《Empire of Night》


 Chapter One: Command

    Chapter One


    Command


    <hr>


    For the first time in months, the Breadth between Mistwatch and the foot of the Endari Wilds lay clear. It was strange, seeing the near six-league swath of open land with his own eyes, rather than the spiritual sense Rhydian had come to rely upon over the past year. Mentally, he knew the terrain like the back of his hand and yet, looking upon it now was like peering into another world. The cloudy sea upon which the mountain stronghold usually drifted had retreated entirely today, leaving the Breadth open and bare in a way he¡¯d rarely witnessed.


    His secondrider, Ayduin, shuddered as she peered out over the ledge of the wyvernlair overhang. Much like his own, her dusky, blue-gray skin and ink black braid nearly matched the pre-dawn sky. Her arms were crossed, her figure tipped forward at the waist in a manner that left her knee-length braid swaying in the breeze in her inspection.


    ¡°Never thought I¡¯d miss the fog,¡± she muttered.


    Rhydian followed her gaze, knowing full well what had caught her attention.


    Far below, along the slopes of the mountain, trees scuttled among the crags on spindly, spider¨Clike roots. Having been stationed here as long as he had, the sight should have become trivial, but the interminable mists veiled the cursed things as much as they did everything else. It was easy to forget what lurked beneath. Unsettling as they were, the trees posed no real threat and their souls were too weak to garner his attention when he cast the spiritual net of his awareness out during their patrols. He¡¯d nearly forgotten about them entirely, if he were honest.


    ¡°You and I both,¡± he said.


    She inclined her head and above her, her wyvern craned his neck to mirror the gesture. The pair studied the writhing mass with no small amount of interest.


    ¡°What do you think happens when one of them tips over? Does it just . . . wiggle around?¡±


    Rhydian wasn¡¯t particularly fond of the image his mind had conjured; of an evergreen knocked on its side, knobby roots flailing about for purchase like the legs of some giant insect.


    ¡°If you¡¯d like to fly down there and find out,¡± he said, sparing her a glance, ¡°by all means.¡±


    Her vulpine face pinched, an involuntary shiver rippling through her body and into her wyvern. The great copper beast ruffled his wings, eyeing her sidelong in his indignation, but Ayduin only scowled. She tossed her braid back over her shoulder, taking a healthy step back as she did.


    ¡°No, no, I¡¯m perfectly content up here. Thank you.¡±


    Rhydian shook his head. ¡°Come. I want to be skyworthy by the time twilight patrol returns. I¡¯d like to put eyes on the Breadth while the weather holds.¡±


    ¡°Fine, fine,¡± she sighed, ¡°so long as herding trees isn¡¯t on the itinerary.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d rather continue on as if they didn¡¯t exist,¡± he said.


    Beside him, his own wyvern snorted her agreement, breath churning from her nostrils in the crisp autumn air. She rested upon her belly as she awaited his pre-flight inspection of her tack, one wing angled to assist the climb up to her back where the saddle lay anchored directly to the large, boney plates of her spine. She was larger than Ayduin¡¯s copper, as most females of their species were, her hide muted by comparison. Females lacked the bold colors and metallic luster of the males, not that Rhydian had ever complained. Tanuzet had been born to blend in, to melt into the depths of the forest with her deep green scales and the intermittent striping along the length of her neck and flanks.


    She turned expectant eyes upon him, more yellow than they were gold. Her anticipation radiated through their bond and into his own body, the thrill of taking flight on a crisp morning breeze singing in his blood. A small smile touched his lips. He took a step toward her, though before he could so much as reach for her wing, she stiffened and her nostrils flared. Alarm spiked between them and she swung her massive head skyward to monitor the altostratus clouds to the northwest for a long moment. She eased, but only just. Rhydian felt the warm press of her mind against his, seeking permission to meld.


    He accepted without hesitation.


    All at once, his mental core and senses expanded as they layered with Tanuzet¡¯s. Their minds, their heart beats, even the flow of their rysk through their meridians, synchronized. Two distinct scents carried on the wind: one Adai astride a single wyvern. And no one they knew, by the smell. Protocol usually required any inbound wyvern to announce their approach, regardless of post or rank. Whomever flew within the cloud cover wanted to mask their presence as long as possible, it seemed. Someone from command, perhaps?


    There were only so many wyverns in active duty among the Talhavar and with Mistwatch as remote as it was, none would simply fly past on their way to another post. One had to go far out of their way to even reach it. Though, Rhydian supposed it could be one of the Elders come to perform a surprise inspection. They were occasionally done at random to evaluate the integrity of an active stronghold. Still, he found it strange they hadn¡¯t announced themselves. Wyvern calls carried for miles and their pitched whistles and knickers farther still.


    Ayduin and Vaelor held their gaze to the sky as well, their pupils dilated as a result of their own mindsharing.


    He and Tanuzet reached out with their collective awareness, the spiritual sense that allowed them to perceive the souls and essences of the world around them in a great sphere. They became intimately aware of the stronghold¡¯s occupants, from the men and women gathered in the cloister, to those minding the battlements and wyvernlairs. They could not sense those within the halls of the mountain itself, however. Their awareness could only plunge so deep through solid stone.


    But open air . . .


    The dyad was too far out of their spiritual range to sense, though judging by the scent, they were close. The pair would be on top of them within moments, given the speeds wyverns could reach, even while gliding. Rhydian sensed their souls before he felt the shift in air pressure above. He withdrew from the meld, skin prickling when his senses receded back into his own body. The cloudbelly above swirled, then parted as a tawny wyvern plunged toward the overhang. She alighted upon its edge, her amber-flecked wings and sailfins settling to reveal the Adai man upon her back.


    She offered a low, curious knicker Tanuzet was quick to answer. Even if he could not fully interpret the complex vocalizations of the wyvern language, Rhydian gathered enough from his passive connection to Tanuzet to know this visit was far from routine. It was difficult to gather a passive read on the dyads¡¯ souls, which meant they were either too low in their ascensions, or purposely veiled. Given the situation, Rhydian settled on the latter. The dyad were no mere couriers and he had no intention of offending them by probing their souls further for a more accurate read.


    He strode forward, then halted a respectful distance from the female wyvern. He bowed his head with a slow, deliberate blink in the manner favored by wyvern and their kin when greeting one another. She returned the gesture, lowering to her belly to allow her bonded rider to dismount.


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    He was a tall man, his olive skin and rich brown flight braid marking his southwestern heritage along the coast. His long, narrow ears hugged the sides of his head far closer than Rhydian¡¯s own and protruded a few inches above his scalp. Like most Talhavar, he was leanly muscled and donned in the standard flight brigandine of black and silver. However, it bore no outward indication of rank, nor division. Or ascension, for that matter.


    Welcome to Mistwatch, Tanuzet said, expanding her telepathy for the benefit of all present.


    Were that it were under better circumstances, the wyvern said, an air of resignation to her tone, I am Kiraht.


    Beside her, her rider offered a bow of his own. ¡°Thylas ne¡¯Kiraht of the Arillian First Wing.¡±


    First Wing.


    Rhydian supposed it explained the dyad¡¯s peculiarities. They were of the Talhavar elite, then. He knew little of the rank, beyond their station, of course. Few did, unless they were of high enough ascension or clearance. For the man to be among the Wing, he was at least of his seventh ascension or higher. The realization chased a shiver down Rhydian¡¯s spine.


    Remembering himself, he said, ¡°I am Rhydian ne¡¯Tanuzet. This is my secondrider, Ayduin ne¡¯Vaelor.¡±


    Thylas gave an approving nod. ¡°You¡¯re firstrider?¡±


    ¡°Yes, ser. Acting command of Mistwatch.¡±


    ¡°How many are under your charge?¡±


    ¡°Eight dyads in the aerial unit,¡± Rhydian replied, ¡°Beyond them, there are close to one hundred personnel in the flight.¡±


    Thylas raked them over with an appraising eye.


    ¡°My firstrider and I spotted your patrol a few leagues out, though we didn¡¯t engage. You¡¯re next in the rotation, I presume?¡±


    Rhydian nodded. ¡°We¡¯re performing our pre-flight inspections. Twilight is due back within the hour.¡±


    The man considered, sparing a glance toward his wyvern.


    ¡°Good, my firstrider and I were sent to run you through an advanced training exercise,¡± he said, ¡°Summon your third and fourthrider, they¡¯ll be accompanying us as well. Whomever is left will take the place of your current patrol until you return.¡±


    Ayduin passed Rhydian a look. It wouldn¡¯t be their first surprise exercise, but a part of him still found it hard to believe they were being evaluated by members of the First Wing. Surely someone from the second or third would have sufficed? Regardless, he wouldn¡¯t argue. He had his own aspirations of joining their ranks one day. He would be a fool not to leap at the opportunity.


    ¡°Of course, ser,¡± he said.


    Tanuzet brought her head high and gave a single, high whistle. From within the wyvernlairs, two more rose in answer in acknowledgement of their summons. Cydan and Keishara would emerge with their wyverns soon enough. In the meantime, Rhydian went about his inspections with fluid, practiced ease. From time to time, he spared a glance toward the dyad, who were no doubt conversing within the privacy of their own minds. They were studying the western edge of the Breadth, though Rhydian decided it best not to speculate the nature of this training exercise. He would find out soon enough, after all.


    Within the hour, their unit found themselves perched among the splintered crags of the mountains a few leagues north of Mistwatch. A brisk breeze buffeted their faces and were it not for the nictitating membrane he¡¯d developed during his foundation ascensions, he would have squinted to keep his eyes from watering. He had a clear view of the foothills from his vantage on Tanuzet¡¯s back. Vaelor and Ayduin were perched beside him with Cydan and Keishara situated below on the next ridge astride their wyverns.


    The scenario is simple, Kiraht said, her mind-speak clear where Thylas¡¯ would not be, given the wind and space between the grounded unit, We have tracked a person of interest into the area. At present, firstrider Oraena ne¡¯Malys is monitoring their suspected position from the cover of the clouds. Thylas and I will be joining them as we make our approach from the ground.


    Tanuzet shifted on her wings, her head angled toward the other wyvern.


    Your unit will be providing aerial coverage and will not engage unless deemed necessary. The suspect is believed to be shackled, but our information is unconfirmed, so they are to be considered armed and hostile. Rhydian ne¡¯Tanuzet and Ayduin ne¡¯Vaelor will circle above at low altitude in a clockwise rotation while Cydan ne¡¯Inet and Keishara n¡¯Ephaxus spot from cruising altitude in a wider, counter-clockwise path.


    Rhydian nodded, more to himself than anyone else.


    If engagement is necessary from low altitude reserves, use ranged attacks only. The suspect is not to be fought in close quarters. Spotters, you will monitor the surrounding hillsides to ensure the operation is not compromised by outside opposition. Blighted, or otherwise.


    It was a strange exercise, Rhydian thought. The First Wing dyads appeared to be performing a majority of the operation themselves, but perhaps it was a purposeful misdirection. They likely had additional ground personnel or wyverns on hand to spring an ambush, to see how Rhydian and his unit would adapt to the situation. The lands surrounding the Breadth and the distant wilds were as unpredictable as they were dangerous. The environment was a worthy adversary all on its own and it would be all too easy to hide additional assailants among the trees, rocks and cloud cover. To say nothing of the blighted who could be roaming about.


    Keep your nose keen and your eyes quick, Tanuzet said to their unit.


    Rhydian had yet to spot or sense the Wing¡¯s firstrider, but his awareness could only reach so far. The stratus clouds they had encountered on their flight provided ample cover for a dyad scouting from above. He found himself searching the hazy mass, as if he might spot wings. Of course, he didn¡¯t. If he had, he would have been mildly disappointed. He expected much from members of the First Wing.


    Consider the operation active, Kiraht said and launched into the sky.


    Rhydian sensed Tanuzet¡¯s spiritual core contract, condensing the essence in her channels into rysk. The errant gust of wind that propelled them up into the sky was entirely her doing. Tanuzet had a fondness for bending the wind to her will. She speared up into the air, leaving Vaelor and the others behind for the briefest of moments. She wasn''t a complete braggart.


    As she leveled off, tailing Kiraht at a distance while Inet and Ephaxus shot past them, gaining the necessary altitude and disappearing into the stratus. Rhydian carefully monitored his awareness as they flew, fully anticipating the unexpected arrival of suspect reinforcements or something of the like. Thus far, he sensed nothing out of the ordinary. There were trees and rocks and only the occasional low-level forest dweller.


    A wyvern descended from the cloudbelly above, silver wings vibrant despite the watery lighting of an overcast world. Rhydian primed his mental core, then his physical, enhancing his vision and triggering his farsight. The woman upon the wyvern¡¯s back was dressed in the same fashion as Thylas, her long flight braid whipping out behind her like a golden ribbon. Kiraht followed the dyad into a dive, the riders near flush with the backs of their wyverns.


    Rhydian veered with Tanuzet, balancing his weight in accordance with her wings as they pulled into their clockwise rotation midway between the ground and stratus. He retrieved his bow from where it had been tied to the saddle. The smooth arc of wood warmed in his hand in response to his fiery affinity. He would have to cool his rysk during the exercise, but he had long since learned to temper it without reducing his efficiency.


    Reading his intent through their bond, Tanuzet banked to allow him a clear view of the ground. With her size, it was difficult to spot anything directly below her. The dyad had landed near the stony face of a short cliff wall. He focused his farsight and spied a small opening in the rock. Thylas and his firstrider, Oraena, had dismounted to approach on foot. Neither had drawn a weapon yet, though Rhydian recognized the anticipatory edge lining their bodies.


    On the periphery of his focus, he saw the two wyverns stiffen. Though he heard nothing, sensed nothing, a thread of fear, of . . . wrongness, slithered through his chest. Tanuzet felt it too, for her wings stiffened and her spinal crest arched. At first, he wasn¡¯t sure what to make of it. He felt as though he¡¯d been struck ill, though in a way, the sensation was surface-level. Diluted, somehow.


    Shaking his head, he focused his attention on the dyads once more.


    And froze.


    The wyverns were tearing one another apart.

 Chapter Two: Hounds of the Guild

    Chapter Two


    Hounds of the Guild


    <hr>


    Dusk had fallen by the time Inerys reached the outer ward of the Sorcerers¡¯ Guild, hungry and footsore. While two weeks spent scouring the forest had taken their toll, her work was not yet finished. Her gamble of a hunt had proven fruitful and she was here to collect.


    She led her pack-laden horse through the portcullis with renewed vigor, for once she turned in her materials and received her pay, she could finally fall into a real bed. Her bed. She nearly groaned at the thought. At this point, she was willing to forgo a bath beforehand, despite her stink. Her limp, honeyed curls clung to her damp skin, though whether it was from sweat or mist, she couldn''t tell.


    Didn''t care.


    As she surveyed the bailey, she noted the sparse crowd. There were only a handful of horses beyond her own, their riders occupied at the various processing stations while low-ranking guild staff tended their many saddlebags. The usual guard post monitored each Hound within the yard, each transaction and when Inerys made her entrance, some turned their attention to her. She offered a lazy salute and earned as many nods as she did scowls. When it came to purebloods, their tolerance for her kind was hit or miss. Not that she minded, anymore.


    The air was heavy and thick, as if the magic practiced here had sunken into the foundations of the stonework throughout the decades like smoke in an old chimney. It had always held a peculiar scent; dry and bitter, like a rainless thunderstorm. It made her nose itch and her eyes watered with the effort it took not to sneeze. Her horse, though, held no such regard. Milo snorted with a dramatic shake of his head, the sound echoing throughout the bailey and beyond.


    A few of her fellow Hounds glanced her way, their gazes lingering upon the prize strapped across Milo¡¯s back with veiled intrigue. She couldn¡¯t help the little, tired smile that found her lips. Like most Hounds, she had brought in her fair share of stags over the years, but none like the black beast she¡¯d tracked these last few weeks. Dressing and packing the creature on her own had been arduous, to say the least, but well worth the effort in the end. Its neatly severed head lay wrapped in cloth upon her surefoot¡¯s back, the rack draping his hind end like an upturned crown. The sooty black antlers almost appeared to absorb what meager light was thrown off by the bailey lanterns, a testament to the authenticity of its species.


    She pulled into one of the vacant stations, patting Milo¡¯s thick neck as she checked the break-away knot of her tether. An attendant tried and failed to mask the eagerness of her approach. She was a small, shrewd woman whose sharp eyes lacked something Inerys couldn¡¯t quite place. She adjusted the pair of spectacles along her hooked nose, eyeing the huntress with no small amount of scrutiny as she adjusted her logbook in the crook of an arm.


    ¡°Name?¡± She asked.


    Inerys pulled her sleeve up over the identifying guild brand on the inside of her right forearm, presenting it to the woman.


    ¡°Inerys Adosin.¡±


    Nodding, the woman¡¯s attention strayed toward Milo.¡°What have you brought us this time?¡±


    ¡°A handful of redwillow bark and valerian root,¡± she said, shrugging her satchel from her shoulders and gesturing toward her catch, ¡°as well as hide, meat and bone from a black stag. All from the Fringe north of Starvel.¡±


    The woman arched a brow as she scribbled down the details. "A bit far from your usual territory, hmm?"


    Inerys shrugged. "Pickings are slim these days."


    She was lucky to find what she had, really, and she''d crossed father into the deepwoods than she''d care to admit, even to herself. Ordinarily, the months between early autumn and the first snows were rife with prized root harvests and seed pod collections, but such hadn''t been the case this year. Herbs had been less readily available toward the end of summer and what forageables remained had been plundered well before Inerys returned to the forest after her last hunt. She''d never seen the forest so bare.


    The woman walked a slow circle around Milo, pausing to take notes as she went. Inerys did her best not to fidget. Black fallow deer were rare, to be sure, but even their price was subject to quality. While she had judged and found the beast near flawless, the process inspector may yet find fault. It wasn¡¯t until the woman nodded to herself that Inerys allowed herself to breathe a shallow sigh of relief.


    ¡°Nicely done, Adosin,¡± she said, ¡°you¡¯re the first to bring us one of these in over half a year. Once we have the poundage and the exact grade, we¡¯ll see to your pay-¡±


    Inerys held up a finger. ¡°Is it possible to sell the herbs now and have the earnings from the stag added to my Trust?¡±


    Glancing up from her notes, the woman raked her over with an appraising eye.


    ¡°If that¡¯s what you¡¯d prefer, I¡¯ll see to it.¡±


    ¡°Please,¡± she said.


    The woman merely sighed. She swiped the medicinal herbs from Inerys¡¯ open palm with her free hand and turned to pass them to the attendant waiting on the other side of the warded processing window at the front of the station. The two quietly conversed and after yet more hastily scribbled notes, she turned back to Inerys. The attendant slid a small leather pouch beneath the grate for her retrieval and the huntress dipped her head in thanks.


    Her brow rose at the weight.


    Spirits'' breath.


    Herb prices had been up in recent months, due to the growing scarcity of a waning season, but she hadn''t expected the pouch to carry the heft it did. She opened her mouth to question it, then thought better of the matter and stowed the coin on her person. If they were willing to pay her this much, why complain? Spirits knew she needed it. Prices may be high, but there was a reason. Soon enough, there would be nothing left to forage.


    With a small nod of gratitude, she turned her attention to her horse and the stag upon his back. Several assistants were already making their way over, no doubt eager to finish their own evening¡¯s labors. She eyed them a moment, but made no move to dissuade their efforts to unpack as she removed one of the saddle bags and situated her satchel. Setting the bag down, she rolled her stiff shoulders and attempted to work one of the countless knots from her back.


    She spied another figure approach through the amber-lit gloom, one far taller than any of the attendants. She cracked a smile, for she would recognize Alaric anywhere. He was a tall man, broad shouldered and lean in the waist. If his height did not immediately mark his mixed blood, his ears would. They, like her own, angled into a severe point along their tip. They peeked out from his dark curls, where her own were veiled beneath the hood of her cloak.


    With half a glance spared toward the unpacking attendants, she set her satchel beside her saddle bags and moved toward the mouth of the station to meet him. Laughing, Alaric swept her up in his arms, and spun her in a gentle circle, their cloaks flaring in the gathering mist.


    ¡°There you are,¡± he breathed, ¡°I was beginning to fear the worst.¡±


    Her chuckle was light. ¡°The deepwoods haven¡¯t claimed me yet.¡±


    ¡°I can see that,¡± he smiled, his relief palpable, ¡°It¡¯s good to see you.¡±


    Inerys dared to kiss his cheek as he set her down, her own flushing with color. He was a roguish, handsome thing, and his dark eyes lit with a certain playful mischief. He even had the gaul to waggle his brows at her. Grinning, she thumped his chest.


    ¡°Did your own hunt run long?¡± She wondered.


    He shook his head, voice falling to a near whisper.


    ¡°Soren suggested I take a walk this evening.¡±


    She dipped her head in understanding.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad you did. And thank you, for checking in on him and Nan.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no bother,¡± he said, ¡°Besides, your Nan always spoils me with sweets.¡±


    ¡°Careful, that¡¯s how she lures you in,¡± she cooed.


    Shrugging, he offered a lopsided grin. ¡°There are worse fates. Now tell me, where did you manage to find this beast of a stag?¡±


    She glanced toward her catch.


    ¡°North of Starvel,¡± she replied.


    She caught his approving nod along the periphery of her vision.


    "Well done," he said, coming to her side, arms crossed as they watched the assistants dismantle the rigging, piece by piece.


    She mirrored his posture, shifting her weight from one foot to another in an effort to ease the pressure along her left arch.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± she said, ¡°but next time, I think I¡¯ll take you up on your offer.¡±


    ¡°Field dressing all by your lonesome isn¡¯t quite so fun, is it?¡±


    ¡°Hmph. Neither was packing it all. Still, I can¡¯t complain. I made it back, after all, and he¡¯ll pad the Trust out nicely enough.¡±


    ¡°Was he all you came across?¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°I managed to find a few herbs on the way. It wasn¡¯t much, but it seems they¡¯re paying a premium for what¡¯s left.¡±


    Alaric sighed. ¡°It appears to be a growing trend. I suppose the rumors are true, then.¡±


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    Her interest piqued.


    ¡°What rumors?¡±


    ¡°That the mundane folk are venturing into the forest now too.¡±


    ¡°What? Since when?¡±


    ¡°The past few weeks, from what I gather. Apparently the sorcerers in the southern city-states are telling folk the Fringe is safe enough for them to hunt.¡±


    She snorted. ¡°Are they that desperate for material?¡±


    ¡°That or they¡¯ve finally decided to phase us out. Whatever the case, word has sure traveled fast. You¡¯re not the first to report slim pickings. Dravas¡¯ last hunt only yielded a few hares, enough sage for a bundle or two, and Kardin came back empty handed.¡±


    She grimaced.¡°I¡¯m sure he handled that well.¡±


    Alaric shrugged. ¡°About as well as you¡¯d expect. He¡¯s been circling the bottom of a glass all day. Dravas is with him, though.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s some relief, at least. I don¡¯t think I have it in me to babysit. Especially not tonight,¡± she said, rubbing at her eye, ¡°I need sleep.¡±


    Alaric leaned in and gave a teasing, exaggerated sniff. ¡°And a bath.¡±


    ¡°Oh, hush. You¡¯re not exactly a rose yourself,¡± she said, then muttered under her breath, ¡°cheeky bastard."


    He only laughed, the sound ultimately proving infectious.


    After a time, though, he asked, ¡°You didn¡¯t encounter anyone else out in the woods?¡±


    She shook her head, lowering her hood. ¡°None. You?¡±


    "A few here and there. More than usual, that''s for certain. None of which had any business being out in the Fringe, let alone any further in."


    She pursed her lips. ¡°How many have ventured out and come back alive?¡±


    ¡°Enough to encourage others, apparently.¡±


    ¡°Wonderful,¡± she sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.


    Silence fell between them as they watched the assistants unpack her horse, until Alaric said, ¡°Arjan and Ozkar are still missing.¡±


    She frowned. ¡°Claimed by the deepwoods, then?¡±


    He nodded grimly. "Most likely."


    ¡°More will follow,especially if the sorcerers have opened the borders to the purebloods. Sending sorcerers is one thing, but the fools they send out there are going to die. Spirits'' sake, the forest still claims us. What chance do they have?"


    ¡°If they want to throw sheep to the wolves, that''s their business, not ours."


    "Mistblind fools," she muttered, "it''s still a waste."


    He shrugged. "Maybe they''ll draw in some of the more elusive woodland beasties and save us all a trip into the deepwoods ourselves."


    Inerys gave his arm a half hearted slap with the back of her hand.


    "You''re terrible."


    He chuckled. "I prefer the term opportunistic."


    "You can prefer whatever you like," she said with a wave of her hand.


    As the stag head was at last lifted from her horse, she retrieved her satchel and tossed her private saddle bag back over the saddle horn. Taking the reins, she gave Milo an affectionate scratch. The stallion nudged her side in reply, which may have been endearing, were he not covertly searching her pockets for any rogue mints she may have been harboring. Spoiled beast.


    "I don¡¯t suppose I can talk you into a drink at the tavern?" Alaric wondered.


    The last few weeks had taken their toll, if she were being honest, and her lingering aches ran deep. Still, she took a moment to consider. It was an intriguing thought, especially when paired with the more subtle implications that usually accompanied his invitations. She wasn''t quite sure she was ready to share her bed with him yet, but the thought was nice.


    At the same time, she wanted nothing more than to fall into bed and never leave.


    "I''d like to," she sighed, "but I¡¯m afraid I''ve been away from home long enough as it is."


    Alaric¡¯s smile was gentle, understanding in a way that made her heart flutter. "Can¡¯t argue with you there. I know Soren and Nan are eager to see you.¡±


    She cracked a smile of her own. "Best not to keep them waiting."


    "May I walk you home, then?"


    "You may," she said with a mock bow. "Milo and I could use the company."


    Alaric returned the gesture. "Then I shall endeavor to entertain."


    They kept conversation simple until they were well and truly beyond the walls of the city. The sorcerers had eyes and ears everywhere, even among Inerys¡¯ own people and she wasn¡¯t keen to discuss more delicate matters outside her fellow Hounds. The mundane half breeds who lived within the city¡¯s lower districts were different from those who chose to live beyond it. They believed themselves to be more civilized, more human, than their wild-loving kin, despite having the mixed blood running through their veins.


    When they finally reached the misty fields of the outer farmlands, Alaric broke the comfortable silence they''d fallen into.


    ¡°Is something on your mind?


    There were several things, if she were honest, but she settled for the most troublesome.


    ¡°Has the forest seemed . . . off to you?¡±


    ¡°How do you mean?¡±


    ¡°When I was out in the deepwoods, something didn¡¯t feel quite right.¡±


    ¡°Do the deepwoods ever feel right?¡± He asked.


    She huffed. ¡°No, but that¡¯s not what I mean. It was quiet, more so than usual. I didn¡¯t see a single migrating tree either and you know how they are this time of year.¡±


    ¡°You think something has them spooked?¡±


    Inerys shrugged. ¡±I¡¯m not sure. I didn¡¯t sense anything else nearby at the time, but my Sense is patchy at best that far in.¡±


    ¡°There may have been a larger predator in the area. Perhaps you¡¯re lucky you returned when you did.¡±


    She focused on the road ahead. ¡°Maybe.¡±


    While she hadn¡¯t sensed anything at the time, a certain anxiety crept over her whenever she recalled the memory. Her intuition rarely led her astray, but perhaps she¡¯d simply been too exhausted while in the deepwoods to accurately read the situation. Whatever the case, at least she¡¯d made it out alive. Hunting the Fringe was one thing. Few dared the shadows of the deepwoods, and for good reason. Any one of her outings could have been her last.


    And yet, she always returned. The goods she brought back with her were as lucrative as they were necessary, but there was something more to it. A certain thrill tickled her blood whenever she crossed into the forest. She was sure Alaric felt it too, for his eyes shimmered whenever he spoke of his own adventures.


    The warm brush of his fingers coaxed her from her thoughts and for a moment, she swayed on her feet as he drew her to a halt. Milo gave a soft snort and she laid a hand along his neck to steady herself. Alaric watched her, his brow knit as his eyes searched her face.


    ¡°You need rest,¡± he murmured.


    She rubbed her forehead, her fingers still tingling from his touch.


    There was no point in arguing. She knew she looked like the dead.


    ¡°I know,¡± she sighed, ¡°and I¡¯ll have plenty of time to rest after I see to Milo and store the rest of the stag meat.¡±


    He raised an eyebrow.


    She sighed. ¡°I promise.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll hold you to that.¡±


    ¡°You usually do,¡± she said, ¡°you¡¯re like a mother hen.¡±


    This time, his entire forehead rose. ¡°A hen?¡±


    Inerys rolled her eyes as she stepped off again. ¡°Yes. A brooding one.¡±


    Chuckling, he followed after her with a shake of his head. ¡°At least one of us cares about your well being. If that makes me a hen, so be it.¡±


    ¡°At least you''re handsome,¡± she hummed.


    ¡°Who¡¯s the terrible one now?¡±


    ~*~


    Inerys¡¯ Sense told her danger waited upon the other side of the door. Her eyes narrowed and she paused to listen before slowly, she reached for the mist-dampened knob. She knew what lay in wait beyond it, for it wouldn¡¯t be the first time she¡¯d been ambushed. Regardless, as she stepped inside, she allowed her assailant to pounce.


    The air was knocked from her lungs and despite it, she laughed. Soren had her by the middle, his face masked by a mop of dark curls. If he were any taller, he would have knocked her to the ground. Though, to his credit, he did push her a few steps back through the open door. Soon enough, he would be taller than she was. He already reached her shoulder as it was.


    ¡°You¡¯re back!¡±


    She wrapped her free arm around her younger brother, grinning.


    ¡°Just in time for dinner?¡± She assumed.


    The scent of herb roasted poultry lingered in the air, accompanied by something sweet and light. Her stomach growled, eager for a warm meal. Her supply of dried fruit and cured meats had been enough to sate her throughout her hunt, but had grown dull early on. There had been no joy in eating, only necessity.


    The boy, no older than twelve, grinned up at her, his blue eyes bright. Nan had always said they were the twin to her own and most tended to agree. It was a trait they¡¯d inherited from their mother. Though, Soren had been the one to inherit their father¡¯s rich brown hair. Inerys¡¯ own was a honeyed variation of blonde several shades lighter than her mother¡¯s.


    He nodded. ¡°I wanted it to be ready when you got home.¡±


    She allowed him to lead her into the cottage and around the corner to the kitchen, where their Nan was carefully monitoring what Inerys assumed was her second batch of muffins. The first rested comfortably in the center of the table, far enough out of reach that swiping one would prove less than convenient to any would-be thieves. Inerys adjusted the saddle bag draped over her right shoulder as she leaned into the counter and plucked one with her free hand.


    Her lips quirked.


    ¡°What are these?¡±


    ¡°Blueberry muffins,¡± Soren said proudly.


    Nan chuckled, straightening and wiping her floury hands upon her apron.


    ¡°Soren insisted we make them when he spied those fresh berries in the market today.¡±


    Inerys winked at the boy. ¡°Good choice.¡±


    He puffed his chest and said, rather matter-of-factly, ¡°They¡¯re your favorite.¡±


    ¡°Mmm, that they are,¡± she said, passing him one muffin, then a second, ¡°take one out to Alaric for me? I think he could use a hand in the barn.¡±


    He seemed to consider for a moment, but eventually took the bribe and scampered outside.


    ¡°That boy always knows exactly when you¡¯ll be home,¡± Nan said.


    ¡°He does, doesn¡¯t he?¡±


    Inerys had always done her best to give them her best approximation as to when she planned on returning, but she¡¯d learned early on that the forest operated on its own terms. Some days, she was gone for a few hours, but those were few and far between. More often than not, she was gone for a week or more. Especially these days. Despite it all, Soren was always the first to greet her. Some days, it was almost uncanny.


    ¡°He wasn¡¯t too much of a handful, I hope?¡± She asked.


    Nan waved a dismissive hand. ¡°Hardly. He¡¯s far easier than you were at his age. Running around in the mist like some deepwood-forsaken beast.¡±


    Inerys cracked a smile. ¡°I recall having more twigs in my hair.¡±


    Nan gave her a withering glare. ¡°Brambles too. And mud.¡±


    She glanced down at her boots, thankful she¡¯d scraped them clean outside before Soren had tackled her.


    ¡°How was the hunt?¡±


    ¡°Long, but I managed to down a stag,¡± she said, setting her saddle bags down upon the table. Mindful of the muffins, of course.


    ¡°Big enough to share, I see.¡±


    She nodded. ¡°I thought we could cure a majority of it to help pad out our winter stores. We can cook the rest over the next few days.¡±


    She¡¯d downed a whole stag, after all. Sure, the sorcerers received the bulk of it, but she could spare a bit for herself. For her family. They were not destitute by any stretch, but every bit counted. Winters could be harsh, especially among the northern territories, and Inerys wasn¡¯t keen to rely on the markets that had run dry in the middle of the season a few years prior. As it was, their cellar was a bit too bare for her liking.


    Nan rounded the table.


    ¡°Go get cleaned up and I¡¯ll take things from here. There should be plenty of water left for a warm bath,¡± she said, winking as she saw to unpacking the many cloth-wrapped bundles from Inerys¡¯ bag.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be down soon to help,¡± Inerys promised.


    ¡°You¡¯ll take your time,¡± Nan said, leaving little room to debate the matter, ¡°I¡¯m sure your friend is more than capable of earning his supper in the meantime.¡±


    Her cheeks burned at the thought of Alaric staying for dinner, but she wouldn¡¯t argue.


    Instead, she hid her smile and made her way up the stairs.

 Chapter Three: Immortal Prey

    Chapter Three


    Immortal Prey


    <hr>


    The fight was over before it began.


    Kiraht had Malys by the base of his skull, the silver male thrashing in her hold. His tail lashed, felling trees like stalks of wheat before the scythe. He swung it round, the tip parting to free the sword-like barb housed within before he repeatedly buried it into her flank. The larger female did not so much as flinch, her eyes glazed and vacant, jaws unyielding. Her wings flared, struggling to maintain her hold while Malys¡¯ own scrambled for purchase along the underside of her throat. Bone crunched, but not before his talon found its mark and opened her jugular. He lanced the wound wide, gore bubbling up between the scales and surging from Kiraht¡¯s throat as his body fell slack.


    His head dropped limply from her jaws, dust stirring with his final, wheezing breath. Kiraht screamed, either from pain or anguish, Rhydian couldn¡¯t tell. Her eyes blinked with sudden, horrified clarity. The wyvern swayed sideways, dislodging the taloned wing tip still embedded in her flesh and half crawled over the male¡¯s body as she sought Thylas. She stumbled toward her rider, seeking sanctuary, but finding none. Her limbs failed her within the first few strides, strength sapped by the torrent of a torn artery. She collapsed, skidding several feet and rending earth and stone alike in her wake.


    Rhydian¡¯s awareness cried a warning and he turned his farsight to the Talhavar. In their dazed stupor, they had failed to notice the woman emerge from the hollow. Malys¡¯ rider was already choking on her own blood, hand desperately trying to stem the gaping wound in her neck while she staggered toward her fallen wyvern. A clawed hand flashed, taking Thylas through the chest, though his attention was still fixed on Kiraht. His furrowed brow was the only indication he¡¯d registered anything beyond the horror that was undoubtedly tearing its way through his soul at the loss of his bond.


    For a moment, the world fell silent and still.


    The woman, their suspect, stood amid the carnage, ichor dripping from her fingertips. In truth, she was hardly a woman at all. Proud, sable antlers arched up from her skull amid night dark hair like the crown of some eldritch god, tarnished robes dangling from her narrow figure. Long, metallic claws tipped her spindly fingers and the angles of her face were gaunt with what Rhydian imagined was a terminal emaciation. And yet, she¡¯d torn through the Talhavar as if they were children.


    Given their Ascensions, it should have been impossible unless her own far surpassed theirs. Which meant the woman could be nigh on a god. A Puresoul. The realization sent a shiver down his spine. What was it Thylas had said during their brief? They believed this woman, whomever she was, had been shackled. It would explain why he could not get a passive read on her soul, disrupted as it was with her spiritual core all but cut off from the others. Was an active read worth the risk?


    As his thoughts returned to him, he began to register the full weight of the situation. The gore had been so thorough, so visceral, Rhydian knew this was no exercise. They were dead. Members of the Talhavar First Wing, were dead. He and his flight had never seen true combat and, if he were honest, no amount of training could ever fully prepare him for what he¡¯d witnessed. The two dyads had been massacred and had been so blindsided by Kiraht¡¯s sudden turn, they hadn¡¯t had the chance to fight back. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder if it would have even made a difference.


    When the woman turned her attention turned to the sky, Rhydian dared an active read. With the members of the First Wing dead, he was now acting flight lead. The more information he could gather now, the better. Her soul burned like a beacon in the night, all but blinding his spiritual senses. The power she radiated, even while shackled, was dizzying in a way he¡¯d never encountered. He immediately withdrew his awareness, his spiritual core throbbing as if that brief inspection had somehow branded him. Gritting his teeth, he clutched at the sudden ache in his chest.


    Tanuzet stiffened beneath him, a soft mewling escaping her as the sympathetic pain bridged through their bond.


    ¡°Forgive me,¡± he breathed.


    He should have warned her.


    She¡¯s getting away! She hissed, her shock turning to white-hot rage in an instant.


    He suddenly found himself viewing the world through her eyes. The woman had crossed the distance between the hills and forest, her figure disappearing into the depths like a wraith in the night. Rhydian had to school his breaths and actively withdraw from their connection to keep from melding with his wyvern¡¯s emotions entirely. He laid a hand upon her scaled back, body shuddering with the effort of his extrication.


    ¡°Easy, Tanuzet. We can¡¯t fly into this blind,¡± he said.


    She snarled, but banked hard and issued a pitched command to the other wyverns who were quick to answer her summons. Vaelor swept into formation, close on her tail, and both Inet and Ephaxus dropped from the stratus to take their positions on either side of him. They nickered in their complex language, no doubt questioning what had happened. With so many voices, it was difficult for Rhydian to discern much of anything, so he focused instead on combing the wilds below. He had to land, had to see if anyone had survived, though he had his doubts.


    Reading his intent, Tanuzet relayed their descent to the others. Ayduin shouted in protest, but didn¡¯t follow when they angled into a dive. He brought himself flush with his saddle, keeping his awareness keen. If the woman returned, he would only have a matter of seconds to retreat. The sentiment was perhaps on the optimistic side, but he wouldn¡¯t dwell on it now. Above, his flight took their positions, fanning out in a wide, low altitude circle.


    He leapt to the ground before Tanuzet had fully alighted beside Malys¡¯ body, leaving his bow behind. Neither it nor his rysk would be of any use if the woman were to return. He sensed, on some instinctive level, she wouldn¡¯t, but assumptions often caused more trouble in the end.


    There was no avoiding the blood, not with how much Kiraht had bled. Puddles littered the ground where she¡¯d climbed over Malys and beyond. Beside her, a pond had formed beneath her forequarters. Swirls of golden vital essence streaked through here and there, the result of severed channels as well as flesh. The scent nearly overwhelmed Rhydian, as if the incessant squishing of his boots along the soaked grass were not stomach churning enough. He brought his gloved hand to his nose, carefully sidestepping gore where he could.


    He found Malys¡¯ rider half a dozen feet from her wyvern, prone in the midst of a desperate crawl with one hand outstretched. It was difficult to discern where her own pool ended and Kiraht¡¯s began. He did not need to seek her pulse to know she was dead. Her fingers were black with her own lifeblood, still clutching her torn flesh. The sight was difficult to reconcile; a woman of skill, who had reached the height of the Talhavar¡¯s ariel division, cut down without a fight. How would he have fared, being two full ascensions below her, if not more? He didn¡¯t imagine there would be anything left of him to burn.


    Shuddering, he sought Thylas. He found him not where he had fallen after being run through, but propped beside Kiraht¡¯s head. Rhydian cursed, hurrying the last few feet when he realized he was still alive and muttering softly under his breath. He was slumped against the wyvern¡¯s snout, his head resting beside one massive nostril as he stroked the soft scales with an idle hand.


    ¡°Thylas?¡± Rhydian asked, dropping to a knee beside him.


    Through heavy lids, the man regarded him. The wizened warrior who had summoned them not hours before had been replaced by a broken man. There was no life to his eyes, no light beyond a vague recognition. His skin was white as the stratus, lips verging on blue.


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    ¡°You,¡± he rasped, ¡°You need to . . .¡±


    Tanuzet rumbled softly, coming to their side. Thylas¡¯ eyes found hers and she blinked deeply. Her mind brushed Rhydians, opening a viable mental path between them and Thylas.


    Save your strength, she murmured.


    His voice was tired, distant, but held some measure of relief. Thank you.


    ¡°We need to get you back to Mistwatch,¡± Rhydian said, ¡°Tanuzet¡¯s one of the fastest-¡±


    You and I both know I won¡¯t make it, he said, I want to be here. With her.


    If their roles were reversed, Rhydian knew he would want the same. Still, his bleeding heart fought against doing nothing, letting the man die, it wasn¡¯t right. He clenched and slowly unclenched his jaw, sharing a look with Tanuzet.


    ¡°All right,¡± he said at last.


    My arrows, Thylas said, eyes widening with a sense of urgency, Take them. You¡¯ll need them to stop her.


    Rhydian¡¯s brow furrowed.


    Each thought came slower than the last, to where several breaths passed between words.


    They¡¯re fullsilver. Whatever happens, promise me you¡¯ll find her. Kill her. Whatever the cost.


    He glanced to the quiver on his back. ¡°Who is she?¡±


    Thylas only shook his head, weakly attempting to shrug the engraved leather from his back. Rhydian was quick to stop him with a hand upon his shoulder. The man ceased his struggling, breath shallow as his eyelids drooped once more.


    ¡°Please, let me,¡± he said, undoing the quiver strap.


    Promise me. For the Talhavar. For . . . for Kiraht.


    Such promises were not made idly, especially those made to a dying man. When an elder asked for a souloath, there was little room for argument, but in this instance, Rhydian believed it was the least he could do. He may not be able to right the injustice of their murder, but he could try. Tanuzet¡¯s mind had been made, her intent siding with his own.


    ¡°On my honor and my soul, I swear it,¡± he said.


    The oath settled between them, marking Rhydian¡¯s soul in a way that could never be undone. He wondered, for a moment, if he had made a mistake. However, the more he thought on the matter, the more he realized the monster needed to be stopped. If she somehow reached Mistwatch, or worse, a population center, she would reap untold pain. His duty as a Talhavar demanded he see the mission through and with Thylas¡¯ silver arrows, he had the tools to do so. The quiver lay heavy in his hand, the careful sigils engraved in the leather masking the deadly metal housed within.


    With a soft sigh, Thylas turned his face into Kiraht¡¯s snout, and breathed his last.


    Rest well, child of the sky, Tanuzet said gently.


    ¡°Winds keep you,¡± Rhydian murmured.


    He rose, then, the weight of another soul settling upon his own. He rose his free hand high, guiding his rysk into a simple technique and sending three bolts of flame into the sky. Vaelor¡¯s whistle of acknowledgement sounded, followed by the rest, and he let his arm fall to his side.


    Fullsilver.


    The metal held the power to down even the strongest of invokers, for it cared nothing for ascension or age or skill. Once embedded in the flesh, the physical core and its channels were rendered useless. Destroyed, in some cases. Five arrows bearing fullsilver heads waited within their engraved prison. With them, he could fell an empire.


    Or slay a nightmare.


    Wind whipped as Vaelor touched down beside Tanuzet, quietly keening at the sight of their fallen kin. Grief washed through Rhydian¡¯s bond and his throat grew tight to the point of pain. Wyverns were a species in decline as it was, each death bringing them that much closer to extinction. To lose one was a tragedy, let alone two. To say nothing of their riders.


    Ephaxus circled twice before landing himself, echoing Vaelor¡¯s mourning. The opalescent male touched the rosie membranes of his wings in close, allowing Inet to alight as well. Both Cyan and Keishara took in the extent of the massacre with unbridled shock from their saddles.


    Ayduin peered down from her wyvern, her grey-blue skin a shade lighter than it should be.


    ¡°Are they . . .?¡±


    ¡°Dead,¡± Rhydian sighed, surveying the scene, ¡°They¡¯re all dead.¡±


    ¡°Sky¡¯s mercy,¡± she breathed, climbing down from Vaelor¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Who could have done this?¡±


    ¡°Someone who could rival one of the Sovereign, I suspect,¡± he said, ¡°whoever that woman is, she has to be stopped.¡±


    ¡°Stopped? And how do you intend on managing that? You saw what she did.¡±


    ¡°One woman did all this?¡± Keishara asked, tugging at her flaxen braid, ¡°I - I don¡¯t understand. This was supposed to be a training exercise.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m beginning to think that was a convenient story,¡± Cydan admitted.


    ¡°If that were the case, why bring us here in the first place?¡± she asked, then paused as if she¡¯d found the solution to her own question. ¡°Contingency? We¡¯re the only stronghold for near a hundred leagues, at least.¡±


    ¡°Likely enough,¡± Ayduin said, eyes narrowing on Rhydian, ¡°You still haven''t told me how you plan on taking her down.¡±


    ¡°With these,¡± he said, passing her the quiver.


    She gave him a skeptical look, a single brow arched as she undid the ties to reveal the black fletching. She paused, then carefully withdrew one of the arrows. Its pale tip gleamed in the low light, barbed and spanning near the length of Rhydian¡¯s hand. It was an abomination. A godkiller.


    "Is that what I think it is?" Keishara asked.


    He swallowed. ¡°Thylas gave them to me before he died.¡±


    Ayduin¡¯s voice was shaky when she said, ¡°Well, these will . . . certainly work.¡±


    "How many are there?" Cydan asked.


    "Five," Rhydian said.


    "Enough to make the kill, if we play this right," Ayduin said.


    "Agreed. With the wyverns, it shouldn''t take long to catch up to her. Though, she fled toward the breadth, not the mountains. If she''s crossed it, we may be forced to follow her into the Wilds."


    "It''s not like our rysk was going to do anything against her, anyway," she shrugged.


    "No, but I believe we''ll need Tanuzet''s affinity," he said, beginning to form a plan, "Before Kiraht attacked, I heard something like . . . diluted white noise. I can''t quite explain it, but I''m certain the woman was behind it."


    "A technique, perhaps?" Keishara suggested.


    He considered, but ultimately shook his head. "Not from her spiritual core. When I read her soul, I could sense the shackles. Whatever she did must have something to do with the mental core. Some audible command? Whatever it was, it has a range. Perhaps even a limit as to how many are affected, but we shouldn''t take any unnecessary risks, especially with the wyverns. I say we keep our distance, like the elders suggested. We don''t stand a chance in a close quarter confrontation."


    Three pairs should fly in using ranged techniques as a distraction while the fourth distances itself for an ambush, Tanuzet said.


    "In that case, we should be the ones to provide the distraction while you take her by surprise," Ayduin said, giving Rhydian a pointed look, "Your Path is best equipped to land a solid hit."


    He was inclined to agree, even if he felt presumptuous on some level.


    Still, he nodded.


    "All right, you three will provide cover while we part ways and take up an advantageous position unseen. Tanuzet will use a freeform technique to create a vacuum around our ears and with luck, prevent any would- be compulsion while we''re within range. We''ll have to be quick, especially if crossing into the Wilds becomes necessary. There''s no telling how quickly the Veil will drain her rysk."


    Ayduin grinned. "She won''t know what hit her."

 Chapter Four: The Mark of the Guild

    Chapter Four


    The Mark of the Guild


    <hr>


    ¡°Soren, stay close. I don¡¯t want to lose you,¡± Inerys said as she hurried after her brother.


    It was one of those rare days where the sun had managed to chase away the stubborn mists in their entirety, leaving the city open and bare. Shadows stood dark and crisp between the stonework buildings of the district square and the whole world was somehow sharper than she remembered. The towering spires of the Sorcerers Guild, which were all but invisible any other day, stood tall and proud amid an unfamiliar blue sky. If she were honest, she found it all a touch disconcerting.


    She felt oddly exposed here in the city, despite the throng around them. She could see everything, sure, but everything and everyone could see her. She stifled a shudder. Perhaps she was spending too much time out in the forest.


    At least there were fewer purebloods in the forest.


    With a deft hand, Inerys checked the pins holding her hair in place about her ears. Mercifully, still snug. Even so, if she jostled about too much, they were likely to fall free. Hounds were not banned from the city by any stretch, but their mundane, city-dwelling kin were about as tolerant as the purebloods. If one appeared too much like their feral, Adai forebears, they were dismissed entirely, if not openly harassed. Not that there were many left who still bore the tell-tale ears after so many generations. Soren had been lucky, having inherited their father¡¯s rounded, unremarkable ears.


    She spied his bobbing mop of unruly hair a few paces ahead and quickened her pace. Every so often, she caught the scent of a particularly ripe armpit amid the sweeter scents of baked goods and late season flowers as she wove her pursuit through the masses. And took her fair share of wayward elbows to the gut. She muttered under her breath, cursing the whelp for talking her into this venture in the first place.


    The boy was sharp and even at twelve, knew just how to play her. Curse her sweet tooth. After he¡¯d brought her breakfast in bed this morning, how could she refuse him a trip into the city? He¡¯d gone so far as to feed Milo for her as well. However, she was fairly certain he¡¯d done so to eliminate any possible arguments or excuses as to why they could not leave early. His plan had worked flawlessly.


    ¡°Soren!¡± She called.


    He stopped short and glanced back over his shoulder.


    ¡°Hurry up! We¡¯re going to be late!¡±


    ¡°And we¡¯ll be even later if you lose your way,¡± she said, raising an eyebrow.


    ¡°I won¡¯t get lost,¡± he said in a huff.


    ¡°Even so,¡± she said, offering her hand.


    She was more concerned about him being out among so many strangers. If she somehow lost track of him . . . She shoved the thought away. These days, she feared she was becoming far too paranoid for her own good. The cities were not the deepwoods, she reminded herself, even if they occasionally felt like it.


    Soren huffed a sigh, but took her hand without protest. He was practically shaking with excitement and Inerys found herself lengthening her stride to keep up with him as he led her along. He clutched the strap of his satchel with his free hand, eagerly searching the many market stalls for his favorite vendor. As always, he found the merchant beside the great tree at the center of the district, seated upon a carved wooden stool with his wares spread out before him on a long, low table draped with azure cloth.


    Dozens of leather bound books lay across the table in varying shades of color. Most, Inerys noticed, were copies of tales Soren already possessed. It was hardly surprising, given his affinity for reading, but it filled her with a certain degree of disappointment. Eventually, he would consume all the city had to offer outside the Guild, fiction or otherwise. He had even burned through her personal field guides.


    She would have to find him a proper apprenticeship soon enough, perhaps even in another city.


    ¡°Soren, my boy!¡± The merchant called, holding his arms wide as the pair approached.


    He was perhaps in his mid thirties, dark of hair and eyes, with a certain, permanent smirk. The man always appeared to be privy to something he shouldn¡¯t be, regardless of his expression. Her brother grinned and quickly abandoned her hand in favor of Fain and his precious books.


    ¡°Good morning, Fain!¡± He said, kneeling beside the table and sweeping its length as he inspected today¡¯s offering, ¡°Do you have anything new?¡±


    Though he hid it well, he¡¯d evidently reached the same conclusion Inerys had in his brief assessment.


    Fain grinned, a fond glint to his eye. ¡°For you? Of course.¡±


    He pulled a deep wooden box from beneath the table and removed the painted lid with a flourish. The four books nested within were remarkably well kept, despite their apparent age, if their yellowed pages were any indication. They appeared to belong to the same collection, though immediately gave Inerys pause. A silver, four-pointed star lay stamped in the center of the dark leather cover, barely contained within four concentric circles. Two smaller circles dwelled within the main body of the star, the innermost of which was haloed by eight sharp points. The complex geometry of the design created the illusion of an open eye at the heart of the sigil. Inerys was intimately familiar with the mark, for a variation of it branded the inside of her forearm - the mark of the Guild.


    A shiver ran up the length of her spine.


    ¡°Are those what I think they are?¡± She asked quietly.


    The merchant nodded, ¡°A complete collection of first year Guild texts.¡±


    Soren¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Can I-¡±


    ¡°Where did you get these?¡± She asked, sure to catch the man¡¯s eye when she spoke.


    He met her tempered glare with an easy smile. ¡°No where of any great consequence, my dear.¡±


    ¡°Forgive me if that doesn¡¯t lessen my suspicion,¡± she said through grit teeth.


    Books like these did not simply circulate among the general public.


    The man sighed. ¡°One of my suppliers had a daughter who had no further use for them. Given my wide clientele, I offered to take them off his hands.¡±


    ¡°I could take them,¡± Soren offered, eyes bright.


    ¡°That isn¡¯t a good idea,¡± she said and his face crumpled.


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    In truth, she couldn¡¯t come up with a fair answer.


    Her heart ached. She was all too aware of the boy¡¯s ever increasing interest in the Guild and though those of mixed heritage were rarely accepted into the Sorcerer¡¯s college, his innate gifts all but guaranteed his acceptance already. It was one of the many reasons she and Nan had always kept quiet about them. Rumor alone may be enough to draw the Guild¡¯s interest. If they took these books home and Soren mastered the material, that would be the end of it. Once he was taken into the Guild, he would belong to the pureblood elite. She would likely never see him again.


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    After all she¡¯d lost, Inerys wasn¡¯t sure if she could bear it. A selfish thought, she knew, but she wasn¡¯t ready to lose her little brother, even if it was in his best interest. Disgust twisted in her gut, not with the Sorcerers and their magic, but with herself. Was she really prepared to deny Soren a better future? She wanted what was best for him, didn¡¯t she? She couldn¡¯t protect him forever. As it was, it was only a matter of time before the deepwoods claimed her. Once she was gone, what then? The thought of him toiling away as some second-rate apprentice among the mundanes was a dismal one. He could do so much more, deserved more.


    Finally, she sighed. ¡°You may look at them, but I haven¡¯t made up my mind as to whether or not we¡¯re taking these home. All right?¡±


    Soren, his eyes bright with excitement, reached out, then hesitated, remembering his manners.


    ¡°May I?¡±


    Fain nodded and held out one of the tomes, smiling as if he¡¯d somehow won. ¡°Of course. Just be mindful of the binding.¡±


    The boy accepted it with a certain reverence, his eyes wide. He traced a finger along the sigil, then began to carefully flip through the introductory pages of the first tome. While he did, Fain turned his attention to Inerys.


    ¡°If you¡¯re looking for something more fantastical, I have these as well,¡± he said, offering her a small, wrapped stack.


    She took it with an air of skepticism, but unwrapped the first book nonetheless, her curiosity piqued. The binding was dry and dull with age, though the spine was still in decent shape.


    ¡°Origins of the Shattered Isles?¡± She asked.


    The merchant glanced about a moment before he leaned in and said with a conspiratorial whisper, ¡°If the story is to be believed, it is a broken landscape somewhere beyond the Veil. The other two mention the Adai and their great cities.¡±


    She paused, wondering how old the books truly were. It was a miracle they had been preserved at all. Especially given their nature.


    ¡°Yet another curiosity of your supplier?¡± She guessed, knowing full well the man would never divulge the origin of these particular texts.


    ¡°Perhaps. Perhaps not,¡± he said with a feline grin.


    ¡°Why not keep them for yourself?¡±


    ¡°If I kept every trinket I came across, what sort of merchant would I be?¡±


    ¡°I can keep them safe,¡± her brother whispered, clutching the Guild book to his chest.


    Inerys pursed her lips. ¡°I¡¯m not sure about this, Soren. Those Guild books are one thing, but we could get into trouble if someone found these.¡±


    ¡°Then we hide them,¡± he said.


    If only it were so simple.


    She pinched the bridge of her nose, then scanned their fellow market goers a moment, as if the city guard would show up at any moment. Perhaps she was being silly. If no one knew about the books, would anyone actually come after them? So long as no one knew, she supposed there was no harm in it. The histories would keep Soren busy for at least a few weeks and if she were being honest, she wanted to take a peek between their aged pages herself.


    Her unfortunate heritage had always been something of a forbidden curiosity of hers. Little was known about the Adai, even among their own descendants. Certain aspects of their mixed blood was universal, for most Hounds bore longer, sharper ears than their pureblooded kin and possessed a sixth sense no human could ever lay claim to. Inerys often used the latter to her advantage while hunting. The inborn ability had been invaluable and had saved her life more often than she¡¯d ever care to admit.


    Their mother had been a wellspring of knowledge, but she had been gone for years. These histories could teach her more than she ever dreamed. The thought both excited and terrified her. The books would have to be kept secret, no doubt, but surely there was no harm in learning about their own people?


    After a moment of further deliberation, she relented.


    ¡°Very well, but we don¡¯t speak of these outside the house.¡±


    Soren¡¯s smile turned giddy. ¡°I promise.¡±


    She eyed him, to be certain, but eventually nodded.


    ¡°For now, we¡¯ll tuck them away in my satchel,¡± she said, unboxing the Guild texts, then turned to Fain, ¡°how much?¡±


    ¡°Consider them a gift,¡± he said.


    She blinked, arguing, ¡°There¡¯s no need for-¡±


    ¡°I insist,¡± he said, raising a hand to cut her off, ¡°gifts, for my most avid and loyal customers.¡±


    He gave Soren a wink. One the boy was quick to repay. Inerys couldn¡¯t help but feel lost in the exchange. While she appreciated the gesture, she wasn¡¯t asking for a hand out. They didn¡¯t need one. But, she reminded herself that this wasn¡¯t about her. Soren was clearly fond of the merchant and they¡¯d paid him no small amount of coin over the years. Still, her Sense warned her the histories he¡¯d given her were some sort of bribe.


    ¡°I- thank you,¡± Inerys said.


    Fain waved a dismissive hand. ¡°Make no mention of it. Few will appreciate those dusty old tomes, anyway.¡±


    ¡°I know just where to put them,¡± Soren said, passing the book he held to his sister. She slipped the second, wrapped collection into her satchel and took extra care to ensure the straps were done tight.


    ¡°There, safe and sound,¡± she assured him, ¡°now what do you say?¡±


    He smiled, bouncing on the balls of his feet. ¡°Thank you, Fain!¡±


    ¡°You can thank me by looking after those books, hmm?¡±


    The boy nodded vigorously.


    Inerys hid a small smile, offering the merchant a polite nod she didn¡¯t quite feel. ¡°Thank you again. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll be back in a week or two. You two are becoming inseparable.¡±


    ¡°I am but a humble merchant, my dear,¡± he said, chuckling, ¡°the books are the true prize. You¡¯ll have a far more difficult time prying those books away from him, I imagine.¡±


    ¡°Likely,¡± she sighed, ¡°but those are troubles for a later time. If you¡¯ll excuse us.¡±


    Fain tipped his head. ¡°Of course. Safe travels. And mind the mists.¡±


    He certainly didn¡¯t have to tell her twice.


    Soren waved his good-bye and skipped after Inerys with a pleased hum.


    ¡°Will you read with me?¡± He asked.


    ¡°If you like. In the meantime, should we find you something to eat?¡±


    His face lit up at the suggestion and Inerys hadn¡¯t failed to notice the mischievous twinkle in his blue eyes.


    ¡°Something sweet?¡±


    Grinning, she leaned in, ¡°My thoughts exactly.¡±


    ~*~


    The huntress and her brother had spent the better part of the afternoon wandering the city together, savoring their forbidden honey cakes as well as their time away from home. Nan seldom brought her brother beyond the outer villages while Inerys was away, so such outings only ever occurred every few weeks when she was between hunts. She could easily endure another day of sore feet if it meant bringing a smile to his face.


    She had taken great care to tuck him in that evening, having spent more than an hour reading to him from one of his newly acquired books. After some debate, they had settled on Origins of the Shattered Isles. A curious tale that, albeit entertaining, seemed a bit too far fetched to be true. Fiction or no, Soren had adored it all the same. She¡¯d read until he fell asleep and then some, just to be certain. She half expected to find him up once again with one of his Guild books within the hour.


    Setting the book aside, she placed a gentle kiss upon his forehead and crept out of the room. Grimacing, she inwardly cursed the wayward groan of the door¡¯s troublesome hinges. After a moment spent in pause to listen, she dared to peek back into the room. Mercifully, her brother was still asleep, a rogue curl rustling above his nose in time with his breathing. She breathed a shallow sigh of relief and made her way to her own room to fetch her cloak and boots.


    Her Nan was waiting beside the fire when she eventually made her way downstairs, fastening her cloak with her mother¡¯s moonflower broach. Nan glanced up from the half knit blanket in her lap and offered her granddaughter a knowing smile. Inerys couldn¡¯t help the nervous edge to her lips when she noticed the look and her skin grew flush well before the woman even spoke.


    ¡°Off to the tavern with your friend?¡± She asked.


    Inerys¡¯ cheeks grew hot. Her lips parted to offer explanation, but when none took wing, Nan chuckled.


    ¡°No need. He¡¯s already waiting for you outside. Go enjoy yourself, love.¡±


    Inerys fidgeted a moment, then awkwardly nodded.


    ¡°Thank you, Nan,¡± she said, almost too quickly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t do anything I wouldn¡¯t do!¡± She called after her.


    ¡°Of course, Nan!¡±


    The huntress hastily shut the door behind her, only to press her back against it in the cool night air and take a breath. Alaric watched with an amused smile from the back of his dappled horse, her own resting idly beside them, saddled and ready. Eyes glinting, her friend arched a single brow in question.


