19
AUDRYN
Sky was off her stool and at the open door before I had a chance to ask a single question. Confused, I trailed behind, exited the tavern, and traced her gaze to the sky. Dozens of red capes breezed behind golden-haired witches; they rode not on wyverns, but on black wooden staffs. Against the sun, the glass globes on the front of each rod swirled with red smoke inside.
“Go home, Audryn.” Sky held her hand back and unsheathed her sword with the other. “Lock yourself in Col’s room and don’t come out, no matter what.”
I reached for the daggers at my thighs and quickly remembered I’d started leaving them behind. Wyverns launched from the nearby mountain line, and I instinctively scanned for my emerald-eyed beast, but didn’t find her. They were too late to prevent the attack as the swarm of witches descended on the capital.
Screaming fae bolted through the street in all directions. Two were swept up and into the arms of flying women. My stomach dropped seeing them dangling from their feet high above. Their captors maniacally laughed as they whippedthrough the air. Time slowed as one of the victims was released and plummeted to his death.
The body hit the ground with a thick thud, blood misted buildings and bystanders. A scream tore through the air as the second victim was released. An elderly man trying to escape the war zone was struck as the second victim landed on top of him. His unmoving body lay crushed below the wad of bones and mangled flesh.
I froze, too terrified to help and unsure which way to head. It wasn’t until the soft weeping from a tiny voice pulled me from my daze.
I kneeled and met the reddened eyes of Dolcie’s daughter. “Hi, I’m Audryn. Col’s friend, remember?” My lip wobbled as I tried to offer a reassuring smile. “What’s your name?”
“Edithiya, but everyone calls me Edith.” The girl, no more than six years old, wiped at the tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Where’s your mother?”
With a shaky finger, she pointed to the mountains. “She works up there.”
I drew in a deep breath. “Okay, how about we wait for her at Col’s?”
Metal clattered, drawing my attention to Sky, who was fighting a much larger woman in the street. Her opponent wore black leather pants, tall boots, and a long-sleeved, tight-fitting shirt. Steep cutouts on the sides of the shirt angled into an upside down V, accentuating the curve of the witch’s ribs. It was the uniform of an enchanting warrior, and her beauty was hypnotizing.
The witch swung her staff narrowly missing my friend. I flinched. A moment later, Sky dug her sword through the woman’s abdomen with ease. Withdrawing the blade, the witch grabbed at the spewing wound as Sky swung again, slicing clean through the woman’s neck. The momentum sent the headbouncing to the other side of the street, and the tangy scent of blood sang through the air.
“Is Col going to be there?” Edith’s eyes brightened as she tugged on the corner of my shirt.
“Probably later. I’m sure he’s working really hard to keep us safe first.” I grabbed her hand and moved into the street. A man ran into my shoulder nearly knocking me over, his gaze skyward.
“Why are you still here?” Sky scolded. “Don’t stop running until you get home.”
“I’m going,” I said, pulling the little girl into a sprint. After several turns, we were still too far away. I started to doubt we’d make it back at all.
“I want my aunt.” Edith’s chest heaved.
I watched as riders and witches battled in the sky. Beasts bit into the flying women while the witches impaled them with unridden staffs. My heart sank thinking that Dysis could be harmed in the melee. I sent a thought into the void, begging her to hide and stay safe.
Far above, I searched the sky for Col, but didn’t find him. For all I knew, he’d been at the seeps and was likely among the first to confront the invaders. My stomach sank as one rider tumbled from their beast and fell through the open air.
A witch swooped down from the sky and I pulled Edith into a corner, barely missing the woman’s outstretched arms. A wyvern chased the woman from above the narrow street lined with buildings, its black maw snapping at her as she flew close to the ground. The beast was too big to get within range and knocked out a residential support with its attempt. The building partially crumbled in the wake of the chase.
“We need to keep going. Can you make it?”
Edith ran the backs of her hands over her eyes and shook her head.
“That’s okay.” I pulled her up into my arms. “I’ll carry you. We'll get there together.”
Stepping away from the building, I looked both ways. Although we weren’t outnumbered in the sky, most fae on the streets had made it indoors, leaving only a half-dozen of us as targets.
“Where does your aunt live?” I pushed my hair back. “Is it close?”
Edith nodded. “She lives with me.”
“Which way?” I waited for directions.
