Wings of Tavea (18 page)

“Yes.” Alcander sighed. Kiora glanced sideways at the sadness in his voice. “When they followed the Shadow, they changed.”

Kiora knew exactly what he was talking about. Just like the Fallen Ones, their appearance had changed to match their choices.

The small army moved closer, the trackers’ noses close to the ground.

Emane fingered the sword at his side, his eyes darting around. “You still haven’t taught us how to mask our threads. Isn’t this going to make things worse? Us being out in the open again?”

“Something will feel your threads again. But as I said, the goal is to make sure anything that feels your thread doesn’t leave,” Alcander answered matter of factly, crossing his arms.

Kiora’s stomach knotted as her fingers clenched the sides of her pants. She had been desperately trying to prepare herself for the idea of causing death. She knew it would be a part of her life. But annihilating an entire group was impossible to prepare for. Even as she searched for another solution, she knew there was none.

“All right, what’s your plan ,Alcander?” Emane said. “There are fifty of them and four of us.”

“No, there are three of us and one Solus.” He raised his eyebrows at Kiora as if confirming her status again. “Kiora will act as a distraction and break the ranks. Drustan, you take out the dragon. I will deal with the trackers.”

“And what about me?” Emane asked.

Kiora jumped in before Alcander could say something like
Hide behind a tree
. “He’s an excellent shot,” she said. “He can help wherever we need extra fire power.”

Alcander’s annoyance showed in the sideways purse of his lips. “Fine, you cover us from here. Keep your eyes peeled.”

Emane face grew red, but he agreed.

Kiora moved down the hill and positioned herself in front of the group. She could see the Taveans’ blood-red eyes under their helmets. It was such a clear picture of how they had turned. Kiora hoped it would make it a little easier to fight them.

Alcander and his flying fox were on their way to the back of the group. Drustan was using the little amount of bubbling ability he had to position himself high enough above the dragon to avoid a fire burst shot. This left Emane unbubbled on the back of the hill. Kiora had wanted to make him a magical boundary, but the trees were too far apart and there was nothing to anchor the magic to. They were all counting on the fact that it would take the army a while to notice Emane’s faint thread.

Unfortunately, they had all overlooked the trackers’ sense of smell. The wind shifted directions, picking up Emane’s scent and blowing it right to the trackers. Their noses sniffed the air furiously, and Kiora’s stomach dropped as shouts and growls filled the air.

The trackers pushed forward, taking off at a dead run. Kiora had no choice—she dropped her bubble. The trackers skidded to a stop, their dark heads turning in her direction. A battle cry went up from the Taveans as they dropped formation and attacked. Kiora leaned down, opening up her magic. Fire erupted from her hands, racing along the ground and creating a massive firewall between her and the enemy. Drustan’s thread reappeared as he dropped out of the sky, spewing fire ahead of him.

The Taveans were chanting on the other side of the fire line, trying to counteract the magic she had used. Kiora cursed under her breath when the firewall started losing height. She could probably bring it back up, but how many times? Taking a step back, Kiora got ready to release the wind.

Then a tracker exploded though the diminishing firewall, teeth bared. Facing the tracker, she threw a shield. The first tracker had not even crossed the distance when she heard another snarl behind her. She whirled and saw a second tracker flying through the fire. A shield only protected one side and she felt the first tracker slam into it. She waited for impact—but instead of feeling teeth sinking into her neck, she heard a yelp and the
thump
of a body crashing to the ground as the first tracker crashed into the shield in front of her. One of Emane’s arrows was sticking out of her attacker’s black hairless neck.

A second later an arrow tore through the other tracker’s side, who fell without a sound, its thread instantly silenced. Trying not to look at the dead, Kiora dropped her shield and gathered as much wind as she could before unleashing it at the line of Taveans who had almost managed to get her firewall under control. The wind slammed into them, knocking them off their feet and rolling them helplessly backwards. She still didn’t want to use attack magic. She had only used it once before, against Dralazar.

