Wings of Lomay (9 page)

“Emane,” Malena said as they followed Alcander, “Eleana wanted me to check on your armband. Is it still working satisfactorily?”

Emane quirked an eyebrow, his mouth twisting up. “I think we may have different definitions of ‘satisfactory’. But it is working as was intended. We will leave it at that.”

“We are very grateful for it,” Alcander piped over his shoulder. “Having a healer amongst us has been invaluable.”

“Where is Kiora?” Emane asked loudly, feigning as if to look for her. “Alcander refers to me as invaluable, and she is not here to witness it.”

***

KIORA WOKE TO THE bustle of the city. She rolled over and pulled her blanket over her head. Chatter and commotion drifted through her balcony doors, but it was Drustan’s booming voice that was loudest. He must already be training the Shifters.

Shortly after, Drustan was drowned out by the sounds of swords clanging—lots of swords.

Sitting straight up, Kiora reached for threads. “Malena! Leo!” She threw back the covers. Excitement rose up within her and she grinned as she pulled on her clothes.

She was halfway down the stairs before she came to a sudden stop. There were far more threads than normal within range. She turned her head this way and that, trying to pinpoint the location. Fear pulsed through her and she ran to the front door.

Not wanting to alert anyone in the city, she paused to collect herself before opening the doors and walking as calmly as possible down one of the tunnels, schooling her face into an impassive mask. Once she was far enough down the hall, she broke into a run. Bubbling herself, she pulled back the stone and exited the protection of the city.

She felt the threads better out here, but her mind refused to believe—she needed to see it. A tree to her right had low-hanging branches and she scrambled up. She climbed until the foliage grew thin enough that she could look out, and her fears were realized. The armies of the Shadow were coming in on all sides, completely surrounding the lake.

“No,” she whispered. She frantically looked for a hole in the lines that were approaching. But there was none. The enemy was marching in an impeccably organized solid circle around them.

This could not have come at a worse time. The rest of the rebel camps were on their way here, and now the enemy stood between them and every entrance to the city.

Kiora dropped from branch to branch as fast as she could, hitting the ground harder than she had intended. Grunting, she stumbled forward, limping through the magical protection and sealing the door behind her.

Alcander, meet me in the library. Bring Emane and Drustan—as fast you can. Don’t alarm anyone.

Kiora left her bubble up and ran, dodging and weaving to avoid being discovered. If anyone stopped her now, there would be no hiding it—they would see panic written all over her face and alarm would flood through the city.

Alcander and Emane casually exited the training room ahead of her on their way to the house. Emane stuck his head into the room where Drustan was working, motioning for him to join them.

Kiora ran past, throwing open the door to the house. She dropped her bubble and began to pace inside the main entry, her mind racing. They had to do something or every rebel out there would be lost.

Drustan, Emane, and Alcander walked in. Alcander made sure the door was firmly shut behind them before asking, “What is going on?”

“Jasmine’s armies have us surrounded,” Kiora said. “Completely. There isn’t a single entrance for the rebels to use.”

“Are you sure?” Drustan asked.

“Yes. You will all feel the threads soon enough. But I went outside to make sure. Tavean, Shifters, Shifter-Dragons, and others—all of Enzo’s army. And it looks like he picked up more from the camps. They were smart—they surrounded us far enough out that we couldn’t feel their threads before they approached.”

“The rebels . . .” Alcander said.

“They are going to run right into them. If they haven’t already.”

“We need a distraction,” Emane said. “Something to draw them away.” He paused, looking at the group.

Plans whirled though Kiora’s mind. “Jasmine’s armies are looking for entrances. Maybe we should give them one.”

When there were no objections, she nodded. “Come on.” She ran to the library.

She ripped maps off shelves and unrolled them on the table, pushing books aside. “We need to make sure an entrance is clear on either side of the lake for the rebels.” She tapped at two. “We need to draw the enemy away.”

“Which entrance are we going to let go of?” Drustan asked.

“This one,” Alcander said. “It’s between the other two entrances we are trying to leave open and should pull forces from both sides.” He drew with his finger, pulling imaginary troops from both entrances toward the center.