    ¡°Should I be worried?¡±


    ¡°Hardly,¡± Inerys said, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. ¡°If my mother¡¯s stories are to be believed, I¡¯m rather boring by comparison. It seems old Nan isn¡¯t quite as innocent as she appears.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take your word for it,¡± he chuckled, then raised Milo¡¯s reins, ¡°Shall we?¡±


    Biting her lip, she unhitched herself from the door and swung herself into her saddle. Milo gave a soft snort and a peeved swish of his tail. Clearly, he didn¡¯t appreciate being disturbed after dinner. She soothed him with a pat to the neck and a not-so-subtle bribe from her pocket. He reached around to accept the mint with a low, appreciative nicker.


    ¡°Spoiled old man,¡± she chided.


    Straightening, she offered Alaric a smile. ¡°Lead the way.¡±

 Chapter Five: Blood in the Mist

    Chapter Five


    Blood in the Mist


    <hr>


    As he¡¯d feared, their target had made it into the Wilds.


    Her scent had led them across the Breadth on a near linear path and had not deviated, as a part of him had hoped it would. Dangerous as the Wilds were, coupled with the Blight and the spirit-scrambling Veil within, he wondered if her plan was to evade them long enough to disappear. In all reality, it was likely her best chance, outside of killing them all outright. Though, she would still have to contend with the wyverns¡¯ near-inescapable sense of smell. As it was, Tanuzet was close on the woman¡¯s scent.


    Through their active merge, Rhydian could smell the blood on her hands, fresh and sharp. It fueled his rage as well as his resolve. Tanuzet shifted beneath him, catching a new current and following it along the edge of the Breadth. The mist roiled along the outer border of the Endari Wilds, held back from the vast open plain by the Veil¡¯s influence. Deeper in, the world was steeped in fog so thick, nothing could be seen of the terrain within. A few scant islands breached the gloom where hilltops or mountains managed to pierce the cloudbelly, some crowned by massive, black pines, others by steep, jagged crags that were more akin to wolf teeth than rock.


    As familiar as the sight was, he would never quite grow accustomed to it, for while the majority of the Veil harbored mists of hazy white no different from those found elsewhere in the world, those at its heart grew dark and unruly. Concentrated aura warred across the distant horizon in shades of black and blue; a great, swollen bruise where it rose from the earth. Rhydian and his flight had passed within the Wilds a number of times during their initial training upon being stationed at Mistwatch, though their patrols had never involved delving down into the forest itself. Their main duty was to prevent Blighted from crossing the Breadth from the Wilds, not actively seeking them out from their origin.


    Land a moment, he said, patting Tanuzet¡¯s back, I want to speak with the others before we continue.


    Whistling from her nostrils, she touched down just before the treeline and shook out her hide. His own skin gave a sympathetic prickle, gooseflesh rising along his arms. The Veil tugged at his spirit, drawing a dull, aching pressure from his core. No amount of exposure would ever dull the sensation. He had flown by the border daily on his patrols for close to a year now and the pull was as potent as it had been during his first encounter. As it was, he knew the worst of it was yet to come.


    ¡°We¡¯re still going after her, aren¡¯t we?¡± Ayduin asked once Vaelor settled.


    Rhydian nodded, his expression tight. ¡°I was hoping we could catch her out in the open, but there¡¯s more to consider now that she¡¯s inside.¡±


    We¡¯re still coming in there with you, Vaelor said, growling softly.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to suggest otherwise,¡± Rhydian assured with a shake of his head, ¡°It¡¯s still in our best interest to stay airborne and out of range as much as possible. Maneuverability is the main issue.¡±


    Ephaxus alighted beside Vaelor, light dancing across the metal scales of his underbelly. Ayduin spared them a cursory glance, then flicked her gaze across the forest.


    ¡°What about the deep wood gigantism? If the trees are really as big as they say further in, there should be a manageable amount of space to fly, even with Tanuzet and Inet¡¯s wingspans taken into account.¡±


    Rhydian considered. ¡°It would certainly make things easier,¡± he agreed, ¡°but there¡¯s still the engagement itself to take into account. With the wyvern¡¯s focused on navigating the trees, the majority of the attack will be left up to us. I believe our initial plan is still sound, if a bit simplistic.¡±


    He glanced down to the engraved quiver he¡¯d situated at the front of the saddle and drew out one of the arrows. The head was near the length of his hand, narrow and lethal as it was beautiful. He turned it over, expecting to find an engraving somewhere in the metal to mark its origin, yet found none. His brow furrowed, but Keishara drew his thoughts away from the oddity.


    ¡°Ephaxus and I could provide the main distraction,¡± she began, ¡°your plan with Tanuzet had me thinking. With our affinities, we can¡¯t exactly offer any defensive measures, but we might be able to blind her, at least temporarily.¡±


    Rhydian paused, Tanuzet inclining her head in interest.


    The woman¡¯s cheeks briefly tinted, but she continued.


    ¡°If Ephaxus uses a freeform technique to shape his steel plates into a series of spikes and launch them into the ground, I could generate an electrical arc. With enough rysk behind it, I should be able to make it bright enough to stun just about anyone.¡±


    Rhydian¡¯s brow rose and he cursed himself for not having realized their potential sooner.


    ¡°If we can subdue her long enough, I should be able to land a clean hit,¡± he said, slipping the arrow back into the quiver.


    Ayduin nodded, despite the skeptical set of her jaw. ¡°We still run the risk of being blinded ourselves.¡±


    ¡°Not if we rely on our spiritual senses,¡± he said, ¡°with her core shackled, we have the advantage. Powerful as she might be, she¡¯ll still be limited to her base senses.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough. Suppose all that insufferable mist training is about to pay off, hmm?¡±


    ¡°How many strikes do you think you could manage?¡±


    Keishara pursed her lips. ¡°Once inside the Veil? I might only have enough rysk for two or three strong charges.¡±


    ¡°We can make that work,¡± he said, ¡°but I want attention taken off you in the initial engagement in order to give Ephaxus a chance to land those ground points.¡±


    ¡°Cydan and I should fly in first and take the initial pressure,¡± Ayduin said.


    The man nodded as Inet¡¯s wings twitched in anticipation. ¡°Our techniques might not do much, but we can piss her off.¡±


    Rhydian nodded, ¡°All right. Ayduin ne¡¯Vaelor will lead the formation followed by Cydan n¡¯Inet and Keishara n¡¯Ephaxus. Tanuzet and I will follow at a distance, then peel off when we close in on the target.¡±


    Keep your distance and stay sharp, Tanuzet said. I will hold my technique as long as I can.


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    ¡°Mind yourselves and we¡¯ll all come out of this on the other side,¡± Rhydian said, ¡°Once we¡¯re back at Mistwatch, I¡¯ll even bust out the trade city casks.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll hold you to that,¡± Ayduin crooned.


    ¡°Cydan¡¯s been waiting for the chance at a rematch,¡± Keishara giggled.


    Ayduin smirked, ¡°That so? Play this well and you¡¯ll have that opportunity. Provided I don¡¯t drink you under the table a second time.¡±


    The man winked and blew her a mock kiss. ¡°Let¡¯s get on with it, then.¡±


    Rhydian¡¯s chest eased, but only just. Still, he managed the ghost of a smile as Tanuzet turned skyward.


    The air grew thick the moment they crossed the Veil¡¯s threshold. Nausea welled, followed by a deep, throbbing pain in his core. The further they flew, the more it mounted. His rysk grew sluggish and stiff in his channels, as if they had constricted to the point of collapse. He found it difficult to breathe. He grit his teeth, forcing his mind to clear, to will the sickness away as he recalled one of his many breathing exercises. The spiritual pressure sought to smother him, but within a few mindful inhalations, he brought the disruption under control. His eyes watered with the effort and he was quick to banish the stray tears. He doubted the others fared much better. They were all fairly close in their Ascension progression, yielding a comparable effect on their souls.


    He sought Tanuzet through their bond, the two melding effortlessly in the heat of their pursuit. Together, they reached out with their collective awareness, building the mental map of the shrouded world below with their spiritual sense while they skimmed the sea of whorling white fog. The forest came alive in their minds¡¯ eye; countless trees revealing themselves through the complex webs of their essence-rich channels. They saw nothing of their physical exteriors, only the illumination of their souls¡¯ internal structures.


    The forest¡¯s gigantism unfolded before them with far more clarity than they had ever experienced prior to their forced expedition. The spaces between the countless trunks and branches would indeed afford the wyverns a manageable degree of navigation once inside. It would be tight in places, but it would do.


    The woman¡¯s scent changed direction and with a low hiss, the dyad changed course. The flight banked with them, maintaining formation. Rhydian withdrew his mind from Tanuzet¡¯s, though brought himself close against the saddle when she found her opening in the underlying canopy. She plunged down into the forest, navigating the labyrinthian pines with an agile grace. Visual conditions were far more favorable once inside the forest itself, the mists diluted and left to swirl amid the ground vegetation below.


    Behind them, Rhydian heard the others follow suit, adjusting their formation to account for the tighter quarters. They flew in a uniform line and he did not need to look back to know Vaelor was close on Tanuzet¡¯s tail. Despite the space between the trees, they proved difficult to maneuver while maintaining speed. Inet clipped a wing on a wayward branch, hissing her frustration and Vaelor was briefly forced off course in order to avoid one of the trunks.


    The spines along Tanuzet¡¯s membranous spinal crest suddenly pulled taught.


    She¡¯s close, she warned.


    With a rush of her wings, she landed upon a thick branch midway up an ancient tree when they reached a slight break in the forest. A heartbeat later, Vaelor perched beside her. Inet and Ephaxus both alighted below them upon separate branches, the tree gently swaying with the added weight. Tanuzet brought her head low, attention fixed ahead, nostrils flared. Along the forest floor, smaller, migratory saplings fled in opposite directions like a school of fish startled by a passing predator.


    Her lips pulled back to reveal her fangs, but she remained silent, as did the others. She activated her suppression technique, disrupting the airflow and creating a miniature vacuum around the ears of wyvern and rider alike. The world grew silent in an instant and Rhydian shuddered as the distortion snapped into place. Ayduin¡¯s copper wyvern shook his head in discomfort and the woman herself grimaced in mild annoyance, but it was better than the alternative. If his theory was correct, the woman¡¯s indomitable voice might cause yet another massacre if left unchecked. Rhydian wasn¡¯t sure what her range was, exactly, and he didn¡¯t intend to find out. Hopefully Tanuzet¡¯s countermeasure would be enough.


    With a deep breath, Rhydian met Ayduin¡¯s gaze and dipped his chin. Vaelor took wing, leading the others onward while Tanuzet took up her position at the rear. The closer they drew to their target, the more his soul quivered. Within moments, she slowed, putting distance between herself and the distraction team. She climbed higher into the canopy and he barely registered her activation of a second technique to muffle her own wingbeats.


    She banked.


    Hard.


    Rhydian instinctively grabbed the saddle, leaning with her. He felt the leathery crack of her wings in his bones and his stomach quickly found its way into his throat. Branches snapped against her back in the dense canopy as she threw herself off course, a boulder the size of a horse rocketing by. It decimated a tree to their left, essence erupting in a shower of light in his mind¡¯s eye. He choked down his alarm and glanced back over his shoulder with a shuddering breath. Had the strike been meant for them?


    He cursed under his breath and quickly notched one of the arrows.


    Tanuzet veered off her original path, finding her perch elsewhere among the canopy. She settled close to the trunk, crest flaring. From this vantage, Rhydian had a clear view of the skirmish below. Ayduin and Cydan were already engaged, drawing the woman¡¯s attention while Ephaxus swept down from above.


    Steeling himself, Rhydian moved to crouch in his saddle, dropping one knee to help stabilize his position. Tanuzet brought her head low, providing him with a clear line of sight. He closed his eyes, bracing himself when he sensed Keishara¡¯s rysk condense from afar. Light split the air, white and hot. Her bolt struck the array her wyvern had laid, arching in a great halo around the woman.


    He sensed the woman stumble backward and when he opened his eyes and focused with his farsight, he found her staggering toward one of the trees with a hand over her eyes. He drew back the string of his bow, but hesitated. Something in the back of his mind warned against firing. If he shot and missed, he might reveal his position prematurely. Reluctantly, he eased the tension, but remained alert, searching for his opening.


    The woman recovered faster than he expected and in a blur, darted up the tree, her attention fixed on the pearly wyvern and his rider. Keishara took notice and Ephaxus suddenly changed course, banking while Inet and Vaelor flew by, hurling techniques. Ice exploded along the length of the trunk, courtesy of Ayduin, quickly condensing and slicking the branches. The woman¡¯s nostrils flared as she evaded and she lept toward Vaelor.


    Lightning struck the array a second time.


    Vaelor rolled sideways, though it was difficult to tell whether or not the woman had made physical contact before being disoriented. She¡¯d fallen to the ground, but moved before Rhydian could so much as sight her. She wove through the trees like a shadow, evading wyvern and rider alike with a speed and grace that put all to shame. If she would pause for more than a breath, he could end this, he was certain. Thus far, she¡¯d given no indication she was aware of his presence.


    However, it was clear Keishara ne¡¯Ephaxus had drawn her ire. Despite the barrage of the other two riders, she largely ignored any direct offensive techniques. They did little more than ruffle her robes, unlike the environmental tactic Ayduin had enacted earlier. Rhydian would have urged her to use it again, had it not drained a large portion of her rysk. Slowly, but surely, her techniques were growing weaker.


    The woman had noticed too.


    Quick as a wraith, she was weaving amid the branches above Ephaxus, nearly keeping pace with his flight path. Where he dodged, she followed. Her agility was dizzying. Ephaxus suddenly surged upward, making for the sky above the canopy, but not before the woman made her move.


    Rhydian¡¯s gut twisted.


    Keishara fired her third and final charge, but it was too late.


    The woman was already airborne, the branch she¡¯d leapt from left in splinters in the wake of her launch. Tanuzet¡¯s panic rippled through their bond, striking Rhydian as keenly as if it were his own. Ephaxus¡¯ back buckled beneath the force of the woman¡¯s landing. His wings flared wide, the snap of his spine reverberating through the trees and into Rhydian¡¯s soul. He fell, taking Keishara and the woman with him.


    Tanuzet screamed, the only warning Rhydian had before she moved. He dropped into the saddle, his wyvern¡¯s emotions threatening to overwhelm his. He shoved his mind against hers, forcing her away despite his instinctive desire to soothe her. Her technique broke and the sounds of the world came flooding in.


    The sound of Ephaxus striking the earth made him sick.


    Repositioning himself, he blinked his nictitating membrane into place and focused on the settling dust. Tanuzet was spearing toward it and for the briefest of moments, he had his chance. The woman¡¯s back was to him, Keishara struggling in the woman¡¯s grip. She was torn from her saddle, clawing at the hand that held her throat in a desperate attempt to free herself. The woman raised her other hand, claws poised to strike.


    Rhydian drew back his string, loosed his held breath, and fired.

 Chapter Six: Spirits and Broken Glass

    Chapter Six


    Spirits and Broken Glass


    <hr>


    ¡°Livelier than I expected,¡± Inerys said.


    Reining Milo to a halt, she watched the flickering windows of the tavern with an air of hesitation. Even from outside, she could tell the main commons were near capacity, as if the resounding clamor within weren¡¯t evidence enough. She bit her lip. And here she was, foolish enough to believe it would be a quiet evening. She had half a mind to turn around and go home. Were it not for Alaric, she likely would have.


    ¡°Someone must have had quite the hunt,¡± he said, stepping down from his saddle.


    ¡°I wonder who,¡± she said, surveying the tavern¡¯s exterior.


    Of the two dozen or so horses tethered outside, there were only three she didn¡¯t recognize. Their auburn hides stood in stark contrast to the smokey greys of the Endari Surefoots around them. They weren¡¯t plow horses, by any means, but they certainly had no business trodding around in the forests. She supposed she was making assumptions, though. Travelers from other city-states were rare this time of year, but not unheard of.


    ¡°Passing merchant?¡± Alaric said, then offered, ¡°Or a minstrel, given the rabble.¡±


    ¡°Could be,¡± she sighed, easing herself down from the saddle.


    ¡°Hungry?¡±


    ¡°Starving,¡± she groaned.


    ¡°You know, if you¡¯d eaten something of actual substance today, you wouldn¡¯t be so miserable.¡±


    ¡°I ate plenty,¡± she said defensively.


    ¡°Honey cakes don¡¯t count.¡±


    ¡°Yes they - wait, how did you know?¡±


    ¡°Because you still have honey on your cheek,¡± he cooed, taking Milo¡¯s reins and tethering both horses nearby.


    Hesitantly, she raised her hand to check her face. He was teasing her, he had to be. Soren must have ratted her out, it was the only explanation. Until, to her own mortification, her fingers brushed the tacky patch of remnant honey. Her cheeks burned.


    ¡°You could have told me sooner,¡± she grumbled, licking her thumb and wiping away the offending evidence.


    ¡°Now where''s the fun in that?¡± he asked, waggling his brow as he held the door open for her passage.


    A gust of warm air rushed out to meet them, carrying with it the scent of ale and a burning hearth. The mist around them recoiled and curled in on itself around the edges of the eves. Mercifully, its reign ended where the commons began and Inerys was quick to slip inside.


    Lowering her hood, she sought an open table while fluffing her hair. The yellow-brown curls had grown damp on the ride over, kissed by the same mists that lurked beyond the windows. There were plenty of familiar faces among the evening crowd, which offered her a certain comfort she hadn¡¯t realized she missed. Where the strangers of the morning markets had all but frayed her nerves, the company of her fellow Hounds soothed her. Her prior apprehension melted away. These people were practically family.


    A few looked up and tipped their mugs in greeting while others waved she and Alaric over to exchange stories. As always, conversation came easily among Hounds and for a time, they laughed and boasted of particularly fruitful hunts from months prior. Inevitably, though, more troubling topics arose.


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, there¡¯s been a shift in the forest,¡± one of the men, Dravas, said.


    He was an older man with the first hints of grey flecking his dark hair and beard. Among the forest-hunting Hounds, he was a veteran. One of the few who remained unclaimed by the deepwoods. The fact alone warranted respect, but the man had more than earned it on more than one occasion in Inerys¡¯ eyes. He had taken her under his wing for a time after she¡¯d lost her mother to the deepwoods.


    His admission garnered its fair share of concern and the unspoken truth was, they had all felt the shift. Whatever extra sensory awareness they¡¯d inherited from their Adai forebears granted Hounds an inherent link to the world around them. They shared an intimacy with the forest no pureblood could ever dream of. When one Hound sensed something amiss, chances were, they all did.


    ¡°Must¡¯ve happened in the last few days,¡± another man, Kardin, said, ¡°during my last outing, I felt it. One day, everything was fine. The next . . . it¡¯s like the forest was waiting for something.¡±


    ¡°The migration¡¯s slowed too,¡± said a man at the far end of the table, ¡°At least in the west. The damn trees refuse to move, aside from a few stragglers.¡±


    ¡°Do you think it¡¯s the whole of the forest?¡± Alaric asked.


    The others looked to Dravas, who shook his head.


    ¡°No. Whatever it is, it''s spreading down from the northwest. The villages to the east and south have yet to report any change,¡± he said.


    ¡°I bet it has something to do with the purebloods they¡¯ve let pillage our forests,¡± Kardin spat.


    ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard, the Guild to the south was the first to authorize open hunting,¡± Alaric said, his brow knit in thought. ¡°I think this might be something else.¡±


    Dravas nodded his agreement. ¡°The forest preys on the humans, it doesn¡¯t fear them.¡±


    ¡°Do you think the sorcerers are running more of their strange experiments?¡±


    He shrugged a shoulder. ¡°Maybe. Who knows what they get up to in those towers of theirs.¡±


    ¡°Nothing good.¡±


    Another man huffed his agreement.


    ¡°Either way, those purebloods are becoming a problem. The Fringe has been picked clean.¡±


    Inerys was inclined to agree and offered her own input. ¡°There¡¯s hardly anything left. The herb patches have been ransacked and there¡¯s hardly any prey left to track. I¡¯ve had to cross into the deepwoods more times than I¡¯d care to admit just to turn a profit.¡±


    A few of the men nodded.


    ¡°Purebloods or no, something has to be done.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure there¡¯s anything we can do,¡± she said.


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    The city magisteres wouldn¡¯t do anything about it and she was fairly certain the Guild wouldn¡¯t either. They had been trying to rid themselves of her and her kin for generations. As far as they were concerned, those who chose to live beyond the city-states were a lost cause. They only humored her kin so long as they continued to supply the guild with their precious resources. Now, it seemed, that time was drawing to an end.


    ¡°Those pureblood bastards don¡¯t have what it takes to hunt the forest and we all know it. Once enough of them die out in those woods, it¡¯s only a matter of time until the Guilds come crawling back to us,¡± one of their table mates said, slurring every third word.


    Inerys frowned into her own half empty cup of mead, then glanced off across the commons when she sensed an unwelcome pair of eyes. A few tables away, she noticed a group of men she¡¯d never seen before, all but glaring daggers at her and her companions. Her lips thinned. With their raised hoods, it was difficult to see their ears, yet their softer, rounder features were enough to raise the hair along the back of her neck. Sometimes it was difficult to tell purebloods from mundanes, but she had the distinct impression these men were the former.


    She recalled the horses tethered outside and shuddered.


    There were close to half a dozen men seated at the table, so either a few had walked, or more had arrived since she and Alaric had. Considering how long the two had been engaged in conversation with their fellow Hounds, it wouldn¡¯t surprise her. She shifted her shoulders and quickly looked away. All the while, her sense stirred and a slow, steady knot began to form in her chest.


    ¡°We may want to keep it down,¡± she warned, her voice low.


    Most at her table looked to her in confusion, until a choice glance from Dravas directed their attention to the group of outsiders. A few of the men grumbled, while some merely glared back at the men as they took another swig from their mugs. A muscle feathered along Alaric¡¯s jaw, but he said nothing.


    Then, the man seated beside Dravas slammed his mug back onto the table and stood up with such force, his chair clattered backward.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be dead before I allow myself to be chased off by some pureblood bastards!¡±


    Alaric tensed, but it was Dravas who rose and said, ¡°Sit down, Kardin. And keep that mouth of yours in check or I¡¯ll do it for you.¡±


    Across the commons, the men began to whistle and laugh.


    One yelled. ¡°Know your place, dog!¡±


    Color rose anew into Kardin¡¯s already flush face. ¡°You should run back to your pretty walls while you still have the chance. The woods are no place for gentle folk.¡±


    By this point, the whole of the commons had fallen silent. The men at the other table rose as well and Inerys¡¯ intuition flared. Some of the strangers began to wander over, all but itching for a fight, by the look of it. With the rising tension in the room all but palpable, it was only a matter of time before someone snapped. She shared a concerned expression with Alaric, who remained calm, but alert, at her side.


    ¡°Afraid we¡¯ll run you out, eh?¡±


    ¡°Leave it be, gents,¡± Alaric said, ¡°We¡¯re only here for a few drinks, same as you.¡±


    ¡°Yeah? That friend of yours should learn to bite his tongue. Might get him into trouble one day.¡±


    ¡°Keep at it and we¡¯ll have trouble here and now,¡± Dravas warned.


    The older man fixed the purebloods with a hard glare, his jaw set. This time, the rest of the table stood with him, including Alaric. Inerys had never been much of a fighter, but with little choice, she rose as well. If things went south, the best she could do was watch Alaric¡¯s back.


    ¡°You think we¡¯re afraid of a few stray dogs?¡±


    ¡°Walk away boy,¡± Dravas said, gaze unwavering.


    The man, who Inerys assumed must have been the leader, given his vocalness, smirked. He was a tall, lanky man with sandy brown hair peeking out from beneath his hood with a matching, patchy beard. He couldn¡¯t have been much older than twenty.


    ¡°You know, I don¡¯t think I will. It¡¯s about time someone muzzled you lot.¡±


    Kardin was growing more red by the second.


    Inerys¡¯ skin prickled. Biting her lip, she lowered her hood and moved to place herself between the two groups. Someone had to be the voice of reason, and it was clear no one else was going to step in.


    ¡°I think we can all agree we¡¯ve all had a bit more to drink than we ought to,¡± she said, sure to make eye contact with all involved, ¡°there¡¯s no point in starting trouble. After all, we¡¯re all hunters now, yeah? One way or another, we¡¯re going to have to figure out how to get along.¡±


    For a moment, she¡¯d actually been foolish enough to think they¡¯d all stopped to consider. However, it seemed their old grudges ran deep. There was a tense pause before one of the purebloods grabbed her wrist and tugged her toward his chest.


    ¡°We¡¯ll start with this one,¡± he said, his breath wreaking of stale ale and Wild¡¯s knew what else.


    Inerys tried to pull away, gritting her teeth. ¡°Let go, or-¡±


    The man¡¯s nose crunched.


    Within the span of a breath, Alaric was on top of the man and the pair fell together. The table behind them buckled under their combined weight and Inerys found herself flat on her rear before she had a moment to fully process what had happened. She sat, blinking, until a man fell with a heavy thud behind her. The sudden thump to her back snapped her back to reality and she scrambled away and onto her feet.


    While the whole of the tavern was in a sudden uproar, the bulk of the fighting had been localized around their table. Kardin had leapt over the table at some point, judging by his current position halfway across the room and both Dravas and his companion were wrestling with two other men upon the ground. A number of the surrounding patrons made themselves scarce, others watched on, slack-jawed and wide-eyed. A pair of men that had been seated nearby, both Hounds, had decided to join the melee in defense of their kin.


    Glass shattered to her right and Inerys nearly jumped out of her own skin. One of the purebloods lunged for Alaric¡¯s exposed back, brandishing half a smashed bottle in one hand. The jagged glass caught the light, marking the razor points in uneven patches. On instinct, Inerys sprang to Alaric¡¯s defense. She rammed her shoulder into the man¡¯s side, earning a grunt as he was knocked off center. He floundered to one side in an effort to catch his balance, yet refused to drop his ramshackle bottle.


    As he stumbled, he lashed out with his make-shift weapon, catching Inerys across the back of her right forearm when she raised her hands in defense. Her sleeve tore open with ease and she faintly registered the sting lancing down through her fingers. She fumbled for the nearest object - a heavy wooden mug - and brought it down on the man¡¯s hand with all her strength. The resulting wet smack sent a sickening shiver through her gut, for the bottle wasn¡¯t the only thing that gave way in the wake of her strike.


    The man screamed and sank to the floor. He cradled his shaking, ruined hand. Amid the blood and rent flesh, jagged bits of green glass bejeweled his fingers and palm. His first two fingers were popped at the base joint and Inerys was fairly certain she saw a sliver of white bone poking out of his middle finger at an odd angle. Her gut twisted at the sight and she nearly lost her dinner right there on the floor.


    Her own hand felt warm and sticky, but all she could do was stare at what she¡¯d done. The mug slipped from her fingers, clattering to the floor, but she didn¡¯t so much as flinch. She simply stared.


    Evidently, his screams were enough to garner the attention of the other patrons. The brawling paused long enough for the others to sober up and fully piece together the situation. Though there were plenty of glares and shoving once the initial confusion wore off, the interruption gave onlookers a chance to pry the men off of one another. The purebloods were left largely alone to tend their own, under the careful supervision of a few Hounds, including the tavern owner, while Inerys¡¯ companions were granted an opportunity to do the same.


    All the while, she continued to stare at the man¡¯s hand. She felt oddly numb inside, despite her anger and panic moments ago. She couldn¡¯t believe what she¡¯d done. This wasn¡¯t the first time she¡¯d drawn blood, she was a huntress after all, but she only ever shot to kill. And never had she harmed another Hound, let alone a pureblood.


    Alaric knelt beside her with a curse, his beaded brow furrowing. One eye was already beginning to swell along the apex of his cheek and blood still oozed from his split lip. Her first instinct was to tend his wounds, but the moment his fingers graced her arm, she recoiled. Pain shot up her arm and when she backed away, she finally noticed the blood. Her blood. It trickled down her hand, dripping from her fingertips to join that of her victim¡¯s upon the floor.


    The glass bottle had opened the back of her forearm nearly from elbow to wrist, leaving a deep, ragged split in its wake. Blood welled freely, soaking her torn sleeve as well as her pant leg. Her thoughts were painfully slow in those moments, though she had the presence of mind to grit her teeth and try to stem the bleeding. She clapped her freehand over the worst of the wound as Alaric guided her back into a chair.


    ¡°Careful now,¡± he said.


    Grimacing, she answered, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    He cast her a withering glare that dissolved into concern as quickly as it had arrived.


    ¡°Come, Let me see.¡±


    Arm trembling, she raised it for his inspection. It was an effort not to whimper when she bent her elbow, but she managed. He carefully pulled back the ribbons of her sleeve, his lips going thin. A bit of color leached from his face as her companions gathered around her.


    ¡°Hmph. We¡¯re going to need to stitch that,¡± Dravas said.

 Chapter Seven: Pinpricks

    Chapter Seven


    Pinpricks


    <hr>


    Had Inerys known Dravas was as skilled with a needle as he was with a bow and skinning knife, she would have taken his offer to tutor her for another season. She¡¯d never met a man so skilled in the finer points of needlework, but she supposed everyone had their hidden talents. If they were useful, all the better. Of course, she would have preferred her flesh not be the subject of his ministrations during this demonstration, but she appreciated the expertise nonetheless.


    She¡¯d spent the better part of an hour doing her best to ignore the pricks and tugging of her skin, but her patience was beginning to wane. Thankfully, the tavern was cleared shortly after the brawl and the purebloods had long since taken their leave. Her fellow Hounds hadn¡¯t been particularly charitable after the whole affair and she didn¡¯t blame them. Brawls were one thing, but it was another to eagerly draw blood.


    What had the fool planned on doing with that broken bottle in the first place? Had she not stepped in, he would have likely driven it into Alaric¡¯s back, if not his neck. He¡¯d had every intention of harming him and hadn¡¯t stopped to spare a thought of consideration. She shuddered to think about what would have happened, had he succeeded.


    Through increasingly heavy lids, she spared Alaric a glance. He was seated beside Dravas, silently monitoring the man¡¯s work as he leaned forward in his chair. The liquor bottle held idly between his fingers was nearly empty, having been passed periodically between the three after Inerys had been coaxed into dulling her pain early on. When he noticed her gaze, he offered a small, reassuring smile.


    ¡°Almost done,¡± he said.


    ¡°You¡¯re not just saying that to make me feel better, are you?¡±


    ¡°Two or three more stitches and you¡¯ll be back in one piece,¡± Dravas assured, ¡°You¡¯ll have a proper scar soon enough.¡±


    ¡°From a bar fight, not a mauling,¡± she muttered.


    With a shake of his head, the older man chuckled. ¡°You still fought off a beast. Just not one you¡¯re used to.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not the one who ran away with their tail between their legs, either.¡± Alaric said.


    Inerys¡¯s lips quirked.


    ¡°Bastards got off light,¡± Kardin said bitterly, nursing his own bottle nearby.


    He sat slumped over the counter of the main bar with a cool towel pressed against his puffy cheek. The skin was flush, with the first hints of purple blooming around his left eye. His cheek didn¡¯t appear much better, but the hit he had taken to his nose had finally stopped bleeding. By the look of it, he¡¯d been lucky it hadn¡¯t broken.


    ¡°Light or not, he won¡¯t be able to hunt with a hand like that. If he¡¯s smart, he¡¯ll stay in the city where he belongs. Our little huntress here may very well have saved the fool¡¯s life in the long run,¡± Dravas said.


    Inerys wasn¡¯t sure she agreed, but she saw his point. Crippled hands were a liability hunters couldn¡¯t afford. Regardless, it didn¡¯t make her feel any less guilty. She¡¯d ruined the man¡¯s hand. Through no small fault of his own, sure, but the fact remained. A sorcerer may be able to mend it, but from her experience, their prices were steep and those men hadn¡¯t appeared to be particularly well off. She imagined it was part of the reason they¡¯d resorted to taking their chances hunting the forest. Under the right conditions, it could be lucrative, but it wasn¡¯t the wealth spring it was made out to be.


    ¡°Prat,¡± Kardin mumbled, mostly to himself.


    He hadn¡¯t been sober to begin with and his latest beverage wasn¡¯t doing much to improve his mood.


    With a satisfied hum, Dravas sat back. ¡°There. Good as new. It¡¯ll sting for a few days, but if you keep it clean and dry, you¡¯ll have nothing to fret over.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Dravas,¡± she murmured.


    Grimacing, she flexed her stiff shoulder. After so long spent in the same position, the entire limb was all but dead weight. Though, truth be told, her head was beginning to feel the same. The dulled ache in her forearm was the only consolation, even if she could still feel the stitches pull tight whenever she bent her right arm at the elbow or flexed her wrist.


    The elder hunter nodded. ¡°Make sure you treat it right and come see me if any of the stitches come loose.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± she said.


    ¡°Good. Now, off with you. Best you get home and get some rest. It¡¯s been a long night for all of us.¡±


    She had half a mind to curl up under one of the tables and simply return home in the morning. The thought of riding back now was a daunting one. She knew it was for the best, though. Her own bed was far more comfortable than a hard floor and after the night she¡¯d had, she needed a good night¡¯s sleep.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me twice.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll see to it she gets there safe,¡± Alaric said.


    Dravas gave a grunt of approval. ¡°Good. Kardin and I will tail you. Just in case.¡±


    The purebloods weren¡¯t foolish enough to follow her home, were they? A shiver traced the length of her spine at the thought. She could potentially fend off one or two on her own, if she were lucky, but all six? She swallowed the lump in her throat. Perhaps she hadn¡¯t fully realized just how dangerous the situation had become. Not only would the purebloods be hunting alongside them, they¡¯d be passing through the outer villages. What was stopping them from picking off competition or settling grudges all on their own?


    Of course, there was a chance she was overreacting. If she viewed every pureblood through the same lens, she¡¯d be no better than them. Someone had to bridge the gap between their people eventually.


    Alaric laid a hand on her shoulder, reading the concern etched into her face.


    ¡°It¡¯ll be all right,¡± he promised.


    ¡°We can stay the night, keep watch ''til morning,¡± Dravas offered, crossing his arms.


    Kardin didn¡¯t appear particularly thrilled, but he didn¡¯t argue. The man was still itching for a fight. Drunk or no.


    Inerys looked between them a moment, considering. Some stubborn part of her wanted to decline. After all, it was her job to protect the family. She was the eldest. And yet at the same time . . . she wasn¡¯t invincible. She knew that. If she thought she was, she wouldn¡¯t have the trust in place with the Guild. Her lips thinned. If those men chose to make trouble, they likely could.


    ¡°If you could, just for a night or two,¡± she said at length, fidgeting with the torn fabric of her sleeve.


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Dravas nodded. ¡°Course. I¡¯ve spent the last few weeks under the stars. What¡¯s a few more days?¡±


    ¡°I can sneak you some of Nan¡¯s muffins?¡± She offered.


    ¡°You know I¡¯d never say no to sweets. Especially those that come from your dear old Nan,¡± he said with a wink.


    Inerys chuckled to herself as her gaze fell to her lap.


    ¡°Considering the events of the past few hours, I think it¡¯s best we start hunting in pairs again,¡± Alaric said.


    He sat back as he spoke, crossing his arms.


    The older hunter let out a breath, rubbing at his beard a moment.


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t hurt. Profits don¡¯t mean much when you¡¯re dead.¡±


    Kardin begrudgingly grunted his agreement.


    ¡°Larger groups wouldn¡¯t hurt either, especially in the deepwoods,¡± Alaric said. ¡°Ozkar and Arjan left as a pair and they never came back.¡±


    ¡°Damn shame, that,¡± Dravas said, ¡°I mentored those boys.¡±


    ¡°Which is why partnering is in all our best interests. More bodies means more eyes. We could take on larger prey too, pack out more resources.¡±


    It would be nice not to pack out an entire stag by herself again, Inerys thought.


    ¡°Less chance of scavengers sniffing about too,¡± Kardin said.


    Dravas gave him the side eye. ¡°They¡¯d be fools to try.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t mean they won¡¯t. They were bold enough to challenge us in our own tavern, weren¡¯t they?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s right,¡± Alaric sighed.


    Dravas¡¯ expression darkened.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to think one bad encounter isn''t enough to ruin relations indefinitely,¡± Inerys said, sitting up in her chair.


    Kardin watched her in disbelief. ¡°You¡¯re still defending them after everything they¡¯ve done?¡±


    "I''m not defending anyone," she said, "But I wasn''t lying when I said we''d all have to learn to get along eventually. They may be the first we¡¯ve encountered, but they won¡¯t be the last. The rumors from the south are more than just whispers now."


    Kardin snorted. ¡°You plannin'' on inviting them over for a roll in the hay too or is that only reserved for Alaric?¡±


    ¡°I-¡± She stammered, her cheeks burning.


    ¡°Drop it, Kardin,¡± Alaric warned, voice low, ¡°You¡¯re drunk.¡±


    Even Dravas cast him a subtle glare.


    The man muttered. ¡°You all can play pretend, but I¡¯m not sparing the extra breath.¡±


    Inerys recovered enough to say, ¡°We don¡¯t have to befriend them, only tolerate them. If we view them all the same, we¡¯re no better than they are.¡±


    ¡°Forgive us if that first encounter put a bad taste in our mouths,¡± Dravas said.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a fool, Dravas,¡± she said as she raised her freshly stitched arm as high as she dared, ¡°I don¡¯t plan on trusting them outright, but I¡¯m willing to keep an open mind. I think we could all benefit from a little perspective.¡±


    Dravas shook his head. ¡°We¡¯ll see. Come, we best get you home before Nan comes looking.¡±


    ~*~


    Inerys winced and sucked in a breath.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Alaric said with an apologetic grin.


    ¡°It¡¯s all right. Just stings a bit.¡±


    The two sat at the edge of her bed as he carefully bound her wounded arm in fresh linen, so close the huntress could feel his breath along her skin. Any other night, it would have been difficult to sway her wayward thoughts. After all, they were alone in her room and both Nan and Soren had long since gone to sleep. Falling into bed with him would be easy. Tonight, however, she was merely content in his company, in his gentle tending.


    ¡°I never thanked you,¡± he murmured.


    Her lips edged to one side. ¡°You would have done the same for me.¡±


    ¡°I would,¡± he said, ¡°and yet right now, you¡¯re the one in stitches.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s hardly your fault.¡±


    ¡°Maybe not, but it doesn¡¯t change what happened.¡±


    She brushed a few stray locks from her face with her free hand. ¡°No, but neither does brooding over it. What¡¯s done is done.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough,¡± he sighed.


    ¡°I know the purebloods throw a lot into question, but we¡¯ll get through it.¡±


    ¡°I wish I shared your optimism.¡±


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you boasting about that just the other night?¡± She teased.


    His chuckle was light. ¡°I suppose I was.¡±


    ¡°So long as we have each other¡¯s back, we¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t think of anyone I¡¯d rather have guarding mine,¡± he said, pinning the edge of her binding before tucking it between the folds to keep from catching.


    She wiggled her fingers, admiring his bandage work. ¡°I do a pretty good job, don¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°Better than Kardin.¡±


    Inerys resisted the urge to roll her eyes. ¡°He was drunk, you know how he gets.¡±


    ¡°I do. But we weren¡¯t sober out in the woods when things went south, were we?¡±


    She pursed her lips. ¡°I suppose we weren¡¯t.¡±


    His fingers brushed her chin as he tilted her gaze up to meet his. ¡°You give yourself too little credit.¡±


    Her own fell to his lips for a heartbeat. ¡°Does it bother you? What he said, I mean.¡±


    His jaw flexed, but his expression softened around the edges.


    ¡°I¡¯ve learned to take everything Kardin says with a grain of salt,¡± he said, ¡°Doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t want to knock him senseless for being an ass, though."


    Her laugh was light. ¡°Sometimes I envision myself doing just that.¡±


    He stole a quick kiss. ¡°Mmm, you¡¯d be doing us all a favor. The man needs to be put in his place from time to time.¡±


    Heat crept up the back of her neck and rosied her cheeks. ¡°And you think I¡¯m the one to do it?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve whipped Dravas and I into shape, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Now you¡¯re giving me too much credit.¡±


    ¡°Only the truth,¡± he cooed.


    She shoved him lightly. ¡°Oh hush. You¡¯re terrible.¡±


    ¡°Only a little,¡± he grinned.


    ¡°Well, now that you¡¯ve convinced us all to ride together, when are we planning our next hunt?¡± She asked.


    ¡°I was hoping to discuss it once we were all sober again. A few days from now, maybe?¡±


    ¡°Even with the forest acting up?¡±


    Perhaps that was a bit hypocritical to ask, given her own plans.


    ¡°The forest has always been a strange place. The change is troubling, but what can we do about it? We either hunt or try our luck out in the cities. I don¡¯t know about you, but I¡¯d rather be claimed by the deepwoods than live in the slums.¡±


    ¡°You and I both,¡± she said.


    He shook his head.


    ¡°Once Kardin comes to his senses, we¡¯ll plan a proper route.¡±


    She nodded, but hesitated when she said. ¡°I came across a new stream during my last outing. I was planning on exploring it tomorrow before the purebloods have a chance to scour it.¡±


    Alaric paused. ¡°Inerys-¡±


    She held up her good hand, gently silencing him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t plan on being out there long and I don¡¯t intend on hunting, so my arm should be fine,¡± she said, having anticipated the push back.


    In her mind, it was perfectly reasonable. A short excursion wouldn¡¯t hurt, especially if she were only out for a few hours. If she left early enough, no one would know she was gone at all.


    ¡°I still don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea.¡±


    ¡°Alaric, this isn¡¯t my first outing. I was practically raised in the woods. I¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    He searched her face and appeared disappointed by what he found, ¡°There¡¯s no changing your mind, is there?¡±


    She didn¡¯t exactly need his permission to do anything, let alone travel out on her own, but his worry struck a chord. She supposed she could simply stay home, but her Sense told her the spring was worth investigating. It had never led her astray in the past, so there was no point in ignoring it now. Her quick venture could prove more fruitful than her last hunt. She bit her lip, having realized her decision.


    ¡°I won¡¯t be gone long, I promise,¡± she said.


    He sighed. ¡°At least let me come with you?¡±


    ¡°I need you to stay and watch over Soren and Nan while I¡¯m gone. If those men come back, I¡¯m not sure if Dravas and Kardin would be enough.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m beginning to think you¡¯re just stroking my ego,¡± he sighed.


    ¡°I can slip out unnoticed easily enough.¡±


    After a moment spent looking as though he was prepared to argue further, he relented.


    ¡°All right. I¡¯ll keep Soren company while you¡¯re gone, but you best be back before sundown.¡±


    Smiling, she kissed his cheek. ¡°Thank you, Alaric.¡±


    ¡°You can thank me when I master blueberry muffins the way your Nan has,¡± he said as he rose, ¡°In the meantime, sleep. You need it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been dying to hit the pillow all day,¡± she hummed, leaning into him.


    He placed a gentle kiss upon her brow. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you to it. Good night, Inerys.¡±


    She breathed in his scent before he stepped away. ¡°Good night.¡±

 Chapter Eight: Mistwalker

    Chapter Eight


    Mistwalker


    <hr>


    Her brother¡¯s sleepy words caught her at the door. ¡°Inerys?¡±


    Sighing through her nose, she pivoted on a heel. ¡°It¡¯s early, Soren. You should still be in bed.¡±


    He stood behind her at the foot of the stairs, rubbing his droopy eyes with one hand. The boy¡¯s hair was a mess, sticking out at odd angles while laying flat and limp in others. He¡¯d dragged one of his blankets along with him, the train of which draped the last two steps.


    ¡°You should be too,¡± he said.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep,¡± she murmured, which wasn¡¯t entirely untrue. Her bloody stitches had itched something fierce. Had it not been for the bindings around them, she would have scratched them open.


    He studied her a moment and though his eyes were still bleary, there was something unsettlingly intrusive about them.


    ¡°You¡¯re going into the forest again, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    She grimaced.


    There was no point in lying to the boy, he¡¯d know regardless.


    He always did.


    ¡°Only for a little,¡± she admitted, ¡°But there¡¯s no need to worry. I won¡¯t be long, I promise.¡±


    Soren shuffled on his feet, one hand tightening around his blanket while the other fidgeted at his side. He averted his eyes, looking anywhere but at her for a long moment, as if on the verge of confession. However, none came.


    Inerys frowned, brow knit as she drew close and placed a hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°Is everything all right?¡± She asked, wondering if he¡¯d had another nightmare.


    Or . . . one of his dreams.


    The hair along the back of her neck rose.


    No, she thought. No, it was just another nightmare. It had to be. If it was the alternative, surely he would have said something.


    His eyes found hers and without a word, he wrapped his arms around her middle. The gesture gave her pause, but she was quick to repay the hug with one of her own. He held her, squeezing as though she might dissipate into the mists themselves at any moment. She gently rubbed his back, carefully stooping to his level.


    ¡°Would you like me to tuck you in again?¡± She asked.


    His eyes were bright with unshed tears when he pulled back enough to nod and he took the hand she offered him without protest. Blanket dragging behind him, she led him back upstairs on silent feet. She didn¡¯t want to wake Nan. Not only because of the early hour, but her own line of questioning. Neither one of them had seen her arm yet and she wanted to keep it that way. If Nan discovered it, she wouldn¡¯t let her leave either. Not without a fuss.


    ¡°There,¡± she murmured as she tucked the plush blankets in around him once more, ¡°get some rest. I¡¯ll be back before you know it.¡±


    He seemed unconvinced, a few tears slipping free.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to miss you,¡± he whispered.


    For a moment, she wasn¡¯t quite sure what to say.


    The way he¡¯d said it . . .


    She shook her head, briefly ruffling his hair.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to miss you too.¡±


    ~*~


    Minding the narrow game path ahead, Inerys kept a weather eye on the surrounding wood. Today, it was almost too quiet. Since she¡¯d arrived, she hadn¡¯t seen a single tree stir. This far into the forest, they would have been scuttling along the rocky slopes on spindly legs behind her, rearranging themselves as they stirred the habitual fog. One could never trust them, which was why Hounds who hunted the forest knew to mark the crags instead.


    In the Wilds, they were the only constant. Whatever magic laid claim to these woods had an affinity for deceiving the mind of the unwary and even she wasn''t wholly immune to the effects, regardless of her distant Adai heritage. Her mother had taught her early on that ignoring the forest¡¯s antics was the key to surviving its embrace.


    Sighing through her nose, she negotiated the hazardous terrain and tangled roots with a practiced ease. She kept her steps light and her ears open, straining for the smallest of sounds among the uneasy silence. She hadn¡¯t been lying when she¡¯d told Alaric she wasn¡¯t here to hunt, but she had still brought her bow and knife. She¡¯d have been a fool otherwise. This wasn¡¯t her first journey into the Wilds, but it could easily be her last, for she knew she wasn¡¯t the only predator stalking the mists. A good hunter recognized this. Preserving her life at the cost of a few torn stitches was a price she was more than willing to pay.


    Regardless of heritage, most died within their first or second season. Either due to being underprepared, or overconfident. Sometimes both. Hunting along the Fringe was relatively easy for those wise enough to respect the forest and her boundaries, but few knew where those boundaries were. Venture too deep into the Fringe and the trees could easily muddle the trail. To those with common sense, the dense curtain of fog a few miles in was usually a good indication they¡¯d gone too far. However, it was then the forest¡¯s tricks were at their most dangerous. It was easy to chase down a shadow mistaking it for prey, only to lose one¡¯s way and end up a meal to something more cunning or fall into some hidden ravine. There was a certain aura to the air she was convinced the purebloods couldn¡¯t sense.


    Hounds, like herself, knew to take the deeper trails slowly and always keep their wits about them until they were well and truly beyond the forest¡¯s edge. Some even carried talismans gifted by the Sorcerer''s themselves, but such items were rare and seldom given freely, contract or no. As much as Inerys admired the Guild, she never fully trusted those beneath its banner. Her contract with them allowed her to scrounge out a decent living and without them, she¡¯d likely have to resort to less desirable trades, but they always made her skin crawl and her arcane intuition itch.


    At the top of a hill, she paused, glanced back over her shoulder. Light filtered in through the canopy where it could, illuminating the thick vegetation in uneven patches. Behind her, the day had well and truly begun. Ahead, the world plunged into eternal night. A perpetual fog crept between the trees, so thick in places, Inerys could no longer see her feet, let alone the path she walked. It was through her sense alone that she found her way, marking the game trail in a manner she didn¡¯t wholly understand. She simply knew where to step and where not to. Still, her sense had never led her astray and she wouldn¡¯t question it now.


    Instead, she focused on the task at hand.


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    Though this route was still fairly new to her, she found her way with relative ease. A week prior, she¡¯d discovered a healthy creek bisecting a fresh game trail. From what she could tell, it was yet untouched by any of her associates and she wanted to take the time to survey it properly before she plundered its forbidden treasures. She hadn¡¯t lingered long, but she was certain she¡¯d spied firelilies among the rocks along the riverbank. She was no expert, but she knew enough to mark them as manifestations of Primal Essence and thus, invaluable to the Guild. If she returned with a live specimen, there was no telling how much they¡¯d pay her.


    Perhaps enough to comfortably afford a few more of their books after she padded out their winter stores.


    Eccentric though they may be, the Sorcerers possessed a wealth of knowledge few had the opportunity to grasp. Inerys had learned much from the old books her great grandmother had passed down through the family, but a part of her had always craved more, much like Soren. Evidently, such curiosity ran in the family.


    Prior to Fain¡¯s gifts, she had only been able to acquire a single copy from the Guild¡¯s core materials: the Initiate¡¯s Guide to Primal Essence and Identification, and already, it had proved invaluable to both her pocket and her practical knowledge. She had no intention of joining the Guild itself as a student, but practicing on her own was a worthwhile endeavor she was eager to explore. If she could hone her sense or develop her connection to one of the essences, perhaps she might learn to survive the heart of the Wilds themselves. There was no telling what secrets the forest possessed or what she might discover. If there was truly a world beyond the Wilds, perhaps she could take Soren there someday.


    She tried not to allow such thoughts to distract her as she neared the creek in question. It undoubtedly served as a main water source for the Wild¡¯s inhabitants and she didn¡¯t want to accidentally stumble across one due to her own inattention. Her mother would have scolded her for harboring such fantasies in the first place. Once she returned the precious flower to the Guild unharmed and well paid, then she would celebrate and not a moment before.


    Perching herself among a small collection of crags, she took a moment to survey her surroundings. To listen. Despite seeing nothing, her sense warned her she wasn¡¯t alone. She wasn¡¯t being watched, she knew, but something had drawn close. Inerys steeled herself and slowly drew her knife on instinct. With luck, she could remain still and wait out whatever it was, but if worse came to worst, she would defend herself.


    The forest around her grew quiet. Too quiet, as if all the birds and bugs had been struck dead at once. The creek itself seemed muted, somehow, and a shiver seeded at the base of her spine. Her skin prickled, sense telling her to move, but she held herself still. She was fairly certain the forest wasn¡¯t responsible for the sudden shift, for it waited with baited breath alongside her.


    As the minutes crawled by, her sense grew increasingly apprehensive. Her instincts urged her to run, to flee and not look back. The primal part of her mind practically begged her and for a moment, she almost bent to the will of her flight instinct. However, the more rational, experienced half, knew doing so would spell her undoing. Panic would set the stage and fear would get her killed. So, she remained rooted in place, still as the stone around her.


    Something shifted in the mist ahead and Inerys sucked in a breath.


    At first, she thought it was a deer.


    She cursed her wounded arm, mourning the opportunity until-


    The creature was no deer or buck, but a woman.


    At least, that was what Inerys thought she was.


    Her brow furrowed, mind struggling to fully comprehend the sight.


    In truth, the stranger was more spirit than woman. Her long ears protruded far beyond the bounds of her skull and came to fine points beneath what Inerys realized were stag¡¯s horns. Ratty cords of black hair hung from the dusky tines, wet and limp. Not from rain, but blood. It stained her clothes, her skin . . . her teeth.


    Inerys shrunk back, barely stifling her gasp.


    The woman stumbled out from the undergrowth and toward the creek, sniffling and muttering. Her skin was so pale, Inerys wondered if she had been born of the mists themselves. She cradled her left arm, her breaths ragged and it wasn¡¯t until she fell to her knees beside the spring, that Inerys noticed the long shaft sunk into the back of her shoulder.


    She wavered, on the verge of pitching forward and collapsing entirely, but somehow managed to hold herself steady after legs gave out. The woman knelt, trembling, among the reeds, her uneven breaths filling the silence of the world around them. Inerys didn¡¯t dare move. Were this woman anyone else, she would have revealed herself and offered to take her back to the nearest city-state. However, her intuition warned her this woman was dangerous. She would leave this mysterious stranger to her fate. Either to die or continue on her way, Inerys didn¡¯t care.


    Carefully, she began to climb down the back of her stone perch. She didn¡¯t dare take her eyes off the stranger, sure to maintain line of sight. When she shifted her weight back to lower herself down the back of the crag, pain launched through her arm and down her wrist. There was a sharp tug and she felt a few of her stitches ripped free. She cursed, softly. Warmth quickly began to spread through her bindings and she grimaced. Alaric was going to give her an earful.


    She paused, realizing her mistake.


    Too late.


    She heard the stranger suck in a shuddering breath. Panicked, Inerys glanced across the spring. The woman stiffened and her eyes snapped up, fixated on the huntress¡¯ position. Inerys¡¯ blood ran cold and a wave of nausea passed over her. For a heartbeat, something rang in her ears, a low, tickling frequency. Then, her muscles went taught and suddenly, her body was no longer her¡¯s to control.


    The woman barked something in a strange tongue Inerys couldn¡¯t place, but one her body obeyed without question.


    While the tone itself was feminine, it was warped and sharp. The command was absolute and Inerys found herself climbing down the stone and rounding it in direct view of the injured woman. Internally, she screamed, thrashing against her own body while outwardly, it remained utterly still. It was like being held prisoner in a nightmare, unable to wake up.


    She issued another command in that strange language.


    Again, Inerys¡¯ body obeyed.


    The woman rose on shaky knees, still holding her wounded arm. Her amber eyes blazed like twin embers in the night, fixing Inerys with a glare so ripe with hunger, she thought she were facing down some ancient god. The woman¡¯s face, though beautiful, was utterly feral. Blood painted skin and cloth alike and Inerys could have sworn she saw some dripping freshly from her clawed hands. Whether it was her own or not, she couldn¡¯t tell.


    With another command, Inery¡¯s boots planted themselves a few feet away from the woman. A low, inhuman growl rose from the woman¡¯s throat, reminding the huntress of some mountain cat. She shuddered, barely in control of her own lungs. If she could have plunged her dagger into her own heart, she would have. Anything to escape the clutches of this otherworldly horror. But she couldn¡¯t. Her arms refused to move.


    She¡¯d become a prisoner in her own body.


    The woman eyed her with something akin to disgust, as if Inerys were some half starved rabbit that had been presented to her in place of a king¡¯s feast. Then, the sentiment was overwhelmed by a familiar, unfathomable hunger. The woman had her fangs buried in Inerys¡¯ flesh before she had fully registered the fact the woman had moved. She was held steady by the woman¡¯s iron grip, claws burrowed deep into the muscle of her upper arm. She was sure her bones would break sand her spine would snap under the sheer force borne down upon her.


    Fire shot through her veins and through the compulsion, Inerys screamed.


    ~*~


    Rhydian readied another arrow as he sprinted through the forest. Though his heart ached and his Soul raged, he could not dwell on what he¡¯d left behind. Not when he was so close. With one more shot, he could end this. Would end this.


    And then, he would seek answers.


    He skidded to a halt when a woman¡¯s scream pierced the silence of the wood. He glanced about, confused, for the sound had come from ahead, not behind. Was it the woman? Or, as impossible as it might be, was someone else out in the Wilds? His gut told him it was the latter. How, he wasn¡¯t sure, and he hadn¡¯t the time to speculate.


    Priming his physical core, he moved. His reinforced body propelled him forward, despite the burden placed upon his Soul, launching him with such force, a small crater was left in his wake. This deep into the Veil, his awareness was almost non-existent, yet he retained just enough to sense his target up ahead. He vaulted over a collection of gnarled roots and dove through a hollow in the tangled branches beyond. He hurled himself onto a low hanging branch thirty feet from the ground.


    Ahead, a wide creek bed cut the clearing below in two. The woman stood upon the bank, her back to him, with a smaller, cloaked figure caught in her grasp. She had her face buried in the crook of the young woman¡¯s shoulder, though he couldn¡¯t quite tell what it was she was doing. Her captive was beginning to writhe, eyes rolling back into her skull.


    Without hesitation, he sighted his target and let his second arrow fly.


    This time, it found its mark.


    The force knocked the woman forward and she dropped her prey. She stumbled a few feet, turning to face Rhydian with wide eyes. Her good arm trembled, fingers stained red with her own heart''s blood as she held it in front of her face. Half of the fullsilver arrowhead protruded from the space between her breasts, skewering her through from behind. He watched the blood bubble up from her throat, spilling over pale skin. The dark stain spread across her chest and, at last, she collapsed.


    Rhydian remained atop his vantage for a long moment, a third arrow poised and ready, should she stand again. Her body strained, fighting the final throws of death. Then, lay still.


    The world tilted.


    He lost a shuddering breath that bordered on a wheeze.


    However, his relief was short-lived.


    Her victim gave a choking cry from where she¡¯d fallen into the creek. She floundered, attempting to crawl toward the bank, but her limbs didn¡¯t appear to work properly. Blood clouded the water around her, carrying with the stream. Cursing, Rhydian leapt down and rushed for her side. His panic threatened to rise, but he shoved it down. A dozen questions rose anew in his mind. Who was she? What was she doing here?


    For the present, he decided none of that mattered.


    Carefully pulling her from the water, he sat and drew her into his lap to inspect her wound. Blue eyes found his, wide with pain, but it was fleeting. Her body fell limp, eyes rolling back. For a moment, he only saw Keishara, but . . . she was gone. But this woman, beaten and bloody as she was, was still alive.


    He pulled back her cloak, finding a deep wound where her neck met her shoulder. Blood pulsed free with each passing heartbeat. Without Tanuzet and her saddle bags, he had nothing on hand to treat her. He could tear her cloak into strips, bind the wound, but the angle and location of it made it difficult to maintain pressure. A thought occurred to him and he grimaced. He looked to his hand, making a painful, but necessary decision.


    Biting the fingers of his gloves, he slid his hand free of the supple leather. He was not yet skilled enough to guide his flame along such a small, precise path, but he could still cauterize the wound well enough. Muttering an apology, he pressed his palm to her bite and rallied what rysk he had left.

 Chapter Nine: A Lie Upheld

    Chapter Nine


    A Lie Upheld


    <hr>


    Grimacing, Rhydian tried to ignore the sickly sweet stench of burnt flesh. He cautiously removed his hand from the wound, finding the sight beneath angry and red. Thin wisps of milky smoke rose from the blistered skin, but the bleeding had stopped. Most of it had burned away, though clumps of black, sticky residue remained in places, including his fingers. Burnt as it was, he could see the wound with far more clarity, though it was not an encouraging sight.


    He muttered a curse under his breath.


    Darkening shades of violet were already beginning to bloom around the edges of mangled tissue in a manner more indicative of an animal bite, than a woman¡¯s. The swollen flesh had adopted an unsettlingly waxy appearance, thanks in large part to his thorough scorching. He was confident the sages could mitigate the scarring, once she was seen to, but the sight still made him sick. The cauterization had prevented her from bleeding out, but it was no more than a temporary fix. She needed proper medical attention and soon.


    He hadn¡¯t the faintest idea who she was or what her involvement in all of this was, if any, but he intended to find out. Innocent or no, he needed to keep her alive. Would keep her alive, for there had been far too much death already.


    Sensing Tanuzet was near at hand, he removed the woman¡¯s sodden cloak and gathered her into his arms. His wyvern emerged from the trees with a low his, mist swirling out beneath her. Her wings flared and she landed beside him, scaled lips pulled back to bare her teeth.


    Who is this?


    ¡°You¡¯re guess is as good as mine,¡± he said grimly.


    She growled, but turned her attention to the fallen woman behind him. She¡¯s dead, then?


    He nodded.


    Good, she bit out, tail twitching.


    Her crest remained taut along her spine, rippling from time to time in that anxious way of hers. She dipped her head beside the creek to inspect the woman¡¯s body, her snout cautiously nudging her side. With a rattling hiss, she snorted and craned her neck back around.


    Ephaxus is still alive. We must get him to Mistwatch, she said.


    Relief and terror warred in Rhydian¡¯s chest in equal measure. His eyes burned, but he swallowed the tightness in his throat before it could seize him. Ephaxus may yet succumb to the grief of Keishara¡¯s loss in the coming days, but if there were even a remote chance of preserving his life, Rhydian would take it. He glanced down at the woman in his arms and decided he would send her back to Mistwatch with Ayduin.


    ¡°Call Vaelor,¡± he said.


    She dropped her head beside him, inspecting the unconscious woman.


    There¡¯s no need, they¡¯re nearly here already, she said, nostrils lightly flared, And what of this one?


    ¡°For now, we¡¯ll have them take her back to Mistwatch. If she pulls through, I want to question her. She may know something we don¡¯t. The sages need to be warned of our arrival as well, especially Sorisanna.¡±


    I should like to know why she is in the Wilds alone, she agreed, And how she managed to slip by unnoticed.


    He wondered the same.


    ¡°You and I both,¡± he muttered.


    The breeze shifted and Vaelor alighted nearby. Ayduin leaped down from his shoulder, scanning the creek side. Her gaze was fixed upon the woman¡¯s corpse, eyes brimmed with angry, unshed tears, but when they turned on him, they widened.


    ¡°Who is - what happened?¡± She demanded.


    ¡°The target is down,¡± he said, moving toward Vaelor, ¡°Right now, I need you to take this woman back to Mistwatch. Find Sorisanna and help her prepare the medical wing. We need to get Ephaxus to her before we lose another wyvern.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t want us to help with transport?¡±


    He shook his head. ¡°Inet and Tanuzet should be able to handle him well enough on their own.¡±


    Her lips parted in protest, but in the end, she offered none.


