There was shouting, a scuffle, words from Castor and his men that Lina couldn’t make out.She dragged herself to Ione, curled her into her arms, felt her heart break as Ione trembled uncontrollably, her breaths slowing, slowing.A healing flame fluttered on Lina’s palm, doused by blood, by her own exhaustion.
With the last of her consciousness, Ione laid her hand over Lina’s.Tangled their fingers together, squeezed.
Splashing, men felled, an inhuman cry that drowned out all else.Light pierced the smog, brighter than fire, purer.
Moonlight.
And then there was peace, and silence, and nothing but sweet, cool water lapping at Lina’s legs.The stench of smoke and blood dissipated, replaced by soft rains, gentle droplets caressing her skin, washing away the lingering pain and fear.
A fresh wave of tears slid down Ione’s cheeks.Her lips curved into a faint, relieved smile.
And Castor’s voice cut through the sacred light:
“Thereyou are.”
Chapter Seventeen
Kai
Smell returned to him first.Fresh, cool air; the briny waters he’d grown up on, so sweet and familiar he felt tears prick his closed eyelids.His head lolled to the side and his jaw clenched, the world spinning like a top beneath him, his limbs too heavy to hold it all still.He swam towards consciousness, the scents of sand and sea and late summer night and – burning.The acrid, burning reek behind it all.
A voice called out, distorted but close: “Kai.”
His head buzzed.He clung to the sounds of crashing waves, distressed seagulls, the hushed sobs and chatter of too many people.
“Kai.”
His name.He heard himself groan, felt his face scrunch up.The world lurched.
Another face hovered above his, an old man in ash-greyed robes, brows furrowed with urgency.Saros.Beside him, Ahe knelt, an arm resting on one knee, scowling.Kai blinked at him, casting for reality.“Da?”
“I’m not Da, you fucking idiot.”
Nalu.
What happened?Had he hit his head?He tried to reach for it, feel for an injury, but his arm flopped back down.
“Up, Kai, wake up.”Saros sent Nalu a sharp look, prompting him to scoop his arms under Kai’s shoulders and help him to sit.“Up you go, lad.There’s a dote.How do you feel?”
It was early, the pre-dawn light tinting the world blue.He sat on the beach at the edge of Oseidos, the night-cooled bank littered with boulders.
Not boulders – people.People huddling in small groups dotting the shore, heads bowed, talking, crying.Grieving.
His gaze roved past them, up the hill to the village.To the shrine.All of it lay in ruins, blackened, burnt carcasses of buildings and monuments, smoke still filling the dark blue sky.
His heart hammered.His hand, trembling, pressed into his chest, slid up to his neck, his jaw, his eye.He’d been burnt to the bone.He knew this, could dredge up the agony, the rush of adrenaline.
But his skin was smooth.Unmarred.
Scraps of it returned to him: dragging River with him to Llyr’s quarters, finding the wardstone already shattered.The first firebolt crashing through the ceiling.Evacuations, shouting, fighting.Killing.
Moonlight.A small, white thing dyed red, a knife to her throat; a pair of brown eyes fluttering shut, cracked armour, spilled blood.
“Ione.River.”They were there, oh, gods, they were hurt, bleeding.Kai struggled and Nalu released him, letting him fall forward, his strength dissipating.
Where were they?He scanned the beach, locating Etan, Cynthia, Mikau and Ami –
And River.His armour gone and clothes torn and burned, but alive.Relief crested through him, sending tears to his eyes, but after a second, a third look, Kai could not find Ione.
