He looks like she’s just asked if grass is green. “Absolutely.”
Quicker than thought, the scraver reaches out and clamps her clawed hand around Alek’s neck. A gasping, choking sound breaks free of his throat, and a trickle of blood appears below her fingers.
“You humans are so shortsighted,” she growls. “Do you not think Xovaar would turn his powers on you next, with no magesmith to keep him in check?” She leans closer, and more blood flows. “Why do you think the scravers were treaty bound to remain in Iishellasa at all?”
Alek is prying at her fingers. His face has gone a shade of white I don’t want to see again.
But then he snatches a weapon from the belt at his waist, and I realize he’s going to thrust it right into Igaa. I don’t know which one of
them I should be defending— but I know they’re about to kill each other.
Without thinking about it, I tackle the scraver.
She’s much lighter than I expect, and it’s bizarrely like tackling little Sinna instead of a vicious creature. Her wings flare wide as if to catch her balance, snapping hard to catch the air, but I’m too close, and I slam into her side full force. For an instant, I realize that she might launch us both into the air just to drop me from above. But then we crash into the ground, rolling.
I end up on top of her, panting. I don’t mean to pin her wings, but one is trapped under my knee. Just as I realize it, she swipes at me with her claws.
Before she makes contact, Alek hooks me under the arms, jerking me off her.
Then he shoves me to the side, and before I can blink, he has weapons in hand.
“Stop!” I cry— but the scraver has already leapt into the air. She takes light on a branch high above. From here, I can hear her panting.
— I gave you your information,she says.—Now you must help me.
“She just helped you!” Alek snaps incredulously.
“Shutup,” I hiss at him. I jerk free of his grip. “What do you need me to do?” I call up to her. “I can’t kill Xovaar. If the king couldn’t stop him, I sure can’t.”
She hisses back at me. “Nakiis can. With the help of a magesmith.”
“He didn’t even want me to heal him! He’s not going to let me tether my magic or whatever—”
“I don’t wantyourmagic.” Igaa’s claws wrap around that branch, and she leans down, her balance proving just how inhuman she is. “I want you to find Tycho, Callyn. And I want you to bring him to us.”
CHAPTER 10
TYCHO
The sun is barely peeking over the horizon when we gather to ride out of Ironrose, streaking the sky with shades of lavender and pink. Malin already said he would choose Sephran, so I’m not surprised when the soldier shows up in a fresh tunic with full armor, riding a dark gray gelding that stands at least a hand taller than Mercy— which sets him a good eight inches taller than me. It doesn’t matter, and Idefinitelyshouldn’t care, but I find it annoying anyway. He and Malin arrive in the courtyard together, and their expressions are jovial . . . until Sephran’s eyes fall on me. Then his expression cools, and he barely gives me a nod.
Fine. I have no idea what his problem is, but after my time in Syhl Shallow, I have a long history of working with soldiers who don’t like me. I can just add him to the list.
I thought Malin might choose Kutter as the last member of our small unit, because I’ve heard enough stories about him, too. Then again, before Malin’s promotion, Kutter actually outrankedhim. So maybe I shouldn’t be surprised when an unfamiliar young man arrives with a light bay mare, no rank or insignia on his sleeves.
“This is Leo,” Malin says to me. “He’s a recruit.”
Leo draws his horse to a perfect halt, then offers me a salute.
“At ease,” I say, but I inwardly sigh. Leo looks younger than I am, and there’s a brightness in his eyes that tells me he’s never seen any real trouble. We already have Jax along, and despite Rhen’s encouragement, I have no idea if he’s ultimately going to be an asset or a liability.
“Second year?” I say to Leo.
“First year. Sir.”
Silver hell.I give Malin a look.
He shrugs. “You were young once, too,” he says. “Oh, wait— you’restill—”