Arrows were flying overhead as Alcander dove in. Coming over the top of the bowled-over Taveans, the flying fox opened its mouth and sprayed acid over everything below. The Taveans screamed in pain, thrashing as the acid ate through their skin. One struggled to his feet, his legs shaking beneath him. Screaming, the Tavean shot a bolt of bright blue magic through the sky. Alcander put up a shield and the magic bounced off. The fox went straight for the attacker, grabbing him around the waist and puncturing him with hundreds of acid-tipped teeth. The scream was so much worse than the first one. The fox dropped the Tavean, smacking its mouth as if he had tasted bad. The Tavean hit the ground, rolling several times before coming to a stop, his body twitching helplessly. Kiora’s knees started to go weak.

A familiar voice entered her head:
Kiora, you will get them all killed. I am coming.

“Arturo?”

“
Shield, Kiora
!” Arturo demanded.

Kiora didn’t look to see why—she obeyed. A loud crash startled her when another bolt of blue magic deflected off her shield. The white Pegasus swooping out of the sky distracted the group for a minute. The battle slowed to a stop as everyone, including Alcander, stared with wide eyes.

Arturo was almost on the ground.
Get ready, Kiora, their shock will wear off soon enough.
He landed and Kiora threw herself on top of him, clutching his mane as he pushed himself back into the sky. Emane took advantage of the distraction and shot another couple of arrows, taking out some Taveans.

Arturo flew her high, steering away from the battle.

“What are you doing?” Kiora yelled, flipping around to watch the battle growing small behind her. “I can’t leave them.”

Why not? You aren’t helping them,
Arturo thought as calmly as if they were having a normal conversation.

“Of course I am—I just—” Kiora stuttered, clenching his mane in her fists.

No,
Arturo said sharply,
you are doing tricks. These people are not playing for fun, Kiora. They are after your blood. I know how you feel. I hear your thoughts. I feel your pain. But it does not change the situation.
Arturo waited for a response, then added,
I hear their thoughts too.

Kiora didn’t ask what those thoughts were. She could guess close enough to garner Arturo’s meaning.

You are the Solus. You are fighting for the greater good. You understand people will die. But what you have refused to understand is that people will be killed at your hand. It is the way it must be.

“But, I—”

No. There are no buts. You must make a choice. Either fight or I am taking you somewhere safe.
”

“Take me down,” she said through clenched teeth. “I will fight.”

You cannot hold back
.

“I know.”

Arturo turned, pulled his wings in, and shot towards the ground. Blue magic was flying as the surviving Taveans tried to knock Alcander out of the sky. Drustan was bleeding but had his jaw wrapped around the neck of the opposing dragon. And Emane was nocking another arrow, unaware of the Illusionist sneaking up behind him.

“Arturo,” Kiora yelled. “Go to Emane!”

Arturo tilted in the direction of the Illusionist as Kiora sent a bolt of white-hot magic straight at the hideous creature. The magic slammed into it, nearly taking its arm off. The creature howled in pain and immediately began creating Illusions in an attempt to defend itself. Emane disappeared into its growing fog and another Emane emerged, broken and bloody.

Kiora closed her eyes. “It’s an Illusion. Take us in.”

The Illusionist changed form and a dragon uncoiled itself from the fog, snapping its jaws. The snick of its teeth rang in Kiora’s ears.

Narrowing her eyes, Kiora demanded, “Straight into the mouth.”

Arturo shot into the gaping hole, passing harmlessly through the giant yellow teeth. The dragon vanished before them like the illusion it was. In the middle of the swirling fog, she finally saw it, the black Illusionist. Reaching out her hand she hit it again with magic and it collapsed, the illusion dying with it.

“Emane,” she shouted as Arturo turned. “Cover me.”

Alcander had been joined by Drustan. The Taveans were still throwing magic but having a hard time while avoiding dragon fire and fox spit. Kiora and Arturo joined the fight. Kiora threw bolts of white attack magic, mentally retreating deep within her head where she could shut herself off from what she was doing. Alcander swooped past them, throwing green magic.

The field was spattered with colored magic bolts as they flew from side to side. The Taveans were falling quickly, and despite her attempted mental seclusion, Kiora felt the pain of each lost life. One by one lives were being extinguished, some by her own hand, and Kiora struggled to keep herself above the sorrow.

Alcander gave a shout of alarm. Kiora looked up to see that a tracker had removed itself from the group and was running over the opposite hill. Alcander summoned a bow, shooting arrow after arrow, but none made their mark.

