He saw the look Draven and Ariadne exchanged at that, but wisely, neither of them said anything.
The next screech reached them, sounding much closer, a moment before thestryxappeared from behind some rocks overhead. It dove quickly, and he wrapped an arm around Kailia’s waist to Travel them out of the way while Draven and Ariadne did the same. They ended up on opposite sides of the space, thestryxstanding between them.
She was massive.
Her grey wings stretched out, the beast scratched the rocky earth with sharp talons. The sound reverberated through his bones, and Kailia clamped her hands over her ears, her bow clattering to the ground.
Thestryxtilted her head too far to one side in that unnerving way standard owls could. Then she turned her head completely the other way, looking behind herself.
“By the gods,” Kailia breathed, retrieving her bow with her eyes fixed on the creature. “And there are three of them?”
“That’s what Lord Astor said,” Cethin replied tightly as he pulled up more and more of his magic.
He didn’t want to release it yet. Thestryxwere more agile than thenagasky.While he could go into direct combat with the other creatures of old, it was far easier to subdue astryxby casting a net of power rather than using ropes of darkness. But keeping this much magic at the surface was nearly impossible.More than that, he needed to reserve some for the other creatures.
Right as he was about to release that net of dark power, cries of surprise rang out. Thestryxturned, honing in on where Ariadne and Draven were. Cethin didn’t know what was happening over there with the creature blocking his view, but he was out of time.
With a burst of energy, he cast his power outward, flinging it over the creature. She screeched, the sound deafening this close, and Cethin stumbled forward as thestryxtried to take flight. He yanked hard on his magic to keep the thing on the ground. They never wanted to kill the creatures, only send them back to slumber. Taking out such ancient creatures could upset a balance they didn’t know about, and there were enough curses on his kingdom the way it was.
He pulled up more and more power as he wrestled with the creature, letting his darkness lift him off the ground to hover closer. Faintly, the sounds of weapons clashing reached him, but he couldn’t focus on anything else. This was using too much of his power as it was. If he had enough to subdue another, it would take the last of it, and that would still leave a third to contend with.
Tightening the net, he forced thestryx’shead to the ground, the giant creature on her belly as she tried to break through his magic. Striding forward, he placed his hand on her beak, a different kind of magic rippling out. Her frantic eyes glowed, flashing to silver for a brief moment before returning to their pale white color, until finally her eyes closed, settling into a deep sleep.
His chest heaving, he turned to check on Kailia, finding her standing with her bow, an arrow nocked and aimed. His magic lowering him back to the ground, he scanned her once beforeshifting back to look beyond thestryxto where Ariadne and Draven had been.
Only to find them still engaged in a battle with several Elder Clan members.
He’d known they would be close by, and the sight of them had him rushing back to Kailia and herding her back into the small overhang they’d been huddled in before thestryx.
“What are you doing?” she demanded in outrage, attempting to shove at him with her elbow as he jostled her.
“The Elder Clan is here. Ariadne and Draven are handling them. We just need to sit tight for a minute,” he answered, maneuvering so he blocked her from view.
“They’re here?” she asked, immediately trying to peer around him.
“Yes,” he ground out. “Stay out of sight.”
“If only I could disappear among something like smoke and ashes to do so,” she deadpanned.
The sudden snark took him by surprise. A delighted surprise, but surprise nonetheless. Mainly because she was actually speaking to him.
He shifted to peer across the expanse again, still hearing the sounds of fighting.
“Did you know across the sea you are called the cursed king?” she asked suddenly.
He glanced back at her, then he turned to face her fully when he saw what she held. “Why do you have that here of all places? And where did you get it?”
Because in her hand was his crown, the silver and rubies almost dull in the fading sunlight.
“From our rooms, of course,” she answered, coming closer and motioning for him to stoop down.
“Kailia, this really isn’t the time?—”
“Most call you that because of the Wards,” she cut in. “It makes sense, but the Wards were in place long before you were called king. Even still, I think it’s fitting all things considered.”
“Because I am the king now?” he asked, wondering where she was going with this.
“One would certainly think you cursed with the way the phantoms come for you,” she mused, toying with his crown. “I guess there are multiple reasons to call you the cursed king.”
