Sebastian's neck and forelegs were extended in a graceful dive, his wings propelling him forward. Caden clung to his back, sword drawn.
"That's not possible. How did you let them in here?"the Whisperer screamed.
Eva buried her dagger in his chest. Her grip slipped as it jolted, catching on bone. Pain sliced through her as she cut herself on the blade.
She steeled herself, putting her other hand on the hilt and trying to dig it even an inch deeper.
"You said it yourself. I'm the Caller. I can open the door or close it," Eva growled in his ear. "You should have stayed in your prison."
A piercing shriek made her ears ring as he reached for her. Eva swayed out of reach, abandoning her dagger.
Caden's sword swiped across the Whisperer's neck in the next second. Neil's head flew as the silhouette of the Whisperer wavered, his edges beginning to flake off.
Sebastian speared his horns through the Whisperer's chest before tossing his head and flinging the body to the side.
It flew, its limbs flopping as it hit the ground and rolled in much the same way its head had.
Caden and Sebastian circled what remained of the Whisperer, searching for any signs of life. Sebastian screamed and reared before dropping his front legs onto the corpse. He stomped before wheeling and kicking the body with his hooves.
That river of scarlet light and the stars it fed winked out, the darkness fading until only Neil's body remained.
It was over.
Sebastian spun, lifting his tail and shitting on the body.
"Is that really necessary?" Eva asked.
It felt like it. Yes.
"I will never understand you," Eva said.
You don't need to. You simply need to accept my greatness.
Eva made a derisive sound as Caden and Sebastian rode toward her.
Eva aimed a tired smile at Caden. "I had a feeling you'd come."
"Do you remember that time you said you feared I'd be bored not serving the Warlord?" Caden asked in a carefully controlled voice.
Eva paused. She did remember that conversation. It had happened just after he told her he planned to follow her to the herd lands.
She'd worried her life wouldn't have enough action in it for a warrior of Caden's caliber.
"In the future, I would like that boredom you promised me."
Caden's gaze was that of a man who'd been through hell and back. Who'd faced the demons that haunted his soul and fought them to a standstill.
Eva's expression softened. "I'll see what I can do."
Caden face relaxed somewhat as he looked around. "What is this place?"
Sebastian pranced under Caden as he shook his head to send his mane flying.We're in the ancestral lands. I never thought I'd stand here in real life. I've only seen it in dreams. It's so much more than I ever expected.
Caden's gaze dropped to the back of Sebastian's head as thoughts moved across his face. Eva didn’t comment on his odd expression. There were more pressing matters to address.
"I want an explanation," Eva told Orion.
Oh?