Kiora turned and shouted, “Emane!”

Emane stood on the hill and pulled back his last arrow, taking aim. The arrow flew faster and farther than should have been possible and pierced the tracker through the heart. The tracker fell midstride and rolled down the hill where it lay motionless. Turning slowly, Alcander looked at Emane, who looked back with a smug expression. Alcander gave him a small nod of what could only have been approval.

Kiora felt one more thread on the field. A Tavean was lifting his hand behind Alcander. She shot a bolt of magic at him. The Tavean fell and the field was empty of all threads, except those she had come with.

“Take me out of here, Arturo.”

Where
?

“Anywhere but here.”

Arturo obediently soared away. She heard voices calling after her but ignored them. She had to get away from the blood. She had managed to hold herself together, but her facade was crumbling and the pain was exquisite.

CHAPTER TEN

Debts

ALCANDER DROPPED OFF THE flying fox, landing silently as Emane strode down the hill.

“Where is she going?” Alcander asked, frowning as Arturo and Kiora disappeared under a bubble.

Emane leaned down, jerking one of his arrows out of a tracker’s neck. “She’s in pain.”

Alcander looked down at him. “You heal-heal her.”

Emane rolled his eyes. “You really are stupid,” he grunted as he yanked another arrow out. “I can’t heal a broken heart.” Seeing Alcander’s confused expression, Emane said, “You saw what happened in the cave with those paintings. This is real, right in front of her, and she
participated
.” Shaking his head, he wiped his arrows before returning them to his sheath. “I’m not sure if she’s killed anyone before.” Emane headed across the field to retrieve the arrow from the furthest tracker he had killed.

“That was a nice shot,” Alcander shouted to him.

“Thanks,” he yelled over his shoulder, smiling.

“Emane?”

He turned to see Alcander holding an arrow, waving it at him. “No need, I already got it.”

Summoning
, Emane thought.
Now wouldn’t that be convenient
. Walking back, he took the arrow from Alcander and wiped it clean as well. “What? You couldn’t get the blood off while you were at it?”

Alcander just shrugged.

Drustan had shifted back to human form and was wiping dragon blood off his tongue. “That is one of the most vile flavors. How can the meat be so good and the blood so horrible?”

“I wouldn’t know. I have never drunk dragon blood before,” Alcander said.

“No, I don’t suppose you would have,” Drustan spat with eyes flashing.

“Nobody forces you to rip their necks open with your teeth.”

“I did not force you,” Alcander objected.

“Of course you did. What would my choice have been if I refused to help?”

Alcander was silent.

“That’s what I thought.” Drustan leaned towards Alcander. “I would protect Kiora with my life. But knowing the other option is slavery, it leaves a—” he smacked his tongue, “bad taste in my mouth.”

Alcander did not honor Drustan’s statement with a retort. “Come on, we need to get out of here before someone catches our threads.” Alcander hopped onto the flying fox. He looked at the others and huffed. “Without Kiora to bubble you, you will both have to ride with me. Drustan, I need you as small as possible.”

Emane walked slowly around the fox, giving it a wide berth. The fox’s eyes followed his every move. “Why do I feel like he is about to spit on me?”

“No idea,” Alcander said, his mouth twisting up on one side. “Just get on.”

Emane grabbed the back of the saddle and pulled himself up behind Alcander. Drustan morphed into a small sparrow and flew neatly onto Emane’s shoulder.

“You had better not poop on my shoulder, Drustan.”

“I would never!” the bird said.

“Of course not.”

The flying fox lurched into the sky, and Emane nearly tumbled off his back. Emane frantically grabbed the back of the saddle, pulling himself upright.

“Did you use your magic for those shots?” Alcander called back.

“Only one.”

“Not bad.”

“Two approvals in one day. I am honored” Emane said, not hiding his smile.

* * *

KIORA LOOKED DOWN OVER a land she was unfamiliar with, taking in every odd tree and bush as she did. What was she doing? She didn’t know where she was or where she was going. She could feel the mental and emotional resolve crumbling, bit by bit, leaving her raw and shaken. Her bubble began to grow weak as her mind went back to the field she had just left.