    Rhydian knelt beside Vaelor and carefully propped the woman against his wing. He gently tipped her head to one side, his lips thinning. He needed to keep the wound safe from the elements, at least until she was in the hands of a proper healer.


    ¡°Fetch me your medical bag and a spare cloak,¡± he said.


    Ayduin hesitated, but did as instructed.


    ¡°Here,¡± she said and he muttered his thanks, ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of anyone making it this far in, have you?¡±


    He shook his head, measuring out a length of soft cloth. ¡°No.¡±


    With his spiritual core and senses smothered, he was not able to read her Ascensions either. For all he knew, she was stronger than they were. Though, he doubted it, given how she had been overpowered by their target. Perhaps she was of some comparable Ascension to his own? At present, there was no point in speculation.


    ¡°No signs of Blight either,¡± she noted.


    ¡°Not yet, at least,¡± he said, finishing his makeshift bandage. It was a hair awkward, but it would hold.


    She was silent for a breath before asking, ¡°What should I tell the others?¡±


    He¡¯d been asking himself the same question. They would have to handle this carefully. If the First Wing riders¡¯ secrecy was any indication, whomever had sent them in the first place wanted this mission to remain quiet. Ephaxus¡¯ injury and Keishara¡¯s absence was going to make it difficult enough as it was. However, recalling Thylas¡¯ words, a thought came to him. He and his firstrider had come to Mistwatch under the pretense of performing a training exercise. The foundations of their cover had already been laid. As much as it pained him, he would have to continue the lie.


    ¡°Tell them there was a training accident,¡± he said, ¡°Ephaxus was wounded during the exercise and Keishara was killed. Don¡¯t elaborate or offer any additional information. And if they ask about the girl, she is an assistant who was caught in one of my techniques. I¡¯ll handle the rest once I return. No one outside of us and the sages are to know about any of this until I have the chance to sort it all out. Am I clear?¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± she said.


    ¡°Cydan and I will see to Ephaxus. After that I . . . I¡¯ll handle the bodies,¡± he said, his tone losing the commander¡¯s bite.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    He would have to notify command of what had transpired and have the bodies brought back to Mistwatch once the wounded were settled. Perhaps his betters would offer up some explanation, some reason as to why members of the First Wing were hunting down some random woman along the fringes of the Wilds. He had his doubts, of course. The chances of him being privy to such knowledge to any degree was slim. Had the Talhavar elite succeeded in apprehending the woman, it was likely Rhydian and his flight would be none the wiser. They would have simply believed the operation to be the training exercise it had been pitched to be.


    Instead, they¡¯d been slain and a member of his own flight had been killed in the fall out. They were likely to lose Ephaxus as well, though no one dared to say it aloud. And then there was this new woman, thrown into the mix and chaos of it all. Was she an accomplice? Or was she simply in the wrong place at the wrong time?


    He supposed he would find out soon enough.


    In the meantime, he had more pressing concerns. He bundled the woman in a fresh, dry cloak and lifted her once more. She was smaller than most Adai he¡¯d met, which made passing her along easier, even if the climb up to Vaelor¡¯s shoulder was precarious. He remained still and patient, despite the tightness of his crest, as Ayduin reached down and pulled the woman up to situate her in the saddle before her.


    She tested her seat and nodded. ¡°We¡¯re set.¡±


    Rhydian patted Vaelor¡¯s wing as he stepped down, ¡°Fly hard. We¡¯ll see you back at the fort.¡±


    Together, he and Tanuzet watched them disappear beyond the canopy, leaving the world silent and all too still. It was surreal. He felt as though they¡¯d tracked the woman for days and yet in reality, only a few hours had passed since they set out from the fort. The morning had barely begun.


    With a resigned sigh, he turned his attention to the corpse. While he had kept true to the oath he had made to Thylas, he still felt it lingering somewhere just beyond his spirit, like a trap yet to spring. He pursed his lips, wondering what it was that held the oath firm. She was dead, he was certain, though he kept those silver arrows in her flesh, just in case.


    Perhaps it just needed time to fade.


    Shaking his head, Rhydian willed his annex to open, the tattooed sigil responsible for activating it tingling along the back of his neck. The air beside him distorted, shimmering like a vertical plane of water before fading to reveal an arched doorway beside the creek. Beyond it, his personal pocket dimension waited. The room itself was unremarkable, moderate in size and bare, save for additional equipment, spare provisions, and the aerial harness they would need to safely transport Ephaxus. There was plenty of room to stow away a corpse. Or several, if he were honest.


    Taking the cloak he¡¯d stripped from the girl, he laid it out beside the creek and used it to wrap the woman¡¯s body. He placed it inside the annex, tucked away in the far corner of the room after snapping off the arrow shafts. He set those aside too. The three remaining arrows were stashed inside as well, quiver and all, for they were precious, dangerous things and too easily identifiable for what they were. If anyone at the stronghold came across them, spied them on his saddle, questions would be raised, the sort he was certain he couldn¡¯t answer. Not without placing more lives at risk.


    The return flight had been an arduous one, for hauling an incapacitated wyvern was no small thing. The terrain had made laying out the complicated flight rigging difficult, to say nothing of moving Ephaxus into it when the time came. The majority of his maneuvering had been left to the wyverns until he was in position to harness. From there, Rhydian and Cydan had stepped in to secure the many straps and clasps, most of which were a joint effort, for most were the width of a man¡¯s torso.


    Standard transport harnessing was based off the average size of an adult female, so both sexes could be outfitted with the same equipment in an emergency. Tanuzet, like most females, rivaled the length of a warship from nose to tail, with a wingspan near twice that, which meant adjusting it down for a male took time. They had managed, though, and descended upon Mistwatch just as the sun had begun to set. He was lowered onto the wyvernlair¡¯s central lift with utmost care, with a small army on hand ready to assist, thanks to Ayduin.


    Tanuzet was the first to lower her transport tether, setting it down beside Ephaxus before retreating to allow Inet in to do the same. Mercifully, the process had been easier than their initial take off from the Wilds. Inet had used the last of her own rysk to mold an opening large enough to pass through the canopy, with each female having to take flight separately to avoid clashing wings. All while not jostling Ephaxus¡¯ already vulnerable spine. At the time, all Rhydian could do was sit and watch.


    He didn¡¯t dare breathe a sigh of relief. Not yet. They had brought him back to Mistwatch, yes, but it was merely the first step. The rest was up to Sorisanna, their dedicated wyvern sage, and Ephaxus himself. Rhydian could do nothing more. The feeling ate at him, but he knew there was nothing else to be done.


    Tanuzet hovered above the wide, circular structure, remaining long enough to watch as the lift was lowered down into the medical wing. The domed, metal roof, which had been left open prior to their arrival, began to close, its individual panels rising and folding in, interlocking with one another like the petals of a rose. She dropped one wing and pitched sideways to catch an updraft from the valley below, peeling away from the lift tower.


    Rhydian felt her soreness radiating in his own shoulders, though she had yet to make any complaint. Inet followed, drifting into her slipstream and following her around to one of the lower perches, where she alighted with a pronounced grimace, slow to draw in her stiff, trembling wings. Tanuzet gave one of her shoulders a gentle nudge, as if she might soothe the other wyvern¡¯s discomfort. Rhydian laid a hand upon her back, knowing she was masking her own pain.


    ¡°You two need rest,¡± he said to Cydan.


    The man¡¯s red-rimmed eyes were as bright as his hair, but he shook his head. ¡°We¡¯re not finished yet. We¡¯re coming with you.¡±


    I can make the flight, Inet insisted.


    Tanuzet gave a low, disapproving growl, ever the mothering soul.


    Inet mewled a protest, but yielded without any further prodding.


    Take care of Keishara, Tanuzet murmured, We will handle the rest from here.


    Cydan grit his teeth, a tear slipping down his left cheek. ¡°All right, but you best come back as soon as you¡¯re done. You both need rest as well as I, ser.¡±


    ¡°You have my word, Cydan,¡± he promised. ¡°If the others ask, we¡¯re out clearing our heads.¡±


    ¡°Of course, ser,¡¯ he said.


    Tanuzet took wing, groaning softly with the effort.


    ¡°We¡¯re nearly done,¡± he said to her, brushing her mind with his.


    She offered a soft, yet tired purr in reply.


    Finding a current, she leveled off and allowed it to carry her back toward the initial ambush site. The bodies were as they had left them, though a majority of the blood had been soaked up by the earth. A few puddles remained here and there, and the ground still squished underfoot, but at least the pond beneath Kiraht had subsided. He shivered as he approached, Tanuzet opting to remain along dry ground nearby. He didn¡¯t blame her. There was nothing they could do about the wyverns tonight anyway, so he opted to traverse the carnage and retrieve their fallen riders instead.


    He wrapped the firstrider in fresh, untainted cloth from his annex and laid her with care inside, as far from her killer as he could manage within the limited space. Thylas was placed beside her, their weapons laid atop their shrouded figures. Though he had not known them personally, he bore the weight and the pain of their death all the same. He lingered in the open archway, processing the sight.


    He felt strangely . . . hollow.


    Cold.


    He had gone about his grim task with an air of apathetic detachment and now that it was over, he wasn¡¯t quite sure what to do with himself or how to react. He simply stood.


    And stared.


    The more he thought about it, the more he realized he didn¡¯t feel anything at all.


    There was blood on his hands, on his uniform, even his face and yet he felt nothing.


    What was wrong with him?


    Tanuzet pressed her snout into his side and he leaned against her, his hand finding the soft scales out of habit. He found comfort in her touch, despite it all.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t all some elaborate nightmare, is it?¡±


    No, she murmured. It isn¡¯t. I wish it were.


    He drew in a deep, thoughtful breath and sighed through his nose.


    Sliding a hand into his pocket, he retrieved the small, elliptical stone inside. It held a dim glow, its smooth surface reflecting moonlight like polished selenite. The wyndstone was not to be used lightly, for it was keyed to central command in Cyllicia. It had been entrusted to his care when he¡¯d first taken charge of Mistwatch. He ran a thumb over the sigil script, imbuing it with his intent. The script flared to life in response, coaxed by his mental core, and he raised it to his lips.


    ¡°Command,¡± he said, ¡°this is Rhydian ne¡¯Tanuzet.¡±


    There was a long spell of silence before a feminine voice answered.


    ¡°Rhydian ne¡¯Tanuzet, this is command. Proceed.¡±


    For a moment, he wasn¡¯t quite sure what to say.


    Perhaps he should keep it simple.


    ¡°I have news regarding the agents sent to Mistwatch from the First Wing,¡± he said, ¡°both dyads were killed in action early this morning.¡±


    There was a pause.


    ¡°Confirm?¡±


    His brow furrowed. ¡°Oraena ne¡¯Malys and Thylas ne¡¯Kiraht were killed in action three leagues north east of Mistwatch.¡±


    ¡°I see. I was unaware of any activity in the area,¡± the woman said, ¡°One moment while I confirm with command, please.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± he said, though sensed something was off.


    Members of the higher Wings didn¡¯t simply fly off whenever they pleased, did they?


    He shared a look with Tanuzet, who sat back on her haunches, her tail wrapping about her tented wings.


    Minutes crawled by and he worried the connection had somehow broken.


    ¡°Hello, are you still with us?¡± The woman asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m still here,¡± he said.


    ¡°I was unable to confirm any aerial Talhavar personnel dispatched to your location, First Wing or otherwise.¡±


    Rhydian blinked.


    That wasn¡¯t right.


    ¡°Are you certain?¡±


    ¡°I apologize. As of now, I have no additional information. I will have your report escalated. An investigator will be in touch with you soon. Until then, remain at your post and operate as normal.¡±


    He nearly choked.


    Operate as normal? Had she not listened to a word he said? There were dead Talhavar and they were not going to even send for their retrieval?


    ¡°Understood, command. I will. . . await their call,¡± he said. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    He waited, still dumbfounded, but her goodbye never came.

 Chapter Ten: The Wounded

    Chapter Ten


    The Wounded


    <hr>


    Rhydian ne¡¯Tanuzet returned to Mistwatch with more questions than answers. He had expected a vague explanation at best, but to be told there was no record of anyone operating in the area at all was vexing. Perhaps he shouldn¡¯t have been surprised. This whole operation had been questionable from the start.


    And, like the lucky bastard he was, he was left to pick up the pieces.


    Pinching the bridge of his nose, he leaned forward as Tanuzet dipped into a controlled dive toward the mouth of the wyvernlairs. His back ached in protest, though he wasn¡¯t sure whether it was his own pain, or Tanuzet¡¯s. In their state, emotions, senses, even thoughts, tended to blend together. They may as well have been the same person. He imagined it was hers, though, given how his chest and shoulders throbbed. Hauling around a few Adai bodies was nothing compared to the dead weight of a whole wyvern in full harness.


    She swept into the landing hall, alighting at the far end nearest the lift. As he climbed down from her back, Rhydian debated returning to their joint quarters to change into something more suitable before continuing on. His uniform was soiled and stained, his skin sticky in places and ways he¡¯d rather not think about. In the end, though, he thought better of it. He¡¯d only end up sullying a perfectly good uniform. He needed a bath, a hot meal, but he knew those would have to wait.


    There was plenty left for him to see to before his night was through.


    ¡°Shall we?¡± He asked.


    Tanuzet rumbled her assent and crawled into the lift.


    With luck, Sorisanna will have good news, she said, her tone light and refreshingly optimistic.


    He found it rather infectious, despite his own reservations.


    She settled inside, tucking in her tail as he joined her, crest perked between her sweeping horns.


    ¡°After the day we¡¯ve had, I¡¯d certainly welcome it.¡± he admitted, struggling to temper his own expectations in the midst of their passive convergence.


    He thought to visit the girl too. With both Talhavar dead, as well as their mysterious target, she was the only one who might shed any light upon the situation at hand. Provided she actually knew anything. At the very least, he intended to find out where she had come from in the first place and what she was doing out in the Wilds alone. In truth, she was a mystery, and a headache, all on her own.


    With a quake, the lift eased to a halt. A wide, open hall flanked them on all sides, lit with warm, low burning braziers of amber everfire. Much like the rest of the stronghold, the infirmary had been hewn to accommodate wyverns as easily as Adai. While riders and other personnel were dwarfed by comparison, three or four wyverns could easily pass abreast through the various halls and archways, wings and all. Flight proved more difficult, but he had seen it done before. Usually by the males.


    Unsurprisingly, the landing chamber was largely bare, aside from the handful of sages¡¯ assistants passing between assigned tasks. Mistwatch was large enough to house up to three full flights comfortably, though was only ever staffed by one. Important as the outpost was, it was remote and for the most part, uneventful, so there was no need to house more Talhavar than necessary, especially with the wyverns spread so thin.


    He spied the empty transport harness nearby, haphazardly undone beneath the specialized crane used to hoist unconscious or incapacitated wyverns from the main lift. Its intricate track ran along the ceiling and around the lift shaft, making it easily maneuverable depending on the relative position of the patient.


    Down the main hall, a secondary track was inlaid in the floor, leading down a straight path into the wyvernbays. The long, low platform it housed had been drawn in, likely having borne Ephaxus inside. Tanuzet scented the air, crest and eyes alert. Then, she gave a pitched nicker. Her vocalization echoed throughout the chamber and was quickly answered by both Vaelor and Inet who were undoubtedly within the bays. Then, a weaker, sighing whistle sounded.


    He¡¯s alive! She breathed.


    Rhydian¡¯s heart swelled with Tanuzet¡¯s, their collective relief bordering on nauseating. He had to throw a hand out against her wing to steady himself, trying in vain to extricate himself. She reached her head around to bump him with her snout, a silent apology passing behind her bright eyes.


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯ll catch up.¡±


    He needed to regain his bearings.


    His hand fell to his chest and he drew in several, steadying breaths. They needed to work on separating from one another, he decided, for he hadn¡¯t forgotten what had happened in the heat of battle out in the Wilds. For now, he could forgive it, but he made a mental note to address it in the future. Come to think of it, the rest of his aerial flight could benefit from the same.


    Once he¡¯d mastered himself, he made his way across the main chamber and into the wyvernbay proper. Vaelor and Inet were resting within, laying on opposite sides of the main track as they were seen to. Cydan was leant against Inet¡¯s chest with his arms crossed and legs outstretched, his bleary eyes finding Rhydian. He gave a tired dip of his chin and closed his eyes once more. At least he was getting some rest, Rhydian thought. Ayduin, on the other hand, was nowhere to be seen. If he were to hazard a guess, though, she was likely checking in on their other patient across the level. She wasn¡¯t one to leave her copper¡¯s side longer than necessary, if she could help it.


    Further in, Tanuzet peeked her head out from one of the private bays. The sight would have been comical, were it not for the nature of their visit. Rallying himself, Rhydian managed to coax a light jog from his miserably stiff legs, spurred on by her expectant gaze.


    He found Ephaxus inside, groggy, but awake, at least in part. His ordinarily eerie, rose-gold eyes were droopy, the dilated pupils only able to focus for a few brief seconds at a time. A broken purr escaped him, reverberating through the floor beneath his arrow-shaped head. Tanuzet¡¯s own dropped beside his, gently pressing her snout against his scaled cheek in comfort. In his current state, she wouldn¡¯t dare anything more than a light touch.


    He rested upon his belly, wings and hind legs arranged in loose, neutral positions at his sides while his spine was laid straight from his head, to the tip of his lengthy tail. His opalescent hide stood out in stark contrast to the surrounding stone, save for the cerise shading of his wing membranes and sailfins, though even they appeared more pale than usual. His scales were scuffed in places, though those of wyverns were notoriously durable. Aside from his spine, his wings and sailfins had suffered the most damage. There were tears in the flexible membranes, particularly along his right side, where he¡¯d landed hardest. He was strong, his physical core nearing the peak of its fifth Ascension, but there was only so much it could endure when subject to the force of an impact like his.


    Several of Sorisanna¡¯s assistants were tending to his more minor wounds, the sage herself situated out of view somewhere along his back. Though he could not see her, Rhydian could sense her actively channeling her rysk. Tanuzet inclined her head as it drifted back toward him in silent invitation and he deftly stepped up onto one of the spikes lining her bottom jaw. He grasped a ledge along one of her main horns to steady himself and she craned her neck back to afford him a better vantage.


    The site was stomach churning, to say the least.


    Sorisanna sat a few feet up from Ephaxus¡¯ hips, between his hind end and mid back. The large plate scales, along with the lesser ones between them, had been removed entirely to allow the sage unobstructed access to the bone and tissue within. Muscle was pulled back and away from his spine, undulating in great, open petals around the woman as she focused upon the vertebrae beneath. Threads of golden light ran along what Rhydian presumed were the nerves, the rysk itself flowing forth from Sorisanna¡¯s splayed hands. Five spheres of condensed vital essence, each near the size of her head, hung suspended in the air around her, burning like small suns. They shared the same fierce glow of her eyes, the light bleeding out in fine wisps.


    Rhydian shivered.


    On a conceptual level, he knew what fleshweavers were capable of, but to see their work first hand was as unsettling as it was awe inspiring. To dismantle and so easily mold the flesh of another being was a talent he would never fully grasp. He could only imagine the amount of study that had gone into her craft, for healing paths were far different from others. Mending a spine took studied, surgical precision. One could not simply lay their hands upon the afflicted and heal them with half a thought. Bones had to be manually reassembled, veins reconnected and muscle reknit in precise order.


    He knew better than to disturb her for the sake of his own curiosity. The full procedure would likely take hours yet, if the amount of supplemental essence Sorisanna had brought with her were any indication. She hadn''t appeared to have tapped them yet either, which meant both she and Ephaxus were in for an exceptionally long night.


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    At least they''d made it back in time, Rhydian thought. He ran his free hand along Tanuzet¡¯s orbital ridge, idly scratching the soft patch of scales behind her spiked brow in the way she always liked. Some of the tension eased from her face, her nostrils flaring with a soft, appreciative whistle.


    ¡°You should stay with him,¡± he said.


    Are you certain?


    ¡°With Keishara gone, he''ll need all the support he can get,¡± he said, then managed a light-hearted teased, ¡°I can survive a night or two without you. I''ll even bring you your favorite pillow.¡±


    She purred deeply. You will?


    ¡°Of course. It''s the least I can do,¡± he grinned, ¡°just don''t expect me to bring the entire horde.¡±


    Perhaps . . . just one more? She queried, For Ephaxus?


    ¡°If you¡¯re willing to share,¡± he nodded.


    She dipped her head. Please.


    ¡°It may be a while, but I¡¯ll return once I¡¯ve finished up for the night. In the meantime, take care of yourself too, Tanuzet. He¡¯ll be here when you return.¡±


    He knew how particular she was about her scales and by this point, she was nearly covered in as much filth as he was.


    I will visit the pools soon enough. She assured, then gave him an exaggerated sniff. You should as well. You stink of death.


    He frowned, but he was inclined to agree.


    As he made for the bay¡¯s archway, he paused and turned back toward the prone wyvern. Ephaxus had never been his and yet, he almost seemed to sense his inner turmoil the way he did Tanuzet¡¯s. Hesitantly, he placed his open hand upon his snout.


    ¡°Skies keep you,¡± he murmured and took his leave.


    He came across Ayduin not long after, her pace brisk as she headed for the wyvernbay from across the infirmary hall. She perked up when she noticed him, then glanced around as if half expecting someone to ambush them. In his absence, she¡¯d likely dealt with the brunt of everyone¡¯s initial questioning. It was a wonder she hadn¡¯t pulled her braid out by the roots.


    ¡°Is everything all right?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Fine,¡± she said, her tone clipped. ¡°How did your conversation with command go?¡±


    A muscle feathered along his jaw. ¡°Not as well as I¡¯d like.¡±


    Her brow furrowed. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    It was his turn to survey the hall, ensuring they were alone as he gestured for her to follow him back in the direction she¡¯d come.


    ¡°They¡¯re denying anyone was in the area,¡± he said quietly.


    ¡°What? That¡¯s absurd!¡¯ She whisper-hissed.


    ¡°My thoughts exactly,¡± he muttered.


    Her lips twisted into a tight-lipped frown as she fell into step. ¡°What now?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± he admitted. ¡°I was planning on questioning the girl first. Is she awake?¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°No. She¡¯s been out since we left the Wilds.¡±


    ¡°Still?¡±


    ¡°Has a nasty fever too,¡± she said, ¡°The sage gave her a medicinal pill to take the edge off, so we¡¯ll see if it helps.¡±


    Rhydian rubbed his temple. ¡°That¡¯s not exactly encouraging.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s more . . .¡±


    ¡°More?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s weak, Rhydian. And not only from the wound, either. Her Soul, it¡¯s - Well, let¡¯s just say I¡¯ve met ten year olds with more developed cores.¡±


    He blinked. ¡°You mean to tell me she¡¯s not made it past her first Ascension?¡±


    ¡°Not from what myself and the sage can tell.¡±


    Today¡¯s surprises never ceased.


    ¡°So we have a dead murderess who¡¯s advanced who knows how far and a woman no more powerful than a child on our hands,¡± he said. ¡°With no support from command. Wonderful.¡±


    ¡°What did you tell them?¡± She wondered.


    ¡°Only the bare minimum- that the dyads were dead.¡±


    ¡°And they had nothing to say?¡±


    He shook his head. ¡°I am to operate as normal until one of their investigators reaches out.¡±


    Ayduin scoffed. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious.¡±


    He gave a humorless laugh. ¡°I wish I could tell you otherwise. I feel like I¡¯m blundering around in the dark.¡±


    ¡°We all are,¡± she said, ¡°but at least we¡¯re in this together.¡±


    ¡°Agreed. How did everyone else take the news?¡±


    She shrugged a shoulder, leading him around the corridor. ¡°About as well as you¡¯d expect. Things have calmed down for now, but the flight¡¯s expecting a brief in the morning.¡±


    He¡¯d suspected as much.


    ¡°Any questions about the girl?¡±


    ¡°None, really. Aside from Vesryn. He knows what happened to her was no training accident.¡±


    ¡°Hard to hide the truth from a sage, isn¡¯t it?¡± He said.


    ¡°If we want him kept quiet, we¡¯ll need to lock him down with an oath,¡± she said quietly, drawing him to a halt before one of the private rooms. ¡°She¡¯s in here. Hopefully, so is he.¡±


    At this point, Rhydian had learned to keep such hopes in check. As it was, he¡¯d likely have to strongarm the man into staying holding his tongue. Soul oaths were no small thing and he¡¯d likely have to force one onto him. He wasn¡¯t exactly looking forward to it, but any damage control would have to be dealt with swiftly.


    Not bothering to announce his presence with a knock, he opened the door and strode inside. The sage, a wizened man of middle years, gave a start at his entrance. He nearly dropped his notepad, his pen falling to skidder off across the floor. Whatever it was he¡¯d been scribbling, he¡¯d done in some haste.


    ¡°Sky¡¯s grace, boy-,¡± he said, then caught himself and cleared his throat with what dignity he had left. ¡°Firstrider. How can I be of service?¡±


    Rhydian studied the leather bound parchment in the man¡¯s arms, then looked to the lone figure in the bed.


    Behind him, Ayduin shut the door with a distinct click.


    ¡°I came to check on our guest,¡± he said, allowing his rank to edge his tone, ¡°How is she?¡±


    Vesryn ran a hand through his dark, silver-streaked hair. ¡°To be frank, I¡¯m not sure.¡±


    Rhydian cut him a glare. ¡°Our sage isn¡¯t sure?¡±


    ¡°You and I both know the story your secondrider told me was a lie. This was no training accident and she is no assistant. She isn¡¯t even an Adai.¡±


    Rhydian¡¯s brow knit and when he said nothing, the sage waved him over to the bed.


    ¡°See for yourself.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t as if he hadn¡¯t seen her already, but he humored the man while Ayduin remained beside the door. The sage had noticed her position too, but kept silent. Running wasn¡¯t exactly an option for him and he knew it.


    At first, all Rhydian saw was a girl. Her honey-blond curls had been tied off to one side, away from the wound, and splayed across her pillow. However, the closer he looked, the more he realized the sage was right.


    She was small and fine-boned, the structure of her elfin face round where the Adai¡¯s were sharp. He couldn¡¯t quite explain how he hadn¡¯t noticed it before. Her skin was pale, with pink, fleshy undertones that manifested in bright, uneven patches along her neck. At first, he thought her cheeks were mottled, but closer inspection revealed the skin was smooth, yet . . .speckled. Pinpricks of darker pigment lined her cheeks and dusted her nose, though did not appear to manifest anywhere else. Were they scars? Fever pox? His lips pressed thin, for he wasn¡¯t quite sure. They appeared natural enough, but he¡¯d never seen anyone with tiny spots on their face.


    Her ears were comically small and for a moment, he thought they may be deformed. They were near a third the size of his own, pointed at their tips, yes, but too round. Too flat. He¡¯d seen similar ears upon the small monkeys the trade cities sometimes imported. A crude comparison, perhaps, but the most accurate he could come up with.


    ¡°Have you seen anything like her before?¡± He asked.


    The sage shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t say that I have. Where did you find her in the first place?¡±


    Rhydian sighed, finding no point in frustrating the man by withholding information when he already planned on binding him to an oath.


    ¡°Inside the Veil. She was attacked by a woman we were hunting in the area. I suspect she was alone prior to the encounter, but I can¡¯t say for certain.¡±


    Vesryn blew out a breath.¡°Well now, nothing good ever comes out of those woods. That would explain the bite wound. This woman, was she Blighted?¡±


    Rhydian held a hand to his chin, the other crossed around his chest. ¡°I don¡¯t believe so.¡±


    ¡°Is she in custody?¡±


    ¡°Dead.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, and the body?¡±


    ¡°Stowed away in my annex,¡± he said.


    Along with the rest of the bodies.


    ¡°If you would allow me, I should like to see it,¡± he said, at last retrieving his pen, ¡°One can never be too careful.¡±


    Rhydian considered. ¡°Do you think the Blight might be causing her fever?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s shown no signs yet. Usually, the veins around the eyes darken a few hours after infection. The fever comes later. I thought it may have been an infection brought on by your . . . improvisation, but I¡¯ve never seen one set in so quickly. She could be ailed by something else entirely.¡±


    ¡°All things considered,¡± he said, ¡°it might be best if you performed an autopsy or an inspection, at the very least. I¡¯ll bring the body to the morgue, but I¡¯ll need something from you first.¡±

 Chapter Eleven: A Knock in the Night

    Chapter Eleven


    A Knock in the Night


    <hr>


    It was strange, sleeping alone. Sighing, Rhydian repositioned himself for the dozenth time. The joint quarters he and Tanuzet shared were silent, empty and a touch cold. Without her steady breath present to lull him to sleep, he laid idly in his modest bed, half draped by the covers as he waited for his mind to drift away.


    It didn¡¯t.


    Despite his tired body, his cluttered thoughts continued their downward spiral. They alternated between his conspiratorial theories and the haunting, bloody memories of the day¡¯s deaths. Whatever rest he managed came in brief stints, whether a few minutes or a few hours at a time, he didn¡¯t know. Each time he verged on the cusp of actual sleep, he was chased back to the waking world by either Keishara¡¯s face or Ephaxus¡¯ mourning wail. Cold sweats wracked his body, leaving his sheets damp and tacky along his skin.


    He ran a hand through his unbound hair as he stared up at the ceiling, one of his short, claw¨Clike nails catching on an errant snarl. He didn¡¯t bother untangling it. Instead, he debated dragging his blanket down to the infirmary and simply sleeping upon the ground beside Tanuzet. Perhaps there, he might find some semblance of peace.


    He cast his gaze beyond the stone arches of his chamber, to the veritable horde of wyvern-sized pillows compiling her nest. Its emptiness was wholly unfamiliar and rather unsettling, if he were being honest. He could scarcely remember the last time he and Tanuzet had been separated. On some level, he felt foolish. Tanuzet was her own person, after all, and he¡¯d encouraged her to stay and comfort Ephaxus throughout the night.


    Muttering under his breath, he snagged his blanket and rolled onto his side. How difficult was it to silence an incessant mind? He closed his eyes, deciding yet another breathing exercise was in order. He had cycled through several already, yet those had honestly been half hearted attempts at best. He measured his breathing, holding and releasing at set intervals until, at last, he finally began to slip.


    A heavy knock sounded at the door.


    Rhydian¡¯s eyes flew open, one twitching.


    Skies above, was he ever going to catch a break?


    For a bitter moment, he considered not leaving his bed at all. Let someone else deal with whatever new crisis had arisen. He¡¯d done his part and more already.


    He sat up, running a hand over his face. It certainly wasn¡¯t morning, what with the dark beyond the narrow windows at the far end of the chamber, nearest the massive doors to their own private entrance from the mountainside. Had something happened with Ephaxus? Or the girl? He glanced at the dormant wyndstone upon his night stand. If command had reached out, as they¡¯d said, wouldn¡¯t he have been notified first?


    Cursing his luck, Rhydian stumbled out from his tangled sheets and searched for the nearest pair of trousers before tugging them on. He wouldn¡¯t bother with a shirt, not at this hour. It wasn¡¯t as if he¡¯d shock anyone without one - the men were often shirtless in the sparring room. He tossed back his hair, running a hand through it in a half-hearted attempt to make it presentable while unbound.


    A second knock came at his personal door to the interior halls, rather than Tanuzet¡¯s, this time, more insistent. He huffed a mirthless laugh as he approached, wondering what fresh chaos awaited him. The sage waited on the other side, his expression tight with thinly veiled anxiety. It practically radiated from the man and caused Rhydian¡¯s skin to prickle as a result.


    ¡°Vesryn?¡± He asked, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Firstrider,¡± he said with a hasty bow, ¡°Apologies for disturbing you at this hour, but there¡¯s something I need you to see.¡±


    Puzzled, he merely nodded. He saw no point in questioning the man¡¯s urgency. Whatever it was that had rattled him so couldn¡¯t wait.


    ¡°Has something happened?¡±


    The man hesitated, but met his gaze.


    ¡°It¡¯s about our mysterious dead friend, ser. I¡¯ve discovered something during my inspection. I would explain it to you here, but may be best you see it for yourself.¡±


    Rhydian felt the fine hairs along the nape of his neck begin to rise. He peered out into the hall, noting the silence. Few would be awake and about at this hour.


    ¡°Has the patrol passed already?¡±


    Vesryn nodded. ¡°I made sure they were well on their way before knocking.¡±


    At least the man had been discreet.


    ¡°Then we don¡¯t have long,¡± he said, gently closing his door behind him. ¡°Did you take the hidden stair?


    ¡°Of course I did,¡± the man muttered, leading on down the dimly lit corridor.


    He drew close to the wall near the end of the hall, pausing to listen. Rhydian did too, though heard nothing, sensed nothing, save the subtle flare of the sage¡¯s intent. A complex sigil script faded to life along the stone, glowing with soft, blue light no brighter than an encroaching dawn. A portion of the wall silently slid into itself, beckoning them into the darkness waiting within.


    Few beyond command knew of Mistwatch¡¯s hidden passageways, but Vesryn was an exception. He, along with a handful of the ground staff, were considered permanent residents and thus, were privy to the keep¡¯s many secrets. When he had first arrived, they had helped Rhydian familiarize himself with the complex network of tunnels and narrow stairways, though he had rarely used them.


    With one final glance down the corridor, Rhydian slipped inside after Vesryn. Darkness enveloped them as the door shut soundlessly at their back. Reaching out a hand, Rhydian lit a small fire in his open palm to light their path. Shadows danced among the descending stairs as if they were alive, playing along the edges of individual steps.


    He took his place ahead, asking, ¡°Have the others been seen to?¡±


    ¡°Their wounds have been closed, yes,¡± the sage said, ¡°they were . . .easier to mend than Keishara¡¯s.¡±


    Rhydian swallowed the knot in his throat before it could strangle him and forcibly shut out the memory of her final moments.


    ¡°I appreciate what you did for her,¡± he managed.


    He felt the man¡¯s eyes along his back, studying him.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    ¡°She¡¯ll have her dignity when she¡¯s sent home,¡± the sage assured. ¡°The others as well, when you¡¯re ready to send them back to command..¡±


    He took some small comfort in that, even if his heart ached.


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to see to their wyverns, come morning,¡± he said, leading on into the dark, ¡°but we''ll likely have Sorisanna assist with their preparation once she''s finished mending Ephaxus. I''d rather you focus on our guest. Has there been any change?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve sensed an abnormality in her cores, but nothing conclusive. With how weak they are, the fever could be causing the variation. I¡¯ve given her a set of medicinal pills, but we¡¯ll have to wait until her body has a chance to absorb them naturally.¡±


    Rhydian frowned. ¡°How long do you think that will take?¡±


    ¡°A few days, most likely,¡± he replied.


    His questions would have to wait, then. He¡¯d been hoping for more favorable news, but he would have to curb his expectations. Right now, her health took priority. It wasn¡¯t as if there weren¡¯t plenty of other matters to occupy his attention in the meantime. He would glean what he could from what few leads he had.


    ¡°Notify me as soon as her condition changes. I¡¯d like to question her as soon as she wakes.¡±


    ¡°Of course, firstrider,¡± Vesryn said.


    When they reached the passage to the morgue, Rhydian dismissed his flame. The chamber¡¯s everfire sconces brightened with their arrival, coaxed by the sage¡¯s passive intent. Nearby, laid upon raised stone tables, the dead waited. Vesryn moved toward the figure on the far end, whose blackened antlers almost appeared to absorb the light. Rhydian hesitated before doing the same.


    Much like the others, she had been draped in scripted, ceremonial cloth, though hers did not bear the insignia nor the colors of the Talhavar. Those had been reserved for the honored dead she¡¯d slain. Instead, she¡¯d been donned in black. Fitting, in a way. The woman was a spirit of death unto herself.


    Across the stone table, Vesryn hesitated. His face had gone a shade pale and Rhydian noted the slight tremble to his hand as he drew back the cloth to reveal her face. She was as gaunt as he¡¯d remembered, her skin leached of all color, but cleaned of blood. Were it not for her black hair, he could have easily mistaken her for some macabre, marble stone creation.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a creature quite like this,¡± the sage admitted, donning a clean pair of gloves.


    Rhydian¡¯s brow knit, for beyond the antlers, which could be explained by a soul bond similar to the one riders shared with their wyverns, she appeared Adai.


    Until the sage drew back her lips.


    Rhydian sucked in a breath, ¡°Sky¡¯s mercy.¡±


    The woman¡¯s upper jaw had been outfitted by not one, but two sets of fangs that made his own look like milk teeth by comparison. Hers rivaled those of a wolf. Her canines were larger and longer than the viper-like subset situated between them and her central incisors and matched those of her bottom jaw. Mercifully, the latter only bore a single set, but appeared no less lethal. No wonder the girl¡¯s shoulder had been all but torn open. She¡¯d been lucky it hadn¡¯t been her throat.


    Vesryn pressed a finger higher up along her gums and Rhydian shivered. One of the smaller, narrower fangs slid downward, extending like a cat¡¯s claw. A clear, yellowish substance oozed from the needle-sharp tip which he had only just realized was hollow. He wasn¡¯t quite sure how to react, what to think. Was she some sort of ascended viper? It wasn¡¯t unheard of for ordinary animals to advance, but those occurrences were rare.


    ¡°Is that venom?¡± He asked, finding every nerve on edge.


    ¡°It is,¡± the sage said with a grim nod, ¡°I¡¯ve taken a sample, but that isn¡¯t the end of it. Here, look at her eyes.¡±


    They, like her fangs, reminded the firstrider of a snake¡¯s. Or, perhaps a wyvern¡¯s. The irises took up far more of the eye than a normal Adai¡¯s, the pupil more a slit than a rounded point. They retained their ember orange shade, though had dulled after death, leaving them vacant and milky. Either she bore a soul pact of her own, or she was truly another species entirely. He wondered if she and the girl were one in the same, but quickly dismissed the idea. The two lacked any apparent similarity.


    His gaze drifted down her emaciated body, fixing on the long, blade-like claws at the ends of her bony fingers. They were dusky and appeared to be comprised of some sort of metal, rather than ordinary keratin. His blood grew cold at the sight, for he¡¯d seen those talons tear Keishara to shreds. Steadying himself, he stepped back and away.


    ¡°Have you checked for a bond?¡±


    Vesryn nodded. ¡°Twice, but I found no evidence of one. The antlers were incorporated from an actual stag at some point in her life from what I can tell, but everything else . . . is hers.¡±


    Rhydian stood back and crossed his arms. ¡°And she¡¯s not some ascended beast?¡±


    The man shook his head.


    He racked his mind for some explanation, but came up short and drifted into the obscure. He¡¯d heard tales of the fanged, cannibalistic clans across the sea as a boy, but those had only ever been myth. However, after what he¡¯d seen today, perhaps he should lend them more credence. A mythical monster made flesh would certainly explain the level of secrecy the two dyads had fought to maintain prior to their death. If the woman¡¯s existence became common knowledge, he could only imagine the unrest. And the panic, should the general populous fall victim to her brutality with or without a shackled core.


    He considered, for a long moment, before asking, ¡°Have you any theories as to what she might be?¡±


    ¡°None that wouldn¡¯t be considered mad,¡± he admitted.


    At least Rhydian wasn¡¯t the only one considering folk tales and the like.


    He dared to ask, ¡°Were you ever told stories about those cannibalistic clans in the north as a child?¡±


    Vesryn spared him a glance. ¡°You mean the vampires?¡±


    He inclined his head. ¡°Is that what they were called?¡±


    The sage nodded. ¡°The ones who apparently fed on those they defeated in battle? If what you¡¯ve told me is true, she¡¯d fit their description quite well, wouldn¡¯t she?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I was afraid of,¡± he sighed, rubbing at his face. ¡°All right, say we have an actual vampire on our hands, what then?¡±


    He shrugged. ¡°She¡¯s dead. Not sure what more she can do to us now. I say we keep her locked up down here and wait for command to come pick up their monster. Whatever she is, it¡¯s above both our heads.¡±


    While it may have been true, Rhydian wasn¡¯t sure he could sit idly by while she and the others were spirited away. The bodies would be taken and that would be the end of it. He¡¯d be kept in the dark, patted on the hand and expected to continue on as though nothing had happened. He bristled at the thought.


    His attention drifted toward the shrouded figures of Thylas and Oraena. Though it felt wrong, perhaps a quick search of their personal effects might yield some worthwhile information. One of them, if not both, were sure to have a wyndstone on their person. If he could decipher where it was keyed to, he may find another lead. Or another contact, should command remain silent. He had the sneaking suspicion that if and when he was contacted, it wouldn¡¯t be by an investigator.


    In his mind, there were few within the Arillian Empire outside the Talhavar elders with the authority to send First Wing riders on missions of this magnitude. If his suspicions were correct and this all went sideways, he could be in deep trouble indeed. Still, he felt it wise to learn who he was up against and who it was he might report to.


    Muttering an apology, he searched Oraena first.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Vesryn asked.


    ¡°Searching for a wynstone,¡± he said, ¡°Or anything else that might be useful.¡±


    The man¡¯s lips thinned and it was clear he disapproved, yet he surprised Rhydian by beginning his own hunt through Thylas'' pockets. Rhydian blinked. He had expected some push back or argument, at the very least. He thought it best not to complain and resumed his own search.


    The whole affair had grown more involved than he would have liked, in the end. Vesryn had failed to find anything or import on Thylas and Oraena¡¯s pockets had been empty, which was perhaps unsurprising. Any worthwhile wyndstones or other methods of communication would be well concealed. On a hunch, he¡¯d searched her boots and found a hidden compartment in one of the soles. When he found his prize within, his breath caught.


    With trembling fingers, he fished out the small, elliptical stone and held it up to the light. Like the arrows, it bore no identifying marks beyond the communication script inlaid along the surface. Without one, there was no telling who he might contact. A part of him considered activating it here and now, but an uncertainty like this was best left as a last resort. He sighed and slipped it into his pocket.


    Vesryn watched him, his expression pensive. ¡°What happens now?¡±


    ¡°Now, we wait and see if command remains true to their word.¡±

 Chapter Twelve: A Wound and a Curse

    Chapter Twelve


    A Wound and A Curse


    <hr>


    Rhydian¡¯s formal address the following morning was brief, concise and an utter lie. It did the dead no justice and brought him no peace, for the narrative he had been forced to perpetuate laid heavy upon him; an ugly, dirty thing that settled along his soul like old grease. It left him hollow and raw, disgusted with himself as much as the situation. In protecting his flight from the truth, he felt, in a way, he¡¯d betrayed them. However, there was little to be done about it and the following hours had proved no better.


    Under the guise of their routine patrol, Rhydian ne¡¯Tanuzet and Ayduin ne¡¯Vaelor returned to the site of the initial attack. Were it not for the specialized holding stones Rhydian had brought with them, the operation would have been far more involved than the retrieval of their riders. Wyverns were no small thing and Rhydian could not stuff them away in his private annex nor any other ordinary pocket space. A creature of their size was not only large, but heavy. Regardless of space, they were exceedingly difficult to move and position without the aid of specialized machinery, such as Mistwatch¡¯s infirmary lift.


    Dark as the necessity of their invention had been, the stones were an effective means of wyvern corpse retrieval and preservation. Rather than opening a door to a dimensional space the way a sigil did, the stones drew matter within one. Rhydian had never used one himself, though the concept was simple enough: whatever the sigil script touched could be willed into the stone. Once Ayduin had sealed the wyverns¡¯ open wounds with a freeform ice technique, the last step of the retrieval was to press the stones to their scales.


    White light had engulfed the bodies and within moments, they had been drawn inside in a torrent of near-translucent flame. The glowing script etched into the stones shifted from pale blue, to a deep maroon before finally settling to black as it fell dormant once more. Much like a common annex, anything housed within entered a state of suspended animation once the dimension was sealed. Food did not rot, flesh did not decay and from a logistical standpoint, afforded the level of anonymity required to keep this ruse of theirs alive. The palm-sized stones could be easily concealed where a whole corpse could not. Out of respect for their bonds, Rhydian had placed the stones over the hearts of their riders, the dyads reunited within the safety of his annex, where they would remain until he sorted out this mess.


    They had worked quickly in order to maintain the approximate duration of a typical patrol and had cut their usual route short in order to make up what time they¡¯d lost. Much as Rhydian wanted to thoroughly survey the surrounding mountains for any additional strays, he didn¡¯t want to raise any alarm or undue suspicion among the flight. He had little reason to believe there were others beyond the keep, but he wanted to be certain. Regardless, he¡¯d have to rely on his routine patrols and simply hope for the best.


    Shortly before midday, they descended upon Mistwatch. Tanuzet announced their arrival with a shrill roar, the sound echoing across the mountainside. Through the mist, Rhydian caught the silhouettes of the next patrol pair take wing, one of the wyverns¡¯ calling their departure before being lost to the gloom. Rhydian sat back in his saddle and allowed some of the tension to ease from his thighs as Tanuzet settled into a wide arc around the stronghold. The dark stone of the fort itself matched the surrounding mountainside to such a degree, it could easily be missed from both land and sky, especially in the mist.


    Arching her wings, she dropped into a gradual dive toward the lairs, only to stiffen when a lilting whistle flitted up through the air. Ephaxus. Tanuzet¡¯s sudden bray bordered on laughter. Her wings beat the current with a leathery snap as she veered around and dropped, forcing Rhydian to grab the saddle with a chuckle of his own. He peered over shoulder as best he could as she rounded, spying the pale wyvern laid out along the overhang with Sorisanna at his side.


    She offered a smile and a small wave as they landed, faint hints of purple shadowing the bronze skin beneath her eyes.


    ¡°Welcome back,¡± she said, patting Ephaxus¡¯ wing.


    It¡¯s good to see you back among the living, Tanuzet said, nuzzling his snout. How are you feeling?


    Whole, but . . .empty, he replied.


    Rhydian hadn¡¯t failed to notice the droop to his crest, the defeated slump of his shoulders despite the brave face.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you up and about so soon,¡± he admitted, sparing Vaelor a momentary glance as he drifted by overhead and disappeared into the lairs.


    ¡°He insisted,¡± Sorisanna said, ¡°I¡¯m only glad he humored me long enough to clear him for a walk. I¡¯d only just finished reattaching all the nerves this morning.¡±


    ¡°And his prognosis?¡± He wondered, hopping down from Tanuzet¡¯s shoulder.


    She smoothed back a few stray locks of golden hair as she surveyed him.


    ¡°Far better than I initially expected. He¡¯s pulled through the widowing hours, but we¡¯ll have to keep him under watch for the next few weeks just in case,¡± she said, ¡°I¡¯ve mended the bone and tissue, but there was only so much I could do to restore his physical channels. Most of them will have to be regrown.¡±


    Rhydian nodded, relieved he had made it this far. Most, regardless of species, died within the first few hours of a bond mate. He knew they wouldn¡¯t have enough supplemental essence on hand to aid the restoration of his channels in the long term, but he would worry about that detail later. Ephaxus was alive and recovering, he couldn¡¯t have asked for more.


    He looked up to the wyvern, pleased to see the ripple of his crest down his spine, the idle swishing of the tip of his frilled tail.


    ¡°Is there any lingering physical pain?¡± He asked.


    His wings rustled as he brought his head down beside him.


    The pain is minimal, but there is a fair amount of numbness in my wings, he said, then seemed to grapple with himself, I . . . cannot move correctly.


    He rose far more stiffly than Rhydian expected, stumbling like a newborn calf. His wings trembled with the effort, his hind legs fumbling for purchase beneath him. He growled his frustration, his breath scattering the thinning mists. His tail slammed down upon the stone, granting him enough lift to plant his talons into the rock and force his hips up. He wobbled, but managed.


    ¡°It will take his body a few days to acclimate. With some physical therapy, we should be able to solve the instability,¡± Sorisanna said, ¡°It may not look pretty, but it¡¯s progress.¡±


    It¡¯s embarrassing, Ephaxus huffed, leaning to one side before he managed to right himself with Tanuzet¡¯s help.


    She snapped at the air beside his head. You fell from the sky, you proud fool.


    He bared his teeth at her, but quickly backed down under her glare.


    ¡°You¡¯re doing well, my friend,¡± Rhydian assured. ¡°Sorisanna will have you sky worthy soon enough.¡±


    The wyvernsage crossed her arms. ¡°Have you lost faith in me already?¡±


    Ephaxus mewled like a scolded hatchling and sat back on his haunches.


    Rhydian chuckled, but any further reply was cut short when Vaelor roared a warning from within the lairs.


    Rhydian, the girl!


    Ephaxus¡¯ head swung around in alarm, crest flaring as Tanuzet¡¯s did.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Cursing, Rhydian started off toward the lair mouth at a run, barely registering the fact Sorisanna had followed. Inside, Vaelor waited within the lift, his tail lashing the air as he paced. He was alone, which meant Ayduin was likely in the infirmary herself.


    ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡± He asked, skidding to a halt once he was inside.


    Sorisanna engaged the lift as she looked between the two for an explanation.


    She¡¯s seizing, the wyvern hissed.


    Rhydian¡¯s lips thinned. Seizing? Vesryn hadn¡¯t mentioned fits before. Though, they were likely a new development. The girl hadn¡¯t so much as stirred since his last visit.


    ¡°For how long?¡± Sorisanna asked, brow knit.


    She started only moments ago, he said.


    ¡°Is Vesryn with her?¡±


    He gave a slight dip of his chin. Ayduin as well.


    She nodded to herself. ¡°He¡¯ll know what to do. Has it happened before? I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ve been too caught up with Ephaxus to ask after the girl.¡±


    ¡°Not to my knowledge,¡± Rhydiand said, ¡°she hasn¡¯t woken since she¡¯s arrived.¡±


    ¡°How badly was she wounded?¡±


    He hesitated a moment. Sorisanna, like Vesryn, had been told the whole truth and bore the same soul pact he did.


    ¡°She was bitten and lost quite a bit of blood before I cauterized the wound,¡± he said.


    She snatched his upper arm. ¡°Wait, you cauterized it? Rhydian, that¡¯s one of the worst things you could have done. What about your medical bag?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t have many options at the time. It was that, or let her bleed out,¡± he said, jaw tight.


    Sorisanna raked a hand through her hair. ¡°If it''s an infection, it might be what¡¯s causing the seizure. I¡¯ll grab my herbs and meet you in her room.¡±


    He nodded, leaping down from the platform before it fully descended upon the level. Vaelor slunk after him and took up position at the entrance to the Adai-sized hall while Rhydian continued on. Sorisanna¡¯s words were concerning, to say the least. Had he made a mistake?


    He found the door to the girl¡¯s room open when he arrived, her prone figure struggling upon the bed. The nightstands had been shoved away from it with pillows and extra blankets strewn on either side in order to protect her from the unyielding stone in the event of a fall. Vesryn and Ayduin stood nearby, the wide eyes of his secondrider finding his.


    ¡°What happened?¡± He demanded.


    Ayduin spoke first, though her attention had returned to the writhing girl.


    ¡°Vesryn was updating me when she started seizing.¡±


    ¡°Was she awake?¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°No, but Rhydian, her arms-¡±


    Along her flush skin, bright fractals of blue light webbed her arms from fingertip to elbow. They spread even as they watched, the light within pulsing in time what he assumed was her racing heart. A dim glow emanated beneath her sheets along her legs, where he imagined they would discover a similar sight. He¡¯d never seen anything like it, but . . .


    ¡°Is that what I think it is?¡± He breathed.


    ¡°Her spirit is overwhelming her other cores,¡± Vesryn cursed.


    ¡°She¡¯s fracturing?¡± Ayduin asked.


    Rhydian didn¡¯t quite understand. The girl¡¯s cores had been abysmal when she arrived, how was she advancing? He dared to scan her soul directly and nearly recoiled when he did. Both her physical and her mental core had leaped to their second ascension, though her spiritual was burning through its third. The pressure the core was exerting upon the rest of her body was beginning to tear it apart. Her rysk surged, pushing the core into its forth ascension. Channels stretched and ruptured, straining the meridians they branched from.


    Golden light split the room, striking the girl¡¯s chest. Rhydian felt the shackle snap into place, its echo rippling through his spiritual sense. She jerked violently in the bed, as if struck by a stray storm bolt, then slowly began to relax.


    ¡°Here, help me get her onto her side,¡± Vesryn said, springing into action and dragging Ayduin with him.


    Rhydian whirled on the door where Sorisanna stood, haloed by her supplemental spheres. She panted and slumped against the frame in her exhaustion. He caught her before she slid to the floor, cursing softly.


    ¡°Easy,¡± he murmured.


    She laid a hand upon his arm, smiling weakly. ¡°I¡¯m all right. That just . . .took a lot out of me. Give me a moment.¡±


    ¡°Take all the time you need,¡± he said, keeping a hand upon her shoulder to steady her where she sat.


    She pressed a hand to her temple, grimacing. She appeared more dazed than in pain, though the fact did little to sway his concern. Capable as the woman was, she was still operating on little to no sleep after a full night of excretion.


    He glanced up, watching Vesryn inspect the now still girl. From what he could tell, the fracturing had stopped, though it certainly hadn¡¯t receded. The glowing webs stood stark against her skin, bright as a newborn star. Her face had adopted a deathlike pallor, her hair a few shades lighter than he remembered it.


    ¡°Is she-¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s alive,¡± Vesryn said, his brow deeply furrowed.


    ¡°I want to have a look at her,¡± Sorisanna said.


    ¡°Can you stand?¡± Rhydian asked.


    ¡°I think so. Help me up?¡±


    Wrapping an arm around her, he effortlessly drew her to her feet.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anyone set a shackle quite like that,¡± the other sage said, no doubt inspecting the one she¡¯d just put in place.


    ¡°Honestly, I wasn¡¯t sure it would work,¡± she admitted.


    ¡°Seems to have worked like a charm to me,¡± Ayduin said, crossing her arms. ¡°Anyone care to explain what just happened?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s advanced, that much is clear, but I¡¯m not sure how,¡± Vesryn said.


    Sorisanna made her way to his side with Rhydian¡¯s help and carefully raised one of the girl¡¯s arms.


    ¡°This fracturing is extensive. I¡¯ve never seen anything like it,¡± she said.


    ¡°Neither have I,¡± Rhydian admitted.


    His own advancement had been carefully monitored by the academy, even when he was a child. If one core was advanced too far above another, imbalances arose. The sort that could easily lead to spiritual fracturing, if left unchecked. Though, the affliction was entirely preventable. It only happened in rare cases, often by those ambitious or impatient enough to neglect their foundation work.


    Sorisanna suddenly paused, eyes widening a fraction.


    Rhydian¡¯s heart sank. ¡°What now?¡±


    ¡°Her rysk, it¡¯s . . .eating away at the shackle.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ayduin asked, appearing ready to draw her blade and be done with it.


    ¡°I can feel it slowly devouring the essence. I don¡¯t think she¡¯s doing it consciously either.¡±


    ¡°How long before she eats through it?¡± He asked.


    ¡°At her current rate, less than a week?¡±


    A week? What in sky¡¯s name had he brought back?


    ¡°I take it the fracturing will spread once it does?¡±


    She frowned. ¡°More than likely.¡±


    Crouching beside the bed, he wondered if she would wake up at all or if she were somehow doomed from the start. He searched her face, hopeful for any sigh she was somehow aware or on the verge of opening her eyes. Her lips quivered and for a moment, his heart leapt. Her nostrils lightly flared and her brow pinched.


    Blood began to creep from the corner of her mouth.


    ¡°Skies, her tongue-¡± Sorisanna said, lunging.


    She reached for her jaw, right as the girl began to choke. Rhydian helped keep her on her side as she coughed, blood spraying across the white linen of the bed. He heard something clatter along the floor, but hadn¡¯t paid it any notice until he heard Ayduin¡¯s breath hitch.


    ¡°Is that a tooth?¡± She asked.


    He and Sorisanna shared a look and carefully, the sage worked open her mouth. The girl spat a handful of teeth onto the sheets, roots and all. Sorisanna shuddered at the sight, but gently wiped away the blood and pulled her upper lip up for a better look.


    The girl¡¯s two front teeth appeared to be untouched, though the neighboring incisors and canines were gone. Bloody holes were left in her gums, but as the sage angled her head into the light of her orbiting spheres, Rhydian¡¯s blood turned to ice. The tips of four crisp, white fangs peeked down amid the ruin, ready to emerge.


    He could scarcely breathe.


    ¡°Check her bottom canines,¡± he said.


    Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Versryn stiffen.


    She glanced at him in confusion, but did as asked. She touched a gloved finger to one of the teeth, testing the root. It wiggled like a ripe baby tooth ready to fall. She sucked in a breath and hesitantly pulled the tooth upward. As expected, it slipped free with little resistance, the new fang laying in wait beneath.


    ¡°Sky¡¯s mercy,¡± Rhydian breathed.

 Chapter Thirteen: Awakening

    Chapter Thirteen


    Awakening


    <hr>


    The more she roused, the more Inerys wished she were dead. She could neither see nor hear, though her mind had yet to register either fact. Copper¡¯s sharp tang dominated both scent and taste in equal measure, overwhelming all thought and making it difficult to breathe. A deep gurgling rattled her lungs each time she forced the stubborn things to expand, which only fueled the nausea welling in her gut. Pain split along her brow between her temples, jaw throbbing like it¡¯d been kicked by a horse. Her tongue, more a strap of leather, slipped along tingling, slimy gums too big for her mouth.


    She tried to raise a hand to her head, but found her bones had turned to iron. Lifting so much as a finger proved more trouble than it was worth, so she laid there, torn between consciousness and the black abyss coaxing her back into blissful nothingness. If she simply allowed herself to give in, to slip beneath the current once more, she would be spared the misery. She thought of Soren, then. Nan. Alaric.


    Her thoughts, though sluggish, sharpened. They were waiting for her to return. She promised her little brother she¡¯d come home.


    And she would.


    She vaguely remembered the strange woman in the woods, the pain in her neck, but little beyond it. The details themselves were incomplete, more impressions than actual memory, though she retained enough to know she¡¯d been injured. And badly, if the throb along her neck and shoulder were any indication. Her body ached with fever, her joints stiff, skin slick with sweat. She was alive, that much she knew, yet her faculties had yet to be fully restored.


    It took a moment for her to notice the errant hum in her ears. A steady pressure built within them, as though she were submerged in water and gradually sinking. Then, a sharp, clear note rose in torturous pitch, only to break and usher her into a cacophony of raised voices and scraping fabric. Boots scuffed along stone and she flinched at the sound, as if it were her own ear being ground against the floor.


    Strong hands supported her shoulder and side and in her haze, she assumed it was Alaric. He must have gone out into the Fringe to search for her when she hadn¡¯t returned home. Spirits¡¯ breath, how long had she been unconscious? Hours? Days? He must have taken her to one of the healers, for the scent of medicinal herbs was strong. So much so, in fact, she wondered if her nose had been shoved directly into their preservation jars. There were other scents too, though they ranged in the dozens and were wholly unfamiliar.


    She suspected she had taken a hit to the head. It would explain the ache, the blood, her erratic senses. A soft groan escaped her and she tried to focus on the voices in the room. She didn¡¯t recognize any of them, nor could she comprehend their mutterings in the beginning. It was as though they were speaking nonsense. Or perhaps, some other language? At first, she understood none of it; it was foreign and clumsy to her uneducated ear. However, the more she listened, the more the strange tongue seemed to make sense.


    They were arguing, that much was clear regardless of her increasing comprehension and about a girl, if she understood correctly. As they did, her mind gained new context. She associated previously unknown words with danger, unpredictable, monster.


    Memories of an antlered figure surged into the light of her mind¡¯s eye; of a stranger so gaunt and pale, she¡¯d hardly resembled a living woman at all. She had been a corpse. One with eyes as bright and hot as twin embers in the night. Inerys had never seen anything like her, human or Adai. Was she one of the mist creatures responsible for those who never returned from the deepwoods?


    Her fingers crawled toward the wound in her neck and the hands holding her stiffened. Where she expected to find a bandage or torn flesh, at the very least, she found smooth, yet uneven skin. She worriedly traced the slight raises and grooves, perplexed. Surely she hadn¡¯t been taken to a sorcerer? She thought to voice the question, yet her tongue refused to cooperate. Instead, her stomach clenched and her body tensed with a sudden involuntary contraction. She tasted bile long before she wretched, the metallic undertones threatening to bring about another fit before she steeled herself and managed to shove the feeling down.


    Panting, she allowed whomever was holding her to pull her away from the stinking mess. Fabric hissed against fabric and she grit her teeth, which only earned her a swift lance of pain through her jaw. Had she broken it? Her tongue poked at her inflamed gums, discovering holes in numerous places where teeth should have been. Her gut sank, panic spiked when something sharp punctured the tip of her probing tongue. Had she been struck so hard her teeth were broken? Or was it splintered bone?


    Mirror.


    She needed a mirror.


    Inerys peeked open bleary eyes, only to be utterly blinded by light. Flinching, she shut them tight once more as color exploded behind her eyelids. Spirits¡¯ breath, she may as well have been staring directly at the sun. She allowed herself a moment to adjust before she hesitantly peered about the room.


    It was at least twice the size of her own bedroom, the objects within blurry and indistinct as her eyes struggled to adjust. The pair who argued nearby were tall, though appeared more like silhouettes than people. A third individual stood silent beside the bed in front of her, save for their incessant heartbeat. The fact Inerys could distinguish it so clearly startled her and she tried to peer around to see whomever it was who was holding her. She caught the flash of an older man¡¯s face as it leeched of color. He quickly released her, leaping back and away with wide eyes.


    Inerys gave a start, given the man clearly wasn¡¯t Alaric. He was no Hound either, nor was he pureblood. The structure of his face was all wrong - sharp featured and refined - with ears far too long. They sat higher along the skull, dagger-like, narrow and near the length of a man¡¯s hand from wrist to fingertip. For a moment, she couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. He was an actual Adai. He had to be.


    ¡°Rhydian!¡± The man shouted.


