“That’s stupid.”
“No it’s not.”
“Well, I have a mom,” she tells him. “And she’s a nox wine addict.”
“Oh. Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize to me of all people here.”
Meela and her mom have always had a difficult relationship. Most of the time, she’s lost in her own world, under the hazy dark spell of the drink. She wasn’t raised by a mother. Not really. I haven’t seen her around the castle in ages, now that I think about it.
Raef drops the topic, stuffing his face with food.
We stopped for lunch after riding most of the morning. Somehow, we got out of there before any Ellyar guards were awake, found Rhydra and Gaethri, and hit the road. Now we just have to hope we don’t run into any on our path.
We’re all scattered about in an alcove surrounded by dark trees as we plan our change in route. One of the inns we stayed at on the journey to Dothron is still our next destination, but after that we’re heading southwest toward Torrynth instead of northwest back to Ellyar.
The veil seems gloomier today. Darker. I think the rain will likely come through it soon.
Daegan hasn’t left my side since this morning. If anyone has noticed the number of times we make eye contact with each other, they haven’t said anything. Which is more shocking than the fact that a dragon and an elf hooked up last night. It’s only a matter of time, though. Give Meela or Raef another afternoon of boredom and they’ll drop all the pretenses.
“Rhydra, can you—”
I’m pushed to the ground. Hard.
I think I hit my head, but everything happens so fast I can’t tell how bad it is. I hear screaming, everything in me is shouting for me to get up, but I can’t seem to move. I lift my head in slow motion, and then a hand I know to be Daegan’s is lifting me so hard I’m like a delicate flower in his grasp.
I finally look at the source of all the commotion, then fear and horror wash over me.
I’m pushed behind him as he steps forward with his sword out, stabbing at a massive black… thing.
The beast roars in pain as it thrashes, swiping at Daegan with sharp talons, but he dodges and lands another blow. It’s a fatal hit. The furry, yellow-eyedcreature falls to the ground with a hard thump, but there’s no time to celebrate because there are several more behind it.
Standing back-to-back, Raef and Meela are fighting two more off. The one in front of Meela goes up in angry flames as it wails and swings around wildly.
Rhydra is also nearby, but Gaethri…
“No!” I shout.
Gaethri is swinging his heavy mallet, but he’s losing. I watch as one of the beasts sinks its teeth into his shoulder so hard I hear the crack of bone carry across the clearing. It all happens so fast I don’t even have time to react.
He cries out in agony, and I see Rhydra’s head snap in his direction, but she can’t get to him.
“Stay here!” Daegan yells back at me as he charges the two monsters attacking Gaethri.
I think he’s too late.
In just a few blinks, they have Gaethri on the ground, tearing into him with quick, brutal bites. His haunting screams drown out everything else in the clearing.
I finally gather myself and shoot icicles their way, but I fear it’s too late. And my magic seems weak. I’m also using intense focus to avoid hitting Daegan, Gaethri, or any of my friends in the chaos around me. I’m not going to be able to save him. Panic surges through me.
One of the of the beasts tears into him more, tossing a chunk of something bloody aside, and Gaethri’s screams start to fade.
I move closer as I shoot more icicles, but I only seem to be annoying them. I risk a glance at Gaethri, and my heart drops. He’s a bloody, brutal mess of torn clothes, skin, and bone, yet somehow he’s still breathing.
In a moment that feels stretched beyond the limits of time, he locks eyes with Daegan, pleading. “Burn us.”
I gasp and hold my hands over my mouth.