“I’ll go,” Kiora said. “Arturo should be within range.”

“We’re going to need a bigger distraction,” Alcander said. “I’ll go too. The Taveans still want me dead—and they want the staff back.”

“What about me?” Emane asked.

“Someone needs to be in charge here,” Kiora said. “The doors need to be opened from the inside and everyone needs to be kept calm.” Emane pursed his lips. “I am not leaving you behind. I will contact the rebels, but if some of them get caught in the crossfire, we are going to need a healer. I
need
you here.”

Emane nodded his consent.

“Drustan, do you have any Shifters on board with your new philosophies?”

“A few, but most are fighting it.”

“We need a distraction big enough to pull the majority of the forces in our direction.”

“Done,” Drustan said.

“Good. I will keep moving outwards. Hopefully I can get some to chase me.” She rustled through the stack of papers Lomay left. “Alcander, use the incantations to apprise the rebels of the situation. I need to talk to Arturo. Meet me at the exit.”

***

KIORA PACED BACK AND forth in front of the rock blocking the door. She kept telling herself to stop, but could only pause for a moment or two before her legs acted of their own accord, setting her moving again. Her nerves were on fire and every second that ticked by increased her worry.

Alcander finally turned down the tunnel and headed toward her.

“Did you make contact?” she asked as soon as he was close enough that she didn’t need to shout.

“The first group of rebels saw the armies assembling and held back. The next group has since joined up with them and the others are close behind. We have to work quickly or we will lose everyone.”

“Are the rebels close enough to make it into the city if we clear a path?” Kiora asked.

“Yes.”

“That’s good.” She wrung her hands in front of her before forcing them to be still at her sides. “We might only get one shot at this. A distraction isn’t likely to work the second time.”

Drustan and four other Shifters, including Erina and Killian, ran down the corridor.

“Drustan, do you think we could get a repeat of the creature you came up with in Tavea?”

“Exactly what I was thinking. That worked rather brilliantly.”

“Preen later, Drustan,” Alcander said.

“I’m going out first,” Kiora said. “When I unbubble, that is the signal.” She opened the door and ran straight at the oncoming forces.

***

DRUSTAN GAVE EXACT INSTRUCTIONS as to the creatures he wanted everyone to shift into—from the thick, armored scales to the barbed tail and toxic spit. When he was done, he turned to Alcander. “What would you like to fly on?”

“Flying fox.”

Drustan scoffed. “I am sure I could come up with something more creative than that.”

“I am sure you could too. But I have an affinity for flying foxes, and everyone knows it. I don’t want any doubt as to who they’re chasing.”

***

KIORA WAS CLOSE ENOUGH now that she could see the dirt puffing up beneath the enemies’ feet as they marched.
Arturo, now!
A shadow passed overhead as a Shifter-Dragon flew in a lazy circle.
Watch out for Dragons.

She felt his thread approaching long before anyone else did. Kiora’s eyes were glued to the sky as the Pegasus raced straight down, his wings pulled in for a tight dive. He was coming in too fast. Kiora’s heart leaped into her throat as Arturo fanned his wings out at the last possible second.

The marching slowed to a stop. The enemy searched the sky, aware of the incoming Pegasus, hands raised across the ranks in preparation to fire. With no defense of his own, Arturo only had moments.

The only way he was going to make it was if she took everyone out at one time. Kiora dropped her bubble.

The enemy faltered, the appearance of her thread distracting them from Arturo. They turned back to face her.

Kiora pushed out a burst of white magic that ripped forward in the shape of a crescent moon. The section of army in front of her rolled backwards in a tangle of arms and limbs. Kiora sprinted toward Arturo, putting up a shield to defend her back.

Faster,
Arturo thought.

Cries rang out as the enemy recovered. Kiora leaped onto Arturo and they took to the sky. Magical volleys exploded. Kiora held her shield with one hand, opening holes to fire with the other, as Arturo evaded attacks.

Kiora scanned below, judging her effect. It wasn’t enough—not yet. The enemy was in pursuit, but under shouts from the commanders, many of the soldiers were still holding and continuing to advance on the lake. She had to pull more away.