    Her brow furrowed. Whatever language he spoke was still new to her, yet known, somehow. She suddenly understood with the clarity of a native.


    Dazed, she raised a hand to rub her eyes in an attempt to correct her sight. Light flooded her field of vision, blue and bright. She attempted to swat it away, yet it merely followed the path of her hand. Squinting, she tried to determine the source, finding fine, complex webbing along her hand and fingers. It spanned up the length of her arm too, where it faded above her elbow. Faint wisps of light leaked from the fissures, curling gently in the air as if her skin was steaming.


    Fear gripped her, along with another sensation she couldn¡¯t quite place. Instinct, perhaps? Heat surged through her veins, momentarily chasing away the pain and causing her to bolt upright. The bed cracked under the sudden force, the center sagging inward under her weight. Each end pitched at an odd angle as it folded in on itself. Gasping, Inerys lunged to the side to escape its jaws, but inadvertently launched herself into the far wall half a dozen feet away. She sucked in a startled breath, her lungs barking in protest.


    The light filtering in through the window above her warmed her skin, then seared it.


    A scream tore free from her throat, raw and shrill and utterly inhuman as her skin burned. It sizzled and popped along the back of her neck and shoulder where her thin shift left it exposed to the sun. Shielding her face with a trembling hand, she tried to right herself with the other and push herself up using the edge of the windowsill to her back. However, the force of her arm broke the ledge and it crumbled beneath her palm.


    ¡°The window!¡± A woman shouted, splintering Inerys¡¯ too-sensitive ears.


    A strong, calloused hand grasped her unburnt wrist and yanked her into the shadow of the room. She fell to the floor, knees buckling. The relief left her gasping, though the air stunk of fat and burnt flesh. The wound hissed, its acute sting arcing through her back and down the length of her spine. She grit her teeth through the agony, spots dancing in her vision. The layers of ruined skin began to simmer and undulate, like a host of maggots writhing within the affected tissue. As the sensation overcame her, the pain ebbed.


    She laid there as seconds crawled by, her knuckles white where she gripped the strewn sheets draped over the edge of the bed. She hadn¡¯t realized she¡¯d been crying until her glowing fingers came away wet when she wiped at her eyes. Sniffling, she attempted to gather herself, knees tucked toward her chest. Her legs bore the same luminescent fractals, coming to fine points midway up her thighs.


    ¡°Easy,¡± a man soothed in a low, pleasantly tempered voice, ¡°no one make any sudden moves - Ayduin, get that blade back in its sheath!¡±


    Inerys¡¯ gaze shot up, body stiffening. Deep down, something stirred in response to the threat. A predator ready to pounce. Or, a desperate animal ready to fight.


    A monster of a man approached, hands raised in a placating manner. Calling him a man at all might have been generous, for his features were sharp and vulpine, his height easily surpassing Alaric¡¯s. His dark, blue-gray skin stood in such stark contrast to anything she¡¯d ever seen, she wondered if he had been born of the deepwoods themselves like some nightmare-born spirit.


    And his eyes-


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    The irises were large and lanturn-like, dominating the majority of the eyes themselves, save the corners where glossy black filled what visible space remained. They were slightly larger than what she would deem normal with an angular, predatory quality. While they bore a pupil, there were no whites to be found. His, a stormy gray with the faintest hints of silver, seemed to stare right through her.


    Her heart raced, certain this man, this creature, would end her. She hadn¡¯t failed to notice he bore short claws at the ends of his long fingers instead of nails. He could disembowel her with half a thought. Or simply crush her in his arms, given his size. She may as well be a child to him.


    He had yet to make so much as a step toward her, though.


    Why hadn¡¯t he struck?


    Better yet, why was she here at all?


    The man waited, assessing her. Not in the manner a fox might eye a hen, but rather how a predator might study a potential rival. It puzzled her, after all, what threat could she possibly pose?


    She dared a glance beyond him, where the three others stood. The man who had leapt away from her was holding a golden-haired woman back near the door and it was then Inerys noted how similar their eyes were to those of the man before her. They were similar enough in appearance, though it could be argued they were as similar in facial structure as a shepherd was to a wolf. Was this man some sort of Adai, then?


    The final stranger, a woman, was clearly of similar stock to the man with her dusky skin and keen eyes. She even shared the same long, black braid. Unlike her counterpart, she glared in open hostility, her long ears tilted back ever so gently as if pinned. Inerys imagined she was this Ayduin the man had barked at to sheath her weapon, given her hand still rested on what appeared to be a dagger hilt.


    ¡°Where am I?¡± Inerys managed, voice hoarse in her sandy throat.


    ¡°Safe,¡± the man said, ¡°There¡¯s no reason to be afraid. You¡¯ve given us all a fright, that¡¯s all.¡±


    Were she not petrified, she may have laughed. She¡¯d given them a fright? They were the monsters here, not her.


    ¡°I - what happened? Who are you?¡± She asked, clammy fingers still locked around the sheets.


    ¡°Rhydian,¡± he said, ¡°As for what happened, I was hoping you could tell us. How much do you remember?¡±


    ¡°Bits and pieces,¡± she admitted, voice catching, ¡°There was this woman in the woods and . . . she hurt me. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    His lips drew into a grim line and his face grew all the more harsh for it, ¡°You were bleeding out when I found you, but she¡¯s dead, rest assured. She won¡¯t be able to harm you any longer.¡±


    Hot tears brimmed in her eyes as her throat threatened to constrict.


    ¡°What was she?¡± She whispered.


    Something in his alien gaze softened.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± he admitted, ¡°but I suppose I could ask you the same: what are you?¡±


    Her brow knit. ¡°I¡¯m a Hound. A half breed.¡±


    She thought her ears were evidence enough of the fact, though his confusion only appeared to deepen.


    ¡°A halfbreed?¡±


    ¡°Part human, part Adai,¡± she said, her flushed cheeks darkening further with something akin to embarrassment. If these strangers truly were Adai, then she assumed she would be just as much a mongrel in their eyes as she was to the purebloods.


    The revelation sent quiet murmurings among the other three.


    ¡°Human. I see,¡± he said, his eyes growing distant for a moment before he asked, ¡°Can you tell me why you were so far into the Veil? How you managed to evade the patrols?¡±


    ¡°The Veil? You mean the deepwoods? I¡¯ve never heard of any patrols, least of all seen any,¡± she said, wondering what he was talking about.


    His confusion mirrored her own, it seemed.


    He asked with a degree of hesitance, ¡°Where did you come from, exactly?¡±


    A sense of dread began to settle in her gut. She was nowhere near home, was she? Her head grew light, eyelids fluttering a moment as she swayed where she sat.


    A woman spoke up, tone impatient as it was anxious, ¡°Sky¡¯s mercy, Rhydian, can¡¯t you see she needs medical attention? Am I the only one who saw her burn?¡±


    She broke free of the other man¡¯s hold and shrugged his hand away when he tried to restrain her a second time.


    ¡°That thing is dangerous,¡± he protested.


    ¡°And you¡¯re a coward,¡± she hissed, fixing him with a glare.


    A muscle flickered along Rhydian¡¯s jaw. ¡°She¡¯s right, we should have a look at your back. May we?¡±


    Hesitantly, Inerys nodded.


    He beckoned the woman forward.


    ¡°This is Sorisanna,¡± he said and drew something from behind the bed.


    It was a smooth length of short rope with what appeared to be some sort of woven wire lined through it.


    She tensed, nostrils flaring. ¡°What¡¯s that for?¡±


    ¡°Only precaution,¡± he said, ¡°I need to ensure the situation is safe for everyone involved.¡±


    Safe?


    He seemed to read the unspoken question in her expression and he said, ¡°The woman who attacked you was deceptively strong and she hurt a lot of good people. I¡¯ve seen that same strength in you, to a lesser extent perhaps, but I¡¯m sure you can understand my hesitation.¡±


    ¡°I remember,¡± she whispered and knew exactly what he was implying. ¡°I¡¯m not - I won¡¯t hurt anyone.¡±


    She didn¡¯t think she could, even if she wanted to. Though, the broken bed and stone windowsill were rather alarming. She was a fit woman, but her strength had never broken furniture or masonry before. Maybe the incidents were flukes? There was still a chance she was hallucinating, right? For all she knew, this was all some lucid fever dream.


    Her gut told her it wasn¡¯t.


    The woman, Ayduin, remained unconvinced, her pinkish, gold-rimmed eyes narrowing on Inerys. She appeared ready to pounce if Inerys so much as twitched. Of the two, she had the feeling she was the more dangerous. Or at least, the one more apt to strike first and ask questions later.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I need more than your word, right now,¡± he said.


    She stared down at the strange bindings and sucked in a shuddering breath. While she supposed he could have bound her by force, she wasn¡¯t keen on willingly allowing herself to be restrained. Not that she supposed she had much choice.


    ¡°You¡¯ll remove them once she¡¯s done?¡± She asked.


    ¡°If you prove I can trust you,¡± he said.


    Could she trust him?


    Trust ran both ways, she remembered and though it may have been foolish, she reluctantly released her death grip on the sheets to offer him her wrists.


    Nodding, Rhydian approached, every muscle of his body taught. His heartbeat was loud, erratic. The rhythm alternated between quick bursts and seemingly forcibly halted measures, as if he were somehow actively attempting to rein in his nerves the way one might an excited horse. The sound stirred something and she grew hungry. She likely hadn¡¯t eaten in days and blamed the span of time for the sudden onset.


    She remained utterly still as he cautiously crouched in front of her, searching her face with furrowed brows. He expertly bound her wrists, enough to keep the rope tight and secure without brutalizing her already marred skin in the process. Once he was finished, he tested them and spared a glance toward her neck. She swore a flicker of guilt passed behind those intrusive eyes, but he stepped back before she had the chance to linger on it.


    Rounding the bed, Sorisanna paused a respectful distance away. Her smile was gentle, her skin a light bronze the huntress had never seen before. It exuded a radiant, inner light, as if the summer sun had settled just beneath the surface. Unabashed curiosity brimmed in her deep green eyes and she bowed, her braid of beaten gold falling forward as she did.


    ¡°I apologize, it seems we¡¯ve all forgotten our manners,¡± she said, laying her hand over her heart. ¡°What is your name?¡±


    She hadn¡¯t realized no one had asked, ¡°Inerys,¡± she said, ¡°Inerys Adosin.¡±


    Her smile grew. ¡°It¡¯s good to meet you, Inerys. May I have a look at your back?¡±


    ¡°Please,¡± she murmured.


    It didn¡¯t hurt anymore, but she wasn¡¯t sure such was a good thing. Easing the ache in her knees, she adjusted how she sat while the sage turned her attention to her back. A hitched breath escaped the woman¡¯s lips, soft, yet grating, in a way. Each and every sense Inerys possessed had been reduced to a raw, exposed nerve that required the barest provocation to ignite. The only one remotely cooperative at present, was her sight, now that the heavy curtains had been drawn shut since her spontaneous combustion.


    ¡°How bad is it?¡± She dared ask.


    Sorisanna¡¯s fingers were warm along her skin, yet chased gooseflesh down her back and arms. Her touch was careful, contemplative and glided over what felt like smooth skin, rather than an open burn. The huntress stifled her shiver, having expected pain. In its place, was a dull tingling sensation.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing here,¡± the sage said with a note of fascination.


    That . . . couldn¡¯t be right.


    Rhydian shifted, still standing in front of her with arms crossed.


    ¡°Nothing at all?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Just a bit of red skin. See for yourself,¡± she said.


    ¡°Sky¡¯s mercy,¡± he muttered, having circled around behind her as well.


    ¡°We should get her to another room,¡± Sorisanna said, drawing a throw blanket from the bed and stooping to wrap it about Inerys¡¯ shoulders.


    ¡°We should deal with it before it becomes a threat,¡± Ayduin said, voice sharp.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough, secondrider,¡± Rhydian said, voice low in warning, ¡°your concern is noted.¡±


    ¡°Is it? Vesryn seems to be the only other person in this room with any sense. We saw what the first one was capable of. Now we have one in our own home and you two want to what, nurse it back to health?¡±


    The tension in the room grew palpable and Inerys held her breath.


    Rhydian¡¯s tone held an edge when he said, ¡°We¡¯re not doing this in here, Ayduin. Get to the lift and wait for me there. I''ll deal with you in a moment.¡±

 Chapter Fourteen: Fragile Oaths

    Chapter Fourteen


    Fragile Oaths


    <hr>


    Ayduin stormed out of the room without another word. Rhydian¡¯s jaw clenched once. Twice. What else was he supposed to do, slit the girl¡¯s throat and be done with it? Toss her off the mountain? Everything had happened so quickly, his mind had yet to recover, let alone process. One moment, he had only just realized the implications of what was happening to the young woman, the next, she was awake, eyes wide in unbridled terror with half the room in shambles.


    Skies, the way she had looked at him, at all of them -


    To her, they were the monsters. He wasn¡¯t quite sure what to make of it. Her reaction, genuine as it may have been, complicated things. If she was not in league with the woman, what was she doing so far into the Veil? Who was she? Simple as they were, his questions had clearly confused her and what answers she did have made no sense. Was it possible she was from some land beyond the Veil? Or . . .did she somehow reside within it?


    He supposed it would explain some of the peculiarities, though again, the truth of it all raised more questions than it answered. He needed time to gather his thoughts and to put out one fire before he started another. Or at least manage said fire, in Ayduin¡¯s case. He wasn¡¯t exactly looking forward to their conversation. Nor any conversation, really. He simply wanted all of this to go away.


    After the girl¡¯s display, he could not deny what she was. Ayduin was right, he had brought another one of those things into their own home. Unwittingly, perhaps, but it did not change the fact. The woman was dangerous and weak as she might be in her current state, she could still pose a threat to those of Mistwatch. While she had made no move against them yet, it didn¡¯t mean she would not in the future. The logical side of Rhydian saw keeping her alive at all as a liability and yet his foolish heart stayed his hand.


    There was still much he could learn from her, he decided, even if it wasn¡¯t in relation to their mystery woman. He couldn¡¯t fathom how anyone could survive the Veil on their own, let alone live within it, but he intended to find out. Command would have to be notified, perhaps an investigation launched. If there were truly a community dwelling in such a seemingly inhospitable place, it would reframe current knowledge of the Veil and perhaps even provide insight in how to one day be rid of it. Or at the very least, how to properly treat or eradicate the Blight.


    The nature of her transformation was another matter. Whatever was happening to her wasn¡¯t natural and certainly wasn¡¯t the Blight. It had come from her and truth be told, it frightened him. The affliction was clearly transferable and through bite or blood, if he were to hazard a guess. Perhaps it had something to do with the dead woman¡¯s fangs, in particular. When she had attacked the others, it had only ever been with claw. Whatever the case, Rhydian was no sage and may as well have been blundering around in the dark for all the good dwelling on the subject would do him.


    For now, the best thing he could do was keep the girl bound and away from others, limit her interactions. What had transpired moments ago would have to be added to the ever growing list of events needed to be kept quiet. Curse it, this entire situation was growing out of hand. Once he settled one escalation, two more cropped up. As it was, he had made more oaths in the span of a few days than he had in his entire life. He¡¯d likely make a dozen more by the time this was all said and done.


    He looked to the sages, his lips thin. While he was inclined to trust Sorisanna regardless of an oath, he would require another from both she and Vesryn. He had the sense the latter was already beginning to regret the first he had made. The older sage stood at the far end of the room, nearest the door with as much distance as he could place between he and the girl as he could without going through it. As it was, his gaze flitted as though debating whether or not to bolt. If Rhydian did not act, the man might be inclined to raise the alarm, or worse. He sensed the slight disconnect in the man¡¯s Soul, the growing disarray of essence and rysk alike.


    ¡°Close the door, Vesryn,¡± he said, voice low.


    The man gave a start, the command snapping him out of whatever thought he¡¯d been spiraling down. He fidgeted, hand hesitating when it reached for the handle. Rhydian flared his rysk in subtle warning and the man stiffened.


    ¡°Apologies, ser,¡± he said, weight shifting back into his heels as he reluctantly closed the door.


    ¡°No one speaks a word of this to anyone outside this room,¡± he said, ¡°What you witnessed will not be discussed amongst each other or Ayduin unless I am the first to engage the subject, are we clear?¡±


    Sorisanna was the first to speak and offer her oath before Rhydian could request it of her. It tugged at his soul like a thread of spider silk, settling between them and chasing gooseflesh along his spine. Vesryn, on the other hand, eyed him. His gaze flickered from Rhydian, to the girl, then back again in some apparent deliberation. As he did, Rhydian found his hand straying toward his blade, rysk instinctively condensing into a martial technique.


    ¡°Swear it,¡± Rhydian said, attention fixed, voice too quiet.


    They stared at one another for a long moment and Rhydian held his breath. Harming the man in any capacity was the last thing he wanted, but he would. The realization startled him, yet he did not allow it to show through in his expression. Anyone else drawn into this mess, inadvertently or otherwise, would be in danger. In more ways than one, he imagined, for silencing an entire keep would likely be deemed necessary by those he suspected had sent those First Wing members in the first place.


    Mistwatch was remote, lightly manned and located near an easy excuse. Their deaths would likely be blamed on an unfortunate Blight outbreak. No one would challenge the cause. No one would witness the truth. Sweeping the entire flight under the rug for the sake of secrecy would be all too easy. His own life was likely forfeit already, as was Vesryn¡¯s, but Rhydian refused to drag anyone else down with them.


    Something hardened in the man¡¯s expression, his Soul reunifying.


    ¡°On my Soul, I swear never to speak about what I¡¯ve witnessed here today with anyone beyond this room, including your second in command, Ayduin ne¡¯Vaelor. I shall not discuss the matter among any of you unless you, Rhydian ne¡¯Tanuzet, engage the subject first,¡± he said, though his words were clipped and edged in thinly veiled disdain.


    It satisfied their pact nonetheless.


    ¡°Good. You¡¯re dismissed,¡± Rhydian said.


    Vesryn said nothing as he glared and took his leave.


    Rhydian slowly breathed out, releasing his rysk. He felt heavy, his nerve stretched too thin, and stared at the door longer than he should have.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t take it personally,¡± Sorisanna offered, ¡°He¡¯s just a little spooked. I think we all are.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± he sighed, easing some of the tension from his shoulders.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Inerys said, voice faint, ¡°for the trouble.¡±


    The girl wavered where she sat, eyes fighting to stay open, blood staining her hands, her shift, her hair. Skies, she was half dead already. Rhydian found it difficult to reconcile the brutalized woman before him with the monster he knew lurked beneath. A part of him hesitated to draw any closer, lest she lunge for his throat next. It was a cruel thought, but not one that was completely unfounded.


    ¡°Can you walk?¡± He asked, doing his best not to linger on the horrid burn scar along her shoulder.


    Sorisanna¡¯s lips parted to protest, but Inerys was already attempting to climb to her feet, using the bed for support regardless of her bindings. Her arms trembled with the effort, breath turning laborious. Rhydian took a step forward, then stopped himself. If she attacked while he was close, he wasn¡¯t sure he would have the reaction time, nor the strength to stop her. By offering aid, he was giving her the perfect opening. Inwardly, he cursed himself. If he didn¡¯t help, Sorisanna would. Sages were a notoriously stubborn sort, but the wyvernsage was in a class all her own.


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Keep the halls clear, he said to Tanuzet, who had been silently monitoring the conversation through their active connection.


    Already done, she said.


    He sensed her nearby, casually blocking the main entrance to the hall outside as she lay before it.


    Did Ayduin do as I asked? He wondered.


    Yes, though she does not look pleased.


    I can¡¯t imagine she does. I¡¯ll be there soon. Summon Cydan, if you would. I¡¯m not keen on leaving Sorisanna alone with this . . . with Inerys, he said.


    He sensed her disapproval, but she said, Very well.


    Steeling himself, he took to one knee beside the young woman.


    ¡°Here, let me. You¡¯re in no shape,¡± he said, soothing his voice as not to frighten her more than he already had.


    She shied away from him, bloodshot eyes wary.


    ¡°I¡¯m not here to hurt you,¡± he assured, ¡°I¡¯m only trying to make sense of all this. I believe you may be able to help, but I need you safe and comfortable first.¡±


    The woman considered, bound hands fidgeting.


    ¡°How far would I have to walk?¡± She asked.


    ¡°How far do you think you can make it?¡±


    She grimaced. ¡°Not far.¡±


    ¡°There are rooms without quite so much light down the hall,¡± Sorisanna added, ¡°and beds that are not so easily broken.¡±


    ¡°Did I . . . Was the bed really my doing?¡± She asked.


    The wyvernsage reluctantly nodded. ¡°The wall too. You¡¯ve done quite a number on your current accommodations.¡±


    Inerys grimaced. ¡°What¡¯s happening to me?¡±


    ¡°In truth? We¡¯re not entirely sure,¡± Rhydian admitted, ¡°but we intend to find out. I¡¯m sure Sorisanna would like a chance to assess you herself.¡±


    ¡°We can start over tea and a sturdy bed,¡± she said with one of those easy, disarming smiles of hers.


    ¡°Tea sounds nice,¡± the young woman murmured, then reluctantly nodded to Rhydian, ¡°all right.¡±


    Returning it, he cautiously gathered her into his arms. She stiffened, at first, squirming like some disgruntled feline. He tensed, half expecting a fight. His spiritual channels constricted, readying his rysk. Had he truly been foolish enough to offer up his own throat? The girl fell still and when he found her staring up at him, eyes wide, shame swept in to replace his anticipation. He was a Talhavar, not some frightened cadet. It was time he acted accordingly.


    He forced his core to relax, then rose.


    ¡°After you,¡± he said to Sorisanna, who swung the door wide for his passage.


    As he expected, the halls were empty. Tanuzet could be seen at the far end, her long body stretched across the entrance. Rhydian breathed a short sigh of relief and followed the wyvernsage down the opposite direction. Light as she was, the young woman was dreadfully warm even by the standards of the Nar¡¯Adai. Was it her fever? Or the fracturing? Either way, there was nothing he could do about it. All he could do now was leave her in Sorisanna¡¯s hands.


    The room she directed him into was larger than the previous with an attached bathing room and a window that rarely received direct sunlight, given its position along the mountain. He would still see to drawing the curtains. He hadn¡¯t forgotten how the woman had burned. He had made note of it as well, should he ever need another way to subdue her in the future.


    Setting her upon the bed, he quickly drew away, relieved to be away from those emerging fangs. Inerys seemed to share the sentiment, for she¡¯d shuffled into the center of the bed almost immediately. The movement was made awkward by her bound wrists, but she¡¯d made do. Rhydian debated removing them, though drew his attention to the door when Cydan arrived, his brow set, lips thin as he studied the girl.


    ¡°Cydan,¡± Rhydian said quietly, gesturing toward the hall, ¡°a moment?¡±


    ¡°Of course, ser,¡± he said, backing out the door.


    Rhydian spared the women a quick glance before following.


    ¡°How long has she been awake? Cydan asked.


    ¡°Not long,¡± Rhydian admitted, ¡°I¡¯ll fill you in later, but for now, I need you to keep an eye on her and keep Sorisanna safe. It¡¯s complicated, but she¡¯s similar to that thing we killed out in the Veil. She¡¯s weak and hasn¡¯t attacked yet, but keep your guard up. Her wrists are bound and I¡¯d like to keep them that way until I return.¡±


    He hesitated for a moment and Rhydian couldn¡¯t entirely blame him.


    ¡°Understood, ser.¡±


    ¡°If the worst happens, send for me. Restrain the girl if you can. She¡¯s stronger than she looks.¡±


    ¡°As strong as the first?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Not to the same degree, from what I can tell, but enough to likely challenge one of us.¡±


    He nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡±


    Rhydian placed an appreciative hand upon Cydan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll be back as soon as I can.¡±


    ~*~


    Inerys shrunk back against the headboard as she eyed the newcomer. He studied her with a similar wariness, as though she were some caged animal. To a degree, she supposed she was. With the door closed and not one, but two Adai present, she wasn¡¯t going anywhere. She gently tugged at her restraints, earning a wave of nausea when the silvery metal bit into her skin. She wavered, dazed by the rapid onset. When she relaxed, so did the sensation. She shuddered, wondering what mist-cursed mind had conjured this awful metal to begin with.


    ¡°It¡¯s silver,¡± the man offered, gesturing to her restraints, ¡°nasty stuff. It sucks the strength right out of you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like it off,¡± she said quietly.


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to take that up with the firstrider when he returns,¡± he said, crossing his arms as he leaned against the door, ¡°I have orders.¡±


    Orders.


    Rhydian was clearly the one in charge, though she hadn¡¯t the slightest idea what this man meant by firstrider.


    He was well built, like Rhydian, though was clearly an Adai, like the sage currently busying herself across the room. The neat stubble along his face matched the auburn of his hair, which was worn in the same waist-length braid favored by Rhydian and Ayduin. She wondered, for a moment, if the fashion meant something of any significance. The sage wore hers in a braid as well , yet it was loose and relaxed by comparison with a few stray locks left to frame her face. The others seemed intent not to allow so much as a single strand out of place.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± she asked, rather discomforted by the lack of name to put to his face.


    ¡°I¡¯m Cydan,¡± he said, looking her over, ¡°and you?¡±


    ¡°Inerys,¡± she replied, trying to ignore the glow of her fingers. ¡°Where am I, exactly?¡±


    He shifted his weight from one leg to the other and shared a glance with the sage who turned to offer Inerys a steaming mug that smelled of ginger and some other herb she couldn¡¯t place. Hesitantly, she took it. There was a slight tremor to her hands, yet she managed to hold it well enough without spilling it.


    ¡°This will help with the pain,¡± Sorisanna said, stepping back. ¡°As for where you are, I suppose that¡¯s a bit of a story. This is Mistwatch.¡±


    A story indeed and one everyone else seemed to be privy to but her. The name gave her some degree of hope, though. It couldn¡¯t be coincidence she was brought to such a place while in the deepwoods. She must not be quite as far from home as she initially believed.


    ¡°I can¡¯t say I¡¯ve ever heard of Mistwatch before,¡± Inerys said, ¡°is it a city?¡±


    Cydan gave her a quizzical look. ¡°Hardly. It''s a fortress. And a remote one at that.¡±


    She frowned.


    ¡°I-¡± she began, ¡°I see. How far into the deepwoods are we?¡±


    ¡°The . . . deepwoods?¡± Sorisanna asked.


    Slowly, Inerys felt her heart sink.


    ¡°It¡¯s what we call the forest beyond the Fringe, where the mist is thickest. It¡¯s a dangerous place, even for us Hounds.¡±


    ¡°Do you mean the Veil?¡± She asked.


    Is that what Rhydian had called it when he¡¯d questioned her earlier?


    ¡°I suppose I do,¡± she said, fearing what the woman might say.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid we¡¯re not in the Veil at all,¡± the sage said, ¡°the closest border is a little over six leagues to the east.¡±


    Six leagues.


    It wasn¡¯t a terrible distance, but she certainly wouldn¡¯t be crossing it in her current condition. She knew nothing of the terrain either, which might prove difficult once she was well enough to move on. A map would help. Directions too.


    ¡°And how far away did you find me?¡±


    Cydan pursed his lips. ¡°Honestly? I lost count. Rhydian likely knows. I¡¯d suggest saving any questions of that nature for him.¡±


    Inerys sighed, still tasting blood. ¡°Will he be back soon?¡±


    ¡°Hopefully,¡± he said.


    Wasn¡¯t that helpful.


    ¡°Drink while it¡¯s still warm,¡± Sorisanna said, ¡°I¡¯d like to have a proper look at your Soul in the meantime.¡±

 Chapter Fifteen: Active Omission

    Chapter Fifteen


    Active Omission


    <hr>


    Give her a moment, Rhydian, Tanuzet said gently as she rose from her post at the entrance hall.


    Why? Has something happened? He asked, drawn from his thoughts.


    She needs a moment to compose herself. Your argument can wait, she said, halting his advance as she brought her head low before him.


    Compose herself? He asked.


    Ayduin had been angry, sure, and he had come prepared for a fight, but did she truly need a moment to rally her nerve before she punched him in the nose? He was surprised she hadn¡¯t done so already, if he were honest. He¡¯d rather have it over and done with. However, Tanuzet¡¯s withering glare and accompanying mental nudge gave him the distinct impression he was being an idiot.


    What? He asked, indignant.


    Her yellow eyes narrowed. I¡¯ve finally come to the conclusion that males are inherently dense regardless of species.


    He sighed, having had enough of just about everything today. I¡¯m not in the mood, Tanuzet. Just tell me what¡¯s wrong.


    Her nostrils flared and she flashed her teeth. The poor girl watched one of those creatures tear her friend to pieces, what do you think is wrong?


    Rhydian flinched and brought a hand to the sudden sting in his chest. Her composure had slipped, anger lashing his Soul like the end of a whip. He sucked in a quick, short breath. Her words had cut as deep as her outburst, snapping him back into focus.


    ¡°I . . .¡±


    Guilt slithered in around his heart and began to squeeze.


    He really had been a fool, hadn¡¯t he?


    Keishara was dead.


    Somehow the reality hadn¡¯t struck him until now. His friend and thirdrider . . . was gone. Murdered. How had he not seen that? The hollowness he¡¯d felt these last few days gave way to a deep seated anguish he¡¯d shoved away into some dark corner. It had always been there, he realized, yet he¡¯d smothered it. Refused to feel, for if he did, he could not be the man Mistwatch needed him to be during the ensuing fallout. He was their firstrider.


    He could grieve later.


    Yet he hadn¡¯t.


    He had been so caught up in trying to manage the whole affair, he had failed to consider how the others had been affected. The flight had mourned, though theirs was a distant pain by comparison. Ayduin, Cydan, the wyverns - they¡¯d all witnessed Keishara¡¯s death. They¡¯d fought the woman responsible having never seen combat prior to the slaughter. How had he allowed those facts to become cursory concerns?


    His shoulders fell.


    Forgive me, he said, I was too blind to see.


    Tanuzet pushed her snout into his side. You have had your share of troubles, all I ask is that you do not lose sight of those closest to you. You are not in this alone.


    He pressed his hand to her warm scales, sighing as he leaned into her. A soft whistle escaped her nostrils, her head angling ever so gently toward him. She was right; he wasn¡¯t in this alone, in grief or in ability. He should have recognized it sooner.


    I¡¯ve come to the conclusion women are infuriatingly wise regardless of species, he teased.


    The wyvern gave an amused snort. You are not half as funny as you think you are.


    He chuckled and she nudged him upright.


    Vaelor says she¡¯s ready for you.


    Rhydian nodded, Is he with Ephaxus?


    She blinked deeply in confirmation.


    Gathering himself, he patted her snout and started toward the lift.


    ¡°Ayduin?¡± He asked, tone gentle.


    Her skin was damp beneath her eyes and short tracks of darker pigment spoke to the tears she¡¯d banished upon his approach. She¡¯d twisted the delicate chain of a necklace around several of her fingers, an old habit of hers he had not seen since their youth. It gave him pause, for the woman rarely wore jewelry of any sort, especially while in uniform. It was Keishara¡¯s, he realized. Ayduin¡¯s lip wobbled, though he silently drew her into his embrace before she could speak.


    A choked sob escaped her and she sagged against him. He held her for a long moment, his own eyes wet. He should have been here for her from the start.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he murmured, holding her close.


    ¡°Why are we keeping that thing alive, Rhydian?¡± She asked.


    There were a number of reasons, several of which he still grappled with, yet he settled for, ¡°Necessity.¡±


    She wiped her eyes before she drew back, refusing to let him see her tears.


    ¡°Necessity?¡±


    He released her, suddenly unsure of what to do with his hands.


    ¡°We need information. There are too many unanswered questions and right now she¡¯s the only one who might be able to offer any sort of explanation or insight.¡±


    ¡°What about command? Haven¡¯t they reached out to you?¡± She asked, ¡°Surely they¡¯ll have an explanation for all this?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve been notably quiet,¡± he said, ¡°I haven¡¯t heard so much as a whisper since that first night.¡±


    Retrieving his personal wyndstone, he offered it to her. It lay dormant and cold, the script dull, as it had been for days. No one had so much as left a message.


    Her brow knit. ¡°That can¡¯t be right.¡±


    ¡°I wish it were otherwise, but we¡¯re alone. For now, at least. I had planned to reach out again after our patrol this morning but¨C¡±


    ¡°Things escalated,¡± she said, closing the stone in her fist.


    ¡°Things escalated,¡± he sighed.


    ¡°Maybe there¡¯s been some sort of miscommunication? Command can¡¯t honestly ignore our report. First Wing Talhavar are dead,¡± she said.


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°Whatever the case, it¡¯s odd,¡± he agreed.


    ¡°Is questioning that girl worth the risk?¡± She asked, ¡°I mean¨C What if we have a repeat of our training exercise?¡±


    ¡°It won¡¯t come to that,¡± he promised.


    ¡°How can you be so certain? You saw what one of those things is capable of. Now we have another one on our hands. Inside Mistwatch. It could tear its way through the entire flight.¡±


    ¡°I left her bound in silver,¡± he assured, ¡°until we know more about her, she¡¯ll have eyes on her at all times. I¡¯m not entirely convinced she¡¯s connected to the woman, but that doesn¡¯t mean I won¡¯t take precautions. She has more than enough mystery all on her own.¡±


    Ayduin¡¯s jaw clenched, considering. ¡°I suppose that¡¯s something. Is Cydan with her, then? I saw him stalk by earlier.¡±


    He nodded, ¡°He¡¯s looking after Sorisanna as well. She insisted on evaluating the girl, since Vesryn wants nothing to do with her. The man¡¯s more spooked than we are.¡±


    ¡°Can you blame him?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± he admitted, his lips setting in a thin line.


    The man was right to be wary. He had been the one to study their monster in the morgue, after all, but Rhydian had expected more, on some level. The man struck him as a coward, though he supposed everyone had their limits.


    Ayduin studied him and slowly crossed her arms. ¡°Why do I have the feeling there¡¯s more to this than you¡¯ve let on?¡±


    Hesitant, Rhydian glanced down the surrounding corridors. His paranoia felt eyes where there likely were none, save Tanuzet¡¯s. He hadn¡¯t seen a single sages¡¯ assistant all morning. However, such was likely by design. The level had been under loose lockdown for days. Vesryn and Sorisanna did not need nosey, inquisitive eyes lurking about their halls attempting to sneak peeks at the wounded. For that, he was thankful.


    He slid the second wyndstone from a hidden slit in his brigandine.


    ¡°I found this on one of the First Wing riders,¡± he said quietly, handing it to her.


    Her eyes widened. ¡°You searched them?¡±


    ¡°I only did so to see if I might learn something of value. Instead, I found this,¡± he said, having not been proud of the act, ¡°Take a closer look and tell me what you see.¡±


    She cast him a skeptical look, but did so, turning it over in her hand.


    ¡°I don¡¯t see anything. It¡¯s just a wyndstone.¡±


    He nodded, ¡°Now look at mine.¡±


    Her brow furrowed. ¡°Yours has the Mistwatch firstrider signet etched into the back.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± he said, ¡°this one isn¡¯t marked. Neither were the silver arrows Thylas gave me.¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯s illegal,¡± she said, ¡°If the silver isn¡¯t marked¨C¡±


    ¡°It isn¡¯t traceable,¡± he said grimly, ¡°much like this wyndstone. If I use it, who knows who I might contact.¡±


    Ayduin took a few steps back, one of her hands half held in his direction. ¡°Rhydian, I don¡¯t like this. Please tell me you¡¯re not planning on using that stone?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve considered it,¡± he admitted.


    ¡°Why? You just said yourself: who knows who you might find on the other end.¡±


    ¡°I have a hunch and if I reach out to command and they stonewall me again, going around them may be my only option.¡±


    ¡°Around them? I¡¯m not sure I like where this is going,¡± she said, beginning to twist the chain of Keishara¡¯s necklace once more.


    ¡°You and I both,¡± he said lowly, ¡°Think about it, though. Outside of command, who else has the power to call upon members of the Talhavar First Wing and supply them with offensive silver?¡±


    ¡°It would be a short list,¡± she admitted, ¡°Are you suggesting the Council is behind this?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t think of a single organization on the continent that still has access to silver weaponry. It has to be stamped even for mundane uses,¡± he said, ¡°And that includes command.¡±


    ¡°If . . . if that¡¯s true, they¡¯ll want those arrows back.¡±


    He nodded, ¡°As well as the body of the monster they were meant to slay.¡±


    Ayduin pressed her fingers to her brow and leaned back against the frame of the lift. Perhaps he should have shared his suspicions sooner. Speaking them aloud, he felt ridiculous, though with the pieces he was given, it made sense. In his mind, at least. He wondered if she¡¯d agree or think him crazy. He wasn¡¯t certain he could handle her dismissal.


    ¡°This is a lot to take in,¡± she said at length, eyes flitting up to his, ¡°Do we even know what that woman was?¡±


    He shifted his weight, bringing a hand to the back of his neck, ¡°Vesryn and I had a theory,¡± he said, ¡°It might sound ludicrous, but do you remember those old stories we used to read when we¡¯d sneak into the library as kids? The ones about the cannibals who lived across the sea?¡±


    ¡°We used to read plenty of things we shouldn¡¯t have,¡± she said, handing back the stones, ¡°I¡¯m sure tales of cannibals were among them. What makes you think she was one of them?¡±


    ¡°The blood, mainly. And her teeth. The way she attacked that girl in the woods¨C she was feeding on her. I¡¯m certain of it,¡± he said, shuddering at the memory, ¡°You don¡¯t have fangs like those for no reason. Vesryn insists they were called vampires. I doubt we¡¯d find anything in our dusty old library about them here, but at least it''s a start.¡±


    She shivered, ¡°So you two think we have one of those cannibal vampires here and you still want to keep it alive?¡±


    Rhydian grimaced. ¡°For now, yes. I don¡¯t think she was one from the start, though. When that woman bit her, I believe she may have transferred some sort of disease. Maybe some form of corrupted rysk. It might be reversible.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all the more reason to put an end to ours while we have the chance. What if she bites someone? Skies, what if she bites you? We could have an entire outbreak on our hands.¡±


    She had a point, one he hadn¡¯t failed to consider himself.


    ¡°Trust me, I¡¯m well aware,¡± he said, ¡°But she hasn¡¯t made a move against anyone and even if she did, she¡¯s contained. I¡¯m not executing an innocent girl without due cause.¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t have to,¡± Ayduin said, nostrils flaring, ¡°Push her off the overhang and the mountain will do it for you. What happens when she gets hungry? Can she even eat normal food?¡±


    He pursed his lips, having asked himself those very questions. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. We have livestock, though, and if worse comes to worst, Tanuzet and I can hunt. Raw meat isn¡¯t hard to come by.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re granting that thing too many allowances,¡± she said, ¡°Kill it and be done with it.¡±


    ¡°That thing is a young woman, Ayduin,¡± he said, perhaps more for his benefit than her own, ¡°Her name is Inerys and I¡¯m willing to give her the benefit of the doubt until I can get this all sorted. She could very well be another victim. We made an oath to keep the people of this continent safe. Like it or not, she¡¯s one of those people. If we can help, I¡¯d like to. If she becomes a risk. . . I¡¯ll give her a quick death.¡±


    Saying it aloud hit him in a way he hadn¡¯t expected. Monstrous as the girl had become, she was still a person. Not a thing. He had to repeat the revelation in his mind until he believed it and overcame his fear. It may take days to do so, if not longer, but he would.


    Ayduin watched him, silent as she searched his face.


    ¡°Our flight are among those people too,¡± she said, stepping close, ¡°I hope you know what you¡¯re doing.¡±


    ¡°You have my word,¡± he promised, placing a hand on her shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll take first watch after Cydan. Can I count on you taking over later?¡±


    ¡°Of course you can,¡± she said quietly, perturbed he¡¯d even asked.


    He smiled to himself and gave her shoulder a squeeze before he stepped into the lift.


    The overhang beyond the lairs lay quiet, save for the soft hiss of the afternoon mists as they scraped across the crags. Rhydian stood along the edge, fiddling with his wyndstone. He was stalling and he knew it. If command did not have answers, he would be forced to turn to his alternative. Both had the potential to end poorly. He could either pull the splinter now or wait for it to fester for fear of a momentary pain.


    Behind him, Tanuzet and Ephaxus laid together in a lone patch of sunlight. While the latter had fallen asleep, Rhydian sensed Tanuzet¡¯s attention upon him still. Waiting. She peeked one eye open and he did not need to tap into their bond to know her thoughts.


    Get on with it, that stare said.


    Bracing himself, he rallied his intent and activated the stone.


    Warmth surged through the stone within the span of a few breaths, announcing the connection.


    ¡°This is Rhydian ne¡¯Tanuzet, firstrider of Mistwatch.¡±


    Silence.


    His jaw ticked, ¡°Command, this is Mistwatch¡¯s firstrider. Acknowledge?¡±


    Another heartbeat passed and a man spoke.


    ¡°This is command, proceed.¡±


    He did his best to shove down his frustration. At least someone had answered.


    ¡°I reported in a few days ago, regarding a pair of First Wing riders,¡± he said, ¡°I was told an investigation would be launched and to stand by. Has there been any update? I was under the impression someone would reach out.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m unaware of any active investigations in your area,¡± he said, ¡°Give me a moment to search our logs. There may have been a miscommunication.¡±


    Rhydian sighed, but said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    This whole affair had been rotten from the start. No information. No reports. No trace. He had a difficult time believing command was in the dark. Perhaps the lower clearance levels were, but higher up? Someone knew something and he¡¯d likely have to claw his way to any real answers. Such lines of thought were dangerous.


    ¡°Based on our records, the last communication we received from your outpost was three months ago to confirm a provisions delivery,¡± the man said abruptly, ¡°is it possible you contacted someone else?¡±


    Their last record was three months ago?


    ¡°No, that can¡¯t be right. I spoke with a woman from command just the other night. The matter was in regard to Thylas ne¡¯Kiraht and Oraena ne¡¯Malys. I was under the impression they were members of the First Wing,¡± he said, his free hand curling into a fist.


    ¡°You must be mistaken, ser. Those names aren¡¯t in any of our records.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious,¡± Rhydian said, baffled, ¡°Who did you send?¡±


    He may have imagined it, but he thought he caught a note of anxiety in the man¡¯s tone when he said, ¡°As I stated before, we have no active investigations or agents in your area beyond those currently stationed at Mistwatch. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    The wyndstone went cold.


    Tanuzet snarled behind him. Liars.


    He stared down at the now dormant stone, wavering a moment where he stood. In truth, he was tempted to hurl the cursed thing into the mist. How could they dismiss him so easily? So blatantly? He wanted to scream, to do more than throw a simple stone from the side of a mountain.


    Instead, he drew the unmarked stone from his pocket and threw his intent into it. It vibrated in his hand, a sign the connection had been made, but not acknowledged by the other side. He had anticipated as much, though knew his words would reach their target. Somewhere, someone had to be monitoring the stone.


    ¡°My name is Rhydian ne¡¯Tanuzet, acting firstrider of the outpost Mistwatch. I have information I suspect you might find intriguing about a mutual interest. At dawn tomorrow, my wyndgate will be open.¡±

 Chapter Sixteen: Primal

    Chapter Sixteen


    Primal


    <hr>


    Inerys woke to the low whine of her door. Grimacing, she sank further beneath the covers in an attempt to soothe the sharp sting it drew from her ears. Heavy footsteps reverberated through the stone and bed and into her bones, then ceased in the center of the room. A soft, resigned exhalation followed. She listened, for a moment, half afraid to peek out from the blankets and come face to face with the mist-forsaken man named Rhydian. While he''d promised her he would not harm her, he still terrified her. His appearance stoked some primal fear she¡¯d never known she possessed.


    Despite their otherworldliness, Sorisanna and Cydan had been far more palatable. She saw hints of familiarity in their faces, the subtle resemblance some of her fellow Hounds still bore to their inhuman kin. Rhydian and the other woman, however, were alien. Their blue-gray skin too closely resembled the deepwoods after dusk and the severity of their vulpine faces were likely to startle even the most staunch sorcerer into an early grave. As it was, those silvery, owl-like eyes of his had haunted what little sleep she¡¯d found.


    She knew he was waiting for her and debated asking him to leave, when the scent of seared venison teased her nose. It spoke to the deep, yawning hunger in her gut and momentarily drove all rational thought from her mind. Each ingredient was distinct: rosemary, salt and a dash of pepper. It was simple and while more potent than she was used to, lured her nonetheless. She caught hints of other scents too, some sweet, some not. Others drew the attention of the creature inside her. She thought to ignore them out of some unfounded spite, but her opposition quickly dissolved in favor of investigation. Cautiously, she poked her head out from the blankets.


    At first, Rhydian eyed her as though she might spring from the bed at any moment, his stance primed to leap aside, tray and all. Was she really so terrifying to him? She supposed if they truly suspected her of being like that other woman, as Sorisanna had theorized, she understood. She had her own reservations about him, so she couldn¡¯t exactly blame the man for being cautious. She suspected this was new to everyone involved.


    She reluctantly wiggled her hands free of the blankets to prove she was still bound and he seemed to relax. Admittedly, she¡¯d tried to slip them off for the first hour after he¡¯d left when she thought Cydan and Sorisanna weren¡¯t looking, but had been rewarded with an unrelenting nausea. Her resolve had fizzled out rather quickly after the first dozen or so attempts, but he didn¡¯t need to know. She was still here, after all, and felt marginally better after the sage¡¯s tea and some rest.


    ¡°I brought you something to eat,¡± he said, adjusting the tray in his hands, ¡°I imagine you¡¯re quite hungry?¡±


    ¡°Starving,¡± she said, loathing the way her current lack of teeth obscured the word. Her cheeks burned. Spirits¡¯ breath, she sounded like a toddler again.


    ¡°I¡¯d say,¡± Cydan said from where he had been silently reading in the corner, ¡°asleep or not, her stomach growling could wake the dead.¡±


    Rhydian winced, ¡°I suppose I should have come sooner.¡±


    Cydan closed his book and unhooked the ankle he¡¯d crossed over his knee. ¡°What happened to Sorisanna? She left a few hours ago to bring us something.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure that was her intention,¡± he said, rounding the bed, ¡°but I found her asleep in the store room.¡±


    ¡°Really? I can¡¯t say I¡¯m surprised. The poor woman was dead on her feet.¡±


    Inerys was inclined to agree. She¡¯d experienced a similar bone-deep exhaustion a time or two herself. Though, she couldn¡¯t say she¡¯d ever fallen asleep in the middle of a task. The woman must have been tired indeed.


    ¡°I brought her to her room,¡± Rhydian assured, ¡°Would you check on her in a few hours for me?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°And shoo her back to bed if you catch her wandering around before dawn. I¡¯m sure we can survive the night without her,¡± he added.


    Cydan¡¯s chuckle was light. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best, ser.¡±


    Inerys watched the other man take his leave, then glanced toward Rhydian when the door clicked shut.


    ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Rhydian asked.


    ¡°Like I¡¯ve spent the last week circling the bottom of a wine cask,¡± she admitted.


    ¡°I can imagine. You look a bit better than when I left,¡± he said.


    She wasn¡¯t quite sure she believed him, but said, ¡°Sorisanna¡¯s tea helped with some of the pain.¡±


    ¡°Good. I have another dose for you, but you should eat first. Some of the herbs can be rough on the stomach.¡±


    ¡°Is this one going to put me to sleep again?¡± She asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s meant to help you sleep, not force you to,¡± he said, setting the tray upon her nightstand.


    This close, the scents seized her attention. They were all familiar to some degree or another, yet one, in particular, called to her above the rest. She studied the small array of wooden plates as she sought to pinpoint it. Three plates were arranged along one side of the tray bearing seared venison, a serving of what appeared to be mixed berries and a small loaf of warm bread. The medicinal tea was also present, carefully tucked in the corner. As desirable as they were, none of them held the allure she desired.


    To her dismay, the other half of the tray was more concerning. A lone plate bore a small collection of raw meat cuttings and was flanked by two identical mugs filled with dark liquid she thought might be wine. The only difference between them was the scent. The one on the left smelled thin and strangely gamey. However the one on the right was rich and laced with a heady spice. Deep down, she felt the creature inside her stir in response; a great, drowsy beast roused by that scent alone. Her thoughts grew muddy and some distant part of her thrashed against the animalistic instinct driving her bound hands toward the cup.


    She needed food, not wine. What was she thinking? She¡¯d been starved for who knew how long and her first inclination was to drink away her troubles? She knew her body had been broken, but had the same been done to her mind? What was wrong with her? Though she tried, she couldn¡¯t tear her gaze from the cursed mug. One sip might ease her pain, would ease her pain. She simply had to reach out and indulge. . .


    Memory flashed and the patchy skin along her neck began to tingle. Those ember eyes from before suddenly bore into her, the ghostly echo of the woman¡¯s fangs piercing her flesh like a shard of ice. Her bound hands flew to her throat, relief and nausea coursing through her in equal measure as the silver bit deep. It isn¡¯t wine, her inner voice screamed, it¡¯s blood!


    The revelation struck her like an arctic breeze.


    Her body locked up, lungs strangled for breath. She wasn¡¯t a monster, not like the woman. She couldn¡¯t be, yet she longed for the forbidden contents as if she were some deprived addict. Her skin itched, her jaw ached and it was all she could do not to lunge for the damned tray.


    Beside her, Rhydian had stiffened. ¡°Inerys?¡± He asked carefully.


    At first, she didn¡¯t hear him.


    She wasn¡¯t certain whether it was her who was reaching for the mug, or the creature.


    ¡°Inerys!¡±


    She flinched, his raised voice hitting her like a blow to the head.


    Her gaze snapped to his face.


    ¡°I¨C I¡¯m sorry,¡± she breathed.


    A muscle feathered along his clenched jaw as he sat, half poised on the defensive.


    ¡°What is it?¡± He asked, all pleasantries forgotten.


    She couldn¡¯t think beyond the scent.


    Her throat began to constrict, but she managed a strangled, ¡°I need it.¡±


    The desperation of the admission disgusted her, yet it was the truth.


    His gaze flickered to the mug in question, though he asked in a low, dangerous tone, ¡°Which one?¡±


    Inerys thought to lie, for she feared her future hinged on her response, but even if she did, she suspected he already knew the truth. With trembling hands, she pointed at the mug on the right. Her ears ticked in response to the sudden spike in his heartbeat, but she couldn''t bring herself to care. As long as he gave her what she needed, she could figure out the repercussions later. His quiet reluctance began to strip away what little restraint she had left and when his hand finally grasped the mug, her will snapped.


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    Quick as an asp, she lunged forward and tore the cup from his fingers. A low growl, like that of some mountain cat, escaped her as she drew back toward the headboard with her prize. She wasted no time downing it, the warm liquid flowing across her tongue and down her throat like a thick, mulled wine. She found herself drunk on it as the seconds passed, drowning in the relief the strange spice offered. It was full bodied and sweet, absent the metallic edge she¡¯d tasted in her own blood.


    On some instinctive level, she knew she had been after whatever curiosity the blood contained, rather than blood itself. Her body seemed to wick away the essence of it the moment it crossed her lips. Her joints loosened and the deep ache in her bones eased a fraction. Her back bowed against the wood and pillows as she slouched forward, panting. Gradually, her thoughts pieced themselves back together.


    She tensed.


    The room had gone quiet.


    Rhydian crouched in a defensive stance a few feet from the bed, his hand upon a blade. No, not a blade, an arrow. He held the shaft firm behind the long, razor-sharp tip. The head alone may as well have been a dagger. It was the sort of arrow one might use to down a prize stag or bear, not some bedridden girl. Her mouth dried at the sight of the familiar fletching at the end of the shaft. She¡¯d seen a similar bolt buried in the woman¡¯s back, not once, but twice. The memories were fragmented, somehow, but she knew she¡¯d seen its siblings.


    Inerys gripped her empty mug tight and shied away. Even with her strength, she doubted she¡¯d be able to gain the upper hand in an altercation. She was bound and half dead already. If he¡¯d truly killed the woman in the woods, what was Inerys but an afterthought?


    Down the hall, she could have sworn she heard a snarl and the scraping of talons on stone. Whatever creature was responsible sounded massive, though did not terrify her the way the immediate threat did. Conflict warred behind Rhydian¡¯s silver eyes and the two stared at one another for a long moment, awaiting the first strike. When none came, he was the first to relax, albeit warily.


    ¡°Are you still in there?¡± He asked.


    She nodded feverishly.


    ¡°Are you back in control of yourself?¡±


    Again, she nodded and tried to swallow the lump in her throat.


    After a moment of careful consideration, he slowly set the arrow upon the floor and bared his gloved palm to her. His gaze remained locked with hers all the while and he backed a single step to retrieve his fallen chair with his free hand. Heart racing, she mirrored the gesture by leaning forward to relinquish her makeshift weapon. A cup. Were it not for the situation, she might have laughed. What would a bit of fired clay do against a man like him? He wasn¡¯t some drunken pureblood in the tavern back home.


    ¡°I suppose that answers that question,¡± he muttered under his breath.


    Inerys drew her shaking fingers against her stomach and tucked up her knees.


    ¡°What question?¡± She asked, voice barely there.


    He blew out a humorless laugh. ¡°As to your preference. In truth, we weren¡¯t sure what you could eat, so I brought a few staples as well as a few test items for you to sample.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± was all she could say, her brows knit.


    She felt as though she¡¯d failed some test. Miserably so. Still, it seemed they¡¯d silently come to some sort of truce, however uneasy it was.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said, for what little it was worth, ¡°that¡¯s never happened to me before. The loss of control, I mean.¡±


    He studied her.


    ¡°Each species is different. I was hoping your diet was still close enough to ours, but it doesn¡¯t appear to be the case.¡±


    She could tell the fact troubled him.


    ¡°I ¨C the venison smells delicious. I¡¯d love some, if the offer is still on the table,¡± she said, remaining where she was more for his benefit rather than her own. He may draw the arrow again if she so much as twitched.


    Something akin to relief shone in his eye, though apprehension swept in behind it.


    ¡°The . . .¡±


    ¡°Cooked one. Not the . . . raw bit,¡± she clarified.


    His shoulders relaxed.


    ¡°By all means,¡± he said, moving the tray up to the bed for her and retrieving the empty mug.


    She frowned down at her bindings, but decided now was not the time to ask for them to be removed. Mercifully, the seared loins had already been cut into manageable medallions. Her stomach growled audibly and she quickly shoved her hands against it as if they would somehow quell the sound. Heat rushed into her pale cheeks. Her body had already betrayed her and now it was keen to embarrass her as well. Wonderful. She was beginning to think death was preferable after all.


    Spirits, what would Nan and Soren make of all this? Her heart ached at the thought of them. Were they waiting for her beside the fire, worried and afraid? Or had Alaric already returned to tell them she¡¯d been claimed by the deepwoods like her mother? Tears welled in her eyes, yet she forced herself to reach for the fork with light-laced fingers. She would need every bit of strength she could gather for the journey home.


    Rhydian offered her a soft cloth. ¡°For your eyes,¡± he murmured.


    Her breath rattled as she took it. ¡°Thank you. Do you know what¡¯s happened to me?¡±


    ¡°The others and I have theories, but nothing definitive. You¡¯ve changed, though. Your fangs are proof enough.¡±


    Sorisanna had told her something similar and while Inerys wanted to argue she was still herself, still a Hound, she knew better. She wasn¡¯t a fool. Deluding herself wouldn¡¯t earn her any favors nor change the reality of her situation. She was alive, at least, and she could work with that.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know what that woman was, then?¡± She asked.


    ¡°Unfortunately, no, but I intend to find out. I¡¯m not sure if your current state is a blessing or a curse for us, insensitive as that might sound. We weren¡¯t expecting any of this, but you could provide us with some rather valuable insight. If you help us figure this all out, I¡¯ll do what I can to help you,¡± he said.


    Inerys wanted desperately to believe him.


    ¡°I have a family waiting for me,¡± she said, picking at the berries.


    ¡°Children?¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°My brother and grandmother. Right now, I¡¯m their sole provider.¡±


    Without her, they still had her Trust to fall back on, but she wasn¡¯t ready to relinquish the information. She needed him to believe peoples¡¯ lives hinged on her return. Whatever sympathy she could garner, she would take.


    He frowned. ¡°I see. Are they in the Veil too? You never told me where you were from.¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure you¡¯d believe me,¡± she said.


    ¡°After what I¡¯ve seen these past few days, I¡¯m willing to believe just about anything,¡± he sighed, leaning back in his chair, ¡°what did you mean by deepwoods? You mentioned them before, but I¡¯m not certain I understand. Do you live somewhere within them?¡±


    ¡°I guess that¡¯s the best way to describe it,¡± she said, ¡°I¡¯ve only ever known the Seven Cities and the woods surrounding them. We knew there were places beyond the forest, but no one has been able to travel beyond them in centuries. We¡¯ve only ever had stories, oral traditions. We Hounds have Adai in our heritage, so we knew there was some truth to the tales. I never would have imagined how far removed we actually are, though.¡±


    He rubbed a hand along his jaw, the other crossing over his chest. His eyes glazed over, as if his mind were somehow in two places at once.


    ¡°These cities, are they large?¡± He asked.


    She pursed her lips, not entirely sure how to answer the question. They were far larger than her village, yet she hadn¡¯t the faintest idea how they might compare to a city full of Adai.


    ¡°Each city-state is different, but they each have a handful of surrounding villages. Corvanna is said to have a few towns, but I¡¯ve never seen them. I haven¡¯t traveled far beyond Aeodran, really. Aside from the forest.¡±


    ¡°Aeodran,¡± he said, ¡°is that where you¡¯re from?¡±


    ¡°My village is less than a league outside the city,¡± she said, ¡°you¡¯ve . . . never heard of them?¡±


    ¡°No. We¡¯ve only ever known the Veil to be a cursed land filled with Blight and angry spirits. To learn there are entire cities within it is shocking, to say the least. Had you told me all this less than a week ago under different circumstances, I would have thought you a madwoman.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m beginning to feel like one.¡±


    ¡°You might have been better off if you were,¡± he admitted. ¡°You mentioned mixed blood. What of these humans you spoke of?¡±


    ¡°The purebloods? It¡¯s rare to see them outside their city walls. Some own farms beyond them, but they¡¯re only ever staffed by mundanes,¡± she noticed his brow furrow at the term, so she clarified, ¡°Hounds and mundanes are both of mixed blood, but mundanes have less Adai in their heritage. These days, most of them could pass for purebloods. They have rounded ears, but some still have the Adai height. The Sorcerers Guild has methods of deciphering one¡¯s ancestry through blood, but I have no idea how it works.¡±


    ¡°I see . . .¡± he said, clearly confused on some level. ¡°What were you doing out there when the woman found you?¡±


    She grimaced. ¡°Searching for herbs. Most Hounds make their living hunting and foraging materials for the Guild. It¡¯s dangerous work.¡±


    ¡°Had you ever seen the woman before?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she breathed, ¡°If I had, I would have run the moment she stepped out of the mist. Instead, I hid.¡±


    ¡°How did she find you?¡±


    Shuddering, she raised her arm, tracing a now-healed scar along the back of her forearm. ¡°At the time, this was still a fresh wound. I tore open my stitches while trying to creep away. She must have scented the blood. I knew the moment she noticed I was there, though. There was this . . . buzzing in my ears. I heard her speak in this other language and suddenly, my body wasn¡¯t my own. It was like I¡¯d become a slave to her words.¡±


    Rhydian¡¯s nostrils flared lightly.


    ¡°You had no control at all?¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°I was a prisoner in my own body.¡±


    There was a measure of urgency to him as he rose. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I have other matters yet to see to, but I¡¯d like to speak more later. Rest while you can. Ayduin¡¯s agreed to spend the night with you, but be warned, she¡¯s more wary of you than I am.¡±


    Inerys nearly dropped her fork, venison and all. ¡°She won¡¯t hurt me, will she?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s given me her word, but I cannot promise her facial expressions will be particularly pleasant. This is a learning experience for us all.¡±


    She shuddered, not particularly thrilled by the idea as she looked to her waiting tea.


    It was probably best if she drank it now.


    ¡°I understand,¡± she said quietly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back come morning,¡± she assured, ¡°Good night, Inerys.¡±

 Chapter Seventeen: The Report

    Chapter Seventeen


    The Report


    <hr>


    In the small hours of the morning, Rhydian paced before the grand arches of Mistwatch¡¯s wyndgate. Despite his lightheadedness, he rehearsed the events of his report in his mind. He had done so countless times already, scrutinizing each and every detail, determining what he might have to alter or omit, depending on who it was he spoke with. There had been little else to do as he¡¯d lain awake throughout the night, cursing himself for allowing his frustration to get the better of him.


    Activating Oraena¡¯s unmarked wynstone yesterday had been easy. Thrilling, even. However, once the high had worn off, he was not half as confident as he had been in the heat of the moment. The thought of actually contacting those involved had his stomach tying itself in knots. His hands trembled, breath constricted and more often than not, he found himself toying with the stone in order to soothe the incessant shaking.


    At best, he had broken protocol and circumvented the whole of Talhavar command. At worst? He may have unwittingly contacted some unknown enemy of Oryllia. While he believed the evidence leaned toward the former, it was difficult to fully silence his more conspiratorial thoughts. The idea of some foreign agent infiltrating their ranks terrified him and he had to remind himself the truth was likely far less dramatic. If he had truly uncovered some false front and inadvertently revealed it during his initial report, he imagined events would have played out far differently. There would have been interviews, sworn accounts and official investigations, not hollow promises, denials and outright dismissals.


    In truth, he felt foolish for even entertaining such outlandish thoughts in the first place, but he had learned stress was a fickle creature. Once he took the time to think and approach the matter from a more rational angle, he understood why a mission like this would have been kept quiet and why information would not have been freely given to him, especially by a mere communication relay. The operators likely knew even less than he did. Of course there would be no record of active Talhavar near Mistwatch. The Firstwing agents, whoever they actually were, had been tasked with a mission of utmost secrecy. Any information surrounding the affair would have been kept as far from the general ranks as possible. No records, no trace, no liabilities.


