The lord had reported seeing at least three of thestryxwhen they arrived this morning after his request for immediate assistance. There had been no slow awakening like there had been with thenagasky.As far as they’d known, the creatures of old had gone back to slumber. Apparently, they’d all been wrong.
Unlike thenagaskyin the southwest and thenagaseaof Shadowfen, thestryxwere solitary creatures. The other two creatures moved in groups, but thestryxalways scattered, going out on their own. It made them harder to track down, which is why they’d split up. Cethin was hoping they’d found the first one, so he could take care of it. The others were tracking two more to keep them busy until Cethin could come to them.
He wasn’t prepared for this though. Over the last week, he’d been spending his nights and morning hours in his study in thecatacombs. Things were still tense between him and Kailia, and while they put on a good front when out and about together, things were very different when they were alone.
He understood her feelings of betrayal, and more than that, he understood she needed time to process everything. When the missive came from Lord Astor this morning, he’d known there was no way she was staying behind. He wished she would have, especially after what had happened when they’d gone to subdue thenagasky.
“Do you think we are close?” Kailia asked, wandering around the new area, her face to the sky and bow in hand.
“I hope so,” he answered. “Although astryxtends to find you, not the other way around.”
She hummed, her only acknowledgement, and he jerked his chin at Ariadne to stay close to her. The female nodded, edging closer, as Cethin fell back to walk with Draven.
“Have you seen anything?” he asked, his voice low.
Draven shook his head, eyes continuously scanning their surroundings. “Nothing noted.”
He wasn’t focused on the sky like the rest of them. Cethin had instructed him to watch for any signs of the Elder Clan. The last thing he needed was for them to come for Kailia again, but considering they were the guardians of the creatures of old and this was the second time they’d woken in a matter of months, he had no doubts they were involved somehow.
“Keep watching,” Cethin said, clapping him on the shoulder before moving back to walk with Kailia.
She scarcely glanced at him, and a muscle in his jaw ticked at the obvious dismissal. Yes, he deserved it, but she was still keeping plenty of secrets of her own. To continue to hold this against him was rather hypocritical of her.
“You said thestryxcan fly, but they are not like thenagasky?” she asked, her usual dress swishing around her ankles as she moved.
He’d offered her a cloak before they’d set out on this hunt, but she’d refused, claiming she could hunt better this way. While he was in pants, boots, and a long-sleeved tunic and jacket, she was in her sleeveless dress with the high slits and bare feet. It was ridiculous, but telling her that with the urgency of the situation was a battle he’d chosen not to fight today. As soon as this was dealt with, they’d go home anyway.
“Yes,” he answered. “Thenagaskyare winged serpents. Thestryxare…”
“Horned owls with fangs,” Ariadne offered grimly.
That was one way to describe them.
“Owls?” Kailia asked, turning to face him.
For the first time in over a week, she held his gaze, that old curiosity flickering in her eyes. It seemed for the moment, she was forgetting to be angry with him. He’d call that progress.
“Much larger than a standard owl,” he clarified. “They are bigger than most land animals.”
“The size of a dragon?” she asked.
“Not quite, but close. Their wingspan isn’t quite as large, and Ariadne is correct. Their beaks are bigger and longer with fangs, and they have curved horns,” Cethin explained.
“Didn’t you or Razik tell me there were four different creatures of old?” she asked, turning back to the sky once more.
“Thefelidaeare said to exist, but we have never seen them. Only heard rumors,” he answered.
She looked back at him over her shoulder. “Like the Runic Lands.”
He smiled softly. “Yes. It is said thefelidaeguard the Runic Lands.”
Another screech sounded, this time closer.
“You don’t think my arrows would work on them?” she asked, one appearing from her ashes. “Or the blades I can create?”
“Considering they are immune to dragon fire, I’m going to assume not,” he answered.
“But we don’t know,” she countered. “Until you, I’d never met anyone or anything that could survive my arrows or blades.”