Alcander dropped his bubble, appearing over one of the lines that was still marching forward. Many in that line dropped formation as Alcander threw balls of blue magic that widened as they fell while Drustan spattered them with fox spit. They screamed as the acid ate through their skin.

Alcander and Drustan flipped and dove until they had the full attention of the main flanking section of the enemy. Attacks launched upwards, surrounding them with deadly color. Alcander put up a shield and Drustan turned, flying straight for Kiora. The line followed, pulling away, leaving the entrance unguarded.

It was working.

The door they had decided to sacrifice opened and the Shifters appeared, growing into the same monstrosity Drustan had used in Tavea. Their Dragon-like heads had been outfitted with the addition of flying fox teeth and toxic spit. The large, plated scales Drustan had discovered covered their bodies, protecting them from magical attacks.

The four insane-looking creatures formed a protective semi-circle around the door.

The sheeting magic was clearly visible behind them and it was only moments before it was recognized as an entrance. Soldiers broke formation and poured forward to gain access. The four Shifters defending it held a tight rank. Dragon shoulders pressed against each other and long, thin, barbed tails whipped over their heads, threatening anyone who came near.

Kiora
, Arturo thought.
Hold on. That Dragon is not planning on blowing fire.

A Shifter-Dragon was barreling straight for them, his head down, with no intention of pulling up. Kiora wrapped her fingers through Arturo’s mane as he dropped into a dive. He then pulled straight up and flew in an arc so he was behind the Dragon.

Wing.

The angle was strange, and from where she was siting she didn’t think she could hit the weak joint in the proper spot.

The skin, Kiora. Tear through it and they can’t fly.

Kiora summoned one of Emane’s daggers from within the city. It immediately appeared in her hand. Using her magic, she sent it flying end over end. It tore neatly through the skin from one wing bone to the next. The Shifter howled in agony as it spiraled to the earth.

Alcander dropped in above her on Drustan. “It’s working, Kiora. Keep moving.”

Kiora looked back over her shoulder. The sky was lit with magical volleys of every color, and the enemy pursued at a full sprint.

The Shifters managed to hold their own at the entrance.

Emane,
she called.
Any sign of the rebels yet?

Yes. They are entering the city from both sides.

Kiora grinned at Alcander, who was firing shots backwards with his staff around his shield. “The rebels made it. They are on their way in.”

More Shifter-Dragons took to the sky and headed straight for them.

“Bubble,” Kiora told Alcander. “Head back toward the entrance.”

***

BUBBLING, ALCANDER PEELED OFF and headed back toward the city.

Having both Alcander and Kiora vanish at the same time caused the enemy to pause as they tried to discern where they should focus their attack. Most of the army continued on in the direction they had been heading, toward Kiora, while others began randomly firing shots in an attempt to pop the bubbles. A few Shifter-Dragons joined the hunt, lighting up the sky with flame.

Drustan twisted and turned, avoiding the magic and fire.

“You are just as good as my old flying fox,” Alcander remarked.

“Flattered,” Drustan grunted. He tipped to the side as a crackling shot of green magic nearly caught the edge of their bubble.

Kiora’s thread reappeared further out from the city. The enemy roared and surged after her.

Alcander had almost begun to relax when a rebel thread appeared in front of him. “Mother of Creators!” he swore. “Of all the times.” One of the rebels near the entrance to the city had just lost their bubble. “Drustan, take me above that entrance.”

The enemies close enough to feel the thread turned as Drustan pushed forward, fighting against the wind.

Alcander! What just happened?
Kiora’s thoughts echoed through his mind.

One of the rebels lost his bubble. Keep going—I will take care of it. I need you to keep the soldiers who are following you clear. I can’t fight them all.

“What’s your plan?” Drustan asked.

“I am going to use Kiora’s defense. On a smaller scale.”

The enemy realized they had been fooled by a diversion. They refocused, firing magic at the rebels. Their attack was effective and bubbles were popping, forcing the rebels to turn and defend themselves instead of making it inside. A rebel Omelian was caught in the chest by three spear-like magical blasts thrown in rapid succession. He fell forward, hitting the ground. His thread silenced.