    Rhydian and his flight were the only exception and even then, there were fewer than a dozen who knew what had actually happened out in the Wilds. He knew the implications of the fact all too well and just how easy it would be to cover up any involvement or loose ends. But he had been down that line of thought before. If he had any chance of sparing himself and his flight, he had to approach this meeting as an opportunity, rather than a damnation. This would likely be his first and only chance to explain himself, the situation, and how it had all gone awry.


    During the long, restless hours he¡¯d spent piecing together his thoughts, he had come to the conclusion both dyads had vastly underestimated their opponent. Whether it was due to genuine ignorance or some lowered perception of risk due to the woman¡¯s shackled spirit, he could not say for certain. It had likely been a combination of both, for the woman had been wholly other in every conceivable way. She had even spawned another in her image. Though, Inerys was another matter entirely. One he wasn¡¯t quite sure how to approach.


    Depending upon the outcome of this meeting, she may not be his problem to handle much longer. A part of him hoped she wouldn¡¯t be. He was fairly certain whomever he would speak with would either be a close underling of the Talhavar Elder Council, or Elders themselves. Subordinates, he could handle, but upper command was another matter entirely. He had met them once, on the day of his graduation from the academy, and the memory alone chased a shiver up his spine. While they were not upon the level of true sovereigns, they had still reached Ascensions most could only dream of attaining. To stand in their presence had been as intimidating as it was awe-inspiring and the possibility of drawing their ire chilled Rhydian to his core.


    What would he do if all three saw fit to speak with him? His fingers grew clammy at the thought. Had this been a mistake? Had he acted too soon? One did not simply bypass the Talhavar hierarchy without repercussion, regardless of the situation. There was a structure, an order, proper procedure. At this point, demotion would likely be the least of his concerns. To say nothing of the potential fall out of the operation in question.


    Rhydian grit his teeth and pulled the stone from his pocket. The whole ordeal had been impossible from the start. What choice did he truly have in any of it? Given the circumstances, going around his superiors had become necessary, in his mind, but others may yet disagree. Justified or no, he had overstepped.


    Regardless of what happened next, there was no changing the past. He had announced himself to whomever was responsible for setting this all in motion. All he could do now was attempt to mitigate the damage. He had been named firstrider of Mistwatch for a reason and it was time he composed himself accordingly. He could contemplate his own fate later.


    With a resigned sigh, he turned his attention toward the dormant gate. The cool, listless granite absorbed what meager light filtered in through the surrounding windows. Its high arches dominated the room, each occupying an entire edge of the hexagonal foundation. The construct was set several feet into the floor and one had to descend several wide stairs to reach the sunken rostrum in the center. It afforded ample space to host several individuals at once, though would accommodate but one, once the dawn broke.


    Rhydian stepped up to the control pedestal beside the first arch, palming the unmarked wyndstone that would act as the bridge between Mistwatch and whomever waited upon the other end. Iridescent blue smoke drifted in slow, idle currents within its opaque surface, awaiting his order. He hesitated, fingers curling. All it would take was a thought.


    Tanuzet¡¯s mind touched his, offering a certain, comforting warmth.


    I¡¯m here, she promised.


    He leaned into her presence for a spell offering an appreciative mental nudge in return. At least he was not in this alone.


    Steeling himself, he imbued the stone and set it within the metal notch of the pedestal¡¯s upward facing plate. With a soft click, the construct set. The dormant sigil script flared to life with a low hum and crisp, white light streaked down the intricate metal line work of the pillar-like structure. It spread throughout the foundation and up into the arches themselves, bathing the room in a soft,watery glow.


    For a moment, he stood in its shadow. His hands were shaking again, his throat constricting to the point of pain. Nevertheless, he forced a deep breath past the obstruction and into his lungs. He was a firstrider, not some fresh recruit. He would not allow his nerves to unravel now, not when he was so close.


    Dawn broke through a distant window.


    Rolling his shoulders, he stepped down into the heart of the gate and took his place. He clasped his hands behind his back and waited. Yet, nothing happened. The gates were active, yet idle. The back of his neck grew tacky as the minutes crawled by.


    Nothing.


    He broke into a cold sweat, glancing off toward the pedestal. What if he had been wrong? If no one answered his call . . .


    Energy pulsed through the room, reverberating through his core and into his bones. The arch before him thrummed, the linework of white light darkening to a deep azure hue as the connection bridged. Vaporous threads of silver-streaked violet slithered out from the structure¡¯s inner edge, licking the stone like narrow tongues of flame. They whispered to him, though the words were distant and soon lost to the tapestry of night now occupying the space within the arch. He found himself staring into the twilight as if through an open doorway, much like his annex.


    It shifted and undulated like a silken tapestry, though quickly began to warp and distort as the figure of a woman took shape. The gentle waves around her gradually gained definition and texture, revealing a thick, boundless mane of deepest merlot. The woman¡¯s amber skin burned with the radiance of a newborn sun, dimming the once brilliant diamonds of her hair to mere twinkles in the sand. And her face¨C


    Rhydian sucked in a breath.


    Blackness crept in along the edges of his vision and he swore he felt the world tilt. The walls pressed in from all sides and the ground surged upward. The weight of the woman¡¯s attention threatened to bow his shoulders and smother what resolve he had left. He fixed his gaze upon the floor, unwilling, unable, to move. He dared not breathe. In those moments, he wished the whole of the Elder Council had been brought upon him instead. He would gladly face their judgment in place of her¡¯s. In place of a sovereign.


    Sky¡¯s mercy.


    His head grew light, thoughts dazed.


    Easy, Tanuzet soothed, despite her own alarm.


    He thumped his right fist over his heart and dropped to one knee.


    ¡°High Wardeness,¡± he breathed.


    Though his eyes remained upon the floor at his feet, his awareness sensed her stillness, her appraisal.


    ¡°Rhydian ne¡¯Tanuzet, I presume?¡± She asked, her smooth, honeyed voice laced with what might have been amusement.


    ¡°Yes, my Lady,¡± he said, cursing himself as he sought a proper response, ¡°I¨C It is an honor to stand in your presence, Lady of Dreams.¡±


    Her chuckle was light, ¡°Rise, please. There is no need to stand on ceremony, firstrider. You called and I have answered. Tell me, what news have you of our mutual interest?¡±


    A cool, invisible caress glided across the underside of his jaw in silent invitation and slowly, Rhydian willed his body to obey.


    He rose and bowed his deference. While he was not quite sure how to compose himself in her presence, he wanted to offer his respect. He had been prepared to address the Talhavar, not one of the most powerful women in Zardaress, the High Wardeness, herself. Suddenly, he wasn¡¯t sure where to begin. His prior rehearsals had all but abandoned him.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Eventually, he said, ¡°Oraena ne¡¯Malys and Thylas ne¡¯Kiraht are dead, my Lady. As is my thirdrider.¡±


    Her flowing curls rippled, writhing like a bed of snakes for the span of a heartbeat, yet her elfin face betrayed nothing beyond a soft furrowing of her brow.


    ¡°Dead?¡±


    He considered his next words carefully. Thus far, he had only spoken of the matter in veiled terms even among those who had borne witness to the events of the last few days. In a way, doing so had made it seem less real. Speaking plainly would finally strip away the lie. The truth was a cruel, ugly thing, but the reality of it needed to be addressed, even if it pained him.


    ¡°Yes, my Lady,¡± he said, ¡°Two days ago, Thylas ne¡¯Kiraht arrived at Mistwatch stating he had been sent from the First Wing to see us through a training exercise. We were led to believe a suspect had been tracked into the area; a woman, shackled, but to be considered dangerous. Myself, as well as my second, third and forthrider, were tasked with providing aerial support and instructed not to engage unless necessary while the two ranking dyads approached the target from the ground.¡±


    He forced himself to breathe. The sights, the sounds, all came flooding back. Iron stung his nose upon a phantom breeze, turning his gut. A tremor shivered through his fingers and his grip on his hands tightened.


    ¡°Shortly after they cornered the subject, it became evident the training exercise was a ruse. The wyverns turned on one another and in the confusion, Thylas and Oraena were ambushed. By the time Tanuzet and I landed, the suspect had fled toward the Breadth. Kiraht, Malys and Oraena were already dead.¡±


    The woman¡¯s star-flecked eyes sharpened. ¡°What of Thylas?¡±


    ¡°He was mortally wounded, but alive when I found him,¡± he said, voice briefly catching, He¨C He entrusted his silver arrows to my care and bound me to his oath before he passed. From there, their mission became mine.¡±


    Her shrewd gaze turned to open assessment, as if she were studying some new facet of him she had only now noticed.


    ¡°I see,¡± she said, seemingly distracted as she searched his face. ¡°To accept the oath of a dying man is no small thing. What compelled you to take it?¡±


    He had been asking himself the same question. He could have let the man die. Ultimately, Thylas could not have forced Rhydian into the oath even if he wanted to, yet he had agreed without question. In the moment, he hadn¡¯t truly seen it as a choice.


    ¡°The woman needed to be stopped, my Lady,¡± he said, setting his jaw, ¡°I was simply carrying out my duty.¡±


    She inclined her head. ¡°Did you know the extent of what you were facing?¡±


    ¡°Between the nature of his weaponry and the ease in which she . . . killed them, I suspect she was of her seventh Ascension or higher.¡±


    ¡°Curious. And you yourself are at what, your fifth?¡±


    ¡°As of this past year, yes.¡±


    ¡°Those were hardly favorable odds,¡± she noted.


    ¡°No,¡± he agreed, ¡°but the silver arrows gave me hope I might stand a chance, my Lady. I had intended on pursuing her alone, but my team insisted upon joining me. Together, we chased the woman into the Endari Wilds themselves and were eventually able to subdue her.¡±


    ¡°But not without casualties?¡±


    He forced down the memory of Ephaxus¡¯ screams, the blood dripping from the woman¡¯s claws . . .


    He swallowed.


    Hard.


    ¡°My thirdrider was killed in the exchange and her bonded wyvern incapacitated.¡±


    He could see the thousand questions in her eyes, yet she did not voice them. Instead, her expression turned to one of genuine concern. ¡°You have my condolences, firstrider.¡±


    He shifted his weight where he stood, uncertain. ¡°Thank you, my Lady.¡±


    His words hung in the air between them, until the Wardeness asked, ¡°She was your first kill, wasn¡¯t she?¡±


    Unable to find his voice, he nodded.


    ¡°The feeling will fade with time. Taking a life is never easy, even when necessary.¡±


    Her implication struck a chord.


    ¡°I do not regret my actions,¡± he said, teeth grit.


    Tanuzet¡¯s low growl rumbled just beyond the chamber door.


    The woman raised a single, perfect brow.


    ¡°My only regret is that I could not end her before she tore my friend apart. I should have been faster. I should have¨C¡±


    He wasn¡¯t sure what he could have done differently that would have made a difference and he hated himself for it. Realizing his lapse, he drew a deep breath and recomposed himself.


    ¡°Forgive me.¡±


    ¡°There is nothing to forgive,¡± she said, ¡°You and yours have never been battle tested. To have engaged the monster you did and escape not only alive, but victorious, is nothing short of astonishing.¡±


    It didn¡¯t feel astonishing.


    Still, he bowed his head and forced himself to say. ¡°Thank you, Wardeness. You honor me.¡±


    To his surprise, she dipped her head in turn.


    ¡°You succeeded where your superiors could not, Rhydian. For that, you have my gratitude, but I am afraid I must ask more of you.¡±


    He had anticipated as much.


    ¡°I am at your service,¡± he said.


    ¡°Did you retrieve the body?¡±


    He nodded, ¡°Stored within my annex, along with the dyads.¡±


    Whatever their true names were. Despite his curiosity, he knew better than to press this woman for questions. One did not demand explanations of sovereigns, but perhaps she might offer them in time.


    ¡°Good. What did Thylas tell you?¡± She asked, embracing her position as sovereign.


    The shift in her tone startled him.


    ¡°He gave no reasonings or explanations, my Lady, even in his dying moments. I was tasked with slaying the woman and nothing more.¡±


    ¡°That may be so,¡± she said, ¡°but you¡¯re sharp. Thylas¡¯ confidence was not misplaced. By now, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve pieced together this mission¡¯s importance?¡±


    He hesitated.


    ¡°Your dyads went to great lengths to keep the true nature of their operation a secret. They wouldn¡¯t have done so without due cause.¡±


    She seemed to stare through him and into his very Soul. If he focused deep enough, he thought he could feel her scouring about his mind. There would be no hiding anything from this woman.


    ¡°Indeed. I trust you handled your part with equal discretion?¡±


    ¡°Yes, my Lady. Those who bore witness to the event have been oathbound and no word has been shared beyond them.¡±


    The weight of her scrutiny eased and she appeared satisfied by whatever it was she¡¯d sought.


    ¡°You will bring the dead here, to the capitol, along with those you¡¯ve bound to your word to brief me in full. This matter is rather delicate and for the sake of all involved, what happens after will need to be handled carefully,¡± she said.


    Rhydian brought his fist over his skittering heart. ¡°It will be done, my Lady. However, there is one other matter we must discuss.¡±


    Her eyes narrowed expectantly.


    He took a deep breath. If the High Wardeness wished to be briefed in full later, he would keep this short as well.


    ¡°My first arrow was not enough to kill the woman outright and in the chaos, she fled deeper into the Wilds. I pursued her on foot and managed to land the killing blow, but not before I encountered a . . . complication.¡±


    ¡°Complication?¡±


    ¡°There was another woman in the woods that day. At first, I believed she had somehow been in league with our original target, but now, I¡¯m not so sure. Her name is Inerys. She said she came from a place inside the Veil and went so far as to claim there were entire cities within. It¡¯s difficult to fathom, if I¡¯m honest, but I¡¯m inclined to believe her. She isn¡¯t Adai. At least not entirely. And now, I¡¯m not sure what she is. Her situation has become rather complicated.¡±


    ¡°How so?¡± She asked.


    ¡°Inerys was bitten by the target. The woman¡¯s attack was the distraction that gave me the opening I needed. At first, I thought I could interrogate her, so I had her rushed to Mistwatch for both treatment and questioning. The wound was life-threatening, but I had no idea what the lasting consequences of that bite would be. I believe something transferred between the two during the attack. Inerys¡¯ change has been frightening. She came to us with cores no stronger than that of a child, but within a day of the initial incident, both her mental and physical cores had jumped to their second Ascension. Her spiritual . . .is nearing the peak of its forth.¡±


    The woman¡¯s lips parted. ¡°You¡¯re certain of this?¡±


    ¡°One of our sages had to shackle the core to keep it from tearing her body apart. The fracturing is extensive,¡± he said slowly. ¡°The core is eating away at the shackle as we speak. None of us are sure what to make of it, or of her. Whatever the woman did, it turned Inerys into something else. Physically, the two share many of the same characteristics now. I personally witnessed the girl cough up her teeth. By now, the fangs growing in their place may have fully emerged.¡±


    The sovereign fell silent for a long moment, considering. ¡°How many know of her existence?¡±


    He tried to ignore the chill seeding in the base of his spine. He hadn¡¯t failed to notice the spark of intrigue behind the Wardeness¡¯ eyes.


    ¡°Only those whose oaths I¡¯ve already taken.¡±


    ¡°Is she fit for travel?¡±


    He grimaced. ¡°In her current state? No. She can barely function, let alone walk. With the instability of her cores, the slightest misstep might send her over the edge. As it is, the sage has given her a week before her core eats through the shackle.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised the sage had the foresight to arrest the core in the first place,¡± she admitted, tapping her chin with an elegant finger. ¡°If it is devouring the shackle¡¯s essence, laying several over one another may slow the process. It will not aid the current state of her body, however.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re treating her as we¡¯re able, but Mistwatch is not equipped to mend damage of that scale,¡± he said.


    ¡°I can¡¯t imagine it would,¡± she said, ¡°but the Spirit Wilds would.¡±


    Rhydian¡¯s brow knit. ¡°My Lady?¡±


    ¡°Consider my interest in this woman piqued, firstrider. I want this Inerys brought to me, but I want her alive and in good health. Take her to the Spirit Wilds. Between the ambient aura and forageable materials, you will have all you need to stabilize her Soul enough for the extended flight to Cyllicia.¡±


    He wanted to argue, to press his own line of questioning, but held his tongue. The fact she did not offer her own resources for such an endeavor struck him as odd. Skies knew a sovereign¡¯s cache had plenty to spare, but perhaps she did not want to risk involving anyone else. This mission had already gone awry. He supposed he couldn¡¯t fault her for being cautious.


    ¡°It will be done,¡± he swore, ¡°what of the bodies?¡±


    ¡°For now, leave them as they are. I will reach out to you if I change my mind, but until then, focus on your new charge. I want an update within the month.¡±

 Chapter Eighteen: Revelations

    Chapter Eighteen


    Revelations


    <hr>


    ¡°Well, how did it go?¡± Ayduin asked, ambushing Rhydian before he¡¯d made it more than a step beyond the door.


    He gave a start and cursed under his breath. Both Vaelor and Tanuzet were with her, eyeing him expectantly even though the latter had been privy to the entire conversation. He rubbed at his face, feeling like he¡¯d just endured a full day¡¯s flight without reprieve.


    ¡°All things considered? It could have been worse,¡± he said, pressing his back to the heavy door once he¡¯d locked it. ¡°The Council wasn¡¯t behind it.¡±


    Vaelor and Ayduin exchanged glances and she pursed her lips. ¡°Who did you speak with, then?¡±


    ¡°The High Wardeness.¡±


    Her brows shot up and she blinked. ¡°You¡¯re serious? You spoke with Katrielle Nysine?¡±


    ¡°Trust me, I would have preferred the Elders.¡±


    ¡°Skies above. I don¡¯t suppose she told you anything?¡±She asked, arms crossed.


    He shook his head, ¡°I know about as much now as I did before our little meeting.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s . . . aggravating,¡± she muttered, ¡°What happens now?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re being tasked with overseeing Inerys¡¯ advancement. Once we¡¯ve stabilized her Soul enough for long-distance travel, we¡¯re to fly to Cyllicia to meet the Wardeness in person. It seems she¡¯s taken an interest in our guest,¡± he said, idly brushing a hand along Tanuzet¡¯s chin.


    ¡°Advancement? We¡¯re not exactly equipped for something like that. Is she sending supplies?¡±


    ¡°She wants us to take her to the Spirit Wilds.¡±


    Ayduin snorted, ¡°That girl is a stone¡¯s throw away from death. She won¡¯t last the flight, no matter how short.¡±


    At first, he¡¯d been inclined to agree. From what the others had told him, Inerys had done little beyond sleep since he¡¯d last seen her. It wasn¡¯t entirely unexpected, though. Rest was important for one¡¯s recovery, but hers was not a normal ailment. Her body was under enough stress as it was, though an idea struck him. Perhaps giving her an extra dose of Sorisanna¡¯s tea would make the flight easier. He made a mental note to inquire after the possibility later.


    ¡°We still have a few medicinal pills on hand I¡¯m willing to spare. I¡¯ll speak with Sorisanna and see what we can do to minimize any further fracturing. She¡¯s in no shape to make the flight to the capitol, especially if we encounter a storm, but we should be able to manage a few hours if we¡¯re careful. The Wardeness is giving us a full month before I have to report in with an update, so we have a few days to figure things out before we should leave.¡±


    ¡°A month? Sorisanna gave her less than a week before the shackle fails.¡±


    ¡°I explained as much,¡± he assured, ¡°But the Wardeness believes layering several shackles over the core should be enough to contain it over the next few weeks. I only hope it¡¯s long enough to make a difference.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be heartbroken if it wasn¡¯t,¡± she sighed, ¡°but I can¡¯t imagine the Wardeness would be particularly pleased if her little beastie died.¡±


    If we are journeying to the Spirithold, Ephaxus should join us, Tanuzet said.


    Vaelor rumbled his assent. He will not stay in the sages¡¯ ward forever. If he does not join us, he should leave the keep regardless. Dwelling in Keishara¡¯s memory will only heighten his chances of succumbing to the separation.


    Tanuzet chuffed as she arched her elegant neck. He will fare far better with our support and we would not bear the worry of draining resources in the Spirithold.


    Inwardly, Rhydian cursed himself for not considering such sooner. The Spirit Wilds or Spirithold, as the wyverns referred to it, was a treasure trove few were equipped to take advantage of. Beyond the dense atmospheric aura, the flora and fauna within were ripe with essence of all sorts. In truth, it was likely the best option for both of them.


    He rubbed his cheek with a gloved hand, thinking. The Wardeness had wanted all involved brought to her, which would include Ephaxus. However, there was still the matter of his condition to consider.


    ¡°I¡¯m not opposed, but I¡¯ll have to discuss his condition with Sorisanna first. I¡¯m not even sure he can fly in his current state. His wings may be functional, but without his tail and lesser set, he won¡¯t be able to stay aloft. I won¡¯t risk another fall,¡± he said. ¡°If he has to wait and join us later, I¡¯ll have either you or Cydan stay behind until he¡¯s ready. I¡¯d prefer to have two wyverns with him in case something happens along the way, but there¡¯s no point setting anything in stone until we have the sage¡¯s input.¡±


    ¡°I take it we¡¯re all being shipped off to the capitol?¡± Ayduin asked.


    ¡°She wanted all who were bound to my oath in attendance,¡± he said, shifting uncomfortably at the thought of leaving Mistwatch without a sage.


    Before they had said their farewells, the Wardeness had assured him she would see to the outpost¡¯s wellness. Talhavar would be reassigned and distributed accordingly. Mistwatch would be secure. A part of him would mourn the loss of his flight, but it seemed fate had called him to another purpose. One that might one day lead to something greater, if he were lucky or proved himself worthy. How many of his rank and age could claim the honor of operating beneath the direct word of a sovereign?


    Ayduin narrowed her eyes. ¡°She didn¡¯t seem like she would be inclined to take our heads when we arrive, did she? I¡¯m afraid my head and shoulders are rather content in their current relationship. I¡¯d hate to see them go through a nasty divorce.¡±


    Behind her, Vaelor snorted.


    Were it not for the nature of their discussion, Rhydian might have cracked a smile.


    ¡°She didn¡¯t allude to anything, but I suppose there¡¯s always the possibility. However, we¡¯re more valuable to her and the country alive. The oath she¡¯s bound me to assures my silence and with you all bound to mine already, she should have no reason to consider the extreme.¡±


    ¡°I guess that¡¯s something,¡± she said, glancing off down the corridor. ¡°Well, you best get to it, then. I¡¯ll check in with the patrols in the meantime.¡±


    ¡°Take Cydan and Inet with you when you head out for your rotation,¡± he said.


    She gave him a lazy salute and quickly climbed up into Vaelor¡¯s saddle. He watched them go before setting off down the hall in the opposite direction. Tanuzet¡¯s membranous wings shuffled as she joined him, talons clicking along the stone in an even, if slowed, pace. She remained silent as they walked, sensing his question.


    ¡°Tell me honestly,¡± he said quietly, ¡°Do you think Ephaxus is well enough to fly?¡±


    Her maw briefly parted, nostrils whistling, No. He cannot launch from a low or level position in his current state. If he were to catch wing, he would have to set off from a high enough vantage and even then, his landing worries me most. When he learns of our plan, he will insist upon joining us despite his limitations.


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    ¡°I suspected as much,¡± he said, lips thin, ¡°for now, we¡¯ll keep our intentions to ourselves. If you want to check in on him, I¡¯ll work out where to go from here with Sorisanna.¡±


    She halted when they reached the lift chamber. Be mindful of your new pet, Rhydian.


    ¡°As of this morning, she¡¯s officially our ward,¡± he reminded, but added, ¡°I will.¡±


    Not long after they had parted ways, he found Sorisanna in the hall on her way to Inerys¡¯ room. To his relief, it looked as though she¡¯d actually had a decent night''s sleep. The dark bruises beneath her eyes had all but vanished and she carried herself with a freshness he envied. She paused when she noticed him and offered a smile.


    ¡°I was wondering when you¡¯d return for a visit,¡± she said, checking over her shoulder before she asked, ¡°how did things go this morning? Cydan told me you were meeting with command.¡±


    He certainly would have preferred it.


    ¡°Better than I expected,¡± he admitted, ¡°That¡¯s actually what I¡¯d like to discuss. Do you have a moment to speak privately?¡±


    The sage pivoted back in the direction of her study, curiosity alight in her eyes. ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°It won¡¯t take long,¡± he assured, falling into step beside her.


    ¡°It¡¯s no trouble,¡± she said, "Unless . . .you¡¯re in a hurry?¡±


    Rhydian blinked. Was he in a rush? Beyond his meeting, nothing else had been pressing. Aside from checking in on Inerys and she wasn¡¯t exactly going anywhere.


    ¡°I¨C No. I don¡¯t want to keep you from your duties longer than I have to,¡± he said a bit too quickly.


    She tilted her head. ¡°Are you all right? You made a fuss about me getting enough rest last night, but I get the feeling you didn¡¯t share the same sentiment for yourself.¡±


    His lips edged into a frown. Was it so obvious?


    ¡°It¡¯s been a rough few days,¡± he said, as if it were explanation enough.


    Based off the look she gave him as they stepped into her study, it wasn¡¯t.


    Mist drifted beyond the great window at the far end of the room, the wide desk situated before it piled high with books and rolled parchment. At first glance, one might mistake it for a proper mess, though Rhydian had learned there was an order to the chaos. The clutter was simply due to Sorisanna¡¯s inability to put things away. Or, really, her tendency to be distracted by her next priority. In truth, he¡¯d always found it rather endearing.


    Once the door clicked shut behind her, he relented.


    ¡°I can¡¯t sleep. I¡¯ve tried, but all I do is lay there, wrapped up in my own thoughts.¡±


    Her expression softened. ¡°The past few days haven¡¯t exactly been pleasant, have they?¡±


    He shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s been one crisis after another. At least now, I have some idea of what happens next. Maybe that will help.¡±


    Sorisanna toyed with her braid, appearing as though she wanted to prompt him further. Mercifully, she didn¡¯t. Exhausted as he was, he wouldn¡¯t add to her burdens by saddling her with his own.


    ¡°I have a tea that would help,¡± she offered, ¡°but you may benefit more from a cultivation session. By the sound of it, you haven¡¯t cycled your mental core since this all started.¡±


    He grimaced. ¡°I haven¡¯t exactly had the time.¡±


    She passed him by, lingering along the wide threshold of the adjoining alchemy room. She briefly tapped her chin, her other hand upon her hip as she turned to him.


    ¡°Take some time tonight, then. Even if it¡¯s only for a few minutes. I¡¯ll have time to mix the herbs for your tea this afternoon and have it delivered to you before bed.¡±


    ¡°Please, I don¡¯t want to trouble you,¡± he said, but she silenced him with a single, raised finger.


    ¡°You¡¯re hardly troubling me, Rhydian. It¡¯s the duty of a sage to look after the wellbeing of their flight. Vesryn may not want to do his job, but that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m keen to follow his example,¡± she said, snuffing out any further argument he could raise, ¡°Now, what was it you wanted to discuss?¡±


    Remembering himself, he sighed and recounted the highlights of his meeting with the High Wardeness. Since Sorisanna was now as much a part of this as he was, he shared the details of he and Vesryn¡¯s discoveries, their theories, as well as his experiment the night prior in relation to Inerys¡¯ new food preferences. Instead of looking horrified or disturbed by what he told her, the young sage appeared fascinated. She had even gone so far as to grab a leatherbound journal from a hidden compartment in her desk.


    Once retrieved, she circled back around to where Rhydian had taken a seat and perched herself on the arm of the opposite chair. She flipped through the first few pages, then hesitated. A small, embarrassed smile edged her lips.


    ¡°I know this probably wasn¡¯t the best idea, but I started recording Inerys¡¯ peculiarities. I thought doing so might prove useful later. It sounds like she¡¯s an entirely different species,¡± she said with an air of excitement, ¡°What if we¡¯re the first ones on the continent to encounter one of her kind?¡±


    He shifted uneasily. ¡°I¡¯m . . . not sure. Forgive me if I don¡¯t share your enthusiasm. Our encounter with the first one wasn¡¯t exactly pleasant.¡±


    She winced. ¡°Right. I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to sound insensitive, I only ¨C well, this is an opportunity. If no one knows for certain what she is, I might be the first sage to document the species¡¯ physiology. I can¡¯t help but find it thrilling.¡±


    Rhydian tried to approach the matter from her perspective and eventually understood. To some degree, at least. Having some sort of record could indeed help them in the future. Her diligence may even impress the Wardeness when they arrived.


    ¡°I can see the importance of it,¡± he said, ¡°you have my blessing to continue. All I ask is that you keep your notes close at hand.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll keep my accounts safe,¡± she promised.


    He nodded, but added. ¡°Don¡¯t tell Vesryn of your records either.¡±


    Sorisanna smiled coyly. ¡°I hadn¡¯t planned on it.¡±


    ¡°Good. I worry about him enough as it is,¡± he said.


    ¡°He¡¯s made it clear he wants nothing more to do with the situation. I think it¡¯s for the best.¡±


    Rhydian pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°He won¡¯t be pleased when he learns he¡¯ll be joining us. But right now, I suppose it¡¯s neither here nor there. I¡¯ll worry about him later.¡±


    He had enough to deal with already.


    ¡°How is she?¡± He asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m hesitant to say better, but she appears to be improving. She¡¯s more alert than she was yesterday and from what she tells me, is in marginally less pain. The fracturing hasn¡¯t spread, which means the shackle is holding.¡±


    He sat back, lacing his fingers, ¡°How much time do you think we¡¯d be buying her by layering additional ones?¡±


    She bit the inside of her cheek. ¡°It¡¯s difficult to say for certain. I¡¯ve never set more than one at a time. Given the current rate of erosion, though, I¡¯d say maybe one week per shackle?¡±


    ¡°How many can you set?¡±


    ¡°Again, I¡¯m not sure. This is all rather new to me, but I¡¯ll manage as many as I can. She¡¯s of a low enough Ascension that I should be able to handle adding more on my own, but I¡¯ll need my spheres.¡±


    He nodded, mostly to himself. ¡°Is there anything I can do to help?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d feel better if I had someone else in the room with me,¡± she admitted. ¡°Especially since I¡¯ve never done anything quite like this before. Your own observations would help me compile my notes too. You might catch something I miss.¡±


    ¡°Would you like Cydan present?¡±


    She shook her head, ¡°You and I should be enough if things get out of hand.¡±


    He wished he shared her confidence. Though, he reminded himself she was a fleshweaver. In the event Inerys attacked, for whatever reason, Sorisanna may actually stand a better chance of subduing her.


    ¡°Can it be done today?¡± He wondered.


    ¡°I¡¯ll need some time to prepare myself and see to Ephaxus, but we could plan for this evening? We should speak with Inerys as well.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s probably wise,¡± he agreed. ¡°When you have a moment, I¡¯d like to read through your notes as well. May I?¡±


    With a hum, she offered him her notebook.


    ¡°I¡¯ve yet to write down my observations of her teeth, but everything else is current,¡± she said.


    He took it, running a hand over the supple leather binding.


    ¡°How were they?¡±


    ¡°When I examined them this morning, the new fangs had almost fully descended. I¡¯m not sure if the new growth is tied to her regenerative capabilities, but it¡¯s putting a strain on the rest of her body. It appears to be prioritizing this growth over recovery. From what I¡¯ve seen, all the additional essence I¡¯ve supplemented her with so far has gone to the generation of the fangs. I¡¯m hoping once they¡¯ve settled, the next round of medicinal pills will be distributed to the rest of her body.¡±


    A shiver shot up the length of his spine and he couldn¡¯t help but wonder if her smile would be as terrifying as the dead woman¡¯s had been. He opened his mouth to speak, but paused when he noted the sudden shift in the sage¡¯s expression. Realization quickly turned to worry and he felt his stomach hollow out, mouth dry.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    She cursed under her breath, twisting her braid as she glanced off toward the door. ¡°Oh dear. I¡¯ve made a mistake.¡±


    Rhydian rose. ¡°What do you mean, mistake?¡±


    ¡°I think I know why her body hasn¡¯t improved. Skies, I should have realized it sooner. It¡¯s her physical core. With the extent of her fracturing, she¡¯s bound to have blown out channels or worse, a burst meridian.¡±


    His fingers grew cold, ¡°What happens if the essence leaks into the rest of her body?¡±


    She threw out a hand, summoning her spheres. The trio shot toward her from where they¡¯d lain dormant in the adjoining room and flew into orbit behind her head.


    ¡°Luckily, it isn¡¯t all that different from a bruise, but the essence doesn¡¯t clot. I¡¯ll need to identify the ruptures and repair them manually. I should be able to draw out whatever excess essence has pooled out once the damage is mended.¡±

 Chapter Nineteen: Numb

    Chapter Nineteen


    Numb


    <hr>


    Inerys had truly become a stranger in her own body. There was always some new oddity and this morning¡¯s had been particularly unsettling. A familiar, near-drunken haze greeted her as she woke for the second time that day and when she yawned, there had been a strange contraction above her gums and along the roof of her mouth, as if she¡¯d flexed some undiscovered muscle group. Her mouth had never felt stiff, yet a certain relief came with the sensation, like a tense muscle finally being granted a much-needed stretch.


    She stiffened and willed her heavy limbs to push her into a more upright position against the pillows. Her jaw felt . . . different; more pliable, in a way. At first, she couldn¡¯t quite figure out why. She inspected the gaps of her missing teeth with her tongue, only to discover new ones had grown in their place. Disturbing as the sudden growth was, she didn¡¯t find them all that different from her old ones.


    Not at first.


    Cautiously, she reached to probe her gums with her fingers despite her bound wrists. When her fingertips brushed the sensitive tissue, her canine flinched. She sucked in a startled breath. The tooth had settled almost immediately, but there was no mistaking the action. It had moved and as it did, the rest of her foremost teeth had shifted accordingly. She found shallow, near-vertical ridges along the roof of her mouth in place of the previously smooth, hard palate. They were more ligament than bone with each one bound to a corresponding tooth.


    The more she prodded, the more she realized she could control certain portions of her jaw and move individual teeth semi-independently. Most of her molars remained fixed and stationary, yet both her canines and incisors could be articulated at will. There was a degree of extension, like that of a cat¡¯s paw, but nothing egregious¨C perhaps only a few centimeters, but enough for Inerys to feel as though she were spreading the front half of her mouth as if it were her hand.


    Spirits¡¯ breath, what was she?


    All four of her prior canines had been replaced by the fangs Sorisanna had spoken of. At the time, Inerys hadn¡¯t believed the woman, but now, there was no denying the new additions. A smaller, lesser set had grown in place of her upper, secondary incisors as well. They, like the neighboring canines, were more dexterous than those of her mandible. While at rest, they were marginally longer than the previous inhabitants, but descended and retracted on command. They did so with an alarming delicacy and to her horror, the ability felt normal, mundane.


    She had been so distracted, she failed to notice the approaching footsteps from down the hall. The moment her door opened, she jerked in surprise and nicked the tip of her tongue upon one of the fangs she¡¯d been inspecting. A sudden tingling accompanied the bitterness blooming across her tongue and soon, it went numb. She yelped and tried to clap a hand over her mouth. Both Sorisanna and Rhydian looked up in alarm.


    ¡°Inerys?¡± the sage asked, face drawn in concern, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Nothing!¡± She insisted, but the damage had already been done.


    With her tongue anesthetized, her th had come out more of a sh. Clearly, the pair had noticed too. Sorisanna took a seat upon the bed and reached out for Inerys¡¯ face while Rhydian watched over her shoulder.


    ¡°Let me see,¡± she said.


    Reluctantly, Inerys dropped her hands and opened her mouth.


    The sage placed her palms upon Inerys¡¯ cheeks, humming her thanks, ¡°Now, would you like to try again?¡±


    She tried to say no, but of course, all she managed was an awkward, ¡°Huh.¡±


    The cursed appendage refused to work properly. She would have thought it limp, had she not felt it aimlessly flapping about the rest of her mouth when she tried to speak. In the end, she decided to simply remain silent and not embarrass herself any further.


    Sorisanna¡¯s brow knit, ¡°What happened to your tongue?¡±


    Inerys saw no point in lying, so she raised her top lip and pointedly wiggled her fangs. Doing so made her shudder, but an all too excited smile broke across the woman¡¯s face, her eyes wide. Rhydian, on the other hand, recoiled and appeared as though he¡¯d just witnessed her sprout another head. The sage practically squealed as she tipped Inerys¡¯ head up for a better look.


    ¡°Fascinating!¡± She breathed, then seemed to remember herself. She cleared her throat. ¡°May I?¡±


    After a moment of deliberation, Inerys nodded, the first inklings of sensation already beginning to return.


    Sorisanna tilted her head. ¡°If I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d think you were some sort of viper. Your fangs aren¡¯t too far off the mark, but it looks like they may carry some sort of anesthetic rather than venom. One you''re not wholly immune to either, by the look of it, but if you''re anything like the wyverns, you should metabolize the toxin rather quickly.¡±


    Rhydian must have noticed the question in Inerys¡¯ eyes, for he offered, ¡°They have a degree of resistance to their venom, but not an outright immunity.¡±


    She still had no idea what a wyvern was, but she filed the information away nonetheless.


    Sorisanna carefully drew back her lip for a proper inspection, humming to herself as she went down the line, pushing and wiggling teeth. All the while, Inerys did her best not to squirm. Her gums were strangely ticklish and every now and again, she couldn¡¯t help but flinch, especially if her fangs were touched. When one of them was drawn down held hostage for a more thorough examination between the sage¡¯s thumb and forefinger, a low, involuntary growl escaped her.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Sorisanna said, immediately releasing it as she withdrew her hands, ¡°I only ¨C I¡¯ve never seen anything like this before. Well, anything like you, I suppose. Your jaw has been completely restructured and yet, there appears to be no outward sign of the changes. Maybe some extra elasticity in your cheeks? It¡¯s hard to tell, but I won¡¯t prod you anymore. I promise.¡±


    Inerys breathed a shallow, but skeptical sigh of relief. In truth, she wasn¡¯t sure what to make of the woman¡¯s enthusiasm. She held a hand to her lips, soothing her fangs as she gauged the usefulness of her tongue. Most of the numbness had worn off, but it still prickled in places.


    ¡°I fear I¡¯ve become a monster,¡± she said, taking care to properly enunciate each word.


    Sorisanna¡¯s face softened.


    ¡°You may be venomous, but you¡¯re no monster, Inerys,¡± she said, ¡°You¡¯re just different. And being different isn¡¯t always a bad thing.¡±


    Inerys wasn¡¯t so sure.


    ¡°There¡¯s no fixing me, is there?¡± She asked.


    ¡°In relation to your recent changes . . . likely not,¡± she murmured, ¡°but there are things I can fix, like your channels. I think I know why you¡¯re not improving, but I¡¯ll have to perform a more thorough assessment to know for certain.¡±


    Inerys bit her lower lip, mindful of her fangs this time. ¡°What is it you¡¯d be doing?¡±


    ¡°In short? Searching for ruptures along your meridians and physical channels,¡± Sorisanna said, tucking a stray lock back behind her long ear.


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    ¡°And . . . what are those, exactly?¡± She asked.


    ¡°Rhydian tells me you were a hunter, so I assume you¡¯re familiar with butchering and the like?¡±


    She nodded.


    ¡°I suppose the closest comparison would be to the veins and arteries in the body,¡± she said, ¡°Think of your meridians as the arteries and the channels as the offshoots. Instead of blood, they circulate vital essence. At least, they do at lower Ascensions. Once you progress past your third, they start to cycle additional essences in from your spiritual core. However, a new meridian has to be opened from the physical core to the spiritual. I won¡¯t get into the specifics of how it all works now, but I believe this meridian was forced open prematurely, overwhelming your channels and causing them to expand under the combined pressure of the mixed essences. If they¡¯re overstretched, they can rupture and burst.¡±


    Gooseflesh prickled along Inerys¡¯ arms and down her legs. ¡°You¡¯d be searching for these ruptures during your assessment, then?¡±


    The sage nodded. ¡°I plan to mend them as I go, as well.¡±


    ¡°Will it hurt?¡±


    "No. It''s more discomfort than true pain. Certainly far less than you''ve already endured,¡± Sorisanna said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, though, I have a light touch. You won¡¯t even know I¡¯m there.¡±


    She took a deep breath. ¡°There¡¯s no chance they¡¯ll heal on their own?¡±


    ¡°Not without intervention, I¡¯m afraid. You¡¯ll still need to cycle regularly once I¡¯ve addressed the damage,¡± she said and was quick to add, ¡°I¡¯ll teach you about it later, no need to fret now. My main focus is making you whole again. Everything else will come with time.¡±


    Hesitantly, Inerys said, ¡°I thought I was running out of time?¡±


    This time, Rhydian spoke up.


    ¡°We may have a solution to that as well,¡± he said, glancing sidelong at his companion, ¡°Can we set the shackles once you¡¯ve finished mending?¡±


    The woman sighed as she rubbed her brow. ¡°I had hoped to wait until later this evening, but I suppose now is as good a time as any.¡±


    Inerys watched on in confusion. ¡°I thought I was already shackled?¡±


    ¡°You are,¡± she said, ¡°but like you said, it won¡¯t hold long. In theory, layering multiple shackles over the current one should prolong the time it takes your spiritual core to devour them. Instead of a week, we would be buying you up to a month, if not more.¡±


    ¡°In that time, we can prepare your body to contain the core without them,¡± Rhydian said, ¡°and hopefully reverse the damage. Or at least, most of it.¡±


    Inerys fidgeted, considering. Thus far, her hosts had made it clear they had her best interests at heart, but she had the sense there was something more to it. Why did these strangers care about her at all? And why go through such great lengths to salvage what she was beginning to think was a lost cause? She supposed she would learn that in time. For now, this was an opportunity. She¡¯d be a fool to refuse help, especially in her current state. She could hardly leave the bed, let alone endure the journey home.


    ¡°All right,¡± she sighed, ¡°what do you need me to do?¡±


    ¡°For now, all you have to do is lay back. Preferably, without your hands bound,¡± she said with a pointed look in Rhydian¡¯s direction.


    He didn¡¯t appear thrilled by the idea, but offered a single, relenting nod as he stepped forward. With an air of reluctance, he crouched beside the bed to undo the intricate knot binding her wrists. His fingers were light, quick and soon, the awful cloth-bound silver fell away.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t make me regret this,¡± he said quietly.


    Inerys brought her hands close to her chest, rubbing her wrists as she met his hard stare. There was a promise in those storm gray eyes. One she wouldn¡¯t soon forget.


    Hesitantly, she maneuvered herself into the center of the bed as Sorisanna explained the process and specifics of how she needed Inerys to lay. Her shoulders were stiff and protested the motion, but relaxed once she was in position. She rested upon her back, pillowless and with her arms and legs lightly spread. Her heart raced, finding its home in her throat and her fingers tingled along their tips. The sage offered her a smile as she stood beside the bed and placed a reassuring hand upon her shoulder.


    ¡°You¡¯ll feel better, I promise,¡± she said.


    Inerys wanted nothing more than to believe her, but her nerves were beginning to wear thin and doubt crept in. She thought of Soren and Nan, wondering what they would make of all this. And Alaric . . .


    With a quick gesture of her fingers, the spheres slowly circling behind Sorisanna¡¯s head began to glow and adopt a bright, aurulent glow not unlike that of the sun on a clear day. They appeared to be made of some sort of thin, crystalline glass, but weren¡¯t entirely corporeal. A similar light kindled beneath the woman''s skin and bled through her eyes until it consumed them entirely. She brought both arms out in front of her, fingers spread.


    While Inerys saw nothing beyond the soft glow of the woman¡¯s hands, warmth surged through her body. She had the distinct impression there was a purpose to the ebb and flow of the energy, as if it were being guided through her flesh to seek out the imperfections. Entire areas of her body grew cool while the warmth intensified in others and drew out steady bouts of aching pressure, akin to a bruise. By the time each one was revealed, there were over a dozen. They were spread throughout her body, varying in both pain and size. The most keen, however, dwelled in the space between her heart and naval. She wondered, briefly, if it was this connecting meridian Sorisanna believed had been forced open.


    One by one, each node was addressed. Heat would flare before the affected area fell as numb as her tongue had been. Sorisanna¡¯s touch was indeed light, for she hardly felt a thing. If she were back among the city-states, her care would not be half as thorough. Though, then again, if she hadn¡¯t wandered back out into the deepwoods, perhaps none of this would have happened. She should have listened to Alaric, should have stayed and spent more time with those closest to her, but she had been a fool.


    Close to an hour would pass before the sage¡¯s touch receded and Inerys drew her first full breath since this whole ordeal began. For a moment, she was afraid to move. Her bones thrummed and no longer felt as though they¡¯d been turned to iron. Stirring, she found her limbs, though sore, were no longer sapped for strength.


    ¡°Well,¡± Sorisanna said breathily, ¡°How do you feel?¡±


    ¡°Better,¡± Inerys said, though remained where she lay.


    Rhydian stepped up beside the sage, one hand around his middle with the other held at his clean-shaven chin. Admittedly, she stared at him far longer than she ought to. He was just so alien. She was fairly certain she¡¯d spied an extra membrane in his eye when he¡¯d last blinked too, which had only exacerbated her unease. Spirits¡¯ breath, he¡¯d likely haunt her dreams for the rest of her days.


    Some distant part of her wondered if he felt the same about her.


    ¡°No lightheadedness or nausea?¡± Sorisanna asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m a bit hungry,¡± she admitted, blinking back into focus, ¡°but no. No nausea. My head still feels like it''s been rung like a bell, though.¡±


    The sage pursed her lips.


    ¡°We may have to come up with another solution for your ears,¡± she said, then straightened as if an idea had suddenly struck her, ¡°Do we have any spare earmuffs? They may help dull some of the incoming sound.¡±


    Rhydian passed her a questioning look. ¡°We should, but I would have to see for certain. Do you really think they would help?¡±


    She shrugged. ¡°Unless you have any better ideas?¡±


    ¡°I suppose it''s worth a try. I¡¯ll have someone take a look once we¡¯ve finished,¡± he said, ¡°Do you need a moment?¡±


    The sage shook her head and glanced down at Inerys, ¡°I can continue. So long as you¡¯re ready? Setting these extra shackles will likely be disorienting.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d rather have it over and done with,¡± she said.


    Sorisanna raised her hands once more.


    ¡°Very well. If you feel any pain, tell me to stop.¡±


    Inerys did her best to relax. Her skin prickled, the creature inside her stirring in response to some unseen threat. Then, the sage¡¯s power seized her. All at once, every instinct told her to run, to escape the net descending upon her, but she forced herself to remain still. A great weight was cast over her prone body, pressing her down into the bed.


    A second weight followed, then a third and finally, a fourth. To some degree, she could still distinguish the individual layers, floating somewhere deep within her like thin planes of water. Then, the first of the new shackles snapped into place. Her spirit compressed and the air was driven from her lungs. Inerys gasped. Her body gave a swift, involuntary twitch, and she could have sworn she heard the bed crack beneath her as her back arched. Each consecutive layer bore down on her spirit, each more heavy than the last. Breath eluded her, a foreign concept her lungs refused to grasp. Her eyelids fluttered, mind reeling.


    Her passenger shifted, wary, but unharmed. Its fear ebbed, something she sensed as keenly as her own for all of a heartbeat. The entity gradually faded from her perception, disappearing back into the shadows of her soul. Inerys shuddered. What was that thing?


    Distandly, she heard Rhydian ask, ¡°Did it work?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re holding,¡± Sorisanna said hoarsely.


    The woman swayed as the glow faded from her eyes. Rhydian was quick to steady her, his expression a mask of thinly veiled concern. Sweat beaded the woman¡¯s forehead, her skin a shade lighter than it had been moments before.


    ¡°Easy,¡± he murmured, guiding her into the chair beside the bed.


    ¡°I¡¯m all right,¡± Sorisanna assured, ¡°that core of yours was rather stubborn.¡±


    Inerys laid a hand over the tightness in her chest and tried to muster the will to speak.


    ¡°Please tell me we¡¯ll never have to do that again?¡±

 Chapter Twenty: The Road to Recovery

    Chapter Twenty


    The Road to Recovery


    <hr>


    Inerys cursed the shakiness of her knees as she slowly rose from the bed the following evening. Rhydian stepped forward, but her raised hand held him at bay.


    ¡°I can manage,¡± she insisted, despite needing to lean into the bedpost to rally her strength.


    ¡°Are you certain?¡± He asked.


    She nodded. Up until this morning, she hadn¡¯t been able to stand without assistance and while she hadn¡¯t been permitted to leave her room, she had managed a few trips to the privy to stare in the mirror. She appeared normal enough. A bit haggard, perhaps, but not quite as monstrous as she felt. However, when she smiled or purposefully flexed her jaws, she understood why everyone, with the exception of Sorisanna, had been so leery of her.


    ¡°Take all the time you need, there¡¯s no rush,¡± the sage assured, sparing them both a glance as she unrolled a fine fur rug in the center of the room.


    ¡°You¡¯re sure this . . .cycling will actually help?¡± Inerys asked.


    Sorisanna raised an eyebrow, ¡°Have I given you cause to doubt me before?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she admitted.


    The concept was just a bit far fetched. Inerys couldn¡¯t guide her own blood at will, so why should her vital essence be any different? She supposed she¡¯d find out once the sage actually guided her through the process, but the voice of doubt in the back of her mind would continue to whisper in the meantime.


    ¡°Then trust me on this,¡± Sorisanna said, taking a seat upon the rug.


    Inerys sighed and shuffled over to join her. Her legs protested as she took her seat opposite to the sage and she nearly fell on her rear. She managed to catch herself at the last moment, much to the chagrin of her poor wrists. Cheeks burning, she situated herself to the best of her ability, mirroring the sage¡¯s stance. She had explained the proper form to her before, so it wasn¡¯t an entirely new concept. The position was far easier to maintain upon the floor than it had been while she¡¯d practiced in bed over the past day. Her mattress was simply too soft to offer the proper support.


    Looking her over, Sorisanna gave an approving nod along with her smile. Though, she leaned forward to gently correct her posture.


    ¡°Maintaining the proper alignment is important,¡± she said, ¡°you¡¯ll want to keep your chest up, shoulders back and your spine straight. No slouching.¡±


    ¡°All right,¡± Inerys said uncertainly.


    ¡°Have you been practicing your visualization techniques as well?¡±


    She nodded. In truth, there had been little else for her to do beyond sleep and poke at her face in the mirror. Humoring the sage had at least kept her mind busy.


    ¡°And?¡±


    Inerys bit her lip. ¡°Nothing happened the first few times, but once Cydan explained where to look again, I found them.¡±


    Admittedly, she¡¯d been rather shocked when her gaze turned inward and she actually saw her cores. It was more an impression than an actual image, like those in dreams or memory, but present nonetheless. Once she knew what she was looking for, locating and visualizing the cores had been easy, at least as far as her physical and mental were concerned.


    Her spiritual core had been obscured by undulating, amber planes she assumed were the shackles. She could neither sense nor see what lay beneath and to a degree, it frightened her. It was the reason her body had tried to tear itself apart. To have it swathed in mystery only heightened her paranoia and she couldn¡¯t help but wonder if it was where her passenger also resided.


    ¡°Good. For now, we¡¯ll be focusing exclusively on your physical core,¡± she said, ¡°now that you know where it is, identifying the connected meridians should be easy. When you find them, you¡¯ll want to tap into the flow of your vital essence to determine its direction through your channels. In order to properly cycle, you must familiarize yourself with the natural path the essence takes through your body. It may help to imagine yourself floating along a river. Relax and let the water guide you.¡±


    Closing her eyes, Inerys checked her posture. She drew a deep, purposeful breath and slowly released it through her nose. Her attention drew inward and settled in the center of her pelvis, where her physical core took root. The hazy collection of golden essence was spherical in nature and was perhaps the size of a melon. It sputtered from time to time, guttering like a candle on the verge of dousing. Much as it turned her stomach, she maintained her focus and forced her thoughts to clear.


    Instead of a river, she imagined something more familiar ¨C the small creek that ran near Nan¡¯s cottage. Having practically grown up along its banks, she was intimately familiar with its curving paths and deeper pools. She focused on the steady rhythm of the water as it flowed over sand and stone alike, her inner sight sinking deeper into its course. It was sluggish and stalled in places, but she could eventually discern its path.


    She found the core functioned almost like another heart. Vital essence was pushed up along the right side of her body in a great loop through her chest, then back down through the left side of her abdomen where it reentered the core. Along the loop, smaller, thinner paths led through her head, legs and arms. They were simple, yet their stagnation was evident.


    ¡°I think I¡¯ve found it,¡± she said.


    Sorisanna hummed. ¡°Well done. When you''re comfortable, try to push your essence forward. Encourage it to flow freely, rather than fall idle. The more you circulate it, the stronger the current becomes.¡±


    Inerys knit her brow. Pushing it was easier said than done, but she decided visualization was everything, in the beginning. She recalled the way the creek swelled during early spring, fueled by the snowmelt from the mountains. Starting in her core, she imagined the first of the thaw trickling in from upstream, coaxing her vital essence out and along its natural clockwise path through her body. Her weakened channels protested, sending sharp, throbbing pains throughout her body as they struggled to accommodate the uptick in speed. The harder she pushed, the more intense the pain. Fire sang through her veins, scorching her from the inside out with each completed cycle. Sweat beaded along her brow and slid down her temple, but she forged ahead.


    In her state, she had no concept of time, nor the world around her, for the tide had fully drawn her in. It strengthened with each loop and eventually, her channels began to adjust to the new demand. Their expansion was slight, but enough. Gradually, the pain subsided until she was left with a dull ache in her bones and joints. Her seat wavered and she swayed for a moment.


    ¡°Inerys?¡±


    She vaguely registered the voice, someone tapping at her cheeks.


    ¡°Inerys? Inerys, wake up!¡±


    Strong hands found her shoulders from behind and drew her back, down into the soft fur of the rug.


    Her eyes fluttered open, her lids heavy, gaze unfocused. ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°Can you hear me?¡± She heard the sage ask.


    Inerys blinked and found herself staring up at Rhydian.


    ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± she said faintly.


    ¡°For a moment there, I thought we¡¯d lost you,¡± she breathed.


    She held a hand to her head. Her skin was warm and tacky and she grimaced. She felt as though she¡¯d gone through a week¡¯s worth of a fever in the span of a few minutes.


    ¡°Did I do it?¡±


    ¡°Indeed you did,¡± Sorisanna said, her influence washing over Inerys¡¯ body in her inspection, ¡°how do you feel?¡±


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    ¡°Like I just walked through my own funeral pyre.¡±


    She chuckled. ¡°You¡¯ll be sore for a few days, but the flow of your essence is much stronger now. You have to maintain it though, which means you¡¯ll have to repeat this process a few times a day.¡±


    Inerys stifled a groan, but nodded before attempting to sit up.


    ¡°Exercise will help as well,¡± Rhydian said, guiding her back to her original seat.


    ¡°Gradual exercise,¡± Sorisanna stressed. ¡°Nothing more than short walks, for now.¡±


    Inerys perked up. ¡°Does that mean I can leave the room?¡±


    ¡°So long as you have an escort,¡± he said, ¡°it isn¡¯t safe to wander the keep alone.¡±


    Inerys eyed him, knowing full well he didn¡¯t want her snooping about on her own. Which, she supposed she understood, even if it frustrated her. She wouldn¡¯t want strangers poking about her house unattended either.


    ¡°Fair enough. I could use a change of scenery,¡± she said.


    ¡°Perhaps some fresh air?¡± He asked.


    She nodded, eagerly, ¡°Please. The air in here¡¯s gone stale.¡±


    Sorisanna rose, stretching her arms above her head as she leaned this way and that.


    ¡°I¡¯d love to join you, but I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m needed elsewhere,¡± she said.


    Rhydian nodded, ¡°Are you taking Ephaxus out to the cloister?¡±


    The sage glanced between the two in silent question, ¡°For his stretches, at least. Were you planning on walking the balcony?¡±


    His head tilted as he regarded Inerys and she couldn¡¯t help but feel she was missing something.


    ¡°Viewing at a distance may be best, for now,¡± he said.


    ¡°Viewing what, exactly?¡± Inerys asked.


    ¡°The wyverns,¡± Sorisanna said, ¡°They¡¯re. . . intimidating. Especially if you¡¯ve never seen one before.¡±


    ¡°Are they animals?¡± She asked.


    ¡°No more than we are,¡± Rhydian said, ¡°They may look different, but do not mistake their intellect. They¡¯re every bit as keen as you or I.¡±


    She pursed her lips, wondering what she was in for. At the very least, it would be nice to finally see these creatures and know what she was dealing with. The way everyone spoke of them, she half expected some nightmare-borne spirit.


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯m eager to meet them,¡± she said, even if her confidence wavered.


    Rhydian chuckled lowly. ¡°You may regret that statement in the near future, but your enthusiasm is admirable. Come, the sun should be beyond the mountains by now.¡±


    He stood, offering a gloved hand. Inerys parted her lips in surprise. The man hadn¡¯t even hesitated. It was a curious shift, considering his reservations around her in days prior. The gesture, though small, loosened the knot in her chest.


    ¡°I¡¯d rather not have a repeat of the other day,¡± she said, taking it.


    A soft grunt escaped her as he pulled her to her feet and steadied her shoulders. She wobbled, briefly, but held her own and nodded her thanks. Though, as she looked up, his height struck her. The man had been imposing before, but Spirit¡¯s breath was he tall, even by Hound standards. Inerys was not a small woman even among her kin, but she had hardly reached Alaric¡¯s shoulder. If she were to guess, Rhydian stood a full head taller than him, if not more.


    ¡°You and I both,¡± he said, ¡°you¡¯ll find fresh clothes in the closet. Knock when you¡¯re ready.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t be long,¡± she promised, watching the two take their leave.


    She breathed a small sigh of relief as the door clicked shut. For the first time in days, she was alone. To a degree, at least. Rhydian¡¯s steps had halted just outside the door and hadn¡¯t followed Sorisanna¡¯s, so her privacy was more an illusion than anything. Even so, the silence was welcome.


    Inerys wasted no time in finding her way to the closet. The shift, while soft, had overstayed its welcome. She never thought she¡¯d long for a pair of trousers, yet here she was. Her boots had been spared and polished, by the look of it, which would never go unappreciated. Thankfully, they and a pair of long black socks did wonders to hide the luminous skin of her lower extremities. Now, all she needed was something for her hands. The sleeves of the simple gray blouse she¡¯d chosen could only be pulled down so far. She frowned down at the blueish light thrown off by her fingers, wondering if Rhydian might have a spare pair of gloves he¡¯d be willing to part with. If she could cover the glowing fractals in their entirety, maybe she could regain some semblance of normalcy.


    She ran a hand through her foreign locks in the mirror, studying the way the once honey-blond hair had lightened. It held a silvery cast in the right light with a few rogue strands of black sprinkled throughout. Her hair was wavier than she remembered, though it still fell just shy of her collarbone. The changes were disconcerting, yet not as glaring as her teeth.


    She debated fashioning it into a braid as she made for the door, but ultimately decided against it. She knocked and resisted the urge to fidget. She didn¡¯t feel like a prisoner, exactly, but needing both permission and an escort to leave the room was rather restricting. She almost felt like a scolded child. Of course, there was no reprimand when Rhydian opened the door and stepped back to grant her passage.


    ¡°The clothes seem to fit you well enough,¡± he said, an echoing quality to his voice, courtesy of the halls, ¡°I was worried we might have to find something smaller, but you and Sorisanna are close enough in size. You¡¯ll have to thank her for the spare garments.¡±


    Inerys glanced down at herself. ¡°These are hers?¡±


    With her sense of smell being what it was now, she would have expected to catch the woman¡¯s scent somewhere along the fabric, but apparently whatever was used to wash them eliminated any trace. She could think of a fair few purebloods who could benefit from whatever soap they used here. Maybe a few Hounds too, like Kardin after a night at the tavern. She could only imagine how horrible he would smell to her now.


    ¡°She assured me she wouldn¡¯t miss them,¡±he said, drawing her from her thoughts.


    ¡°That was rather generous of her,¡± she said, glancing down the corridor.


    She hadn¡¯t fully registered how massive it was when he¡¯d first carried her to this room. Who, or what, had these been made for? She imagined the only logical conclusion was these mysterious wyverns. Sorisanna had mentioned them being particularly intimidating and Inerys was beginning to piece together her meaning. If there were more than even a handful of levels, this keep had to be massive.


    ¡°Do they have strongholds where you¡¯re from?¡± Rhydian asked as he stepped off.


    ¡°None like this,¡± she said, hurrying after with a slight wince.


    The cycling had taken most of the edge off, but she had to remind herself her constitution wasn¡¯t the best at present.


    ¡°I grew up in a place similar to this,¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I was so young, I can¡¯t remember what it was like to first look upon the grand corridors.¡±


    ¡°You did?¡±


    He nodded. ¡°Along with every other rider in the aerial wing.¡±


    Inerys blinked. Aerial wing?


    ¡°Wait, do they fly?¡± She asked.


    ¡°A majority of the hall space is made to accommodate their wings.¡±


    ¡°Spirits¡¯ breath,¡± she breathed, surveying the corridor anew, ¡°How big are they?¡±


    Rhydian chuckled. ¡°Perhaps not quite as large as you think. Two females can walk abreast with room to spare.¡±


    Even by half, they were still too large for comfort.


