They looked up at a man standing on the roof of the alley building. A black mask covered the bottom half of his face. The sun shone over his blond hair rippling in the wind. With a line of rope, he rappelled down the wall, and his blue coat flared with the sigil of a bird’s skull on his back. He landed between her and Von as two long knives slipped to his hands from the concealed sheaths up his sleeves. His familiar blue eyes flickered to her, and she recognized the captain from Old Tanzanite Keep.
“Klyde,” she breathed.
A look crossed Von’s expression that told her he knew the man too. There was no hesitation. He armed himself with two knives, hilts spinning in his palms, and attacked. They moved in wild but graceful aggression. Blades whistled as they slashed the air inches from each other, a whirl of clashing metal. They blocked each other’s blows and kicks, equally matched.
Dyna could hardly follow their deft movements. Even if she had her dagger, she wouldn’t have been a match for Von. He slashed for Klyde’s throat, and the captain parried with a swipe of his blade. Their arms locked together, bringing them face to face with their knives, a mere hairsbreadth from their necks. Keena flinched in her hand, watching the fight with wide eyes.
“Do you remember all the people you’ve slain for him?” Klyde grated, his eyes like stone.
Von clenched his teeth. “I remember them all.”
The captain rammed his knee in Von’s gut and threw him over his shoulder. Von collided with the brick wall behind her.
“Go, lass,” Klyde told Dyna. He withdrew one of the short swords strapped to his back as Von stood. The small polished skull of the pommel grinned back at her. “I’ll take care of this.”
Dyna nodded. “Thank you.”
She sprinted past him to the street and kept running, not daring to stop.
“Where did that fine knight in no armor come from,” Keena asked wearily. “Do you know him?”
“No.” All she knew was his name.
“He seemed to know you.”
She shook her head. “I briefly met him yesterday. I thought he was part of the Azure Guard.”
Keena managed a weak laugh. “Oh no. That one is a Skelling Mercenary. Most simply call them The Skulls. You didn’t recognize the emblem?”
The Skulls… Cassiel had called him that before, but she had paid little attention at the time.
“They are notorious swords for hire. For whatever reason, he helped you. Why was that other man after you?”
“It’s a long story.” Dyna couldn’t afford the time to think about Klyde or Von. She had to find the others.
“If it wasn’t for the iron, I could have help,” Keena said as Dyna ran through the streets. “Iron is toxic for the Folk, and it’s costing me to recover. Thank you for freeing me. I am within your debt.”
“But I …” A rush of emotions flooded in Dyna’s chest, and her eyes welled. “It’s my fault Cassiel was captured.”
“He could have flown away to save himself. Instead, he traded his life for yours. But I won’t let it come to that.” Keena’s tiny hand brushed her thumb. “You have my word that I will do all in my power to help you.”
A small spark of hope filled Dyna’s heart. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
The fairy princess beamed. “None of that. We need to find a patrol of Azure Guards. My guardsmen must have notified them of my disappearance, and they will be searching for me.”
“Wait, how were you captured?”
Keena fidgeted with a tear in her dress. “I … I followed you.”
Dyna stopped to stare at her. “Why?”
The fairy played with one end of her torn dress and sighed heavily. “Leoake said if I did, I would find what I’m searching for. I was there in the crowd last night when the dwarves were trying to steal you away. I sent my guardsmen to your aid, but Cassiel arrived with the orc, so I stayed back.”
Dyna had to fight the tightening in her throat at the memory.
Keena found the strength to fly, wings struggling until she landed on Dyna’s shoulder and held on to a lock of her hair. “Distracted by the spectacle, I wasn’t paying attention to my surroundings when a dwarf snatched me in a cage. Draven wanted to sell me for ransom. The Morphos Court is known for its wealth. Our fortune lies in the highly sought perfume we create from the Aurora Blooms. It was so foolish of me. I nearly died because I listened to that dastardly Druid.”
She hurriedly continued down the street. “What is it you need?”
