Moments later, the ice crumbles behind us, shattered by our weight, but we’re back on solid ground.
The mountain ridge where the vampyrs are swarming is only a single valley away, but this one is wider than the first. Too far for Nara to jump.
She races forward and veers to the right, where the mountain dips and another outcrop creates a partial bridge between the two ranges, a narrowing of the pass across which she’ll be able to leap, bringing us toward the back of the swarm.
Her speed increases again, and I lean low, accepting the rush of air, the force of wind against my face and body as she evades the vampyrs behind us, nears the edge, and sails out into the air.
She lands lightly on the other side, slowing slightly to allow for a sharp left turn as we rush up the slope toward the highest peak.
Now that we’re closer to the main swarm, I can see that the majority of vampyrs have gathered on the far side of the mountain. From this angle, it’s impossible to tell if the mountain ridge ends in a sheer cliff on the other side or extends into a smaller ridge.
A group of vampyrs levitates on this side, but they’re gathered around a spot at the end of the valley where the mountain ahead forms a cliff face, a dead end closing in the valley.
Odd that they’d gather in front of solid rock like that.
Unless the rock isn’t as solid as it appears.
Find me where the light hides.
Listening carefully, I make out the soft whistling of wind coming from the rock face.
A tunnel!
Somehow invisible from the outside.
“Nara,” I whisper, knowing she’ll hear me despite therushing wind and the increasingly loud shrieks ahead of us. “Leap for that cliff face.”
My command should alarm her. I’m effectively telling her to jump diagonally across the ravine and throw herself at apparently solid rock, right into a group of levitating vampyrs.
She doesn’t hesitate.
If anything, she speeds up, her head raised, her breathing audibly deepening as she drags air into her chest.
I’m certain she not only senses the tunnel within the mountain ahead, but she’ll remember the Oracle’s scent. As overwhelming as the reek of vampyric blood must be to Nara, her behavior indicates she’s picked up the Oracle’s trail.
It isn’t all good news.
The vampyrs that were following us are closing in on our left, and the whirlwind of streaming vampyrs flying above the mountain seems to have become aware of our presence, countless undead breaking off from the main group to fly toward us. The group of vampyrs levitating in front of the tunnel’s entrance turns toward us.
We’re now facing threats from three directions.
I conserve my energy as each group rushes at us—thirty, forty, maybe even fifty of them.
My power is stronger than any other Frost Fae’s, but it isn’t endless, and I have no idea what I’ll encounter once I find the light of which the Oracle spoke. I need to conserve my power as much as possible now.
Forcing myself to wait, I focus on every step Nara takes as she flies along the ridge, her legs stretching, her breathing deep, her concentration so pinpoint that her calm is like a cocoon around us. An invisible shield.
We’re mere seconds away from the spot where she’ll need to jump across the ravine, but a glance upward tells me the main swarm is about to reach us, their hungry cries deafening.
If I could feel fear, it would be logical to feel it now.
Nara shoots forward, her momentum increasing for the final steps.
She soars out into the air, her body flying at an angle, straight at the rock face, her claws and teeth slashing at the creatures blocking the way.
At the same moment that her paws leave the ground, I propel myself from her back, springing upward, drawing both of my swords from their scabbards at my back.
My power explodes across my palms, along each sword hilt and blade, forming jagged spikes.