    ¡°Why only females?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re larger than the males.¡± he said, ¡°Sometimes twice over.¡±


    Her brows rose. ¡°I¡¯ve hardly heard of such a thing,¡± she admitted, ¡°I take it it makes them easier to tell apart?¡±


    ¡°It does, but their coloration is what really gives them away. The males have brighter, bolder colors and are usually metallic in appearance to some extent. The females are more reserved.¡±


    ¡°So they¡¯re similar to birds? In that respect, I mean,¡± she asked.


    ¡°I suppose they are,¡± he said, tilting his head, ¡°but I wouldn¡¯t make the comparison in front of one. They¡¯re vain creatures.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind,¡± she said, suddenly as excited as she was hesitant to meet one.


    She scented the world beyond the keep long before they reached the door to the balcony. Crisp, open air greeted her, brushing her hair back and drawing a smile. Moisture tickled her cheeks, not yet dense enough to shroud the world, yet tease its coming.


    Night had indeed fallen and Inerys was taken aback by how keen her eyes had become. Her sight had never been poor, but when the sun had well and truly set, she was no better at blundering about in the dark than anyone else. Now, she could make out sights and shapes at a distance with little obscurity. The world did not fade to black the further she looked, it simply continued as if it would in daylight.


    She found herself high upon a mountainside, upon a balcony that was closer to a terrace than anything she might be familiar with. The floor was not wood, but stone with a waist-high railing of rough cut rock. She spied the level below and the next. Each grew larger as it descended down the natural slope of the craggy face. There were few man-made structures to be seen, save for a large, rectangular courtyard three levels below. There were no lights beyond those of the courtyard, no torches or fires. The mountain was quiet, mundane, even. Except for what she realized must have been the cloister. Large arches appeared to flank the rectangular space on all sides with two clear, intersecting paths sectioning the grassy ground into four equal sections.


    ¡°You¡¯ll have a better view over here,¡± Rhydian said, gesturing down the terrace.


    ¡°A better view of what?¡± She wondered, still rapt by how well the stronghold had been set into the mountain itself. She was fairly certain this was only the half of it, given how long the hallways were.


    Wordlessly, he gestured to the cloister below.


    Coming to his side, she braced her hands upon the stone rail and leaned out over the edge as if she¡¯d missed something.


    As she did, a great, winged beast crawled out from one of the arches.

 Chapter Twenty-One: The New Reality

    Chapter Twenty One


    The New Reality


    <hr>


    The beast was enormous.


    Inerys watched, breathless, as she leant further out over the railing.


    ¡°Is that¨C¡±


    ¡°Ephaxus. One of eight wyverns we have stationed here at Mistwatch,¡± Rhydian said.


    Moonlight glinted off of the creature¡¯s opalescent hide as it crawled forth from the shadow of the cloister, not upon ordinary feet, but two gigantic wings. They were unlike anything she had ever seen, for each membranous limb bore two long, finger-like digits along the wrist in addition to the main wing juncture. She hesitated to call them hands, but the taloned foreclaws acted as a sort of base upon which to walk. However, it did so with a certain hesitancy, she noticed, like a cautious feline traversing unstable or unfamiliar ground.


    It halted halfway through the arch, its horned head swinging around to regard none other than Sorisanna. The sage gave the wyvern¡¯s snout an affectionate pat, despite being utterly dwarfed. The long, gently upswept horns stemming from above the creature¡¯s eyes were near twice as long as she was tall, yet the woman appeared utterly at ease. She backed several paces toward the cloister heart and Inerys was sure she heard the woman speak, though the exact words were lost to the breeze howling through the crags. With a low rumble, the creature adjusted its posture, arching its long neck with the ease and grace of a swan. Its steps were slow and deliberate as it continued forward, Sorisanna leading it through a series of specific motions and stretches, if her gesticulations were any indication. The creature mirrored the movements, in its own way, performing some far easier than others.


    The hind legs, while powerful in appearance, were jerky and stiff. The hips would sway awkwardly every few steps, causing a set of lesser wings, if one could even call them that, to fan wildly from the base of the tail in an effort to keep from stumbling sideways. Its rear talons dug deep into the grass, its huffs and the occasional growl of frustration cutting through the wind.


    Inerys¡¯ brow knit as she watched.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with it?¡± She asked, sparing Rhydian a glance.


    ¡°He was injured during our fight with the woman who attacked you,¡± he said grimly, taking his place upon the rail beside her and gesturing toward the wyvern¡¯s hind end, ¡°his back was broken right there, above his hips. Sorisanna spent the better part of two days repairing the damage, but unfortunately there¡¯s only so much she can do for his coordination. It should return in time, though, and with no small amount of therapy, from what she''s told me.¡±


    It was difficult to believe anything shy of another wyvern could harm a creature of his size. And harder still that such a wound could be mended in the span of a few days. Inerys had heard rumors of the sorcerers¡¯ healing capabilities, though she had never seen them for herself. Sorisanna, it seemed, was on another level entirely. Inerys¡¯ fingers strayed toward the mottled, uneven flesh above her collarbone. There were still places along the scar where she could not quite feel the pressure of her own fingertips, nor the slight chill in the air that caused the rest of her skin to prickle.


    ¡°How was it broken?¡± she asked.


    A muscle flexed along his jaw. ¡°The woman jumped him from above and practically snapped his spine in two when she landed.¡±


    Blinking, Inerys set back on her heels.


    ¡°Wait, you¡¯re telling me she did that? How? He has to be close to¨C¡±


    ¡°Forty-five meters long,¡± he said, shaking his head. ¡°When you reach Ascensions like hers, size no longer matters.¡±


    She swallowed past the dryness in her throat. Forty-five meters. How did size not matter? Better yet, how large were these females?


    ¡°And you ride those things?¡± She asked.


    He grinned. ¡°We do, but it¡¯s a partnership. You don¡¯t hop up on a wyvern¡¯s back and order them about like a horse.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a wonder you ride them at all,¡± she muttered, trying to comprehend what compelled someone to climb on the back of something like that in the first place, ¡°saddling one must be a nightmare.¡±


    ¡°Not as much as you may think. There¡¯s no girth to cinch around them like there is for a horse or camel. The expansion of their chests and shoulders during flight simply doesn¡¯t allow for one. Even if there was, there would have to be another strap or series of straps, to hold the saddle steady during maneuvers,¡± he said and gestured along the wyvern¡¯s back, ¡°See how the membrane of the main wing extends down over the lesser hindwing at the base of the tail there? It makes it impossible to run any additional rigging.¡±


    Inerys tilted her head as she studied the creature. In many ways, she found the hindwings above the hips reminiscent of those of a lunar moth. They weren¡¯t really wings, exactly. At least as far as she understood them. They were more fin-like appendages; long and elegant, like those of the fancy fish she¡¯d once spied in the ponds of Aeodran¡¯s upper district as a girl. They gradually tapered half way down the beast¡¯s lengthy tail, leaving the rest bare, save for an additional set of horizontally fanning fins along the tip. Here and there, she caught hints of a rosy hue along the undersides of the membranes, akin to those of the intermittent crests running in twin paths along the length of the spine from mid-skull to tail.


    He was as beautiful as he was terrifying.


    ¡°How do you ride, then? Surely not bareback?¡±


    Rhydian shook his head. ¡°The saddle is mounted directly to the platescales along their back. They¡¯re difficult to spot from here, especially without his saddle, but there are several metal rings fused to the plates between his shoulders.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t imagine such was particularly pleasant and shifted her own shoulders to ward off the sympathetic prickle the notion evoked.


    ¡°Is it uncomfortable for them?¡±


    ¡°More often than not, they hardly notice they''re there. If there were any undue chafing, I would never hear the end of it. Especially from Tanuzet,¡± he said with the barest hint of a smile, ¡°Our saddles were designed to keep the riders in place without sacrificing any mobility in the air. You¡¯ll have the chance to see one for yourself soon enough.¡±


    Inerys stiffened and cut him a swift glance. He couldn¡¯t be serious. Fascinating as they were, she was perfectly content where she was. The creature was large enough to snap her up without a second thought, if it didn¡¯t accidentally step on her first.


    ¡°I think I¡¯d rather keep my distance,¡± she said, even as her eyes strayed back to the spectacle below.


    Out of the corner of her eye, she caught his sidelong glance; the slight, smirking edge to his lips.


    ¡°A shame,¡± he said innocently enough, ¡°Tanuzet was looking forward to an introduction.¡±


    She knew she should have walked away and not taken the bait, yet found herself asking, ¡°Is . . . that one yours?¡±


    ¡°She is,¡± he said with an air of pride as he turned to her, ¡°Would you like to meet her?¡±


    Inerys¡¯ heart skipped a beat, though whether it was in response to the anticipation of such a meeting, or the wicked delight in his silvery eyes, she wasn¡¯t sure.


    ¡°Can you promise she won¡¯t eat me?¡±


    ¡°Lucky for you, you¡¯re not her taste,¡± he said in a light tease.


    ¡°You¡¯ll forgive me if that doesn¡¯t exactly put my mind at ease.¡±


    He chuckled. ¡°You have my word, Inerys. You¡¯ll come to no harm tonight, nor any other.¡±


    She searched his face, canting her head.


    ¡°Your word? Or your oath?¡± She wondered.


    His lips twitched into a half smile. ¡°You¡¯re a quick study.¡±


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t let that other man leave the room without one. I¡¯d be lying if I said it didn¡¯t leave an impression.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough. Consider them one in the same. I don¡¯t make promises lightly. Neither does Tanuzet.¡±


    With all she¡¯d seen, it was difficult not to take him at his word. Thus far, he had done nothing to make her question his sincerity. If anything, she felt foolish for questioning his motives at nearly every opportunity. He¡¯d seen to her comfort as well as her health and she was all but a stranger to him. A suspect one in the beginning, yes, but he had kept his word to her all the same, hadn¡¯t he? She supposed she could trust him a little further. . .


    She bit her lower lip, ever mindful of her newly minted fangs. ¡°All right.¡±


    Rhydian¡¯s eyes practically sparkled as he turned down the terrace. ¡°Come, it will be easier for her to land below.¡±


    Inerys blinked. She was fairly certain she¡¯d only agreed to meeting one of those beasts, but stepped after him nonetheless. He led her down a series of stairs cut into the rock along the path, his long legs taking the steps two at a time. He was nearing the bottom of the third and final set before she¡¯d so much as made it down the first. Her knees barked in protest with each descending step and by the time she reached the cloister landing, she could hardly keep herself upright. Her trembling legs threatened to give out despite her stubborn will to remain upright. A few flights of stairs should have been child¡¯s play to her, yet here she was, wheezing like a horse run ragged.


    She leaned into the wall, head pressed against the cold stone as she sought some small manner of reprieve. She was beginning to understand Sorisanna¡¯s insistence on short walks, yet felt as though she¡¯d hardly gone anywhere at all, given the sheer size of the keep. Some distance away, she heard Rhydian curse under his breath before he came trotting back.


    ¡°Are you all right?¡± He asked.


    She managed a quick nod, her breaths still coming in short pants as she said, ¡°Some of us aren¡¯t quite as excited as you are.¡±


    He winced. ¡°Ayduin tells me I have a tendency to let my excitement get the better of me.¡±


    ¡°She may be on to something,¡± she said, hoping to ease some of her embarrassment with a light-hearted jest.


    He cracked a smile, but said, ¡°Cycle your essence a few times. It will help take the edge off while you recover.¡±


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    Inerys didn¡¯t have the breath to argue even if she wanted to. Closing her eyes, she sought the flow of her vital essence and clumsily coaxed it onward. In her defense, it had been flowing prior to her introspection, albeit at a miserable pace. The half-frozen honey she spooned into her breakfast during the winter months moved with more enthusiasm, if she were honest. The more she pressed, though, the easier her breaths became.


    ¡°I wish I had known that trick prior to all this,¡± she said, banishing some of the beaded moisture from her brow with the back of her hand as she straightened.


    ¡°Cycling certainly has its benefits,¡± he said, ¡°the more you do it, the better you¡¯ll feel.¡±


    ¡°So I¡¯ve been told. I still feel like a miserable drunkard,¡± she muttered, ¡°but at least I can breathe again.¡±


    Rhydian frowned. ¡°Would you like me to help you across the yard?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be all right,¡± she assured, ¡°after all, walking it supposed to be good for me, right?¡±


    He grimaced as he peeked at the stairwell at her back. ¡°In moderation.¡±


    The man appeared to be contemplating just how much of an earful he was about to receive from a certain sage.


    Noting his apprehension, Inerys teased, ¡°When Sorisanna asks who¡¯s idea this was, don¡¯t expect any mercy.¡±


    He cast her a half-hearted glare.


    Across the way, the white wyvern suddenly turned his head skyward. Out of instinct, Inerys followed his gaze in time to catch a great shadow move across the stars high above the peak of the mountain. A pitched, nickering whistle echoed out over the night and the sound stung her ears as keenly as a blade driven into her skull. She clapped her hands over them in an attempt to spare her sanity, her teeth grit to the point of pain. The cry was mercifully brief, yet left her head pounding. A strong hand found her back as she listed to one side, keeping her upright as she struggled to regain her barings.


    Wind lashed the cloister from above, howling and hissing as the second wyvern alighted a healthy distance from the first. The yard as a whole could have easily housed two more beasts with room to spare, despite their immense size, yet the newcomer''s wings seemed to engulf it in its entirety when fully spread. They were nearly twice the length of the body and it wasn''t until the wyvern fully settled, that Inerys registered the size difference between the two. If Ephaxus was near forty-five meters in length, this one had to be closing in on sixty. Nothing egregious, but noticeable.


    This must have been one of the females, given her physicality and the muted nature of her deep green coloration. Her snout was more refined than the male¡¯s, her frame more lithe, but she was no less intimidating. She studied Inerys with narrowed, yellow eyes that were far too intrusive for comfort. The intelligence behind them was undeniable and the sudden scrutiny sent a shiver down her spine.


    Her first instinct was to run, yet she forced it down and drew a steadying breath. After all, Rhydian had given her his word, hadn¡¯t he? She was in no danger. This creature, no matter how large, wouldn¡¯t harm her. She broke into a cold sweat despite her inward assurances, for intelligent or not, this Tanuzet was a predator in every sense of the word. And a very large one at that.


    The wyvern¡¯s nostrils subtly flared as she stalked forward with an uncanny grace. Inerys stiffened and held her breath as Tanuzet halted a few meters shy of the stairwell, lowering her elegant neck to inspect her more closely. Or swallow her whole, if she so desired. The membranous crests along her striped neck flared briefly and to Inerys¡¯ relief, the wyvern regarded her not as prey, but rather a subject of curiosity. Her head canted to one side, then the other before she blinked deeply.


    A slight pressure built between Inerys¡¯ temples as a deep, yet feminine voice said, I am pleased to see you still live.


    Her brow furrowed in confusion. She hadn¡¯t seen the creature¡¯s jaw so much as twitch and yet . . .


    The wyvern was smiling. The subtle expression was as unmistakable as it was unnerving and for a heartbeat, Inerys swore she saw Rhydian¡¯s mischief shining through Tanuzet¡¯s eyes.


    I fear you would not understand the complexity of our spoken tongue, the voice said, as smoothly as if it were one of Inerys¡¯ own thoughts, It is far easier for me to speak mind-to-mind beyond my kin.


    Curiously, it was excitement, not fear, that chased a shiver along Inerys¡¯ upper arms.


    Does that mean you can read my thoughts? She asked, rather abruptly.


    Snorting in what must have been disbelief, Tanuzet¡¯s head recoiled in surprise. Rhydian paused as well, coming around to stare at Inerys in shared bewilderment. In truth, the similarities between he and the wyvern¡¯s expressions were uncanny. The huntress shifted on her feet as her gaze flitted between the two, wondering what she had possibly done to warrant the reaction.


    A curious sort of purr broke the stunned silence and Tanuzet slowly lowered her head until the end of her snout was within a hair¡¯s breadth of Inerys once more. She nearly surrendered a step, yet something urged her to hold her ground. The wyvern¡¯s breath wasn¡¯t particularly appealing, but there was little she could do to escape it. A part of her had expected it to reek of carrion or some other ill-fated atrocity, so she was rather taken aback when she caught faint hints of pine and mint instead. Not enough to fully mask the inherent scent of a functioning maw, but enough to suggest the wyvern engaged in some form of oral care, as absurd as the notion was.


    No, I cannot read your thoughts. I can only speak to you, and it seems you can already speak to me, she said, her tone rather pleased.


    Inerys could still scarcely believe it herself. How was she able to have a conversation in this manner at all? Had she not been so keenly aware of her aching joints, she would have easily dismissed this all as some sort of fever dream.


    Already? What do you mean? She asked, looking between the two.


    Most are not able to reciprocate my method of speech until later Ascensions, Tanuzet said with a contemplative hum, Rhydian included.


    ¡°Which is to say your mental core shares more in common with wyverns than my own. Or any other Adai, for that matter,¡± he said with interest.


    Inerys¡¯ cheeks warmed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it just sort of . . . happened.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to apologize. You''re something entirely new to us. There''s bound to be oddities. Likely moreso than there already have been.¡±


    Tanuzet rumbled her agreement, then asked, What are you called, little one?


    ¡°You mean my name? It¡¯s Inerys,¡± she said, ¡°you must be Tanuzet?¡±


    The wyvern gave a slight dip of her head. Tanuzet ne¡¯Rhydian. It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance.


    ¡°The honor is mine,¡± she said, deciding it was best to remain on the wyvern¡¯s good side.


    A little flattery couldn''t hurt.


    Again, that glint of amusement shone through in her yellow eyes. It didn¡¯t ease Inerys¡¯ nerves, exactly, but it helped take the edge off. To some degree, at least. Tanuzet¡¯s size alone still unsettled her more than she''d care to admit. She thought she heard a soft sigh of relief from Rhydian, but it could have just as easily have been the wind.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have to worry about most of the other wyverns stationed here, aside from Ayduin¡¯s bondmate, Vaelor. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll make an appearance at some point in the near future, now that you¡¯ve been introduced.¡±


    Inerys wasn¡¯t thrilled by the prospect, but reluctantly nodded.


    I have already spoken to him, Tanuzet said, He will behave himself, but do not be surprised if you earn a glare or two from afar.


    Rhydian grimaced, ¡°I apologize for them in advance. He tends to be as ill-tempered as Ayduin. In the unlikely event you cross paths with a bright copper wyvern, it might be best if you steer clear for the time being.¡±


    She hadn¡¯t failed to catch the implication. The fear she¡¯d suppressed these last few days reared its head and she fought to wrestle it back down before it overtook all rational thought.


    ¡°At least I¡¯ll be able to identify him easily enough.¡±


    Every now and again, she felt another¡¯s attention from across the cloister and was fairly confident she already knew the culprit. He had noticed her shortly after Tanuzet¡¯s landing and had been sparing not-so-subtle glances ever since. Inerys had done her best to ignore it, though her tolerance was beginning to wear thin. She had been the subject of so much scrutiny and suspicion already that she wanted nothing more than to crawl under the nearest rock and never come out.


    Even now, his eyes were upon her. Shifting on her feet, she drew her arms around herself as she braved a look. Their eyes met and Inerys¡¯ breath hitched behind her teeth. Ephaxus¡¯ nostrils flared and a portion of his scaly lips pulled back to reveal blackened fangs. She quickly averted her eyes and deftly stepped to place the bulk of Tanuzet¡¯s wing between their line of sight.


    Rhydian frowned, having noticed the interaction, however brief.


    ¡°How is he?¡± Rhydian asked.


    The crests along Tanuzet¡¯s neck stirred as she withdrew her head to follow his gaze.


    Better, but I fear he may be overexerting himself. He is keen on joining us, when the time comes.


    ¡°I can¡¯t say I''m surprised,¡± he sighed.


    Nor I, but it does not change the fact he cannot stay aloft, yet alone take flight.


    For the briefest of moments, Inerys¡¯ heart soared. They were taking her back. They were taking her home. A relieved smile bloomed across her lips as she searched their faces, only to have it fade when she stopped to think. Why would Ephaxus want to join them, especially given his current state and hostility? For all the discussion there had been around Inerys and her condition, never once had anyone mentioned taking her back to her home, nor had they alluded to the possibility.


    She knew, then.


    Deep down, she knew.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to miss you,¡± Soren had said.


    The cool night air bit at the solitary tear that slid down her cheek. Sucking in a pained breath, she forced herself to look away. She could lie to herself, tell herself the subject of her return would arise as her physical condition progressed, but what would be the point? She had been told she was something entirely new to them on several occasions. The circumstances of that cruel twist of fate was yet another matter as well. Why would they go through such lengths to facilitate her recovery only to turn her loose?


    Before she could stop herself, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s going to happen to me?¡±


    Rhydian gave a start, but she sought his eyes all the same.


    ¡°I have a family out there, people who need me.¡±


    ¡°You know you can''t go back to them,¡± he said quietly, ¡°not as you are now.¡±


    The truth of his words robbed her of what strength she had left and she slowly sank to her knees. She couldn¡¯t, could she? On the off chance she was able to flee this place and find her way, what then? Her body was still in ruin and she hadn¡¯t the faintest idea how to fully mend it on her own. At best, she had a month before her body finally tore itself apart, and she wasn¡¯t fool enough to believe she would stumble across someone else who happened to be willing or able to help.


    Even if she managed such a miracle, there was still the matter of her new nature to consider. She¡¯d become a monster; a horror matched and made by some ill-fated stranger bent on her blood. A similar need lurked along the fringes of her mind. It was a deep need, an old need and one she couldn¡¯t quite explain. While it was sated for the time being, a part of her knew it was only a matter of time before her hunger reared its head.


    She should have listened to Alaric that night. If she hadn¡¯t been fool enough to return to those cursed woods, none of this would have happened. She would be home right now, safe and warm beside the hearth, not haggard and half dead who knew how far from those closest to her.


    ¡°It¡¯s not fair,¡± she whispered.


    ¡°No. It isn¡¯t,¡± Rhydian said as he came to crouch before her, ¡°but this is hardly the end for you, Inerys.¡±


    She glanced up at him through wet lashes, stray strands of windswept hair clinging to her cheeks.


    He sighed, steeling himself.


    ¡°There are people who want to meet you. Powerful people. Now, I can¡¯t make any promises on their behalf, but if anyone can help you, it would be them. Neither I nor Mistwatch have the resources necessary to make you whole again, but I know of a good place to start. With a little time and effort, we can have you well enough for extended travel. When we do, I¡¯ll take you to them.¡±


    They would be taking her even further from home . . .


    When she finally found her voice, it was weak. ¡°Is ¨C Is there no other way?¡±


    If we do not do this, you will be dead within the month, Tanuzet said gently.


    Inerys knew the truth of it in her bones.


    ¡°Is there a chance I can go home?¡±


    A certain warmth softened the otherwise harsh angles of Rhydian¡¯s face.


    ¡°One day, perhaps.¡±


    One day.


    Bleak as the prospect might be, it was far better than the certainty of death. Despite her shaking hands, she reached to banish the hot tears that fell from her eyes. If there was a chance, no matter how small, she would be a fool not to take it. She hadn¡¯t the slightest idea of how to begin or what to expect, but these people, alien as they were, had offered their help. To say nothing of what they had done for her already . . .


    Through a final, smothered sob, she asked, ¡°What do I need to do?¡±

 Chapter Twenty-Two: Provisions

    Chapter Twenty-Two


    Provisions


    <hr>


    Sleep continued to prove elusive, but for once, Rhydian was glad for it.


    In the hours following the twilight patrol¡¯s departure, his wyndstone pulsed from where it rested upon his nightstand. At first, he wasn¡¯t quite sure what to make of it, for he had been lost to his own errant thoughts. It had been so faint, he may have missed it if he had been asleep. If his presence was needed, surely someone would have sent for him? The hour was late, yes, but that did not mean Mistwatch was idle. The more he thought, the more he realized the only person who might have cause to hail him was Ayduin. She had volunteered for the night¡¯s patrol earlier in the day, after all, taking what would have been Keishara¡¯s place in the rotation.


    His nerves pricked in sudden alarm.


    Had she found trouble out in the Breadth?


    He sat upright, already reaching for the stone, when he paused. The ambient script of the unmarked wyndstone demanded his attention, despite its meager glow while his personal stone remained dormant beside it. Though his initial fear ebbed, a new sort rose in its place. He glanced across the chamber, only to find Tanuzet still curled and cozy upon her nest of pillows. Her rhythmic breathing remained undisturbed, her mind silent and at ease just beyond his own. The sight brought him some measure of comfort. At least one of them had been fortunate enough to find their rest.


    Running a hand through his unbound hair, he reluctantly took up the stone. He had no doubt as to who it was, yet it did little to sway his concern. Was the Wardeness having second thoughts?


    ¡°My Lady,¡± he said quietly.


    ¡°Firstrider,¡± came the woman''s smooth, honeyed voice, ¡°I hope you¡¯ll forgive the hour?¡±


    ¡°Of course, my Lady.¡±


    ¡°You have my thanks. Given all you¡¯ve been through, you must be exhausted, so I will make this brief. You worry for the safety of the rest of your flight in your absence, no?¡± She asked in a thoughtful hum.


    He hesitated, wondering what response she expected and what response she wanted, so he chose his words carefully.


    ¡°Boring as Mistwatch may seem, the past few days have demonstrated just how dangerous it can be. I would rest easier knowing the keep was at full strength.¡±


    ¡°Then you shall have it. Beyond the dyad you lost during your encounter, how many more under your oath will need their positions filled?¡±


    Her concern for Mistwatch caught him off guard. The handling of the keep was something he had expected command to oversee, though he should have anticipated her involvement in that as well. This had all been her operation, after all.


    ¡°Three dyads including myself, along with both the head sage and wyvernsage.¡±


    ¡°So few? I suspected more of the medical staff to be involved. You''re certain there weren''t any additional assistants? No other guards or patrols?¡±


    No other witnesses to silence?


    Despite the grim thought, he inwardly thanked his past self for having the foresight to limit any further collateral damage.


    ¡°No, my Lady.¡±


    ¡°Impressive,¡± she said, ¡°Very well. In that case, consider the matter handled. A detachment will arrive three days from now to take the place of those under oath. I suggest you make any and all arrangements you may need in the meantime, firstrider.¡±


    So soon?


    Rhydian had planned to depart within the week, but clearly his timeline had been decided for him. Sighing through his nose, he rubbed at his brow with his free hand, thankful the two were not face to face for this conversation. Preparing the keep for a change of command in so short a time would be difficult, but not impossible.


    ¡°Of course. The rest of my flight will remain safe and intact, in my absence?¡±


    He knew better than to ask an oath of a sovereign, but he had to know.


    ¡°On my honor as High Wardeness.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all I can ask for,¡± he said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°As you said, Mistwatch is important. We wouldn¡¯t want it falling into a state of disarray.¡±


    Dread and no small amount of fear coiled in his gut.


    ¡°No. We wouldn¡¯t,¡± he agreed.


    He could almost feel the woman¡¯s smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad the two of us are of the same mind, firstrider. Do get some rest? You have quite the task ahead of you.¡±


    He opened his mouth, but she did not wait for his reply.


    The stone grew dull.


    Cold.


    Alone in the dark, Rhydian stared at the far wall of the chamber without truly seeing anything. All at once, he was weightless and leaden. The remainder of his flight would be safe, reinforced. He should be relieved, shouldn''t he?


    Of all the possible outcomes he''d conjured during the long, sleepless hours of the past week, this one was the best, regardless of the unspoken threat belying the Wardeness'' words. He should be grateful. He was grateful. And yet, he was slowly finding it hard to breathe.


    The tips of his fingers began to tingle and slowly, the sensation spread up the length of each arm. He cursed under his breath, knowing full well what was coming, but the vice had already closed in around his chest. His neck prickled as the first wave of heat struck him and beaded with the second as his heart and essence surged. Soon, he couldn¡¯t breathe, couldn¡¯t think. He knew the tremors would come next and¨C


    A large, scaly snout pressed into his side.


    The bed creaked and Tanuzet¡¯s horned crown scraped the stone ceiling of his open chamber, but he didn¡¯t care. His hand was over his heart, clawing at the muscle as if he could simply reach in and smother the cursed thing himself. The other, he placed upon her snout for support as he leaned into her. He sensed her rysk spark before a cool, continuous breeze danced over the bed.


    Breathe.


    He had to breathe.


    Rhydian closed his eyes and forced himself to count to four. He drew a breath in through his nose for the same count, held it, then gradually released. All the while, Tanuzet offered silent support. Her purrs soft, yet sure. The languid rhythm helped ground him as he counted and held. Counted and released. In truth, he lost track of how many times he¡¯d repeated the technique. Time had a way of escaping him when he fell prey to his anxieties.


    A lingering sense of dizziness had him pinching the bridge of his nose.


    Safe.


    They would be safe.


    Now, he supposed all he could do was take the word of the Wardeness and move on.


    As she¡¯d said, he had quite the task ahead of him, didn¡¯t he?


    ~*~


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    She looked ridiculous.


    ¡°Is this really necessary?¡± Inerys asked, reaching to undo the long scarf Sorisanna had meticulously wrapped about her neck and lower face.


    The sage was quick to swat her gloved hand away.


    ¡°Leave it! We need to make sure this will work.¡±


    Grumbling, she was tempted to reach for the comically oversized hat now occupying her brow instead, but thought better of it. The brim alone was over a hand¡¯s span wider than the width of her shoulders with a slight contour that dipped to further shroud her face. For spirits¡¯ sake, she looked like one of those long, flat mushrooms she used to harvest out in the Fringe during the rainy season. Where they had found such a thing was beyond her.


    ¡°If I still end up burnt after all this fuss-¡±


    Sorisanna rose a challenging, yet playful brow.


    ¡°You¡¯ll what? Bite me? I¡¯ve seen hatchlings with more impressive milk teeth.¡±


    Milk . . .teeth?


    She was referring to the wyverns, right?


    Her cheeks heated. ¡°I¨C no.¡±


    Once she was satisfied with the arrangement of the scarf, she laid a hand on Inerys¡¯ shoulder.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be fine, I promise. With luck, we won¡¯t need any of this, but if something happens and you¡¯re forced to travel by day, we need to make sure you¡¯re safe.¡±


    Much as she loathed all the extra clothing, it was better than being scorched a second time. She dropped her hands back to her sides without a fight. The gloves had been a welcomed addition, for they had offered some measure of normalcy, but the hat, the scarf, the strangely tinted spectacles, had all shattered the illusion. Even so, she could not deny the practicality of them.


    She allowed the sage to bring a portion of the thin, dark fabric up along the bridge of her nose and secure it in place using the spectacles.


    ¡°There,¡± she said, stepping back, ¡°I think that is as good as we¡¯re going to get, short of throwing a sheet over you.¡±


    She stepped aside to allow Inerys a better view of the mirror as she made to retrieve her luminous spheres for this last-minute test of hers. Honestly, it was hard not to laugh openly at her reflection. From head to toe, no amount of exposed skin was spared, save for her cheekbones, perhaps, but those were so thoroughly shrouded by the ridiculous hat, it didn¡¯t matter. What little might have been seen of her face was covered by the oversized black scarf and the tinted, near-insectile eyewear.


    Mushroom indeed, she thought to herself.


    Her grey-brown clothes weren''t helping matters, either.


    ¡°Well?¡±


    Inerys turned a slow circle.


    ¡°It¡¯s . . . functional?¡±


    ¡°Hmm. It might not be the height of fashion, but I think it will work. I only wish we¡¯d been able to find those earmuffs for you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all right. You¡¯ve done plenty already,¡± she assured, ¡°It might be for the best. I¡¯ll have to get used to all the changes eventually, seeing as how I¡¯m stuck with them.¡±


    Actively ignoring sounds she once wouldn¡¯t have spared much thought for, if she noticed them at all, required more concentration than she had expected. However, over the last several days, it had grown easier. The terrible grating of fabric on fabric, or boots upon stone, had grown benign, as had the idle, yet incessant breaths of those around her. There were plenty of sounds yet that made her want to bludgeon her head against the nearest wall, but some improvement was better than none at all. If only the same could be said of her heightened sense of smell.


    The sage smiled and the warmth of her silent encouragement helped ease the worried knot that had made its home in Inerys¡¯ heart.


    ¡°The new developments may feel like burdens to you now, but they may prove themselves to be gifts, should you choose to harness them.¡±


    ¡°I can try,¡± she said, unsure if she truly had a choice in the matter at all.


    If she did not learn to dull her new senses, at the very least, she might cast herself from this mountain just to be rid of them. What possible use she might have for fangs as wild and wicked as her own was a mystery, but she supposed, in a way, they were easier to live with. So long as she stopped prodding at them with her tongue. She¡¯d bitten the poor thing more times than she could count, largely because her cursed fangs had a mind of their own when she slept. They wiggled along her upper jaw as if to tease her and she clamped her mouth tight in an effort to make them stop.


    Ayduin¡¯s impatient knock sounded at the door and Sorisanna smoothed back the stray locks that framed her face with a small sigh.


    ¡°I suppose that¡¯s our cue,¡± she said.


    Inerys gave an involuntary shudder. She was still coming to terms with the fact she could not walk uncovered in daylight, if at all, yet it was the prospect of climbing upon a wyvern¡¯s back that had her wringing her hands. What if she fell off or was accidentally squished while trying to mount? How would she even make it to the saddle? Her treacherous mind had conjured half a dozen ways she¡¯d die simply trying to dismount.


    ¡°Are you coming with us?¡± She asked, her nerves forcing the question out faster and with more desperation than she intended.


    The sage gave her a small, regretful smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not. Ephaxus needs me here until he¡¯s well enough to fly. We¡¯ll join you once you¡¯re well enough to travel more than a few hour''s flight, though. I promise.¡±


    She did her best to hide her disappointment. Sorisanna had become an unexpected comfort and while Inerys was on tolerant terms with both Rhydian and Cydan, Ayduin was another matter. She was cold, distant and always appeared to be contemplating how she might rid Inerys of her head. It was difficult to relax, let alone sleep, when it was the woman¡¯s turn to keep an eye on her. Once they departed, they would be seeing far more of one another.


    Little by little, the thought of swift and spontaneous combustion became more appealing.


    Inerys reached for the pack she¡¯d been allotted and carefully slung it over one shoulder.


    ¡°We better not keep them waiting,¡± she said.


    The sage frowned, but nodded. Her trio of golden spheres took to their slow orbit above her head, an insurance, should her cover job prove ineffective.


    ¡°Come, we don¡¯t have much daylight left to test this under before you leave.¡±


    She bit her lip. ¡°I won¡¯t catch fire?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she promised.


    Steeling herself, Inerys stepped into the hall and past Ayduin¡¯s perpetual glare. She felt the woman¡¯s disapproval settle between her shoulders, but chose to ignore it. The past several days had afforded her plenty of time to practice her cycling both before and after her nightly walks, but she still had to measure her breaths as well as her steps if she intended to make it to the cloister without panting like a dog by the end.


    Thankfully, Ayduin fell into step behind them without comment. Though, she did appear rather disappointed when Inerys did not ignite and turn to ash on the wind when they emerged from the shadowed safety of the halls. Out of instinct, Inerys squinted and braced herself for the pain, but none came. The tinted spectacles darkened the world around her by several margins and mitigated the worst of the garish light. Slowly, carefully, she released the breath she¡¯d involuntarily held. No pain, no stench of burned flesh . . .


    So far so good.


    The hint of a smile crept to her lips and she looked to Sorisanna.


    ¡°Maybe now, you¡¯ll be more quick to trust me in the future?¡± She teased.


    ¡°I¡¯d argue I owe you more than that,¡± Inerys said with a light tremor of relief.


    ¡°You¡¯ll have plenty of time to contemplate your gratitude once we leave,¡± Ayduin muttered as she passed them by.


    Sorisanna gave Inerys a gentle nudge. ¡°Don¡¯t let her get to you. It¡¯s nothing personal, even if it might feel that way.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll . . . do my best.¡±


    Below them, three wyvern¡¯s occupied the cloister grounds with a fourth perched upon the rocky slope above. She recognized both Ephaxus and Tanuzet, though it was easy enough to assume the third was Ayduin¡¯s, given his distinctive coloration. He shone like beaten copper in the late afternoon light, his horns as black as his talons. In contrast, the membranes of his wings were a curious blue-green Inerys could not help but appreciate as she began her descent.


    ¡°Is that Cydan¡¯s wyvern?¡± She asked, her attention shifting to the perched female who blended near-perfectly with the slate grey crags above the others.


    ¡°Her name is Inet,¡± the sage said warmly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she¡¯s far friendlier than Vaelor. If he ever steps out of line, she¡¯s just as likely to put him back in his place as Tanuzet.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re accompanying us?¡± She guessed.


    Rhydian had explained little of his plan and she had intended to press the issue when she next saw him, but that had been days ago. He was busy preparing the keep for their leave, Sorisanna had said. Whatever that entailed.


    She nodded. ¡°They, along with Vesryn, from what I understand.¡±


    ¡°The other sage?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid so. For all the reservations he may have toward you, he¡¯s been the head sage for the Adai side of things for a reason. He¡¯s a good man.¡±


    Inerys wanted to believe her, but their first and only interaction had left its mark. Then again, maybe they could start over? She hadn¡¯t the slightest idea how long her recovery would take, so for all she knew, they would all be stuck together for weeks, if not months. Repairing, or even establishing relations, would likely be in her best interest.


    She was nearing the last of the stairs, when a familiar, yet distant pressure built between her temples. She grimaced and pressed a hand to her head. The sensation was similar to when Tanuzet had first spoken to her, though this felt more indirect, somehow, as if a mental conversation was being had that she was not yet privy to. Given Tanuzet¡¯s fixed attention upon Ephaxus, and he to her, it was not hard to guess where it came from.


    Rhydian was studying the pair as well, his arms crossed and the set of his jaw tight.


    ¡°My answer remains the same,¡± he said, ¡°you will remain here until Sorisanna deems you well enough to fly unassisted.¡±


    While she did not hear his reply, Ephaxus¡¯ disgruntled growl evidenced his thoughts well enough. His attention strayed to her as she approached at Sorisanna¡¯s side. The heat behind his rose gold eyes was enough to make her pause and consider running back the way she came. Her passenger, who had been relatively quiet the past three days, stirred. She felt its desire to rise to the challenge bleed into her, but she tamped it down.


    The pressure in her head intensified, then yielded as Ephaxus opened his mind to hers.


    I will benefit from the Wilds as much as the little viper, he said, his low rumble chasing a shiver up her spine.


    Tanuzet gave him a warning growl.


    Inerys¡¯ brow furrowed. ¡°Is that where we¡¯re going?¡±


    ¡°Not to the one you¡¯re thinking of. We¡¯ll be flying out to the Spirit Wilds,¡± Rhydian said, his attention dancing between she and Ephaxus, ¡°Which would benefit you both, yes, but Mistwatch is more than capable of treating you until you¡¯re fit to fly again. I will hear no more of it.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ephaxus, I¡¯ll be here to keep you company,¡± Sorisanna said, crossing to pat his wing.


    The wyvern lowered his head, but did not offer any further protest.


    Seemingly satisfied, Rhydian turned to fully face her.


    ¡°Are you ready?¡± He asked, giving her a once over.


    Inerys adjusted her pack with a reluctant nod, her gaze flitting to the saddle as Tanuzet lowered to her belly behind him. The climb required to reach it made her palms sweat. The wyvern angled her wing to make the route easier, but it was still dizzying to think about.


    ¡°I¡¯m flying with you?¡± She guessed.


    He nodded.


    She took a deep breath.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t let me fall,¡± she said, voice fainter than she would have liked.


    He stepped onto Tanuzet¡¯s wing and offered his hand.


    ¡°I won¡¯t, I promise.¡±

 Chapter Twenty-Three: The spirit Wilds

    Chapter Twenty-Three


    The Spirit Wilds


    <hr>


    ¡°It¡¯s safe to open your eyes,¡± Rhydian said.


    Swallowing the bile in her throat, Inerys dared to peek around his shoulder, her body sore and stiff from spending the better part of two hours clinging to his back. The forests and craggy mountains spread before them were not all that different from those she¡¯d spied near the keep upon their departure, though a faint haze marked the beginning of a far-off treeline. She would have mistaken it for an early fog, were it not for the subtle light that played through it like distantly reflected starlight over calm waters.


    ¡°What is that, exactly?¡± She asked, hoping he knew what she meant without her having to point.


    Her hands were far too shaky and still refused to give up their hold about his waist.


    ¡°The outermost boundary of the Spirit Wilds,¡± he said, shifting in the saddle, ¡°We¡¯ll be camping just inside of it for the first week or so.¡±


    ¡°Why only the first week?¡±


    She was under the impression they would be gone for far longer.


    ¡°The Wilds are an anomaly, of sorts,¡± he said, ¡°a natural bridge between our world and that of the spirits. The pressure the area exudes causes ordinary essences to condense into aura. The further you travel toward the Origin at its heart, the more intense it becomes. This far out, the aura is watered down, in a sense, but more potent than what¡¯s around us now. I¡¯d like to keep you along the outer edges until your fourth physical Ascension, then move further in as your tolerance for the spiritual pressure increases.¡±


    She blinked, wishing she had more than a rudimentary knowledge of this new world she¡¯d been thrust into.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize I would be able to reach my next so quickly.¡±


    If she could progress faster . . .


    She sensed his hesitation a heartbeat before he said, ¡°With the current state of your core, you may reach it as soon as we cross the border, if not shortly after.¡±


    The thought of such an abrupt change made her shiver.


    ¡°What¡¯s it like?¡± She asked, fearing a repeat of what had happened at the keep when she first awoke.


    ¡°I won¡¯t lie and tell you it¡¯s pleasant. Quite the opposite, in fact. I¡¯d be prepared to vomit, at the very least. It¡¯s all but guaranteed when the physical core advances.¡±


    Considering she had been on the verge of doing so since they first took wing, a release might prove preferable, at this point.


    ¡°Wonderful.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll land outside the border and have Vesryn on hand when we cross, just in case,¡± he said, glancing up toward Vaelor and Inet who still circled overhead, ¡°Start cycling, if you haven¡¯t already. You¡¯ll want to make sure your core is processing essence as efficiently as possible once you¡¯re within the aura field.¡±


    Checking her channels, she nodded. ¡°All right.¡±


    ¡°Ready?¡±


    ¡°I think so.¡±


    Tanuzet¡¯s high whistle was all the warning Inerys had before she deftly leapt from the cliff side and into the valley below. For the briefest of moments, they were weightless. Then, her stomach pressed up into her throat and she grunted. She clung to Rhydian with a certain desperation, her cheek pressed hard against his armored back. She thought she felt him chuckle, though it could just as easily have been the turbulence of their fall. Flying, she¡¯d learned, was rarely a smooth experience.


    When the wyvern¡¯s wings snapped open to catch the wind, she thought she might pass out entirely. Her eyelids fluttered, but the sudden burst of adrenaline kept her upright, if not keen. She groaned, wishing for nothing more than to be back upon solid, immovable ground. Much as she would have preferred to walk, she could not argue the effectiveness of flight over such mundane means. The sheer distance they had covered in so short a time had been staggering and she could not help but wonder how quickly one might travel between the cities back home. Riding on horseback from Aeodran to the nearest city-state usually took her the better part of two days, if the weather permitted.


    Thoughts of home kept her mind busy enough to tune out the majority of the short flight to the border. Both Inet and Vaelor landed shortly after Tanuzet, rustling their wings and exchanging knickers that almost sounded as if they belonged to some obscure language all their own. Rhydian patted Inerys¡¯ arm in a polite, yet silent request for her to let go. Her cheeks flushed when she realized how tightly she¡¯d been holding onto him. She muttered an apology, quick to release her hold and sit back to place as much distance between them as possible without shoving herself out of the saddle.


    With a low rumble, Tanuzet rested upon her belly and extended her right wing to grant them a viable path to the ground. Rhydian stepped down just below her shoulder and held out his hand. She hesitated, but took it. The last thing she needed was to tumble to her death simply because she was suddenly too embarrassed to touch him.


    ¡°Does the aura cause that strange shimmering?¡± She asked in an effort to distract herself from a creeping sense of vertigo.


    He nodded. ¡°Certain essences don¡¯t play nicely with one another. They¡¯re a bit like oil and water, in that regard, but the effect does make for an interesting sight.¡±


    Moist earth squished beneath her boots as she slowly eased herself upright. She clung to his hand a touch longer than she ought to, largely because she did not fully trust her knees¡¯ ability to hold her weight once on the ground. They ached far more than she cared to admit, as did her hips and lower back. They were the least of her concerns, though, considering what she was about to undergo.


    The older, sour-faced sage stepped out from Inet¡¯s shadow, giving her a once-over. His distaste for her practically radiated from him.


    ¡°Have you been cycling?¡±


    ¡°I have,¡± she said, resisting the urge to take a step back and away.


    ¡°Good. On you go,¡± he said waving forward with a hand, ¡°no point in putting off the inevitable.¡±


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the look of disapproval Rhydian cast his way. She might have thanked him, were she not staring into the forest as if it would devour her whole. Somewhere in the back of her mind, her mother chided her childish hesitation. She had ventured into far worse forests and come out the otherside. How was this any different from the deepwoods?


    Cydan stepped up beside her, then leaned in with a conspiratorial whisper. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll chase off any woodland beasties if they get too close.¡±


    She gave a start, but smiled her thanks. ¡°It''s nice to know someone has my back.¡±


    He winked and offered his arm. ¡°Always happy to help.¡±


    Inerys took it and together, they crossed what remained of the short clearing.


    Something tugged at her as she passed through the idle shimmer among the trees, as if she¡¯d unwittingly stepped through some unseen cobweb. From the span of one step to another, the air shifted. Not oppressive, exactly, but thick. Humid, even, like Tanuzet¡¯s breath had been. The scent of moss and musk hung heavy between the trees with an underlying sweetness that often accompanied the presence of decaying leaves and age-hollowed stumps.


    Her body practically hummed in response to whatever charge the air held, her channels expanding and drinking deep of what she could only assume to be aura. Distantly, she sensed Cydan stiffen and draw her hair back behind her head with his free hand. The steady path of her essence stuttered and jerked at the sudden influx of power. The world tilted and she could no longer tell up from down as her head spun. Foulness bloomed across her tongue and before she knew it, she was on her knees, vomiting black bile into the grass. What poured from her lips was neither blood, nor the remnants of an earlier meal, but rather, an oily substance akin to ink. It smelled of rot, though none she¡¯d ever encountered.


    ¡°Keep cycling,¡± Cydan said from where he knelt beside her. "You''re nearly there."


    Half choking, she forced herself to draw her attention inward and ignore the waves of heat dancing across her skin. She imagined that silly little stream, watching as it expanded and contracted like some living thing. Her channels undulated as they fed on the excess aura swirling through her body. They burned in places, but the sting of it eased with each passing second. Pressure built between her hips and for a moment, it felt as though she¡¯d been kicked beneath her naval.


    Inerys gasped and her physical core contracted. The force of it sent a series of tremors skittering through her bones and channels alike. She heaved once, twice. Her arms threatened to give out, but firm hands held her steady.


    Spirits¡¯ breath.


    ¡°Mind her scarf,¡± Rhydian said as he released her.


    A hand patted her back and through her dizziness, she spared Cydan a glance.


    ¡°Better?¡± He asked, still holding her hair away from her face.


    ¡°A bit,¡± she admitted, having to take a moment to catch her breath.


    When she was ready, he helped her to her feet, grimacing at the mess she left behind.


    ¡°Come on, then,¡± he said, ¡°best to get you away from that nasty business and let Vesryn have a look.¡±


    Inerys didn¡¯t argue.


    He sat her against one of the nearby trees and stood over her as the sage knelt beside the pool of bile. Muttering to himself, he dipped a finger into the steaming goo, inspected it, then rubbed it between his thumb and forefinger. She nearly gagged when he raised it to his nose.


    ¡°Well?¡± Rhydian asked, his arms crossed.


    ¡°Remarkably healthy, all things considered,¡± he said, ¡°the consistency is good. I¡¯d say it was a clean purge.¡±


    ¡°Did that . . . really come from me?¡± She asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing to be ashamed of, we all go through it,¡± Rhydian said, ¡°the physical core likes to root out any impurities when it advances.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take your word for it,¡± she said.


    ~*~


    After spending the better part of the remaining twilight hours scouting their ideal campsite, they had settled for a sheltered overlook perched above a wide river valley a few miles from where Inerys had purged herself. The site was relatively flat, the surrounding trees tall and spread enough to allow the wyverns to land without fear of crowding one another or cramping their wings. Tanuzet was the last to alight in the center of the field, nickering as she settled among the grass.


    Inerys sat back, rubbing at the tight muscles of her thighs and lower back. Her body still quivered from time to time with the lingering aftershocks of her cleansing, but overall, a majority of her pain had subsided. It had made the flight far more pleasant, even if her knees still ached from straddling the saddle for extended periods of time. Tanuzet was no horse, that much was certain. Her movement and size were still foreign to her, but as with everything, she was sure her confidence would come in time. There was no lack of flight in her future.


    Using one of the spikes along the wyvern¡¯s shoulder to steady herself, Inerys allowed Rhydian to guide her back to the ground. She staggered, regaining her bearings, then stretched her stiff limbs. She groaned with the effort, yet relished the release as her spine finally loosened. The advancement of her physical core had left her remarkably refreshed, despite her initial disorientation and ensuing purge. The black filth she¡¯d left behind in the moss disturbed her more than she¡¯d care to admit, but she pushed it from her mind.


    ¡°This should make for a decent camp over the next few days,¡± Rhydian said, surveying the area with an air of approval.


    ¡°You won¡¯t hear me complain about the view,¡± she said, curious as to what game might be found in these woods.


    ¡°Then you¡¯re in good company,¡± he said.


    ¡°I still can¡¯t believe how clear it is out here,¡± she admitted, ¡°Every so often, the mists would leave the cities, but I can¡¯t recall a single day where I could see more than a few dozen yards in any direction out in the forest.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised you were able to find your way at all.¡±


    Toying with her braid, she said, ¡°I¡¯ve always had a sort of sixth sense, even when I was a girl. Most Hounds do.¡±


    That sense had been absent since she¡¯d woken in the keep, but perhaps it was only dormant. It would return eventually, wouldn¡¯t it?


    ¡°It¡¯s likely a gift from your Adai heritage. Unless humans also possess cores?¡±


    ¡°I doubt it,¡± she said, ¡°I¡¯d never heard of them before I woke up in your keep. If they do have them, the purebloods haven¡¯t seen fit to share the information. They tend to keep matters of magic to themselves.¡±


    ¡°Magic?¡± He asked, brow knit in confusion.


    Inerys pursed her lips. ¡°It¡¯s similar to what you call rysk, I suppose. Unfortunately, I know next to nothing about either one. They may be one in the same.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll remedy that when the time comes,¡± he promised, ¡°Once your body is healed, we can work on unlocking that scary spirit of yours.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t entirely sure she wanted to unleash the beast of a core, but she nodded. Then, a thought struck her.


    ¡°If humans don¡¯t possess any cores, how can they use magic? Assuming it¡¯s similar to rysk?¡±


    ¡°Your guess is as good as mine. We know next to nothing about the Endari Wilds. You¡¯re the first thing to walk out of it that hasn¡¯t been infected.¡±


    ¡°Infected?¡±


    She watched as a muscle feathered along his jaw.


    ¡°The spiritual core . . . changes in those woods. It''s one of the main reasons entering them is forbidden. The exact details of it are above my pay grade, but those who are foolish enough to enter the forest often never return. And those rare few who manage to are corrupted, somehow. Their rysk turns corrosive. Mistwatch¡¯s main purpose is to safeguard the rest of the continent from infection. It''s why we have a tendency to shoot first and ask questions later during out patrols.¡±


    Goosebumps pricked her skin.


    In all her time spent in those woods, never once had she seen anyone infected with anything. Aside from a cold, that is. If someone disappeared, they were gone and that was simply the end of it. She doubted anyone had ever been as fortunate as her.


    ¡°The woman who attacked me,¡± she began, ¡°was she infected?¡±


    ¡°No, so far as we can tell. There was something off about her, to be sure, but we¡¯re confident it had nothing to do with the Blight. She remains a mystery, as you do. With luck, we¡¯ll have more answers once we meet our benefactor.¡±


    ¡°I feel more and more like an oddity each day,¡± she said.


    ¡°You¡¯re a unique case, that much is clear,¡± he said, rubbing his chin a moment in thought. ¡°Now that your physical core has advanced it''s time we start training it alongside the rest of your body. I¡¯ll show you a more efficient cycling technique once camp is made and come tomorrow evening, we¡¯ll head out into the forest on foot."


    ¡°All right,¡± she said, wondering what this training would entail, ¡°Is there anything I can help with, in the meantime?¡±


    He shook his head. ¡°We¡¯ll have things well in hand between the four of us. Ayduin tells me there¡¯s a stream nearby. I¡¯ll have her take you to it. You¡¯re in need of a proper bath after your purge.¡±


    Inerys could have died from sheer mortification. Did she stink? Surely, she would have noticed, given the absurdity of her nose? Rhydian must have read the expression on her face, for he offered an apologetic smile. Behind him, Tanuzet sneezed and shook out her wings in confirmation.


    ¡°It¡¯s not uncommon to go nose-blind in the hours following an advancement.¡±


    ¡°I ¨C I see,¡± she managed, practically shaking in her embarrassment.

 Update for all you lovely folks.

    Hey guys,


    I know this isn''t an official chapter update (please don''t hurt me), but I wanted to let you all know I''m planning to release chapter 24 next Friday (9/6/2024). We''re in the process of moving to a new city, so I''ve been a bit busy the past few weeks! All is going well though, so I can''t complain. I just wanted to let you know I haven''t forgotten about you all or this little WIP of mine! I have three books planned and ready to start writing, which means I need to get this one done and out of the way!


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    In the future, I''d like to announce any updates and such on either instagram or twitter, so if you''re into that sort of thing, I''ve added them to my profile/bio. I figured it would be easier and less annoying than doing so here. :)


    See you next week!


    - Sven

 Chapter Twenty-Four: From the Vein

    Chapter Twenty-Four


    From the Vein


    <hr>


    ¡°The water won¡¯t be particularly warm,¡± Ayduin said, ¡°but it¡¯ll have to do.¡±


    Setting her bundle of clean clothing upon a nearby stone, Inerys crouched beside the stream and removed a glove to dip her hand into the lazy current. In truth, it was warmer than she¡¯d expected. Cool, to be sure, but not entirely unpleasant. She had endured far worse out in the deepwoods.


    ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be the first time I¡¯ve bathed in cold water,¡± she said.


    If anything, it might be refreshing.


    ¡°For your sake, I hope you¡¯re prepared to stand it long enough to get the stink out. Post-advancement cleanup is a nasty business.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m inclined to agree,¡± Inerys said with a frown, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t happen to have any soap, would you?¡±


    To her surprise, the woman produced a fresh bar from her pocket and held it aloft. It smelled of citrus and lavender, though not as strongly as she had expected. Perhaps she really had gone noseblind. Hopefully, it wasn¡¯t permanent.


    ¡°Here,¡± she said, tossing it to her in an underhanded swing, ¡°I have plenty more, so don¡¯t be afraid to use it.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± she assured, though hesitated to undress.


    She¡¯d never bathed with anyone present before. The notion alone reddened her cheeks, though she supposed her prudishness was unwarranted. Ayduin was a woman, after all. Surely, there was nothing Inerys possessed that the woman had never seen before. Right?


    ¡°Something wrong?¡± She asked, cutting her wayward thoughts of Adai physiology short.


    ¡°Me? Oh, no. I just¨C¡±


    Am too polite to ask you to leave?


    Ayduin slowly raised an eyebrow.


    Cheeks aflame, Inerys said, ¡°I¡¯m not used to an audience, that¡¯s all.¡±


    The woman gave her a flat look before rolling her eyes and pointedly rounding one of the larger stones to sit with her back to her.


    ¡°Better?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes, thank you,¡± she said, a tad awkwardly.


    ¡°If it makes you feel any better, I¡¯ve seen just about everything. I doubt you could surprise me, even if you sported extra dangly-bits.¡±


    Half a dozen questions rose in regard to that statement.


    In an effort to distract herself, she asked, ¡°Are advancements always so unpleasant?¡±


    ¡°Physical advancements? Always. I¡¯m sure Rhydian has yet to warn you, but your fourth will be worse.¡±


    Inerys grimaced as she shimmied out of her trousers and peeled her poor blouse away from her tacky skin.


    ¡°How so?¡±


    Ayduin turned, picking at her nails and likely debating how far she was willing to humor her line of questioning. She was surprised the woman was speaking to her at all, considering their relationship. If one could even call it that. She was fairly certain the secondrider only tolerated her because of Rhydian.


    ¡°Your body restructures itself at the end of the foundation phase. Bone density increases, muscles enter an advanced form of myofibrillar hypertrophy and more often than not, any physical modifications manifest themselves.¡±


    Inerys was truly beginning to mourn her lack of education on the subject.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I haven¡¯t the slightest idea what any of that means,¡± she said.


    Ayduin huffed. ¡°In short? You become stronger and more durable. Faster too.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± she said, cheeks burning, ¡°and the physical modifications?¡±


    She deliberately blinked the clear membrane in her eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t have much control over what changes, honestly. In our case, we all developed nictitating membranes like our wyverns. Comes with the bond. I¡¯m not sure what will happen in your case, though.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve had my fair share of changes already,¡± she muttered and slipped into the water before her body could balk at the temperature.


    The world became black and cold as she submerged herself. However, the darkness was short-lived. The luminescent fractals along her arms lit skin and water alike in shades of pale blue. She frowned when she resurfaced, but found her glow-in-the-dark toes were rather useful. Between them, the clarity of the water and the relatively shallow depths, she could see each and every nearby stone. She¡¯d even spied a tiny crustacean before the little bastard had the chance to pinch her.


    She¡¯d had half a mind to pluck it from the water for a closer examination, but ultimately decided against it. There was no telling how long Ayduin¡¯s generous mood would last and she wasn¡¯t keen on pressing her luck. Her time was best spent scrubbing the salt and filth from her skin, not playing with the wildlife.


    As she at last lathered her hair, she caught the woman staring. Not at her bare body, thankfully, but rather, her arms. The intensity behind her rosy, gold-rimmed eyes verged on something she couldn¡¯t quite place. Wariness, perhaps? Guilt? Inerys wasn¡¯t entirely sure what to make of it. Nor was she certain the woman was aware of the fact she¡¯d been nervously toying with her necklace for the better part of ten minutes. When the woman realized she¡¯d been caught, she abruptly tugged at it, the silver chain wrapped around her fingers drawing tight enough to whiten her otherwise dusky skin.


    ¡°Do they hurt?¡± She asked, gesturing toward Inerys¡¯ arms with her free hand as if nothing were amiss, despite the slight waiver to her voice.


    The question hadn¡¯t come as a complete surprise. While the woman had never openly gawked at her fracturing the way some of the others had, Inerys had caught the occasional glance when the woman thought she wasn¡¯t looking. Not that she could blame her. The luminescent quality of the complex webbing was so overt, she would have thought it strange, had the woman continued to avoid questioning.


    ¡°The webbing? No. Well, not anymore, at least,¡± she said.


    ¡°Not anymore?¡±


    Rinsing the sweet-smelling soap from her hands, she debated how best to describe the sensation.


    ¡°It¡¯s hard to explain, but before Sorisanna set those shackles, they burned. Not like a brand exactly, but my skin felt like I was seated too close to an open flame. Close enough to sting, but not enough to scald, if that makes sense? These days, they only tingle. My arms feel like they¡¯re on the verge of falling asleep from the elbow down.¡±


    The other woman wrinkled her nose. ¡°Is it constant?¡±


    ¡°More or less.¡±


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t you mentioned it before?¡±


    ¡°I assumed it would resolve over the course of my stabilization,¡± she said, ¡°With everything else I have going on, it didn¡¯t seem worth mentioning. The feeling isn¡¯t particularly pleasant, but it''s already an improvement compared to what I was experiencing before.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough,¡± Ayduin sighed, rubbing at her brow, ¡°The new cycling technique Vesryn has in mind for you should help with that, but if it doesn¡¯t, you need to speak up.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± she assured, but had to ask, ¡°What is it he has planned, exactly?¡±


    The man was even less fond of her than Ayduin was, which was impressive in its own right. Then again, the woman was at least trying. Or, seemed to be. She¡¯d humored her this far, hadn¡¯t she?


    ¡°Given you know next to nothing about any of this, the answer requires a bit of an explanation,¡± she warned, ¡°you sure you don¡¯t want to wait until he gives you the full lesson?¡±


    Internally, she debated. In the end, though, she decided now was the best time to extend her olive branch. Subtly, of course.


    ¡°If I have the option, I¡¯d rather have you explain it to me,¡± she said, ¡°Please.¡±


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    Ayduin studied her for a long, uncomfortable moment before she sighed through her nose and reluctantly nodded.


    ¡°Fine,¡± she said, pulling her fingers free of her necklace to point at her pelvis with both hands, ¡°Your physical core governs three separate meridians all by its lonesome; your circulatory, gastric and musculoskeletal. The technique you¡¯ve been using focuses on your circulatory meridian. Aside from it being the easiest to learn, it¡¯s also the most important. Breathwork is everything, regardless of your Ascension, so keeping your heart and lungs well supplied with oxygen and vital essence is in your best interest. It does wonders for the mind too, but that¡¯s a lesson all on its own.¡±


    ¡°This new technique will focus on your musculoskeletal. From what I understand, the channels branching from that meridian suffered the most damage when the fracturing occurred. Hence the glowies in your extremities,¡± she said, wiggling her fingers for emphasis, ¡°Reprioritizing the flow of your vital essence will give the rest of your body more to feed on. Which, in theory, should alleviate the pain and weakness you¡¯ve been experiencing.¡±


    Inerys filed away the information as she dipped her head back to shed the excess soap from her hair.


    ¡°You don¡¯t sound entirely confident,¡± she noted.


