raced toward me, spear leveled, as another — in the form of a large cat — leapt at me.
Ahmaia’s writhing cloth grabbed the leaping one out of the air, shunting him into her cloak as I deflected the spear thrust with my sword, driving it to one side of me before I lunged in and landed a strike on the man’s leg, cutting deep. He fell screaming… for a moment… before he too was scooped into Ahmaia’s cloak.
“That is five,” Ahmaia said calmly. “I could take perhaps one or two more.”
Just then, two younger Nobles ran at us. I recognized one from my time at Silverveil and the Noble’s Test, though I couldn’t recall her name.
One veered into a tressym and flew at me, claws extended. Ahmaia sucked that one into her cloak as I engaged with the other. She used a whip, and it was clear she’d been trained in combat, but… not as relentlessly as I had. She struck and the whip wrapped itself around my sword arm. I released the blade to grab the leather whip, then pulled the woman in close. I caught her by the neck, then tossed her to Ahmaia, who gobbled her up. The woman hadn’t even screamed, she’d been so surprised.
Midnight and the other Fey joined us after that.
“There are no more Nobles left here,” Midnight said stoically. “We’re done.”
I nodded, feeling the fury of battle begin to ebb, my gift starting to fade. Pain would return soon.
“Let’s go,” I said and veered in mid-hop, caught by Ahmaia, who then tucked me away in her magical cloak.
I had known this was my escape plan, but I still wasn’t prepared for the absolute darkness, the press of heavy, grainy fabric on all sides as I was held, unable to move.
Yet, I had no reason to want to get out from this place and relaxed as much as I could for the trip back to our camp.
Still… I was relieved to be released once back in Alvere’s pavilion. We were the last to return.
Sparrow flew into my arms and embraced me. I could sense and feel her excitement and relief, the pounding of her heart. She held me for a long moment before releasing me. She then turned to Ant.
I saw the man, covered in blood, looking at his large hands, still dripping with gore.
“He tore Jaguar apart,” Sparrow said with frightened awe. “I knew he was strong, but…” her voice died. “He’s still… not himself.”
I could see that plainly.
“I’ll talk with him, but not tonight.” I raised my voice to say, “We have done what we needed to do. The war is over, or will be tomorrow morning.” Still, I felt no victory. “Get some rest. We still have lots to do.” And perhaps that was why I didn’t register the win. The battle here was over, but the war raging within the heart of Elista was still to be dealt with…
…and I had no clue how I was going to do that.
Chapter 3
Fin letout a painful grunt as the last of us were transported to the caves beneath Clam’s cottage. The large man shouldn’t have been exerting himself, but he’d insisted he was well enough to bring us all home. Fin was still wounded from the fight that had killed Maverick and the others, even though that had been nearly two weeks ago. Ant hadn’t been well enough to heal him. The large man had been tending to others who were more gravely wounded throughout the camp and was also exhausted. Though now, Ant was just… distant. He’d been consumed with revenge and now had it, but like me, I think he felt hollow.
Fin sat heavily in a comfortable looking chair and smiled. “See, I’m fine.” Then he winced and shifted in the chair. “Almost.” After a moment he added, “I’ll just rest here until dinner. Once I’ve eaten, I’ll limp down to my bed and sleep for a week.”
“This is a strange yet amazing place,” Alvere commented, looking around the large cave-like common area in awe. I had to agree. This was the first time I’d seen the underground hideout. It was impressive in its scale and the precision with which it had been carved from the bedrock here.
I was glad Alvere had been able to come with us. Leaving the command of his forces in the hands of his trusted generals and the Fey, he’d thought it safe to leave the front for a while, at least for one night… to be with me.
There was little left for us to do back in Vauphan. We’d tried to question the prisoners, but we weren’t brutal like they were, wouldn’t use violence to get our answers, which meant most of them weren’t talking. We’d learned a little bit about what forces they were expecting for reinforcements over the coming weeks, but that was it. Lord War had, since being captured, remained as a wasp, we’d gotten nothing from him. Of all of them, he was the one I’d have been most willing to… hurt… a little, for information. I knew he wouldn’t hesitate to do the same. But Ahmaia had stopped me. These people were under her care now and wouldn’t be harmed. So, we had little to go on. But, I didn’t want to think about that now. Today was meant to be a break from all of that.
Crane, who’d been sent ahead to prepare for our arrival, walked briskly into view from the shadowy stairwell to one side of the large room.