    ¡°Your lack of preparation work is the main issue. Under normal circumstances, you would have learned all three base cycling techniques for the physical core prior to your first advancement and therefore, have trained your core to manage and absorb vital essence as efficiently as possible. By your third Ascension, those techniques shouldn¡¯t require conscious thought. The lack of muscle memory will put you at a disadvantage for a while, especially when we start your physical conditioning. It''s nothing that cannot be fixed, but it will take quite a bit of work and essence. Basing ourselves in the Wilds will help with the latter, but be prepared to eat. A lot.¡±


    Her stomach audibly growled at the mention of food.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that will be an issue. At least, for a little while. My body seems to think its in a constant state of starvation these days.¡±


    ¡°To be fair, it¡¯s not entirely untrue,¡± she said, ¡°hunting game of sufficient rank should curb the feeling, though. You¡¯re craving the vital essence more than anything else.¡±


    She sighed, pressing a hand to the hollow of her stomach and glancing off toward her fresh linens.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take your word for it.¡±


    Ayduin rose from her seat in order to fetch Inerys¡¯ towel for her.


    ¡°How are your . . . other cravings?¡± She asked, almost hesitantly.


    Inerys blinked and mechanically reached to take the offered cloth. In truth, she was more caught off guard by the gesture, than the actual question.


    ¡°Other cravings? Oh, you mean the, erm, blood,¡± she said, clearing her throat, ¡°mild, if anything. I¡¯m not tempted to take a bite, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re asking.¡±


    The woman suddenly stiffened.


    Inerys winced, ¡°Sorry. Poor choice of words on my part.¡±


    ¡°If you want to keep that pretty little head of yours, I¡¯d advise against any nibbles.¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t planning on any,¡± she promised, the words all but stumbling out of her mouth as her cheeks warmed.


    Ayduin crossed her arms. ¡°Good. Now, hurry up and get dressed. You¡¯re not the only one anxious for a meal.¡±


    ~*~


    Rhydian had never been fond of needles. The mere sight of them was enough to make his skin crawl, so he hadn''t been particularly thrilled when Sorisanna had all but ordered him to carry one with him to the Spirit Wilds. Still, he could not argue her reasoning. If he was keen on bleeding himself to keep Inerys¡¯ cravings in check long enough for them to find a sufficient replacement, it was better to do so with the proper tool, than a blade.


    His wrist, while healed, was still tender.


    He studied the prepared needle amid the glow of the firelight, his lips pressed thin as he rallied his nerves. For all his self reflection, he could not pinpoint what it was about them that bothered him so. Logically, he knew they were next to harmless and yet he simply couldn¡¯t bring himself to stick the damn thing in his arm. He tried. Skies knew he tried, but nothing. He always stopped an inch shy of contact.


    What was wrong with him?


    Across their modest campfire, he caught a brief glance from Cydan. The man only offered his usual, easy smile, his auburn hair only a shade or two shy of the flames dancing before him.


    ¡°Can I bother you to give me a hand, ser?¡± He asked, beginning to rise.


    For a brief moment, Rhydian¡¯s brow drew. What could he possibly need a hand with? The realization dawned on him, however, and a portion of his ego threatened to collapse in on itself.


    He deftly slid the needle and the short, attached tube into his sleeve.


    ¡°Of course,¡± he said, moving to stand as well.


    To his relief, Vesryn, who had been sifting through his medicinal supplies nearby, failed to take notice of the exchange.


    ¡°Did Tanuzet give me away?¡± He asked quietly as he and Cydan crouched in front of the saddle bags with their backs to the sage some distance away.


    His forthrider held out his hand, ¡°She didn¡¯t need to, ser.¡±


    Behind him, he felt his wyvern¡¯s accusatory glare.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± he sighed, passing him the needle, ¡°I¡¯m not sure what¡¯s wrong with me. It¡¯s not like I¡¯ve never had blood drawn before.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± he agreed, ¡°but I¡¯ve noticed you tend to distract yourself when you do. There¡¯s no shame in it. Do you have the mug?¡±


    Rhydian drew it from his pocket and set it on his knee.


    ¡°I suppose I do,¡± he said, pulling up his sleeve and focusing on the sky while Cydan found the vein.


    Counting the stars helped distract him from the slight pinch he felt along the inside of his elbow, from the steady, yet gentle ebb of his own blood being leached away. The thought of being used as a living blood bag was more than a little disturbing, if he were honest. But, he had volunteered himself for the position. Keeping Inerys¡¯ cravings in check and away from any conflicts they may raise, was well worth the trouble, in his mind. He¡¯d seen the way she eyed the others on occasion. She likely wasn¡¯t even aware of those stolen glances.


    They haunted him regardless, for the hunger he sometimes caught in her eyes was as old as it was deep. In her moments of clarity, she seemed to keep it on a tight leash and for that, he was grateful. He had no plan to test how far that restraint extended, however. Which made moments like these all the more necessary.


    ¡°Come morning, would you take the first hunt?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Sure,¡± Cydan said. ¡°Are we still looking for fourth Ascension or higher?¡±


    Rhydian nodded. ¡°We need something with enough vital saturation to keep her core busy.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make certain I don¡¯t come back empty handed,¡± he said, removing the needle and clapping him on the shoulder, ¡°I appreciate the help, ser. I should be able to handle it from here.¡±


    The sage only spared them a cursory glance.


    Making his way back to the fire, Rhydian set the mug beside the plate of meat and bread he¡¯d prepared earlier. He hoped Inerys would not question the temperature and if she did, perhaps assume it was the fire¡¯s doing, rather than realize how fresh it was from the vein. With that nose of hers, perhaps it was wishful thinking. She was bound to put two and two together eventually.


    They¡¯re coming, Tanuzet hummed, without so much as raising her head.


    Not a heartbeat later, the women emerged from the treeline, with Inerys still fluffing out her damp hair with a bare hand. The sight of those glowing fissures had a way of turning his stomach. He forced the feeling down as they approached.


    ¡°You¡¯re looking refreshed,¡± he said, ¡°How do you feel?¡±


    Her full smile sent a shiver up his spine. Sky¡¯s mercy, he would never get used to those infernal fangs. She smiled so infrequently, it was easy to forget they were there. Had she the desire, she could rip out his throat without a second thought. He swallowed his discomfort and did his best to return the gesture.


    ¡°Better, due in no small part to Ayduin¡¯s soap,¡± she said.


    Surprised, he looked to his secondrider, who offered no more than a shrug in explanation. At least the two had found some common ground while they were away. The development was unexpected, but he could hardly complain.


    ¡°She carries more soaps and toiletries than she knows what to do with,¡± he said with a genuine grin, ¡°Blankets too.¡±


    Ayduin cast him a withering glare. ¡°I do not.¡±


    ¡°If I remember correctly, the last time you opened your annex, three cases of Ahneshali soap spilled out all over the wyvernlair floor.¡±


    She raised her chin. ¡°Some of us like to smell nice.¡±


    ¡°Three cases doesn¡¯t sound that excessive,¡± Inerys said.


    ¡°Would you like me to tell her how many cases you have in total?¡± Rhydian teased.


    Ayduin grumbled. ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°How many?¡± Inerys wondered.


    ¡°Twelve,¡± he said, taking a seat and crossing his arms as he leaned against the boulder at his back, ¡°and mind you, each case holds about six dozen of those soaps.¡±


    ¡°Six dozen?¡±


    Ayduin threw her hands up. ¡°I like variety. If I can¡¯t enjoy the right scent for the occasion, then what¡¯s the point? Some of us get tired of smelling like wyvern and leather all day.¡±


    Rhydian only laughed, earning a small chuckle from Inerys as well.


    ¡°Needless to say, she has just about any grooming supply, perfume or other feminine provision you might need. If you ask nicely.¡±


    ¡°See if I¡¯ll ever share with you again,¡± the woman muttered.


    ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind,¡± she said, then tilted her head when she noticed the offerings he¡¯d set out beside the campfire, ¡°are those for me?¡±


    ¡°Eat as much of it as you can. You¡¯ll need all the extra essence we can spare.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡±


    With a pleased hum, she took a seat upon the grass near the fire, though he noted how she¡¯d angled away from the flames. Apparently, her sensitivity to light extended to that of the fires. He would have to keep that in mind in the future, if they ever progressed to the point where demonstrating his rysk became necessary.


    Unsurprisingly, she sampled the blood first.


    Rhydian chose to focus on his own plate while she drank, his thoughts straying toward thoughts of their upcoming lessons and conditioning.


    They had settled into a comfortable silence, when Inerys eventually asked, ¡°What is an annex, exactly?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a pocket dimension,¡± he said, though his answer was clearly too vague, so he clarified, ¡°They¡¯re essentially stabilized voids in reality. The sizes vary, but their utility is practically the same. They¡¯re portable storage rooms that don¡¯t take up any physical space.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± the young woman trailed. ¡°How do you access them, then?¡±


    ¡°More often than not, by activating a sigil,¡± he said, ¡°mine is tattooed on the back of my neck. If I direct my mental essence to it and imbue it with my Intent, it opens the space.¡±


    To demonstrate, he activated his primary annex. It seemed harmless enough to show her what it was like from the outside. He had no intention of giving her a tour, considering the current . . . occupants.


    Inerys¡¯ eyes went wide.


    ¡°How is that even possible?¡±


    He chuckled, ¡°Unfortunately, I¡¯m not sure of the details myself. I only use them.¡±


    ¡°So you just step inside?¡±


    ¡°Like you would in any other room,¡± he said, closing the annex once more.


    It vanished without a trace, save for the slight distortion it left behind for a few moments. It wasn¡¯t visible, but if one reached out with their Awareness, they¡¯d likely sense the slight fold in reality. It would dissipate with time, of course.


    ¡°That¡¯s incredible,¡± she breathed.


    ¡°If you think his is impressive, you should see some of the mansions the Elders carry around with them,¡± Cydan said, finding his seat between them.


    ¡°I¡¯m still trying to comprehend them at all,¡± she said, blinking, ¡°all you need is a tattoo?¡±


    ¡°The process is a bit more complicated than that, but most choose to use a special tattoo as a ground for the summoning mechanism. You could always use something else as a key. A necklace, an embroidery on your cloak¨C¡±


    ¡°A key,¡± Cydan offered.


    Rhydian sighed at his cheeky antics. ¡°Yes. If you want to be original. Regardless, they¡¯re rather versatile. Some of the Talhavar Elders have access to annexes the size of small cities. They usually use them as training facilities, climate controlled farms or camps. The sky is the limit, really. If you can afford it. We mainly use ours for storage. And you¡¯ll find mine has more available space than Ayduin¡¯s.¡±

 Chapter Twenty-Five: Growing Pains

    Chapter Twenty-Five


    Growing Pains


    <hr>


    Inerys had learned that some post-advancement changes were not immediately apparent.


    After not one, but two full days spent in a deep and dreamless sleep, she awoke to slight, yet noticeable alterations. Blunt, black claws had grown in place of her fingernails and toes, having left the shells of their former occupants scattered about in her bedroll and tent. They, like her former teeth, were dispelled. It seemed whatever could not be enhanced or built upon was replaced. She could not help but wonder what remnant of her former self she would lose next. Her hair? Her eyes? Would she sprout the same antlers her maker bore?


    Where she had expected surprise or outrage, she found nothing but resigned acceptance. There was an underlying curiosity as well, but she¡¯d hardly had the opportunity to acknowledge it, once she had discovered the other changes. Her limbs, while sore, were stronger. They were also longer, which in combination, raised an entirely new set of challenges she had not been prepared for.


    In her surprise, she had practically launched herself from her tent and taken the poor thing with her as she¡¯d rolled down the gentle incline along the southern edge of camp. It had been erected far enough from the slope of the surrounding hills that tumbling down the steeper grade further down shouldn¡¯t have been an issue. However, her panic had sent her into a gravity-assisted bounce right over the edge. The fall was far from lethal, but a particularly swift summersalt on the way down had left her whiplashed and winded by the time she¡¯d finally slid to a stop at the bottom of the hill.


    Rhydian had skidded to a halt beside her within moments, his eyes wide as he¡¯d searched her prone figure in stunned silence. Given his initial alarm, she had expected to find herself in pain, yet as she¡¯d stared up at the first of the evening stars, she realized she was more annoyed than anything else. Aside from a few grass stains and patches of errant mud, she was fine. Remarkably fine, in fact. Had she still been an ordinary Hound, she may have broken a bone. Perhaps several. This body, however, had suffered little more than a sore backside and a scraped elbow.


    The sheer distance she had fallen appeared utterly absurd from her vantage at the base of the slope. As had the startled expressions of the wyverns. They had peeked over the distant rise like snakes from a burrow and she had to bite her lip in an effort to keep from laughing when she turned her attention to Rhydian. The slight twitch she had caught along the corner of his mouth had hinted at his own barely restrained smile. The sight of it cracked her composure and in the end, the two had laughed themselves hoarse. She may have imagined it, but she¡¯d been fairly certain she¡¯d spied Ayduin smiling further up the ridge before she¡¯d clapped a hand over it in an effort to stifle her outburst. It was strange, hearing such unabashed laughter from the others, but not unwelcome. In the days that followed, there had certainly been no shortage of it, given Inerys¡¯ sudden proclivity for impromptu performances.


    It had taken the better part of two days for her to relearn how to move and walk. Thankfully, the setback in her coordination had not disrupted Rhydian¡¯s plans. Minor adjustments had been made in regard to his ideal timeline for her, but that had been the extent of it. Together, they would hike down from their campsite and trace a wide circle through the surrounding woods. By her estimate, the route was close to a league or so, which was manageable, even if she struggled to keep herself under control when the terrain grew too steep in places. She had a tendency to overcommit and send herself sprawling when she moved any faster than a brisk walk. So, for several days following her tumble, she¡¯d been forbidden from doing anything more, aside from cycle during the breaks she¡¯d required along the way.


    The new technique, while different, had not been difficult to grasp, once Inerys knew where to locate her meridians. Unlike the circulatory, which was limited to the confines of her chest, her musculoskeletal meridian claimed holdings in each limb in addition to her torso. It required her to redirect her vital essence up through her heart and neck to a natural fork at the base of her skull. From there, the meridian split into two parallel paths through her body until it eventually rejoined her core. It was a simple structure, though evidently, it would grow more complex as she advanced, as would the adjoining channels.


    Unsettling as the notion might have been, it was oddly exciting. What other changes would advancement bring about? What would she be able to do with her newfound speed once she learned to harness it? If she harnessed it. How much stronger would she become?


    Would her family even recognize her when she finally returned home?


    The thoughts plagued her more than she deigned to admit.


    After Vesryn had guided her through her first few cycles, both Rhydian and Cydan had chosen to join her while she practiced each day after her breakfast. The sage had taken his leave of her early on in the week, so she¡¯d welcomed the extra company. Their encouragement had gone a long way in soothing her frustration, if she were honest.


    She and Cydan were finishing up their warm-up cycle when Rhydian approached and held out an unfamiliar bow and quiver for her retrieval.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± She asked, tilting her head.


    ¡°A change of pace,¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯m curious to see what our resident huntress can do.¡±


    Her brows lifted. ¡°I was beginning to wonder if you¡¯d ever give me the chance to earn my keep.¡±


    Aside from the sage, she was the only other person who hadn¡¯t been a part of their hunting rotation. For obvious reasons, of course, but she¡¯d still felt like a burden. Relying on anyone outside herself was a concept she still struggled to accept.


    ¡°The way you¡¯ve been eyeing my bow of late, I half expected you to try sneaking out on your own by now.¡±


    To be honest, she had considered it once or twice.


    She stiffened as she rose, fingers shying away from the curved wood.


    Had she been that obvious?


    ¡°Theft is a poor way to earn favors,¡± she said with a shaky smile.


    He chuckled, ¡°Well, I appreciate the restraint. Are you feeling well enough for a hunt?¡±


    She weighed the bow in her hands, considering.


    ¡°Will it hold up to my strength?¡±


    ¡°Trust me, it can handle the abuse.¡±


    ¡°All right. Did you have a site in mind?¡±


    ¡°Not in particular, no. I¡¯m used to hunting from the skies,¡± he said.


    Glancing up, she wondered if the addition of a wyvern was more a help or a hindrance.


    ¡°In that case, I say we start near the stream. With luck, we can pick up a trail from there without wandering around most of the night.¡±


    Adjusting his own bow along his back, he nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯ll follow your lead, then.¡±


    She eyed him in mock inspection as she slung the bow over her shoulder and adjusted the quiver.


    ¡°You¡¯re awfully tall. Are you sure you won¡¯t scare off all the game while stomping around in the underbrush with us mere mortals?¡±


    ¡°Unlike some, I can keep quiet just fine. So long as you don¡¯t trip and knock over another tree along the way, we should have nothing to worry about.


    Warmth crept into her cheeks as she scowled.


    ¡°It was a sapling and you know it.¡±


    The spark of mischief in his eye had her wishing she could take back the tease.


    ¡°Are you sure? See, it was my understanding that saplings were thin and relatively short, not thick as a man¡¯s torso through the trunk. My mistake.¡±


    ¡°Oh hush.¡±


    She turned heel down the southern slope, ever mindful of the very strength he¡¯d teased her about. To her credit, she didn¡¯t stumble as often. While walking, anyway. So long as she didn¡¯t break into a jog or anything faster, there was nothing to worry about.


    Once they reached the waterside, she knelt and scanned the soft spaces between stones for prints. Her nose, however, alerted her to potential quarries well before her eyes. There were dozens of threads upon the wind, most of which she was barely familiar with. Prior to her change, she had thought herself intimately familiar with the sights, sounds and scents of the forest. However, her heightened senses threw a majority of her previous assumptions into question. She had never put much thought into what a bird or pine marten might smell like, yet here she was, trying to determine what each trail belonged to.


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    Something close by reeked of day-old carrion and dried grass. She peered up into the dense canopy, searching for movement, for anything out of place. A hoot drew her attention to a tall, feathery figure perched among the branches. A pair of eyes found hers, wide as they were yellow. An owl, then. It possessed a slight, musty quality she had difficulty placing at first. Realizing what it was, though, her nose wrinkled. Rodent. Definitely rodent. Evidently, her feathery new friend suffered from a particularly nasty case of rat-breath.


    Muttering her displeasure, she made her way further up the bank. As she did, a new scent drew her attention - one of acrid urine and something akin to turned milk. The smell of deer in rut had always been pungent. Now, though, it threatened to turn her stomach. She raised a lip as she crouched beside the faint impressions of their toes along a damp stretch of earth. From what she could tell, there were at least a half dozen in the herd. Their tracks were fresh enough that they couldn¡¯t be all that far down the trail.


    Rhydian crouched beside her, his attention on the forest.


    ¡°Have you caught something?¡±


    ¡°A few deer,¡± she said, brow drawn, ¡°I was hoping I could tell how many there are in the herd based on their scent, but they¡¯re too closely mingled. Given their tracks, I¡¯d say five or six maybe? Can¡¯t you use that awareness of yours to tell for certain?¡±


    While he had explained it to her when she¡¯d asked, she still wasn¡¯t sure she fully understood how the ability worked.


    He shrugged a shoulder. ¡°I could. But we¡¯re here to hone your abilities, not mine.¡±


    She cast him a brief look of annoyance.


    ¡°If I¡¯m sniffing out dinner, the least you could do is tell me if what I¡¯m tracking is worth it.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough,¡± he said, momentarily distracted, ¡°I can sense at least two fourth Ascensions in range. We might be able to harvest enough blood between the two of them to last more than a few days this time.¡±


    Inerys did her best not to make a face. Blood had become a new staple in her diet, yes, but its procurement was still a touchy subject for her. She wasn''t fool enough to believe what they supplied her with came solely from their hunts. It was mixed, she''d noticed, but a portion of it still came from Rhydian. And Cydan, if her suspicions were correct. Her allotment rotated between the rich spice she¡¯d grown accustomed to and a newer, earthen variety every other day. The new addition was sweet and oddly floral. She may have even enjoyed it, were it not for the fact the two were bleeding themselves in order to keep her sated.


    ¡°And if we don¡¯t?¡± She asked, allowing the unspoken question to hang between them.


    She felt his eyes on her then, even as she crept forward to follow the tracks.


    ¡°If we don¡¯t, I send the others out hunting again when we need.¡±


    She debated the merit of having this particular discussion at all. The subject wasn¡¯t exactly easy to broach for either party. Considering the lengths he and Cydan had taken to conceal the matter, even around the others, she couldn¡¯t imagine he was keen to openly admit he had been providing the bulk of her supply. She had a feeling the man already knew. If that were indeed the case, wouldn¡¯t he have said something already? The hypocrisy of the thought wasn¡¯t lost on her.


    Further up the path, she turned back to face him and hesitated.


    ¡°The blood I¡¯ve been given has been yours the whole time, hasn¡¯t it?¡±


    She watched a muscle flicker along the lower edge of his all too vulpine face, saw the moment those defensive walls of his began to rise.


    ¡°I know, Rhydian,¡± she said, finally finding her voice in full, ¡°I¡¯ve known for a while.¡±


    A wariness she had not seen since those initial days crept back into his eyes when he finally met hers in earnest.


    ¡°Inerys¨C¡±


    ¡°I want to know why. If blood is all I need, what difference does the source make? Why give yours when we can gather it elsewhere? Isn¡¯t that the point of us being out here now?¡± She asked, gesturing to the forest around them.


    ¡°The source,¡± he said as he approached, ¡°makes all the difference. I learned that. The night I tested you, you chose my cup without so much as looking at the other one. Tanuzet and I had hunted for something of comparable rank to see if it made a difference, but it didn¡¯t.¡±


    That . . . couldn¡¯t be right.


    Her breath hitched behind her teeth, but he continued before she could find the will to speak.


    ¡°I told the others that if the blood came from a high enough Ascension, the source didn¡¯t matter because they¡¯ve had a hard enough time accepting what you are. If they knew you really were a cannib-¡± he caught himself and smoothed a hand over his hair, ¡°Cydan is the only one who knows the truth and I intend to keep it that way. He¡¯s been stepping in because he volunteered. The truth is, I can¡¯t keep up anymore. He won¡¯t be able to either, which is why I¡¯ve been mixing ours with what we¡¯ve gathered from our hunts.¡±


    The admission struck her like a physical blow, so much so, she missed the slip-up. She was going to be sick. She made to turn away from him, searching the surrounding wood as if she¡¯d find some other truth she could cling to. Maybe it was just a matter of taste? Deer blood might not be as appealing, but surely she could choke it down if it meant sparing the others.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to mix it anymore,¡± she said shakily, ¡°I can make do.¡±


    One way or another, she would make it work.


    His tone softened as he said, ¡°I don¡¯t think you can. I¡¯ve seen the way you inspect what we give you. Whether it''s conscious or not, I can¡¯t say. The latter part is what worries me. An even split is as close as I¡¯ve been able to manage. If our blood makes up any less than half the blend, you lose interest. I¡¯ve made my peace with it.¡±


    ¡°Peace? You¡¯re bleeding yourself in order to feed me! In order to what, keep me from lashing out?¡±


    Fire lit the silver in his otherwise grey eyes.


    ¡°Yes!¡± He shouted, ¡°And I will continue to do so if it means keeping you and the others safe.¡±


    Inerys flinched, her hands flying to her ears at the sudden volume. The instant regret written across his face gave her pause, though. For a moment, a real moment, she saw the stress and fatigue of a man doing his best to hold himself, and the situation, together. The bruises under his eyes were less pronounced, given the darkness of his skin, yet present all the same. Spirit¡¯s breath, she should have seen them sooner. He¡¯d looked haggard for days and she¡¯d been too caught up in her own struggles to notice.


    A shaky breath escaped him as he quickly sought to recompose himself.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s just¨C There¡¯s been more than enough death already. I can¡¯t risk any more going wrong.¡±


    He was still afraid of her, then.


    Anyone in their right mind would be, if what he said was true. How had she not seen it herself? There had been a time or two where she hadn¡¯t finished what was in her cup, but she had assumed it was because she was already full. After all, they were still providing her with full meals of venison, cheese and dried fruits. Thinking back, though, she recalled the blood¡¯s more gamey qualities. It was thinner, somehow and the memory alone had her passenger squirming its displeasure in the back of her mind.


    The sensation chased a shiver along her skin and suddenly, she wanted nothing more than to claw the cursed thing from her body. Whatever the entity was, it had no business being inside of her. Her surety of the fact grew with each passing day. It may have arisen around the same time as her change, but it was removed, somehow. It was something distinctly other. A parasite, yet one she felt she could not reveal. Not yet, at least.


    The trust between she and Rhydian was still too tenuous, much as she wanted to believe otherwise.


    With a degree of uncertainty, she closed the distance between them.


    ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± she murmured, placing her hand upon his upper arm, ¡°if anything, I feel I should be the one to apologize.¡±


    To her relief, he didn¡¯t shrink away from her touch.


    ¡°None of this is your fault,¡± he said.


    ¡°And neither is it yours, Rhydian. You weren¡¯t the one who attacked me, who turned me into this thing.¡±


    His nostrils flared, hand balling into a fist.


    ¡°No, but if I hadn¡¯t missed that cursed shot¨C¡±


    ¡°Is that what this is about?¡±


    His shamed silence was answer enough.


    She understood, then, for she had grappled with a similar sentiment.


    ¡°You think that if you¡¯d killed her from the start, none of this would have happened.¡±


    Not a question, but a statement.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said quietly.


    For a time, neither one of them said a word.


    How long had he kept this bottled up inside? In truth, she almost feared the answer. If she were to hazard a guess, this was likely the first he¡¯d confessed as much to anyone. Aside from Tanuzet, she supposed. Maybe they were more alike than she¡¯d thought.


    ¡°You know, all this time, I¡¯ve dwelled on the fact I never should have gone back out in those woods. If I hadn¡¯t, maybe I would be home right now, reading to my brother or laughing with my friends at the tavern. Maybe I wouldn¡¯t be the monster I am now. Much as I want to go back and throttle myself for being an idiot, I can¡¯t. Dwelling on what might have been won¡¯t change anything,¡± she said, feeling as though she were rambling, ¡°the point is, you can¡¯t focus on the what-ifs. You¡¯ll drive yourself mad. I won¡¯t pretend to know what happened out there, but I¡¯m sure you did everything in your power to try and stop her.¡±


    She had learned early on that any discussion of what had happened to their companions was off limits. No one had gone into detail about how Keishara had died, but she had gathered enough to know it had been brutal. It was no wonder her death haunted him the way it did.


    ¡°If only it had been enough,¡± he said.


    She gave his arm a gentle, reassuring squeeze.


    ¡°Give yourself a little credit. You killed her, in the end, and got the rest of your friends out in one piece. Spirits, you even managed to save me in the process. I might be a bit different now, but I¡¯m still alive, aren¡¯t I?¡±


    He searched her face as if seeing her in a new light.


    ¡°You . . . are far from what I expected, you know that?¡±


    ¡°Am I supposed to take that as a compliment?¡± She teased, before her cheeks had the chance to betray her.


    His chuckle was sore, but he did manage the ghost of a smile.


    ¡°You can take it however you will. All I ask is that what we¡¯ve discussed tonight remains between us.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± she murmured, letting her hand drop.


    He rubbed the back of his neck. ¡°For what it¡¯s worth, I think I needed that. I¡¯ve never really dealt with anything like this before.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re in good company, then. Still, I¡¯m sorry I pushed so hard. I hadn¡¯t realized how much you were sacrificing on my account.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been difficult,¡± he admitted, ¡°but I have a feeling you¡¯re well worth the effort.¡±


    Her cheeks finally darkened. ¡°High praise, for a beastie like me.¡±


    ¡°I can call Cydan off the nickname, if it bothers you. He doesn¡¯t mean anything by it.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± she assured, ¡°I know he¡¯s just teasing. If anything, it¡¯s helped me feel a bit less monstrous. Contrary as that might sound.¡±


    ¡°Good. I¡¯m glad the two of you are getting on well.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like to consider him a friend, one day. Ayduin too, but I have the feeling that I am far from being anything more than an annoyance, right now.¡±


    She fell into step beside him as they began making their way along the path once more.


    ¡°She¡¯s always been more reserved with her affections, but she has a good heart. She¡¯s just in mourning. Given a little time, I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll warm to you, when she¡¯s ready.¡±


    She nodded, hoping that was true.


    ¡°What of Vesryn? Do you think he¡¯ll ever come around?¡±


    Rhydian sighed, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t get your hopes up, where he is concerned. The man is here out of obligation, nothing more.¡±


    No surprise there.


    ¡°I¡¯ll keep my distance,¡± she said, then drew a deep breath, ¡°Now, let¡¯s see if we can catch up to our new friends.¡±

 Chapter Twenty-Six: Expecting the Unexpected

    Chapter Twenty-Six


    Expecting the Unexpected


    <hr>


    His opponent¡¯s knee took him in the gut.


    Grunting, Rhydian reflexively caught the leg and threw his forthrider to his back for a quick, downward chest strike.


    Too slow.


    Cydan twisted and got one knee around his shoulder instead. The shift in momentum cost Rhydian his control over the other leg and before he knew it, he was tasting grass. A swift, good-natured kick caught him on the backside.


    Rolling to his back, he cast the man a withering glare, even as he fought to hide his smile.


    The two were dressed in nothing but their trousers, their bare skin slick with sweat, though it was far more visible along Rhydian¡¯s near-black skin in the presence of the firelight. It ran in thin rivulets down his back and shoulders, causing the stray hairs that had pulled free of his braid to stick in places.


    This sparring session of theirs had been a spur of the moment decision. A little post-dinner fun, as it were. Skies knew they¡¯d all been pent up for days and with the high of a successful hunt still fresh, what better way to let off a little tension?


    Dancing on his toes, Cydan winked. ¡°Sorry, couldn¡¯t resist.¡±


    Beside their impromptu sparring circle, Ayduin snorted.


    ¡°Boys, fight now, flirt later, hm?¡±


    Inerys, who was seated beside her, nearly choked on her tea.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, what?¡±


    Perhaps you could land a proper hit, if you were not so easily distracted by your thoughts, Tanuzet teased, mercifully within his own head, rather than everyone else¡¯s.


    While she did have a point, he wasn¡¯t about to say as much.


    ¡°I¡¯m working on it,¡± he muttered.


    He had no one but himself to blame for that last bout. He had allowed his mind to stray yet again and rightly paid the price. He could mull over he and Inerys¡¯ conversation after he repaid Cydan¡¯s favor.


    Finding his feet, he spit grass to one side and brought his hands up.


    ¡°Hear that, Cydan? I think she¡¯s onto us.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense, we were always so careful,¡± he said, ¡°we¡¯ll have to be more vigilant when sneaking about from now on.¡±


    Inerys appeared utterly mortified.


    ¡°They¡¯re not serious, are they?¡± She asked, looking to Ayduin.


    ¡°No, they¡¯re just men,¡± she said with a roll of her eyes.


    ¡°It¡¯s all in good fun,¡± he assured, nearly missing Cydan¡¯s sudden rush.


    Muscle memory had him stepping into the strike. He overhooked the man¡¯s leading arm and brought his own around to the back of his neck. Then, he planted his foot upon Cydan¡¯s opposite hip, jumped up to bring his knee around his head and swung with the momentum.


    Entwined as they were, they both landed upon their backs, though Cydan was the one at disadvantage, half sprawled as he was. Before he could break free, Rhydian switched his grip from neck to wrist. He leaned back, squeezed his legs around Cydan¡¯s upper arm with his hips raised and pulled the arm straight.


    ¡°Look who finally woke up,¡± Ayduin crooned.


    ¡°Just knocking off the dust,¡± he said with a lopsided grin, ¡°We¡¯ve all been a bit lax in our conditioning lately, haven¡¯t we Cydan?¡±


    Huffing a laugh, he tapped Rhydian¡¯s leg in submission. He released him and quickly found his footing. In the spirit of fairness, he gave the man enough time to recover and roll onto all fours before squaring his debt with a love tap of his own. Cydan rolled forward with the kick, coming up on his feet with a chuckle.


    ¡°Are they always like this?¡± He heard Inerys whisper.


    Ayduin grinned, ¡°Please, this is tame for them. Making fools of themselves was as much a competition as the actual sparring, back at Mistwatch. Add a few more men into the mix and the true chaos ensues.¡±


    The young woman blinked. ¡°The men back home sometimes teased one another, but not like that.¡±


    She waved a hand, ¡°Same antics, different medium. For decency¡¯s sake, they probably toned it down whenever you were around. They¡¯re a little less shy about such things in settings like ours. Honestly, some of the women were just as bad.¡±


    ¡°Which includes you, dearest,¡± Cydan said.


    She gave him a feral grin, ¡°I haven¡¯t the faintest idea what you¡¯re talking about, love.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of people fighting for fun before,¡± Inerys said.


    Rhydian cleared his throat.


    ¡°There¡¯s a distinction between fighting and sparring,¡± he said as he sought out his shirt, ¡°One is violent and fraught with risk while the other is meant to sharpen your skills and promote unity between the mind and body. If you¡¯re not present during the fight, well, let¡¯s just say you''re lucky to end up on your backside. Routine practice keeps us sharp. When done in good company, there¡¯s certainly fun to be had. You can learn a lot from an opponent. And a little friendly competition does wonders for one¡¯s motivation.¡±


    He thought he caught a hint of color in her cheeks as he tugged his shirt down over his chest, but it could just as easily have been her proximity to the fire. Heat caused those strange, pink splotches to bloom along her skin as much as the cold did. Or any change in temperature, really. . . And emotion, actually. There was no rhyme or reason to it. None he could discern, anyway.


    Was it some bizarre human trait?


    Or was it simply a result of her cannibal blood?


    He grimaced at the word. What was it Vesryn had called them? Vampires? For whatever reason, he found the term more palatable.


    ¡°Will I be expected to participate?¡± She asked, voice hesitant.


    ¡°In our sparring sessions? No,¡± he said, about to offer further assurance when he noted the spark of intrigue in her eyes, ¡°unless you¡¯d . . . like to?¡±


    Capable as she was as a huntress, he didn¡¯t think she possessed a single martial bone in her body.


    ¡°Would you teach me how? To fight, I mean. Or . . .spar, rather?¡±


    He, Cydan and Ayduin all exchanged glances. Was that even wise? She was frightening enough as it was, to say nothing of the potential danger. His fear, though, quickly gave way to reason and dare he say, a degree of trust.


    Earlier in the night, she had demonstrated an admirable perseverance he had not expected¨C a strength of will few possessed at such a low ascension. He was beginning to wonder if it was part of the reason she had been able to rein in her bloodlust as well as she had. Sparring was as much a mental discipline as it was a physical one and the focus required might very well bolster that resolve.


    It might also give them a better idea of what she was actually capable of. Thus far, they had based all of their assumptions off their mystery woman rather than Inerys herself. She had demonstrated a frightening strength on multiple occasions, but it was yet another attribute she could hardly control. If they knew the extent of it and how best to counter it through non-lethal means, they would all fare better if anything were to happen down the line. If all else failed, they still had the silver arrows to resort to.


    He always carried one of the heads in his pocket, just in case.


    You need not decide now, Tanuzet said, lifting her head to regard them, It would be best to discuss the matter with the others first.


    He was inclined to agree.


    ¡°If your body continues to improve, I¡¯ll consider it.


    Her lips thinned, but she nodded, ¡°Fair enough. My coordination could still use some work.¡±


    ¡°You mean felling that poor tree hadn¡¯t been intentional?¡± Ayduin asked in mock surprise, ¡°And here I was, thinking you had gone out of your way to provide us with these lovely sitting logs.¡±


    A rosy shade began to line her cheeks.


    There it was again.


    Was it embarrassment that had spurred the reaction this time?


    Stolen novel; please report.


    ¡°None of you are ever going to let me live that down, are you?¡±


    Cydan shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s just her love language. If she¡¯s being an ass, it just means you¡¯re growing on her.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take your word for it,¡± she said with a degree of skepticism.


    ¡°Careful Cydan,¡± the woman crooned, ¡°you¡¯re on track to have your ass handed to you twice this evening.¡±


    ¡°Is that a promise?¡±


    Rhydian allowed himself a small smile, though he hid it as he turned his back to the fire to find his waterskin. He was perfectly content to let the two sort out their own shenanigans. If anything, he encouraged it. They would never regain any old sense of normalcy, but at least the light had returned to their eyes and with it, some of their humor.


    He was about to take his own place beside the campfire, when a single, sharp cry carried across the valley. All three wyverns raised their heads with Vaelor being the first to bray in surprise as Tanuzet returned the call. Cydan and Ayduin were both already on their feet, having evidently agreed to another match.


    ¡°Is that who I think it is?¡± Cydan asked.


    ¡°Unfortunately, yes,¡± Rhydian sighed, sensing Tanuzet¡¯s excitement.


    Ayduin groaned, ¡°You can¡¯t be serious?¡±


    He wanted to be upset. Angry, even, but he simply did not have it in him tonight. Wyverns were a notoriously stubborn sort and if he were honest, a part of him had expected Ephaxus to follow eventually. He only wondered how he¡¯d made it past Sorisanna.


    ¡°Take Inet and make sure he¡¯s all right,¡± he said to Tanuzet.


    Gladly, she said, shaking out her hide and nickering to the other female.


    Moving clear of the camp, the two took flight. Wind swept between the tents, ruffling canvas and causing the fire to hiss. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Inerys staring off in the direction of the wyverns with an apparent trepidation. Clearly, she already knew exactly who was on their way. She was still worried about Ephaxus, wasn¡¯t she?


    He moved to take a seat beside her, offering his waterskin.


    ¡°My previous assurances still stand,¡± he said.


    The young woman tensed, then quickly relaxed, as if she¡¯d been too preoccupied to notice his approach.


    ¡°I know,¡± she said with a quiet thanks as she took the skin.


    ¡°I can have Tanuzet sleep closer to your tent, if that would help put your mind at ease?¡±


    She shook her head, ¡°I¡¯ll be all right, but thank you. It¡¯s just been nice to be treated a bit more like a person again, that¡¯s all. I know he has his . . . opinions of me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have a word with him when he lands,¡± he promised, ¡°He¡¯s going to get an earful for this stunt as is.¡±


    Admittedly, he was relieved to have him here, but he couldn¡¯t have a subordinate thinking they could bend rules and orders as they saw fit.


    ¡°Should I pity him?¡±


    ¡°Pity his poor back, not his ego. One will recover far more easily than the other if he¡¯s pushed himself too far.¡±


    ¡°What if he has?¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, he¡¯s in one of the best possible places he can be. I had hoped to have him join after he had more time to mend, but those intentions are hardly relevant now,¡± he said, resting his elbows upon his knees as he leaned forward on them, ¡°He won¡¯t be able to hunt for himself, though. Do you think you can help the others and I on that front?¡±


    She sat a bit straighter as she smiled. ¡°Of course.¡±


    He raised an eyebrow, ¡°Without another interrogation?¡±


    He was no stranger to difficult discussions, but her confrontation had caught him off guard. He should have seen it coming, though, given his suspicions. The quiet ones were often the most astute and she was no exception.


    The poor girl¡¯s eyes went wide and her neck flushed as red as her face.


    Embarrassment was one of the triggers, it had to be.


    One of her hands slid up the column of her throat as if to hide it.


    ¡°Interrogation? No, that wasn¡¯t¨C was it?¡±


    Rhydian raised his hands with a chuckle, ¡°I¡¯m only teasing, I promise.¡±


    She bit her lip, glancing elsewhere.


    ¡°I suppose I did sort of . . . attack you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not holding it against you. If anything, I¡¯m rather glad you did.¡±


    ¡°You are?¡±


    ¡°It helped ease some of the tension, didn¡¯t it?¡±


    A quiet spell settled between them.


    ¡°I guess it did, weirdly enough,¡± she said.


    He gave her a small, reassuring smile as he rose and briefly touched her shoulder.


    ¡°If I have to give myself some credit every now and again, so do you.¡±


    She cracked a smile. ¡°Fair enough.¡±


    He turned his attention to the star-lit sky.


    ¡°Good. Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me a moment, I have a wyvern to scold.¡±


    As a Nar¡¯Adai, his vision was far keener in the dark than his Adai cousins. Where they might see little more than silhouettes drifting along the stars, he saw the wyverns themselves. They flew in a vertical V with the females gliding above the slower, stiffer Ephaxus. The strain in his posture was enough to make Rhydian wince in sympathy, but he appeared to be managing well enough. His hind end had a tendency to drop whenever he beat his wings, but his hindwings and tail appeared to be functioning largely as they should. His landing would be interesting, but at least Tanuzet and Inet were on hand in case his body failed him.


    ¡°Vaelor, tell them to have him land along the western edge of the clearing,¡± he said.


    The male dipped his head in acknowledgement.


    There was more room for error further along the knoll. The last thing they needed was for him to slide down the same slope Inerys had a few days prior. Or take out half the treeline along with himself in the process.


    Cydan stepped up beside him, rubbing the back of his neck with his shirt.


    ¡°He¡¯s determined, I¡¯ll give him that much,¡± he said.


    Rhydian rubbed his brow, ¡°I¡¯ll take determined and foolhardy over the alternative.¡±


    His resilience was nothing short of a miracle.


    ¡°You and I both.¡±


    The closer they drew, the more he began to worry, though. Ephaxus¡¯ wingbeats became more awkward as he raised them in an effort to thwart his speed. They scrambled independently for purchase rather than in any form of unison and his tail lashed in an attempt to compensate. Thankfully, Tanuzet was ready. The winds changed and were redirected with newfound strength. They pressed up against his wings and chest in a continuous gust that all but guided him down to the waiting grass.


    Rhydian hurried forward to meet them with Cydan close at hand. He sensed, rather than felt the air condense beneath Ephaxus. His wings opened and with a disgruntled hiss, he accepted the cushion of air that spared him. Slowly, he sank down into the grass, wings and legs splayed.


    Rhydian raised an arm to shield his face from the brunt of the vented air. Beside him, Cydan did the same. He stepped forward, though, lowering his hand.


    ¡°Is that Sorisanna?¡± He asked.


    Sure enough, a familiar, golden-haired sage was perched in the saddle. Her smile was shaky, but she leaned forward in order to pat Ephaxus¡¯ back and sing him her praises while the other clung to the flight bar. Clearly, the wyvern had not made it past her at all. How he managed to convince her to go along with this madness, though, was beyond him.


    Ephaxus fully slumped against the ground, utterly spent.


    Tanuzet alighted a short distance away, her head already lowered in her scrutiny.


    Are you all right? She asked, even as her lips raised to bare her fangs in silent reprimand.


    As well as I can be, he said tiredly.


    ¡°You did wonderfully,¡± Sorisanna assured, already climbing her way down his shoulder to find his wing.


    He only huffed, sending the long grass skittering away from his snout.


    ¡°You are by far one of the most stubborn wyverns I¡¯ve ever met,¡± Rhydian said, moving to offer Sorisanna a hand.


    She took it with a grateful smile.


    ¡°Seconded,¡± she said, easing down, ¡°When I knew there was no talking him out of flying after you, I decided it best that I go with him.¡±


    One of Ephaxus¡¯ rose gold eyes slid in their direction.


    She did not give me a choice, he muttered.


    Rhydian didn¡¯t doubt it. The woman could be as unyielding as the beasts themselves. When coupled with her ability to fleshweave, she was more than a little intimidating, if he were honest.


    ¡°As well as a thorough tongue lashing?¡± He asked.


    His defeated rumble was answer enough.


    ¡°Trust me, we had quite the conversation before we left,¡± she said, knees wobbling when asked to hold her weight.


    Rhydian caught her with a steadying arm and she was quick to murmur her thanks.


    Her hair had come loose in several places, making it appear more like a squirrel¡¯s tail than a braid. Her bangs weren¡¯t much better, having blown back from her face to stick up and back as much as her ears. She was appropriately bundled in her own flight jacket, which was some relief. The exhaustion lining the finer points of her face drew his concern, but it was nothing sleep could not amend.


    ¡°Then perhaps I¡¯ll save my own speech for later,¡± he said, ¡°You both look terrible.¡±


    The sage flicked his nose and he quickly recoiled.


    ¡°Ow¨C What was that for?¡±


    The sage crossed her arms, fixing him with a pointed look.


    ¡°For being a commander instead of a concerned friend,¡± she said, ¡°You¡¯ll let him be. The pain he¡¯s in is punishment enough.¡±


    He glared.


    ¡°I am his commander,¡± he said, rubbing his offended nose.


    ¡°He needs support, not a lecture.¡±


    Rhydian pursed his lips, wondering if this was another one of those inherently dense moments Tanuzet had highlighted in the past. The healthy dose of side-eye he received from said wyvern told him he was all too correct in his assessment. He¡¯d already begun to rethink his approach, when Sorisanna¡¯s follow-up drove the point home.


    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to undermine you,¡± she said quietly, ¡°but is tearing him down for disobeying one order out of the thousands you¡¯ve given him really worth it right now?¡±


    ¡°I gave him that order for a reason,¡± he said.


    ¡°I know. It¡¯s not like I don¡¯t have my own feelings on the matter either, but he was determined. He knew the risks and trust me, I had my own stipulations he had to meet before I agreed to this. In the grand scheme of things, a physical setback is a small price to pay for his life.¡±


    Sighing through his nose, he flexed his jaw. She was right. If anything, he should be commending his perseverance in spite of Keishara¡¯s loss.


    ¡°Fair point. What sort of setback are we talking about?¡±


    ¡°Right now? None that I''m aware of aside from the fatigue. With food and rest, it should resolve itself in a few days. If something else arises, though, you¡¯ll be the first to know,¡± she said.


    He offered a nod in appreciation.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± he said, ¡°Let¡¯s get you both settled, then. Cydan, see to her saddle bags, would you?¡±

 Chapter Twenty-Seven: Herbs and Shrooms

    Chapter Twenty-Seven


    Herbs and Shrooms


    <hr>


    For the next week, the newest scaly addition to their camp appeared content to pretend she didn¡¯t exist. Not that Inerys minded. Their interactions with one another, unlike most, were entirely voluntary and neither one had been willing or interested in pursuing more than the occasional glance. That was, if they spied one another at all from across the knoll with three other wyverns and a camp between them.


    To say nothing of the differing hours they kept.


    In truth, it was easy to forget Ephaxus was there at all. With how busy she¡¯d been kept, there had been little time to reflect on anything other than her training. If she wasn¡¯t moving, she was stretching and if she wasn¡¯t stretching, she was cycling. The latter was often done during mealtimes, so bathing had been her only real reprieve outside the daylight hours she spent asleep.


    Her efforts, however, were not without their results. Her coordination had developed enough to no longer prove a liability to her own health and by the end of the week, she and Rhydian were jogging laps along their usual route. She had a ways yet to go before she was truly out of danger, but she was improving. She felt stronger, healthier, even if new challenges had risen to replace the old.


    There were discrepancies in her strength depending on what limb she employed during certain exercises as well as an innate favoring of one half of her body over the other. At first, she thought there had been something wrong with her, but both Rhydian and Sorisanna had assured her the imbalances were fairly common. She was new to intentional, structured conditioning, after all, so there were bound to be old habits and muscle memory in need of breaking. Most of which were already being addressed.


    Despite the increase in difficulty, Inerys found herself looking forward to their sessions. Beyond alleviating her pain, they gave her an outlet to vent both her frustrations and fear. Doubts of ever seeing her family again began to ebb, for she was no longer on death¡¯s door. Each day was another step toward home, toward Soren and Nan and Alaric. Toward regaining herself, once this business was over.


    Even if she found herself beginning to crave more.


    None of this would have been possible without the dedication of those she quietly considered friends. They were strange, often intimidating and sometimes aloof, but they were good people. They pushed her and the challenge, the camaraderie, the sense of accomplishment were all fun. Cydan often joined her and Rhydian during their ventures, as did Sorisanna on the rare occasion she had time to spare after leading Ephaxus through his own recovery exercises. The only odd one out, aside from the ever elusive Vesryn, was Ayduin. Though, the woman had gifted Inerys several new soaps to help combat her post-training stench.


    She was still admiring the lingering scent of her latest bar ¨Clavender and oat¨C when something rustled further up the path. It was barely audible over the burbling of the stream beside her, but her ears were keen. Slowly, she lowered the towel from her damp hair, her attention shifting toward the source.


    Between the trees and thick foliage, she could see little from her position and there were no scents to catch, thanks to the current direction of the wind. Short of calling out, she would either have to approach herself or wait to see who or what might emerge. She backed a step toward her bow, even if her instincts had yet to raise the alarm. The others tended to announce themselves, lest they catch her in an unfortunate state of undress.


    Thankfully, she had already donned a fresh set of clothes now that she was clean.


    She waited, listening, but whomever it was had yet to reveal themselves. Had it simply been a hare or some other forest-dwelling visitor? She¡¯d noted more than enough activity around the banks, so it wasn¡¯t an unfounded assumption. Still, she backed a step closer to the boulder she used to set her satchel and bow upon while she bathed.


    ¡°Hello?¡± She called, knowing Rhydian would reach her in seconds if her visitor proved hostile and she unable to defend herself.


    All she had to do was scream.


    Her concerns all but evaporated when a familiar head of golden hair popped out from behind one of the trees.


    Inerys blinked and immediately withdrew her fingers from her weapon.


    ¡°Sorisanna? Is that you?¡±


    ¡°Sorry!¡± She squeaked, ¡°I wasn¡¯t spying on you, I promise!¡±


    Leaning her hips against the boulder, she crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow as the woman approached.


    ¡°A little hard to believe when you¡¯re hiding in the bushes, hmm?¡±


    The sage waved her free hand, the other balancing a covered basket in the crook of her arm.


    ¡°I spied a cluster of mushrooms in the underbrush and couldn¡¯t resist. I¡¯d hardly call that hiding,¡± she said, then pursed her lips, glancing up the way she¡¯d come, ¡°but now that you mention it . . . I can see it being suspect. I probably should have announced myself.¡±


    Inerys grinned as she pinched the air between her thumb and forefinger.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you were only a little suspicious,¡± she teased.


    ¡°Yes, well, it was worth it,¡± she said, reaching into her basket with a giddy bounce, ¡°Aren¡¯t they lovely?¡±


    The red-orange shroom she held aloft was of a sort Inerys had never seen before. It was irregularly shaped, but large as it was bright. From the brief glimpse she¡¯d caught beneath the linen, the woman must have found over a dozen.


    ¡°What are they? I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ve never seen them that color. ¡±


    ¡°Lobster mushrooms,¡± she said, tilting her head, ¡°You¡¯ve never had them before?¡±


    What in spirits¡¯ name was a lobster?


    ¡°I can¡¯t say I have.¡±


    A slow, mischievous smirk graced the woman¡¯s lips.


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to change that. Lucky for you, I¡¯m an excellent cook.¡±


    ¡°Wait, you eat those?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s typically what one does with mushrooms, no?¡±


    Inerys made a face, ¡°But they¡¯re a fungus.¡±


    Sorisanna gave her a flat look, ¡°Please don¡¯t tell me people don¡¯t eat mushrooms where you come from?¡±


    ¡°I always sold those I found to the Guild. Spirits know what they were used for,¡± she said with a shudder, ¡°for all I know, maybe they were used as some strange delicacy. You¡¯ll never catch a Hound eating them, though. We have standards.¡±


    Well, they had standards.


    She wasn¡¯t exactly a Hound anymore now was she?


    The sage rolled her eyes. ¡°Standards. Why don¡¯t you actually try them before condemning my tastes, hmm?¡±


    The thought of cooking the little bastards made her green around the edges. Their normal texture was questionable enough as it was, to say nothing of how horrendous they turned when soggy. Suddenly, all she could think about were the foul-smelling caps that often hid beneath the ferns during the rainy season. The distinct squish and subsequent slip of unwittingly stepping on one with her boot was enough to make her sick and she nearly heaved at the mere memory.


    She grimaced.


    ¡°But . . . fungus.¡±


    ¡°I put them in your tea, you know.¡±


    She. What?


    ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡±


    She had to be.


    Stolen story; please report.


    ¡°Inerys, dear, I never lie,¡± she cooed, though her eyes went wide when she actually started to gag, ¡°all right, all right, I¡¯m sorry! They¡¯re in a powdered form, you would have never known if I hadn¡¯t said something.¡±


    ¡°Spirits, why put them in a tea at all?¡±


    ¡°Believe it or not, many of them are actually quite good for you. No offense, but in the state you¡¯re in, you need all the help you can get. They¡¯re hard to come by, but the mushrooms I use are often more potent than some of the other herbs.¡±


    She shivered. ¡°I¡¯d almost prefer to wither away.¡±


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be so dramatic,¡± Sorisanna drawled, ¡°you¡¯re almost as bad as the wyverns.¡±


    She wanted to argue, but knew it was a losing battle. Instead, she made to politely gather her things.


    ¡°I¡¯ve finished here, if you¡¯d like to take your turn,¡± she said in an effort to avoid any additional shroomy revelations.


    ¡°That¡¯s kind, but I bathed while you and the others were gone. I¡¯m here for you, actually. There¡¯s something I¡¯d like to test.¡±


    There was always something the woman wanted to test.


    And of course, Inerys was always the subject.


    Rounding the boulder so that she stood opposite to her, Sorisanna set her basket down to draw back the heavy linen. Nestled among the mushrooms, was a wooden mug with cloth wrapped neatly around the top to spare the contents within from any unwanted debris. Inerys knew what she would find inside, for the breeze had teased her nose with the scent. Her breath hitched, subtle, yet enough to draw the sage¡¯s attention.


    The cravings she¡¯d begun to experience were a recent development. Thus far, she had been able to ignore them and convince herself the allotment she already received was more than enough to meet her needs, but it seemed that was no longer the case. She wanted nothing more than to snatch up her prize and drink until she was drunk on essence. But she couldn¡¯t. Wouldn¡¯t. She¡¯d promised herself she would never lose control and force Rhydian to follow through on his word.


    Not when she was so close.


    Reining in her thirst, she asked, ¡°What exactly are you here to test?¡±


    ¡°With luck? A viable alternative to Rhydian and Cydan¡¯s blood¨C¡±


    Inerys¡¯ eyes snapped up to the woman¡¯s face.


    ¡°He told you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve known since the beginning, actually,¡± she sighed, ¡°I¡¯m the one who gave him the needle when you left. Before that, the brave fool was using a knife.¡±


    The thought of Rhydian slitting his wrists for her benefit still made her skin crawl. Discussing it had helped ease the awkwardness and guilt, but having Sorisanna know filled her with shame, like she were an addict admitting to some unsavory habit they only just realized was an open secret. Perhaps it was foolish, though, given Sorisanna had been the most accepting of them all.


    ¡°I see,¡± she said, voice little more than a breath.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to fret, Inerys. This is a learning curve for us all, remember? If it¡¯s any consolation, your reaction just now gives me hope this might actually work.¡±


    She glanced back toward the mug, knowing alternative could mean any number of things. By the smell, she knew the blood didn¡¯t belong to either of the men. It was mixed, of course, but she couldn¡¯t place the other scents.


    ¡°Whose is it?¡±


    The sage smiled and set the mug between them.


    ¡°No one¡¯s. This is solely the blood of your last catch. I¡¯ve infused it with several herbs, so you should find it more palatable. Try it. See what you think.¡±


    She had a hard time believing it was the same blood, but she humored her and raised it to her lips. She braced herself for the gaminess, yet it never came. The blood was a touch thicker than normal, but the taste and essence were both perfect. It was as if she were indulging in a luxurious, spiced tea rather than the watered down bile she often experienced when drinking deer¡¯s blood on its own.


    A soft growl of pleasure escaped her as she drew back.


    ¡°How in spirits¡¯ name did you manage this?¡±


    The woman offered her a feline smile, ¡°Herbs. And you¡¯ve just proven my theory correct. You¡¯re drawn to the vital essence more than the actual blood itself. It occurs naturally in other animals, of course, but the saturation levels are much higher in those who actively cycle it. So, sentient creatures, for ease of explanation. I thought that if I could pack enough supplemental essence into what you were already hunting, I could solve the issue.¡±


    ¡°I think you have,¡± she breathed, ¡°the extra essence is in the herbs, then?¡±


    She nodded, ¡°These were specially grown, so their concentration is much higher than what you might find elsewhere. Curiously enough, it¡¯s easier to foster essence saturation in plants than animals. Even if you feed them to livestock, the crop will always prove superior. I was hoping I could forage for more here in the wilds, but the quality we¡¯ll need will likely be further in.¡±


    ¡°Rhydian mentioned moving camp soon. Maybe we¡¯ll be able to find what you need once we¡¯re settled?¡±


    ¡°Hopefully. The spirit wilds are a treasure trove, so we¡¯re bound to find something. In the event we can¡¯t find the right sort of herbs, I could always strip the essence from another kill and infuse it with another. It might take some experimentation, but I¡¯ll figure something out.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize that was something you could do,¡± Inerys said.


    ¡°To be fair, most people can¡¯t. It all depends on your affinity. Mine happens to be vital essence, so I can touch and manipulate it while someone like Rhydian, whose spirit is aligned with fire, cannot.¡±


    Curious.


    ¡°But he could strip fire from one source to infuse it into another?¡±


    ¡°If he has the skill for it, which I know he does, yes. But that being said, there¡¯s more to it than affinity alone. To be able to wield an element at will, you need to be able to exercise your authority over it, which is where your mental core comes in. Willpower is one of the most important aspects, but it¡¯s also the most difficult to cultivate.¡±


    Inerys took measured sips from her mug as she listened.


    ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°Think of it as a mental muscle. The more you exercise it, the stronger it becomes. There¡¯s no way to absorb psionic essences the way you can elemental or physical, so you have to improve what is already there through other means. Physically working your body builds your willpower, as does exercising self-discipline. Much the way you are right now, actually. Among other things.¡±


    Her brow furrowed. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Sorisanna gestured toward the mug. ¡°You want to down that whole thing in one sitting, but you¡¯re taking sips instead. I can see it in your eyes, the tightness in your shoulders. You¡¯ve been white-knuckling your grip this entire time.¡±


    The wood creaked in Inerys¡¯ hands as if to make a point and she grimaced.


    Spirits¡¯, did anything ever make it past this woman?


    ¡°It takes more effort than I¡¯d like to admit. Am I on the right track, then?¡±


    The sage gave her a reassuring smile. ¡°You¡¯re doing better than I¡¯d hoped. My own observations aside, Rhydian has been singing your praises ever since I arrived.¡±


    Heat rose in her cheeks, ¡°He has?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d say he¡¯s as impressed as I am,¡± she grinned.


    Her heart practically fluttered into her throat.


    ¡°He''s a good man,¡± she said, raising her mug to hide her smile, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be doing half as well as I am without he and the others. And you, of course.¡±


    Her whole face was suddenly very warm, as was the back of her neck. She was certain Sorisanna had noticed, though the woman only smiled. Which, as she thought about it, might have been worse. There was far too much knowing behind those emerald eyes of hers.


    ¡°Mending broken things is as much a pleasure as it is my duty. I¡¯m glad I can help. I¡¯ve been meaning to ask, though, may I see how your shackles are holding?¡±


    She¡¯d nearly forgotten about them herself, if she were honest.


    ¡°Of course. Would you like me to sit down?¡±


    ¡°No, no, I can sense them perfectly well from here. I just wanted to ask before I went poking around in your soul. Intruding without permission is bad form.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have to remember that.¡±


    ¡°Some like to follow the whole ¡®it''s better to ask forgiveness than permission¡¯ mantra, but I¡¯ve always found it in poor taste,¡± she said.


    Warmth spread along Inerys¡¯ body as she spoke and sank deep. The sensation was a familiar one, though there was something different about it now, like her own body were now more aware of the intrusion. Her skin prickled as she was laid bare, faults and all, beneath the woman¡¯s careful study.


    Sorisanna¡¯s eyes grew distant and glassy.


    ¡°Your core has eaten through the first shackle, but that was to be expected,¡± she said, ¡°I¡¯d say you have a few days before the next is lost. All in all, I¡¯d say my initial estimations are still sound.¡±


    ¡°So I only have a few more weeks?¡±


    ¡°With your current set? Give or take. If need be, I can probably set another two without risking too much of my reserves.¡±


    ¡°Hopefully, we won¡¯t have to resort to that, but I appreciate it.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re doing wonderfully. So long as you keep your focus, you¡¯ll have nothing to worry about. With a mental core as resilient as yours, I¡¯m confident you¡¯ll be able to handle that beast of a spirit when the time comes. Your body is the only real liability right now, but given your trajectory, it won¡¯t remain that way for long.¡±


    She breathed a shallow sigh of relief. She could do this. She had time. More importantly, she had the knowledge and support of those around her.


    ¡°When the time does come, what should I expect?¡± She asked.


    For the first time since she¡¯d known her, the sage appeared uncertain.


    ¡°Honestly? I have no idea. Most people don¡¯t have to contend with a core like yours right away. It has to be awakened and that in itself can be a lengthy process. The empyreal meridian has to be consciously opened in order to even access it. Yours . . . Whatever it was that was passed on to you forced yours open. I¡¯m not quite sure how or why, but if we can bolster your willpower, you should be able to wrestle it down once that final shackle breaks.¡±


    It was difficult to swallow past the tightness in her throat.


    ¡°Wrestle it. Right.¡±


    If only it were that easy.


    Sorisanna reached across the stone to take her hand, ¡°You won¡¯t be alone when it happens. You have my word. Rhydian, Cydan and I, we¡¯ll all be there.¡±


    Inerys eased and focused on her breathing. Taking a moment to switch between cycling techniques helped clear her thoughts and quell any rising panic before it could overtake her. Apparently, there were advantages to structured activity, to deliberate stretching and breathwork. One by one, her muscles relaxed, the knot in her gut slowly beginning to unravel itself.


    ¡°Keep my focus. I can do that,¡± she said.

 Chapter Twenty-Eight: Be Bold, Be Brave

    Chapter Twenty-Eight


    Be Bold, Be Brave


    <hr>


    When Rhydian had warned her about the tiny, walking mushrooms, she didn¡¯t believe him. Her distaste for the fungus had become common knowledge after a certain sage had insisted she try a meal of them during dinner a few nights prior. Inerys, being the sane woman she was, had refused.


    And was subsequently chased around the campfire and held at fork-point.


    Half a week and a new camp later, the teasing still abounded. Which was ultimately unsurprising, given the group¡¯s proclivity for good-natured jabs. She hadn¡¯t been the only one on the receiving end, but she was often the easiest target. Her lack of overall knowledge regarding the world beyond the deepwoods meant she was often at the mercy of the others. They rarely took advantage of the fact, but every now and then, they did lead her on solely for the fun of it.


    Ayduin and Cydan had been the main culprits, though Rhydian had his moments. She had assumed the ridiculous claim was one of those rare instances, but no. The damned things were real.


    Of course they were.


    They had been jogging the final stretch of their newest trail when she and Rhydian had come across a veritable horde of little toadstools marching single-file across their path. The shriek that followed would have been embarrassing enough on its own, but Inerys had found yet another way to outdo herself. One moment, she was leaping out of the way in alarm, the next, she was draped over a branch a dozen or so feet from the ground. Rhydian pivoted in place in apparent confusion until he noticed the falling leaves and realized she had not evaporated, but instead, spontaneously taken flight.


    She wasn¡¯t sure if she¡¯d been more horrified by her performance, or the hundred or so tiny, screaming shrooms swarming around his feet. They stumbled over damp earth and charred vegetation alike, the latter having been courtesy of Rhydian¡¯s path-clearing methods from hours prior. Most of the ash had been thoroughly stomped into the dirt during their first few laps, but she''d noticed more than a few mushrooms scamper off with sooty, toeless feet.


    Wandering plant life was hardly a new concept to her, given she¡¯d grown up within a forest prone to migration, but there was something disconcerting about their smaller fungal counterparts. Perhaps it was the fact they had feet. At least the trees had the courtesy to walk about upon their roots and not a collection of mis-matched arms or fingers.


    The thought alone had the hair along the back of her neck standing on end.


    Maneuvering herself into a seated position along the branch, she hooked a fang over her lower lip. The ground was much farther down than she¡¯d hoped. In theory, her body should be able to handle the landing. She glanced toward her clawed, light-laced fingers, weighing her options.


    Rhydian was studying the canopy, his hands upon his partially exposed hips. The man had yet to break a sweat, but his blue-grey skin had begun to darken along his bare shoulders and chest. He tilted his head, his initial confusion giving way to amusement.


    ¡°You know, I¡¯m beginning to think you¡¯re a bit flighty,¡± he said.


    Inerys scowled down at him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, was that supposed to be funny?¡±


    He chuckled. ¡°No. Just a bad pun. Here, jump down and I¡¯ll catch you.¡±


    Heat crept up her neck and into her cheeks.


    ¡°I can manage.¡±


    ¡°To twist an ankle, maybe,¡± he said, already altering his stance, ¡°I won¡¯t let you hit the ground, I promise.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t exactly the ground she was worried about. She knew he would catch her and that, she quietly admitted to herself, was what made her hesitate. If Cydan were in his stead, or spirits¡¯, even Ayduin, she wouldn¡¯t have thought twice about it. She would jump, laugh the situation off and move on. Her current predicament, however, was a touch more complicated. For foolish reasons, perhaps, but the fact remained.


    Offering his hand to her when climbing up and down from the saddle was one thing, but catching her was quite another. There was far too much contact involved and the notion alone filled her with a nervous energy that put the fluttering in her chest during those brief touches to shame. His current lack of cover wasn¡¯t helping matters either. One would think she would be used to the sight by now given he and Cydan¡¯s nightly spars, but such was unfortunately not the case.


    ¡°I, um¨C¡± she glanced around the branches as if she might find an excuse among the leaves.


    ¡°Are you all right?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just trying to keep my breakfast down,¡± she lied.


    His brow furrowed, but he nodded. ¡°Take a moment, then. There¡¯s no rush.¡±


    In an effort to dissuade her from her more wayward thoughts, she asked, ¡°Are there any other beasties I should know about?¡±


    ¡°That depends, are you going to listen this time?¡± He wondered.


    Narrowing her eyes, she leaned sideways to peer down at him. ¡°I was listening. I just didn¡¯t believe you.¡±


    He crossed his arms and cocked a brow. ¡°Right. What else did I tell you to watch out for, then?¡±


    In truth, she¡¯d stopped listening after the whole walking mushroom bit.


    She pursed her lips and he sighed.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I thought. Elemental spirits are the main thing. We¡¯re likely to see more of them than anything else,¡± he said and pointed toward one of the stragglers, ¡°Water spirits like to play dress-up. If you see any wandering vegetation, chances are there¡¯s a spirit inside. You¡¯ll only ever see their true forms if they¡¯re near a water source. The same thing goes for fire ones. Sooner or later, they¡¯ll find our campfire. They¡¯re attracted to whatever element they belong to.¡±


    ¡°Makes sense,¡± she said.


    ¡°They shouldn¡¯t cause us any trouble, so long as we respect them. In the event you accidentally step on one, it¡¯s best to apologize. Most are happy to continue on their way, but some are more inclined toward mischief. A water sprite might only go so far as to wet your socks, but offend a fire spirit and you may find your tent ablaze.¡±


    She made sure to commit that detail to memory. Tent aside, there was nothing worse than wet socks. The last thing she needed was to unknowingly boot some poor spirit across the valley during a hunt.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to keep that in mind.¡±


    ¡°Aside from them, we shouldn¡¯t encounter much else. Larger creatures aren¡¯t entirely uncommon, but they¡¯re not nearly as pervasive as they are further in. The prey animals in this valley aren¡¯t enough to satisfy most of the higher tier predators and the wyverns are a deterrent all their own, so we shouldn¡¯t have to worry too much about them. Still, it''s best to stay vigilant. Keep your eyes and ears open and pay attention to that nose of yours. It might tip us off before Cydan and I¡¯s awareness does, depending on the situation.¡±


    Higher tier predators was still rather vague, but she could always question he and the others later.


    ¡°I¡¯d be a bit more confident if I knew what the scent belonged to, but fair enough. If anything sticks out, I¡¯ll let you know.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± he said, ¡°feeling better?¡±


    ¡°A bit.¡±


    He set his shoulders in preparation, arms ready. ¡°All right, then. I¡¯ve got you.¡±


    Sensing there was no other way out of this, she carefully swung her back leg over the branch so that they both faced the same direction.


    Spirits preserve her . . .


    Inerys closed her eyes.


    It was a simple catch, nothing more.


    Taking a deep breath, she tipped forward and slid from the branch. She did her best to keep still and make herself an easy target, but the fall had her casting her arms out for purchase. At least when the wyverns dived, there was something to hold on to. She¡¯d never been in true free-fall before.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Her heart leapt into her throat, but strong arms caught her by her shoulders and mid thighs. A soft, surprised grunt was all she managed before he carefully set her on her feet. He brought her close when she wavered and for a moment, she thought she might have preferred being dropped instead. She¡¯d placed her hands upon his chest for balance, the stark difference in their coloration enough to make her stare. Her fingers gently curled against the warmth of his skin.


    She held her breath, all too aware of where his hands held her steady.


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re all right?¡± He asked, searching her face as if he worried she might faint.


    ¡°I think so,¡± she said, ¡°thanks to you, of course.¡±


    He backed a step to hold her at arm¡¯s length in his appraisal.


    ¡°You certainly keep me on my toes. I¡¯d ask how you managed that particular feat just now, but I have a feeling you know about as much as I do.¡±


    She gave him a tentative smile, ¡°I think my strength got the better of me. Again.¡±


    Humming, he glanced up to the tree, ¡°Well, at least you didn¡¯t knock it over this time.¡±


    She grimaced.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to say it won¡¯t become a habit, but all evidence seems to point to the contrary.¡±


    ¡°You might be on to something.¡± he chuckled.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t tell the others.¡±


    There were more than a few mishaps for her to live down as it was and this one did not need to be added to the pyre. She was certain she could coax his silence, but then she caught the  flicker of mischief in his eyes. His lips edged into the barest suggestion of a smirk and she had the sudden urge to pinch him in his flank for his treachery.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make you a deal.¡±


    Perhaps a pinch was too lenient . . .


    ¡°What sort of deal?¡±


    He leaned in with a conspiratorial whisper, ¡°I¡¯ll keep your little secret if you tell me why it is your face turns pink.¡±


    It flushed red, if the sudden blazing in her cheeks were any indication. Scowling, she backed out of his reach and brought a hand to her throat as if she might hide the offending evidence, the other wrapping about her middle. His smile only grew and she wondered if his words were as much an experiment as they were a true inquiry.


    ¡°It¡¯s called a blush,¡± she said, ¡°And it just . . . happens. Sometimes.¡±


    When he didn¡¯t answer, she pressed her lips thin. He didn¡¯t know what a blush was, did he? At least, not the way she understood it. Now that she actually thought about it, she hadn¡¯t seen anything comparable among the others. Their skin did not change unless they were exposed to some sort of moisture. It was more noticeable upon he and Ayduin, though she did recall a darkening along the tips of Sorisanna¡¯s ears the other night during the group¡¯s usual banter.


    Sighing, she chose to elaborate, ¡°It happens whenever I¡¯m embarrassed or self conscious, I suppose. Or if the temperatures outside fluctuate too much.¡±


    ¡°So it¡¯s emotional and environmental?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s one way to put it.¡±


    ¡°Did it happen before your change?¡±


    ¡°More often than I¡¯d like to admit,¡± she said, crossing her arms, ¡°but it wasn¡¯t caused by my incident, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re asking.¡±


    He nodded, moreso to himself.


    ¡°Others of your former kind did it as well, then. These . . . Hounds?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Women are more prone to it, from my experience, but yes.¡±


    ¡°Interesting,¡± he said.


    ¡°Why do you ask?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anyone change colors as often as you do. I wanted to see if my theories were correct.¡±


    She tilted her head. Theories? Coming from anyone else, the line of questioning would have been absurd. Though, she had to remember she was as alien to him as he was to her. His curiosity wasn¡¯t exactly unfounded.


    She tried and failed to suppress a grin. He wasn¡¯t the only one who could set a trap.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been meaning to ask me for a while, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    Rhydian rubbed the back of his neck, looking anywhere but at her.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± he said after a moment.


    The top edge of his long ear darkened a shade. It was slight, but Inerys hadn¡¯t missed it. It seemed they did have an equivalent, after all.


    ¡°Interesting,¡± she cooed, ¡°is there anything else you¡¯ve been dying to know before Ayduin comes looking for us?¡±


    He cast her a half-hearted glare, but she expectantly held his gaze until he relented. Eventually, he dropped his shoulders and sighed through his nose as if to say, fine. He gestured to his face.


    ¡°Those tiny spots on your nose, what are they?¡±


    She blinked and subconsciously traced the ridge of her cheekbone to the bridge of her nose.


    ¡°You mean my freckles?¡±


    He dipped his head in affirmation.


    ¡°They¡¯re just spots. I don¡¯t really have an explanation. My mother always told me I inherited them from my father¡¯s side.¡±


    He squinted at them.


    ¡°They¡¯re strange,¡± he said, ¡°but I like them. They suit you.¡±


    No one had ever complimented her freckles before. Coming from him, it was oddly endearing. She thought to offer a compliment of her own, but maybe that was a foolish reflex.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she murmured, turning her attention down the path, ¡°we should probably get back. I was only half joking about Ayduin.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s probably for the best. Did you still want to get a hunt in before sunrise?¡±


    ¡°If we can,¡± she said.


    Inerys had plans of her own before the night was through. She only hoped she wouldn¡¯t come to regret them. Which was entirely possible. She cursed her stupid, bleeding heart.


    ~*~


    Ephaxus¡¯ struggles had been as cursory a concern as his presence had been. At their previous camp, Inerys rarely saw him and on the odd occasion they actually noticed one another, she was often met with a glare. Sometimes, bared teeth. So, she¡¯d given him a wide berth.


    Unfortunately, that was no longer an option.


    Their new set up made avoiding one another nearly impossible and unlike their resident curmudgeon of a sage, it was difficult to ignore a wyvern the size of her grandmother¡¯s cottage. Terrifying as he was, she was fairly certain he wouldn¡¯t actually harm her. Her conversations with the females had helped her reconcile the fact they were people too and every bit as smart as anyone else. They just happened to come in a more beastly package. Tanuzet¡¯s subtle encouragement had helped steel Inerys¡¯ nerves enough to actually follow through with this brilliant idea of hers in the first place.


    The female had strategically placed herself beside Inerys¡¯ tent, the bulk of her wings breaking the camp¡¯s line of sight of the rest of the field behind her. All Inerys had had to do was sneak under the canvas and slip under the cover of her wing. The deer she planned on using as her peace offering had been retrieved and neatly tucked under the wyvern¡¯s hind leg, as promised. Now, she simply had to follow through.


    I will be here, at your back, she assured.


    Thank you, Inerys said, hoping to convey her appreciation through an accompanying emotional nudge in place of a smile.


    She could have sworn she felt a flicker of pride from the female in turn.


    Adjusting the buck upon her shoulders, she cycled her essence and set out across the short stretch of field. Unlike the others, who actively rested around the campfire, Ephaxus chose to remain further back. He was curled around himself like some great, winged cat, though she knew better than to believe he was asleep. Unaware.


    His eyes might be closed, but she sensed his attention. It chased gooseflesh along her skin, yet she refused to balk. Tanuzet had told her their kind despised cowardice. Which meant there was no going back. Not if Inerys wanted him to listen. If he still chose to hate her afterward, that was fine. At least she could tell herself she had tried.


    She stopped a respectful distance away, right as one large eye opened to reveal the narrowing slit of a pupil amid a pool of molten rosegold. He stirred, nostrils whistling as he angled his head to take her in in full. Scaly lips pulled back, revealing dagger-like fangs that numbered in the dozens. His growl was low, his face far too expressive for one that wasn¡¯t human. The disdain in his eyes alone could have stripped her to her core.


    Viper, he said, voice rolling through her mind like tempered thunder.


    She refused to let her breath catch, nor allow her body to yield so much as a single step. The creature slumbering inside her reared its head as her heart raced, its influence creeping into her limbs like oil. It had her own lips peeling back away from her fangs before she latched onto it, her mental claws digging deep. She would not let that thing ruin this for her. It recoiled in surprise and after a moment, released its own hold entirely. It watched, though, waiting from the shadows of her soul.


    It could take her entirely, if it chose to, but for now it was content to see how she handled this on her own.


    Inerys met his glare.


    This is for you, she said, kneeling to slide the buck from her shoulders.


    A hiss rattled between his teeth.


    I do not need handouts, girl. Least of all from you.


    She¡¯d been prepared for this.


    It¡¯s not a handout. It¡¯s a gift, she said, You and I . . . have been at odds. I¡¯d like to change that.


    His lips arched higher, but he didn¡¯t snap at her. He hadn¡¯t rejected her. She felt Tanuzet¡¯s subtle warmth at the edge of her mind and it gave her the courage to continue.


    I am not your enemy, much as I might look it. I ask that you give me a chance. We were both hurt. In different ways, but the fact remains. I didn¡¯t ask for this and while I know some people will only ever see what I am and not who I am, I¡¯m hoping you¡¯re different. I¡¯d like to earn your trust, if you¡¯ll let me.


    He studied her, bringing his snout in close. His lips relaxed, but only just. Still, she remained rooted in place, her hands loose at her sides, much as she wanted to hug them around herself. Her gloves were absent, leaving her fractured skin exposed beneath her rolled-up sleeves. The tip of his nose grazed the fingertips of her right hand, nostrils flaring wide. Something unreadable flickered across his face, but he drew away, inspecting her offering instead.


    Why bring me this?


    You need to gain your strength back as much as I do. Rhydian said this one was close to its fifth ascension. The meat would do more good if it went to you.


    A rumble escaped him as he considered.


    You have already taken what you need?


    She nodded. Sorisanna has stored what she can in her annex, in the event we do not find more of the same advancement.


    For a time, he said nothing and Inerys debated taking her leave. The horizon was beginning to grow bright. It was only a matter of time before light split the sky and she was without her hat.


    At last, he said, Very well. I accept your gift, little viper.

 Chapter Twenty-Nine: Sneaking

    Chapter Twenty-Nine


    Sneaking


    <hr>


    A quarter hour.


    It was always a quarter hour.


    Flipping his timekeeper closed, Rhydian slid it back into the pocket of his leisure trousers and waited. A breeze whispered across the canvas of his tent as Tanuzet landed. She had always been a silent flier, even without her techniques, and was often just as stealthy upon the ground. Were he asleep, he might have missed her return entirely, which he suspected was likely by design.


    Ordinarily, he wouldn¡¯t have questioned it. At this hour of the morning, most everyone without wings were asleep and the wyverns had been courteous of that fact. Tanuzet most especially. Their comings and goings during rest hours were discreet and usually spent hunting their own meals, but he knew she preferred to do so in the late afternoon while those of the camp were seeing to their own breakfast.


    When he¡¯d first noticed her outings, he¡¯d thought little of them. Tanuzet was her own person, after all. Who was he to dictate how she spent her leisure time? He assumed she¡¯d simply gone out to stretch her wings.


    But then he had come across the trail.


    It was fresh and narrow and he¡¯d been lucky he¡¯d noticed it at all. The lush grass of the field had taken its fair share of abuse from the wyverns and was thoroughly trodden down along the places they frequented most. However, there were areas where it remained pristine closer to the treeline and behind their tents.


    Rhydian had first noticed the oddity along the former. Few animals would risk coming so close to camp, so the chances of it being a game trail were slim. It was fairly new as well, perhaps only a week or two old? The grass was damaged and misshapen along its length, but had yet to turn yellow or die off from extensive use.


    Tracking its path across the areas the wyverns trafficked most had been impossible, so on a hunch, he¡¯d traced the relatively undisturbed perimeter. Only to find a similar, yet far shorter stretch leading to the back of Inerys¡¯ tent. By the look of it, she¡¯d been wiggling her way under the rear corner and fluffing the grass back up where she could to avoid drawing attention to the shallow depression. She¡¯d done an admirable job of it too. Most wouldn¡¯t have noticed unless they were actively looking for signs of anything out of the ordinary.


    Their little vampire was more stealthy than he¡¯d given her credit for.


    Although, given what she had told him about her prior occupation, he shouldn¡¯t have been surprised. He could only imagine how cautious one had to be while hunting in the Endari Wilds of all places. Something she had allegedly done on countless occasions, sometimes for weeks at a time. She told him it had been out of necessity and he was inclined to believe her. That cursed forest was not for the faint of heart.


    What he didn¡¯t understand was why she felt the need to sneak out now. If she had needed to relieve herself, surely she would have simply used the tent¡¯s entrance to leave? No one had reported any fanged visitors, so she couldn¡¯t have been after the others. And even if she was, there would have been wyverns to contend with before she ever reached the other tents. Why take to the forest when she seemingly had all she needed here at camp?


    He liked to believe they¡¯d developed a certain rapport in recent weeks, but had he been mistaken? Surely she would have spoken with him if she¡¯d needed something? Oddly enough, the idea of her not trusting him enough to do so hurt.


    Much as he wanted to confront her, to ask where it was she was going and why, he didn¡¯t. What good would it do? She wasn¡¯t harming anyone and clearly, she¡¯d always returned before anyone was the wiser. She would come to him eventually. He was certain of it.


    One morning, as he¡¯d laid awake puzzling over it, he¡¯d finally put two and two together. Tanuzet¡¯s usual routine had changed and Inerys was sneaking out. The wyvern had claimed the open space behind both their tents as her lounge, so she had to know something. The huntress may have been able to avoid his detection for a time, but there was no way she¡¯d been able to sneak past one wyvern, let alone several. Which meant Tanuzet knew. Moreover, she was facilitating it.


    But why?


    Was Inerys all right? Did she need more time to herself? If so, why the secrecy? He knew from personal experience that she wasn¡¯t afraid to ask uncomfortable questions and requesting more privacy was hardly one of them. Why involve Tanuzet?


    Each time he¡¯d tried to come up with a possible answer, he came up short.


    He¡¯d ruled out them flying together. Inerys had expressed interest in gaining more confidence in the saddle, but Tanuzet would have never agreed to it without him being present. In a moment of doubt, though, he¡¯d reached out with his awareness when Tanuzet had taken her leave a few days prior, but he¡¯d sensed Inerys still in her bedroll when she¡¯d left.


    She had to be leaving between Tanuzet¡¯s return and midafternoon when he and the others woke. Whatever the reason, it was important enough for her to risk venturing out during the daylight hours. The thought of which filled him with a certain anxiety.


    Today, he intended to find out what, exactly, the two women were up to.


    He crouched in the corner of his tent as Tanuzet made herself comfortable and held his breath as he listened. A few minutes passed without sign of anything amiss, but then, there was the faintest rustling of grass and canvas. He held his breath, worried she might hear him and spook. Inerys¡¯ footfalls were silent and calculated, soon vanishing entirely as she presumably passed by Tanuzet.


    His lips thinned as he rose and with a quiet curse under his breath, moved to step outside. He peered around Tanuzet¡¯s tail in time to see Inerys¡¯ figure disappear into the treeline, bow in hand. His jaw flexed. At least she¡¯d taken care to bundle up before braving the light.


    Tanuzet was too busy watching her to notice him as he crossed his arms.


    ¡°Is there something I should know about?¡± He asked.


    The wyvern gave a start, head snapping in his direction. To her credit, she didn¡¯t bark in surprise the way Vaelor did when Ayduin played her tricks. Her yellow eyes were wide, but she recovered quickly. Instead of denying anything or making excuses, she narrowed her eyes in a distinctly accusatory manner.


    How long have you known?


    He shrugged. ¡°A little less than a week.¡±


    And yet you have said nothing. Why?


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who told me to respect people¡¯s privacy. I assumed with you in the know, whatever¡¯s been going on couldn¡¯t have been worth worrying over too much.¡±


    She snorted softly. I am pleased to see you have grown marginally less dense when it comes to the women in your life.


    ¡°Only marginally?¡±


    Surely he¡¯d earned a bit more credit than that?


    She looked him up and down as if she were privy to some detail that still eluded him.


    I am beginning to think that may be giving you too much credit.


    Sighing, he pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.


    ¡°Is she all right? If she needs more blood, we can figure out¨C¡±


    She is fine, Rhydian. She is not hunting for herself.


    It took him a moment to fully process what she¡¯d said. He¡¯d seen her run off with her bow and quiver. What did she mean, not for herself?


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    ¡°Who is she hunting for then?¡± He asked, rounding her wing.


    She gave the slightest inclination of her head and his gaze flitted across the field to settle upon Ephaxus¡¯ sleeping form. He, like Vaelor, was curled around himself with his head tucked beneath his wing to stave off the light. Rhydian¡¯s brow furrowed. Why would she be hunting on his behalf? The two were at odds, as far as he knew.


    Unless. . .


    Suddenly, he felt like a fool.


    ¡°She¡¯s been mending bridges, hasn¡¯t she?¡±


    Quite successfully, from what I have seen, she purred.


    Truthfully, he didn¡¯t expect any less. The woman was as admirable as she was endearing. Anyone willing to look past the fangs and blood, however briefly, could see it. How Vesryn remained so fixed in his assumptions, was beyond him. Her ability to win over Ephaxus, of all people, was a testament to the heart within the monster.


    ¡°Why hasn¡¯t she said anything?¡±


    Her reasonings are yet her own, but I believe she fears what the others may think. Ayduin is sure to disapprove when she finds out.


    ¡°You mean after what happened to Keishara?¡±


    She dipped her chin.


    He fell silent for a spell, gnawing the inside of his cheek.


    ¡°Did you tell her about what happened?¡±


    I have.


    ¡°You¡¯ve spoken quite often, then?¡±


    Not as much as you may think, but yes. She occasionally has questions when she returns from her conversations with him.


    He cast his glance across the field and noticed Inet discreetly watching in silent question. She had been the one keeping watch while Tanuzet was away, then. Which meant she was also aware of what had been going on. At least, in part.


    ¡°Should I wait until she comes to me, then?¡± He asked, though he already knew the answer.


    That would be best, I think, she said.


    ¡°All right,¡± he sighed, craning his neck to look up at her, ¡°but I have one more question.¡±


    Ask it.


    ¡°Why do you leave every morning? You¡¯re always gone for at least a quarter hour. Are you scouting?¡±


    After the first night she came to me, I volunteered to scour the nearby forest for worthy prey. She insists upon hunting her offerings herself, so to spare her time, I locate them for her, she said, then appeared to hesitate, Admittedly, I have flushed a few herds toward camp, but she need not know that detail. The stubborn girl will accuse me of making things too easy.


    He raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you making things too easy?¡±


    She needs her rest. If my meddling means she spends less time out in the woods, I hardly see how it is an issue.


    He chuckled, ¡°I¡¯m glad I¡¯m not the only one you insist upon mother-henning.¡±


    She bared her teeth, but there was no venom behind it.


    I am not a hen.


    ¡°Really? Honestly, you could have had me fooled.¡±


    That comment earned him a growl, but he only smiled.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad she¡¯s in good hands,¡± he said, sparing the treeline a glance over his shoulder as he turned, ¡°I would ask you to give her my regards, but it seems that¡¯s best left for another time. Watch over her for me?¡±


    I will, she murmured.


    ~*~


    Inerys was beginning to believe Sorisanna could rival Dravas for practical plant knowledge. As it was, she¡¯d learned more in the span of a week than she ever had from her mother or her silly guide book. Though, to be fair, the spirit wilds held far more variety than the deepwoods had. Herbs, medicinals, essence clusters ¨C it was hard to walk more than a few steps without coming across something that was useful in some form or another.


    If they were this plentiful along their outer edges, what might she find closer to their center? Alaric would be beside himself in a place like this. To say nothing of the other Hounds. Or the Guild, for that matter. They¡¯d likely kill to get their hands on resources like these.


    She couldn¡¯t help but wonder after other factions, though.


    Other individuals.


    ¡°If the spirit wilds are the perfect place to advance, why don¡¯t more people visit them?¡± She asked.


    The sage tilted her head as she crouched beside a patch of calendula, her basket already brimming with the spoils of their outing.


    ¡°That¡¯s a bit of a complicated answer, but overall, it usually comes down to a lack of means. The wilds are a dangerous place, especially for the inexperienced or ill-prepared. Those who brave it without some sort of escort are usually picked off by the wildlife before they make enough progress to make a difference.¡±


    Inerys supposed she did have an unfair advantage. For all their warnings of predators, she had yet to see one and for good reason. The wyverns were a powerful deterrent, but so were her companions. She had never witnessed anyone fight the way they did and while she had seen little of their spiritual talents, she suspected they were just as impressive.


    ¡°How do people progress otherwise? Outside of the Talhavar, I mean.¡±


    ¡°Birthright, mainly. Those born to the upper class often have both knowledge and access to resources the general population does not. The middle and lower classes rarely pass their foundation ascensions unless they somehow earn a scholarship or patronage. Or if they manifest a natural affinity, but those who do are usually illegitimate children with a highborn parent. Blood legacies are fairly common among the noble houses.¡±


    Inerys frowned.


    Apparently, the world at large was not all that different from Aeodran or the other city-states. There were no humans, yet somehow blood still mattered. Why was that?


    The more she thought about it, though, the more she began to amend the assumption. She herself was not yet through her foundation stage and already, she had seen vast improvements to her physique even with her condition taken into account. In that regard, they had an advantage over both the Hounds and mundanes of the city-states.


    ¡°I promise, it isn¡¯t as grim as it might sound. The other classes are arguably more important than the noble houses in terms of workforce, so it¡¯s in everyone¡¯s best interest to keep them healthy. There are a number of programs and incentives to help see the population through their foundations. Most just lack the ability to generate and harness rysk due to underdeveloped or dormant spiritual cores.¡±


    Inerys considered.


    ¡°They¡¯re not all that different from me, then?¡±


    Sorisanna¡¯s chuckle was light as she rose. ¡°To a degree perhaps, but you¡¯re a bit of an unfair comparison.¡±


    She winced, ¡°Right. Sometimes I forget that little detail. It¡¯s just hard to gauge something I know so little about.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s natural to want to make comparisons. I only wish I had a more level metric for you. For all my notes and observations, there¡¯s still so little I know about what you are. Your physique alone has been a fascinating study. I¡¯m rather curious to see what your next ascension will bring.¡±


    Inerys couldn¡¯t help but grimace.


    ¡°You mean the one that¡¯s supposed to bring about the most physical change?¡±


    The sage seemed to curb her enthusiasm, her smile suddenly more hesitant.


    ¡°That would be the one.¡±


    ¡°I wonder if I¡¯ll sprout another head.¡±


    ¡°I doubt that. Most changes are more nuanced than that. You¡¯ll see more physical augmentations, but the majority will likely be internal. I wouldn¡¯t worry too much,¡± she said.


    She desperately wanted to believe her, but with all she¡¯d seen and gone through already, it was difficult.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s easier said than done.¡±


    ¡°It usually is,¡± she agreed, ¡°but you¡¯ll be glad for it, in the end.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take your word for it. You¡¯ve yet to give me a reason to doubt you so far.¡±


    The woman raised her chin. ¡° Good. I intend to keep it that way.¡±


    Smiling, Inerys shook her head as she turned her attention back toward the waterside vegetation. The lakeshore and its tributaries had all manner of herbage she was eager to explore. Some specimens were not all that different from what she might encounter in the deepwoods, but others she had only recently learned of. Only a select few were still unknown to her.


    She knelt beside one that almost reminded her of parsnip.


    ¡°Is this some sort of wild carrot?¡± She asked, reaching a hand out to study the leaves.


    Before her fingers could so much as grace the greenery, Sorisanna slapped them away. Inerys hissed and shook the offended appendages in an effort to ease the sting. What in spirits¡¯ name had that been for?


    ¡°Those are water hemlock. Mistake them for an edible and it¡¯s the last thing you ever do. They¡¯re highly poisonous even in small quantities,¡± Sorisanna said.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen them before. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    She pursed her lips and backed a step.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be. I overreacted. It¡¯s only¨C I¡¯ve seen my fair share of poisonings, both accidental and otherwise. The results are neither swift nor painless.¡±


    Inerys shuddered to think about what she meant by otherwise. In her line of work, she was sure the woman had seen all manner of awful things. She¡¯d never considered poisonings to be among them, but it made sense.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to keep that in mind,¡± she said, committing the details of the deadly plant to memory.


    When she turned her attention back to the sage, she noticed the woman was a shade more pale than usual. Her emerald eyes were fixed upon the hemlock, though her mind appeared to be somewhere else. A memory, perhaps?


    ¡°Is everything all right?¡± Inerys asked, hesitating to reach for the woman¡¯s shoulder.


    She snapped back into focus and forced a smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said and lifted her basket, ¡°let¡¯s get these back to camp. I want to arrange a few more infusions before bed.¡±

 Chapter Thirty: Storms on the Horizon

    Chapter Thirty


    Storms on the Horizon


    <hr>


    The High Wardeness¡¯ melodic croon sent a shiver along his spine.


    ¡°Firstrider, I was just thinking about you. How is our mutual interest coming along?¡±


    Rhydian leant forward to rest his forearms upon his knees, turning the wyndstone in his hand.


    ¡°Quite well, actually. She¡¯s progressing far better than I expected,¡± he said.


    Cydan was seated beside him upon the hill, watching Inet and Tanuzet dance across the sky as he listened.


    ¡°Oh? I do believe you¡¯ve just made my morning. Is she ready for travel?¡±


    ¡°Not yet, but my sage believes her soul will be stable enough once she reaches her fourth ascension. She¡¯s nearing the peak of her third, so it shouldn¡¯t be long now. With luck, I hope to have more good news for you within a week or two.¡±


    He was rather proud of her progress, if he were honest. Inerys possessed a rare tenacity, though whether it was born of will or necessity, he couldn¡¯t say. Regardless, he found he admired her for it.


    ¡°I¡¯m pleased to hear the spirit wilds have proven themselves useful to your efforts. What of her shackles? Has there been any change to the rate of decay?¡± She asked.


    ¡°Not from what we¡¯ve been able to tell. Her core has devoured four of the six that were placed. She goes through one every week or so,¡± Rhydian said, ¡°My wyvernsage is prepared to set more, should the need arise.¡±


    With luck, they wouldn¡¯t be necessary, but it would all come down to timing. Once the onset of her advancement occurred, there was still the matter of her willforging to take into account. The longer she could hold her surging essence at bay, the stronger her mental thresholds would become going forward. The process could take anywhere from a few days, to a few weeks all on its own.


    ¡°What of your other sage? Vesryn, was it? Is he not overseeing her health himself?¡±


    Rhydian had been prepared for this particular question, but he had hoped she¡¯d overlook the issue. He himself was still trying to decide what to do with the man. He wasn¡¯t harming the situation, but neither was he helping matters. Thus far, he had done little beyond eat and sulk in his tent since Sorisanna arrived. He¡¯d become more of an irritant than anything else.


    ¡°The man has been difficult to work with. I don¡¯t believe he agrees with our decision to try and mend her soul, so he does not assist beyond what is required of him. My wyvernsage, on the other hand, has been instrumental in Inerys¡¯ recovery. The innovations she has made have made all the difference. Without her, we would not have made half as much progress,¡± he said, which was the honest truth of it, ¡°I¡¯ve seen no reason to refuse her insight. At this point, forcing Vesryn to assist would be more trouble than it is worth.¡±


    ¡°There were bound to be objections, given the girl¡¯s nature. I cannot say I¡¯m entirely surprised, but it is disappointing to hear nonetheless,¡± she said. There was no inflection to her admission, only a clinical sort of acceptance, ¡°I will have to thank this wyvernsage of yours personally when you arrive.¡±


    ¡°I would be glad of it. She¡¯s a talented young woman and takes pride in her work. Her observations and notations are rather extensive, as well. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find them of particular interest.¡±


    He wondered, though, how much the Wardeness herself already knew. She could likely tell them a great deal, if she chose to. Why leave them to blunder about in the dark?


    ¡°You hold her in high esteem. If that is indeed the case, I expect nothing less,¡± she said, ¡°Tell me, do you and yours have any idea as to what our young mystery woman might be?¡±


    This was a test, wasn¡¯t it?


    ¡°We do,¡± he admitted, sharing a brief look with Cydan, ¡°Now, I know it might sound like a stretch, but I remembered hearing rumors of cannibals across the sea as a boy. I spoke with Vesryn about it when she first came to us and he believed they were referred to as vampires, so that¡¯s what we¡¯ve taken to calling her.¡±


    He could practically hear her smile as she chuckled, ¡°You, my dear firstrider, continue to impress. Your memory serves you well. You must have been around, what, ten when those rumors began to circulate?¡±


    He couldn¡¯t exactly recall how old he had been, only that he had heard them spoken about by some of the older Talhavar students at the academy.


    ¡°I believe so, my Lady,¡± he said.


    ¡°Do you know how they first arose?¡±


    He hesitated, struggling to recall the finer details, but he came up short.


    ¡°Unfortunately, I don¡¯t,¡± he said, though her question gave him hope she might actually lend her insight.


    Beside him, Cydan leaned forward in interest.


    The wyndstone fell silent and Rhydian feared the connection had been lost, but it appeared the Wardeness had merely been in some quiet deliberation, for the script was still active and warm.


    ¡°Did you ever stop to ask yourself which sea the rumors referred to?¡± She wondered.


    He hadn¡¯t.


    ¡°I can¡¯t say I have, my Lady,¡± he said, almost fearing the answer.


    He knew of the continents to the west and south, but in truth he knew little about them beyond their location. The Talhavar had always been concerned with the domestic territories between the confederation countries, so those beyond were rarely their concern. A majority of their allied countries laid to the east. And the north . . . Well, he had always been told the storms prevented anyone from crossing too far into the Sylvallian sea. No one knew what lay on the other side.


    Or, so he had been told.


    These days, he was prone to take anything he thought he knew with a grain of salt.


    ¡°Hardly surprising, given how varied the accounts were. You¡¯re familiar with the northern storms, I presume?¡±


    ¡°I know of them, at the very least,¡± he said, nodding to himself.


    ¡°The lands across the Sylvallian sea have been a mystery to us ever since the Breaking, due in no small part to those very storms. They¡¯re violent, unpredictable and largely the reason northern crossings are forbidden,¡± The Wardeness said.


    ¡°Largely, but not entirely?¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± she hummed, ¡°Sixteen years ago, a naval captain decided he would be the first to traverse the storms. The poor fool made it past them too, but we never learned how he managed it. The reports from the survivors were unreliable. Each one seemed to have a different account of what had transpired, both in how they managed to navigate the stormwall and in what they found on the other side. Some spoke of sea-side cities refusing port. Others report being fired upon. Many denied having come across land at all.¡±


    Rhydian wasn¡¯t entirely sure he understood. They all had differing accounts? He wondered how such a thing was possible, but then he remembered the encounter with the First Wing riders. If the woman, and those like her, could use some sort of vocal command or technique to dictate someone¡¯s actions, could they also be used to alter memories?


    Rhydian¡¯s brow furrowed, ¡°Then how do you know they actually managed it?¡±


    ¡°We found evidence of an engagement upon the upper and lower decks of the ship. Amid the carnage, we found several unidentified bodies in foreign uniform. Most of the ship¡¯s crew had been killed, but it appeared they managed to take a number of the enemy with them. Whether or not they made landfall is ultimately irrelevant. They clearly encountered someone on the other side and whomever they were, they were not keen on hosting guests.¡±


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°I see,¡± he said, parsing out the details in his mind, ¡°Where do the reports of the cannibals fit in?¡±


    ¡°A handful of the remaining crew reported an enemy soldier fighting without a weapon. We interviewed them all separately and in this, each of their accounts were the same. Apparently, he preferred to use hands and teeth to dispatch their comrades.¡±


    More like claws and fangs, Rhydian thought, finding himself ill at the thought, the memory.


    His blood turned to ice in his veins and he consciously began cycling rysk from his spiritual core in an effort to ward off the chill. Gooseflesh still rose along his skin and his fingers tingled despite the warmth of the stone he held. The parallels were no coincidence. Of that, he was certain.


    ¡°The bodies you found, did any of them match the descriptions I gave you of the woman?¡± He asked, barely able to find his voice.


    Cydan had gone still, his expression unreadable.


    ¡°None. Though, one of the men bore a wound along his neck that appeared more an animal bite than a man¡¯s.¡±


    Taking a deep breath, he sat back and tried to roll the stiffness from his shoulders. The prospect of a whole country or continent full of those monsters was hard to fathom. One had been enough of a nightmare on its own. Though, he wondered if there had been more to the situation than met the eye. The woman they¡¯d encountered had been off, somehow. Had she been sick? Mad?


    Thus far, Inerys had yet to manifest any of those same behaviors. She had a frightening appetite for blood and an intermittent strength that terrified him, but beyond those, she was sane, wasn¡¯t she? So long as her hunger for essence was kept in check, all was well. Had the other woman been somehow starved? The thought of Inerys going feral pained him more than he cared to admit. Though, the reminder of her circumstance had him straightening in his seat.


    ¡°Did the man survive the bite?¡± He asked.


    ¡°He did. Though, to answer your true question¨C no. The wound did not result in the same change your ward has undergone. Whatever caused her affliction remains a mystery.¡±


    He ground his teeth in frustration. To a degree, he was relieved. Perhaps an outbreak was unlikely. The sample size was hardly encouraging, though. Two bitten, one changed. The man¡¯s health afterward could have been a fluke. There was also the matter of their blood to take into account. Inerys hadn¡¯t been wholly Adai when she¡¯d been bitten. Did that have something to do with it?


    If she were to bite him, would he change? Or would he remain unaffected?


    His lips thinned.


    ¡°I do not wish to overstep, Lady Wardeness, but . . . do you know what she is?¡±


    ¡°We both do,¡± she said thoughtfully, ¡°Curious, though, how your sage already knew the truth. I myself did not know what a vampire was until recently.¡±


    She hadn¡¯t?


    A part of him found that hard to believe.


    ¡°I had never heard the term prior to our conversation. We thought to check the Mistwatch library for references, but never had the time. May I ask how you happened upon it?¡± He asked.


    There was another pause, but she said, ¡°An emissary arrived in Cyllicia this past week. I will spare the specifics for now, but she and I have had some rather enlightening conversations. You, I¡¯m sure, will find her quite interesting when you arrive.¡±


    He had to school his breathing, lest his heart break free of his chest. Sky¡¯s breath, this emissary had come from across the Sylvallian sea, hadn¡¯t she? Cydan appeared to be asking himself the same question. He opened his mouth, but seemed to think better of it.


    ¡°She¡¯s like Inerys, isn¡¯t she?¡± Rhydian asked, ¡°A vampire?¡±


    ¡°Indeed she is,¡± the Wardeness said, ¡°You¡¯ll be pleased to hear she¡¯s put your fears of cannibalism to rest as well. Vampires may be hemovores, but it seems they have no interest in flesh. I imagine that particular detail arose later. Sailors are prone to embellishment, after all, especially when drunk.¡±


    If he had witnessed someone tearing into the throat of another, he might accuse them of being something similar. He supposed they were not cannibals, exactly. These vampires appeared to be an entire species unto themselves, but accusing them of being maneaters, at the very least, wouldn¡¯t have been a stretch.


    ¡°I see. And she¡¯s . . . civil?¡± He asked, unsure why he couldn''t quite reconcile the fact.


    ¡°I would not have invited her to stay at my estate if the case were otherwise,¡± she said.


    For Zardaress¡¯ Wardeness to place that level of faith in someone was no small thing. Though in fairness, she was the most powerful woman in the country and likely among the strongest in the known world. She could extinguish this emissary, whomever she was, like the flame of a candle. There was likely more to the arrangement, though, now that he thought about it.


    He wanted to press, to ask what the woman had come, but this was the High Wardeness he was speaking to. He was lucky she had chosen to include him as much as she had already. Few were ever fortunate enough to meet her, let alone fall under her direct employ. The fact he was, was an honor.


    He would conduct himself accordingly.


    ¡°A relief, then. I look forward to meeting her. I can only imagine what insight she might have into our situation,¡± he said.


    ¡°There is much we might learn from one another,¡± she agreed, ¡°Though for the time being, I would prefer to have you and your wyvernsage continue your own observations without outside influence. They may prove useful to us in the future.¡±


    ¡°It will be done, my Lady,¡± he promised.


    ¡°Good. I have high hopes for you and yours. When you arrive in Cyllicia, you will fly to the Talhavar base and await my arrival in the embassy. Command will be expecting you, but since you are now under my direct purview, no one is to interfere. You are not to be questioned or approached by anyone without prior clearance from myself. Do I make myself clear?¡±


    His reply was as automatic as it was crisp. ¡°Yes, my Lady.¡±


    ¡°Should anyone step out of line, I best be the first to know. As of now, you answer to no one else.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± he said, looking to Cydan, who nodded his own agreement.


    Not answering to command felt wrong, somehow, but now, that was neither here nor there.


    ¡°Excellent. In the meantime, continue as you are. I expect to be notified when the girl advances.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± he said.


    Rhydian dropped his hand as the stone went cold, a shaky breath escaping his lips. Vampires, unreliable memories, emissaries from across the seas¨C his mind reeled. He had never been under the impression this would be an easy, simple task, but hadn¡¯t expected anything quite so complex. It seemed this was no longer a domestic affair.


    For the few answers he received, he had about a hundred more questions.


    ¡°That was . . . more than I expected,¡± Cydan said, his own eyes vacant before he appeared to pull himself from his own thoughts.


    ¡°Agreed,¡± he said, slipping the wyndstone back into his pocket and rubbing at his face.


    This was a fine mess, but it was nice to know they were not alone in it. Rhydian had yet to decide if he fully trusted her, but what better ally to have than a sovereign? The Wardeness had knowledge, experience, and resources. If anyone could figure out how to help Inerys, it would be her.


    He was less certain about her house guest, though.


    ¡°What do you make of this emissary?¡± He asked.


    Cydan rose, a hand briefly stroking his trim beard in thought.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± he admitted, ¡°But if they¡¯ve gone through the trouble of crossing the Sylvallian sea of all things, they must have a good reason. Maybe our dear, dead friend was someone of importance? An escaped criminal of some sort?¡±


    ¡°With her ascension? She was certainly someone. What I would like to know is why she came here and how she managed it. Those storms likely work both ways. If she crossed by ship, who¡¯s to say she was alone? For all we know, there may be more of them out there,¡± Rhydian said, shuddering at the prospect.


    ¡°It¡¯s a possibility. Do you think the Wardeness would have told us if there were?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps. It¡¯s hard to say, though. She may not want any other distractions taking away from our current task. Inerys¡¯ recovery is important to her. I¡¯m not entirely sure why, but she clearly views her as an asset. If they discovered any additional vampires, she likely sent other units after them.¡±


    ¡°Well, should that be the case, I hope they were more well prepared.¡±


    ¡°You and I both,¡± Rhydian muttered, ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of anyone being able to control people through vocal techniques. It¡¯s no wonder the First Wing dyads were caught unaware.¡±


    ¡°Do you think something similar was done to those sailors? What with their minds being scrambled and all?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps. But it could have just as easily have been a stress response. Why go through the trouble of tampering with memories if you could have them killed? They were attacked, after all. The manipulation would have been a wasted effort.¡±


    ¡°True enough,¡± Cydan said, pursing his lips as he watched their inbound wyverns.


    ¡°Part of me does wonder if it''s possible, though. The memory alteration, at least. Mental techniques are above my skill set, but we also happen to have the Lady of Dreams on our side. She¡¯s bound to know something.¡±


    ¡°I only hope she shares it with us,¡± he said, ¡°This is a lot bigger now, Rhydian. How do you think Inerys is going to take it?¡±


    He¡¯d been asking himself the same question. He hadn¡¯t exactly told her the specifics of their capitol visit. Would she still be so eager to go if she knew the truth of the scope?


    ¡°I haven¡¯t the slightest idea,¡± he admitted.


    Cydan turned to him then, a brow arched.


    ¡°How much have you told her?¡±


    He grimaced, ¡°Not as much as I should have.¡±


    ¡°Being . . . ?¡±


    ¡°I told her I knew people who could help. Nothing else.¡±


    ¡°Rhydian¨C¡±


    He held up a hand, ¡°I plan on telling her everything when the time comes. She has enough to focus on already. Once she advances, I¡¯ll tell her.¡±


    His fourthrider fixed him with a skeptical look.


    ¡°I mean no disrespect, firstrider, but that better be the truth of it. She deserves that much.¡±


    ¡°You have my word, Cydan.¡±

 Chapter Thirty-One: Defend Yourself

    Chapter Thirty-One


    Defend Yourself


    <hr>


    Camp sparring nights had quickly become one of Inerys¡¯ favorite affairs. It was always a spectacle and with how evenly matched her companions were, the outcome of any one fight was always an unknown. There had been several occasions when she was certain she knew who the victor would be, only to have a single strike or lapse in control change everything. The sheer unpredictability of it all had a way of making her heart race even from the sidelines. As it was, she found it difficult to sit still as she watched. She leaned forward upon the sitting log, one arm braced at her side while she chewed the claws of her other hand in anticipation.


    Ayduin attacked Rhydian¡¯s leading leg and managed to flip him on his back in one quick, fluid movement. The two had been vying for control for several minutes and at this point, the take down was only one of many. However, it appeared as though it may be the last. She must have thrown him with more force than Inerys had thought, for a wheezing breath escaped him and he remained prone. A second later, he waved a hand in submission, still struggling to draw in anything more than a shallow breath.


    While he and Cydan both had height and strength on their side, Ayduin had speed and what Inerys could only assume was a healthy amount of endurance. From what she had noticed, longer bouts often ended with her as the victor. She tended to bide her time, dodging most strikes she could not easily counter. So long as she remained out of reach, she excelled. Though, if either man caught a firm hold, she was often done for. She simply couldn¡¯t match their strength, or whatever pin they chose to employ, depending. There had been a handful of occasions when she managed to slip free, but they were few and far between.


    Inerys could not help but wonder how she herself might fare against them, if she had the skill. The others had asked if she were still interested in learning how to spar a few nights prior, but she had yet to give them a definitive answer. There was a certain amount of anxiety in trying something for the first time and when it came to any sort of martial practice, she knew next to nothing. Once she plucked up the nerve to take the first step, she knew she would be fine. Though, working up to that point was another struggle in itself. Being an absolute beginner among so many skilled fighters was not without its intimidations.


    ¡°Did you see how he changed balance when he thought she was going for his other leg?¡± Cydan asked.


    ¡°I think so,¡± she said.


    ¡°She feigned an attack in order to trick him into moving at the last second,¡± he said,  ¡°That¡¯s how she got him.¡±


    Slowly, she nodded, seeing where the opening had been now that he¡¯d explained it.


    Ayduin leaned over her fallen opponent, arms crossed and braid swinging as she peered down at him.


    ¡°Is someone a bit winded?¡± She asked.


    Rhydian glowered up at her, still trying to catch his breath where he lay.


    ¡°It¡¯s almost as if one of us went two rounds against Cydan before this match.¡± He said.


    She shrugged a shoulder. ¡°You volunteered, remember? It¡¯s not my fault you decided your arse was in need of kicking. Besides, someone had to curb your ego after that winning streak.¡±


    ¡°Should I be thanking you for taking up the burden?¡±


    The smile she gave him was all teeth.


    ¡°A little appreciation never hurt,¡± she said and offered him her hand.


    He rose and brushed the errant grass blades from his arms with a shake of his head.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure,¡± he said and looked to Inerys, ¡°Are you sure you didn¡¯t want to learn a few techniques? You never know when they might be useful.¡±


    She glanced between he and Ayduin, but before she could voice her decline, Cydan took her by the hand and guided her to her feet. Her limbs seemed to follow of their own accord, leaving her mind alone to catch up as she sought some manner of excuse. She couldn¡¯t fight them. She would only make a fool of herself.


    ¡° I¨C¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± he said with his usual cheer, ¡°I¡¯ve already agreed to be the training dummy.¡±


    ¡°Wait, what do you mean, already?¡± She asked, but he only clapped her on the shoulder and danced into the center of their makeshift ring.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been conspiring,¡± Ayduin cooed, leaning in as she passed her by.


    She certainly didn¡¯t like the sound of that . . .


    Inerys half pivoted to face Rhydian in search of an explanation as he approached.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been talking,¡± he clarified, ¡°and after some discussion, we¡¯ve all agreed there¡¯s no harm in teaching you the basics. We¡¯re not forcing you to fight, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re worried about, but you should know how to defend yourself, if the need arises.¡±


    The fact they trusted her enough to actually teach her helped soothe some of her reservations. Sparring wasn¡¯t exactly something one could do at a distance. The practice in itself required opponents to be within extremely close quarters. For them to feel comfortable doing so with her in a combat-like setting was . . . unexpected.


    ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± She asked.


    He and the others all nodded as they exchanged looks.


    ¡°You¡¯ve expressed interest in learning before. Has that changed?¡±


    She hesitated, her fingers fidgeting.


    ¡°Not really,¡± she admitted.


    His brow furrowed. ¡°Then what is it? Would you prefer to practice with Ayduin to start? Cydan and I would hardly hold it against you, if it would make you feel more comfortable.¡±


    ¡°I¨C no. It¡¯s fine,¡± she said and took a deep breath, ¡°I¡¯m only afraid I might . . .make a fool of myself? I hardly know what I¡¯m doing.¡±


    ¡°Oh, come now,¡± Ayduin drawled, gesturing around at the others from her seat, ¡°Do you honestly believe any of us are going to think any less of you because you were never taught? So what if you flounder around at first? We¡¯ve all been where you are now, believe it or not. And if it makes you feel any better, Cydan still blocks with his face.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not wrong,¡± he chuckled and still bore the split lip from an earlier match to prove it.


    ¡°Is that all that¡¯s holding you back?¡± Rhydian asked.


    Shifting on her feet, she gave a faint nod.


    His expression softened and he offered a small, reassuring smile.


    ¡°We¡¯ll start simple. There¡¯s no expectation to impress anyone, I promise,¡± he said.


    ¡°Simple,¡± she said, ¡°All right.¡±


    He waved she and Cydan closer as he stepped between them.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to be as skilled as we are in order to protect yourself. In your case, we¡¯ll be starting strictly with self defense. The goal will be to debilitate, disengage and run, not stay and fight. We also want to keep things easy and realistic, so don¡¯t expect any flying knees and fancy footwork.¡±


    ¡°Kneeing an attacker in the dangly bits is all well and good, but lifting your leg puts you off balance,¡± Ayduin added, ¡°and not every attacker will be male.¡±


    Dangly bits.


    She¡¯d never heard anyone refer to a groin in quite that fashion, but it was still a fair enough description, she supposed.


    Rhydian nodded his agreement.


    ¡°It¡¯s best to go for the face and neck. Those claws of yours would be particularly effective against the eyes, but the nose is a good option as well,¡± he said, stepping beside Cydan, who winked, ¡°it¡¯s a relatively soft area, so landing a solid strike will leave most attackers stunned. What you want to do is take the heel of your palm and drive it up toward their nose. Not the center of your hand, not the fingers, but the hard, flat bottom. You don¡¯t want to inadvertently harm yourself in the process.¡±


    Inerys raised her hand as she watched his demonstration on Cydan. He slowed the motion down for her and only implied contact as his assistant ¡®attacked¡¯ him. It was remarkably straightforward and she could certainly see how such a thing might prove effective.


    ¡°For now, I¡¯ll keep this one to a demonstration only. We¡¯ll want to practice position and follow through later. I¡¯d like you to see some of these moves before we add them to your routine.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re adding them to our exercises?¡± She asked.


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    He nodded.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re inexperienced, there¡¯s a possibility you¡¯ll lock up if you ever find yourself in one of these situations. We¡¯ll need to build up your muscle memory and expectation in order to combat it.¡±


    She grimaced, recalling what had transpired during her last tavern brawl.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that will be a problem, but I understand. Practice makes perfect, after all.¡±


    ¡°That it does,¡± he agreed, ¡°the other techniques require some measure of grappling, depending on the situation, but the first few are quick. Again, we''re looking to debilitate and disengage, not fight.¡±


    ¡°The hit to the nose being the debilitation?¡± She guessed.


    ¡°Exactly,¡± he said.


    The two men faced one another and Cydan caught hold of Rhydian¡¯s wrist.


    ¡°If someone tries to grab you, they¡¯re trying to control you. Obviously, you, as the victim, need to get the upper hand as soon as you can. In a situation where someone takes hold of your arm, your first instinct might be to pull away, though ultimately, it doesn¡¯t do much good. Instead, what you want to do is take your other hand and hold theirs down toward your wrist,¡± he said, doing so on Cydan, ¡°Then, bring your arm up and over theirs while maintaining that hold on their wrist. Once you have them here, you push down.¡±


    The movement twisted Cydan¡¯s arm into a straight, awkward position behind his back, then forced him to his knees at the push.


    ¡°When done correctly, the pressure will cause your attacker to fall down. The position is difficult to escape, so long as you have control of the arm. If they try to stand, it only increases that pressure,¡± he said, ¡°from here, I would recommend fully pushing them over before running.¡±


    ¡°Or giving their backside a swift kick,¡± Cydan said, voice strained as he tapped in submission.


    Rhydian released him with a chuckle. ¡°You could do that too. Here, I¡¯ll have you practice on me to give his poor shoulder a moment to recover. May I?¡±


    It took her a moment to register what he was asking, but she quickly nodded and he took her by the wrist. Biting her lip, she replayed the move in her mind. She took her opposite hand and placed it over the knuckles of his hand.


    ¡°Like this?¡±


    ¡°Yes, now swing your arm up and around and¨C¡±


    He grunted as his knees hit the ground.


    Inerys was quick to let off her hold and jump back.


    ¡°Sorry!¡± She squeaked.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± he assured, rolling his shoulder and rising, ¡°That was the whole point. Well done.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d say,¡± Ayduin purred, ¡°It seems our student is a natural.¡±


    For the next hour, she practiced both the palm strike and the arm twist. For safety purposes, Rhydian had her aim for Cydan¡¯s shoulder to get the movement down, rather than his nose. It was more a thrust and follow-through than a quick strike and she¡¯d been instructed to always bring her hand back after contact in order to protect her own face. Apparently, it was rather effective when performed against the underside of the chin as well. Ayduin had recommended a combination move for the latter, but Rhydian had argued it was a touch too complicated at present.


    He and Cydan alternated for the arm twist maneuvers, though given how quickly she had taken to the first one, they had chosen to move on to a number of different variations depending on where and how she might be grabbed. They all involved some form of arm control via a twist behind the back, but some were more difficult than others. Largely due to the fact Inerys hadn¡¯t been sure where to position her own body in relation to theirs during the exchange. Somewhere along the line, there had been a disconnect between seeing and doing. Though, a few slow repetitions were enough to remedy most of her confusion. As with everything she¡¯d learned over the past month, steady practice upon a solid foundation was key.


    The standing scenarios had given her a fair bit of confidence, for though the men were taller and stronger than she was, they had shown her there were always avenues for escape. The right move and correct amount of pressure could see her through most any engagement. However, the dynamic changed once she was on her back.


    After the men had finished the demonstration and talked her through what to expect in the event of a mounted attack, Adyuin had offered to stand in for them during Inerys¡¯ practicals. She¡¯d been tempted to accept too, for the thought of being pinned and choked by either man, even in an educational setting, frightened her. In the end, she decided that was the point. If she were ever unfortunate enough to find herself in such a position, she¡¯d be in a similar state and in significantly more danger. Learning what to expect when faced with a much larger opponent was in her best interest.


    ¡°Ready?¡± Rhydian asked.


    Schooling her breaths, she nodded.


    He took hold of her and in a deft movement, took a leg out from under her. Rather than throwing her to the ground the way an actual attacker might, he guided her down with an easy strength. She¡¯d been expecting it, of course, but the sudden loss of control had her tensing.


    ¡°Sometimes, you lose the initial fight,¡± Ayduin said as she stepped beside them, ¡°You end up on your back. You¡¯re pinned. From this position, you have limited power and limited options. If your attacker is on top of you, he has the advantage.¡±


    Straddling her waist, Rhydian squeezed her hips with his knees, all but locking her in place. During their explanations, she thought she had a decent idea of what it might be like to find herself pinned, but she¡¯d been wrong. Flat on her back as she was with him atop her, the disadvantage was frighteningly apparent. She was entirely at his mercy. Her heart raced, blood rushing in her ears.


    ¡°Your ability to strike is also hindered. If you try to reach for his face,¡± she said and indicated Inerys do so, ¡°you can¡¯t reach him, but he can still reach you.¡±


    She was right. Inerys¡¯ fist was nowhere near his face and even if she tried to reach and flex her hand, the tips of her claws still fell short of his chin. His hands, however, still had full  access to both her head and throat.


    ¡°Even if you do manage to land a punch, I¡¯m going to move back and away with the hit. It limits the effect, whereas if I were to hit you, your head bounces off the ground,¡± he said.


    The notion was likely about as pleasant as it sounded.


    Ayduin nodded her agreement. ¡°You could always try hitting him in his pride, in this position, but in the event it doesn¡¯t work, you¡¯re now engaged in an exchange of blows that you will lose. What you want to do is bring your elbows down against your ribs to keep his knees from riding up under your armpits. Cross grip and hook his wrist with your hand. This will give you lateral control, but he could still pull back and away. You¡¯ll want to prevent that, so use your other hand to grab the back of his arm just above the elbow¨C good.¡±


    She used two fingers to press the arm of Inerys¡¯ wrist-grip down toward her chest.


    ¡°The closer your elbow is to your body, the more leverage you¡¯re going to be able to use from your back. Now, take one foot and hook it over one of his legs. You¡¯ll want to tent the knee, yes¨C Place the other between his legs.¡±


    Inerys did so.


    ¡°Perfect. Make sure your grips are tight, now push up with your hips and roll.¡±


    Unable to post out of the hold, her opponent tipped forward with the momentum and she managed to slip out of his grip when she rolled.


    Cydan offered a clap from the sidelines. ¡°Beautiful! Simply beautiful.¡±


    She rolled her eyes at his antics and huffed a laugh in relief. She¡¯d actually done it. She was proud of herself for managing what she¡¯d thought was an impossible task. Against Rhydian, no less.


    ¡°Agreed,¡± he chuckled as he found his feet and offered her a hand up.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± she said, her cheeks warm as she took it.


    ¡°That grip strength of yours is impressive,¡± he said, ¡°And to be fair, you could probably open an opponent¡¯s throat with those claws of yours, but that would be rather messy.¡±


    She knew just how unseemly artery cuts could be, having field dressed her fair share of deer in the past.


    ¡°I¡¯ve no desire to, I promise,¡± she said, then bit her lip, ¡°Can we try another?¡±


    He shared a glance with Ayduin before he turned his attention skyward.


    ¡°We could probably run through one more. It might cut into your bathing time, though.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± she said, already preparing herself.


    ¡°Careful, Rhydian,¡± Ayduin hummed, ¡°she¡¯s a bit too eager now.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s just discovered the sparring high, Ayduin. Let her be with your teasing,¡± Cydan said.


    Rhydian only chuckled and brought her back to the ground once she nodded her consent.


    The position was not all that different from the first, only this time, he was positioned between her legs. Her eyes widened. Well, this was . . . different. A faint smirk edged his lips, but it vanished so quickly, she thought she may have imagined it. In an effort to spare herself from turning any more red than she already was, she focused on Ayduin.


    ¡°You won¡¯t be able to throw your opponent as easily if he¡¯s inside your guard,¡± she said, indicating Rhydian¡¯s current position, ¡°There are a few different ways to gain the upper hand, but we¡¯ll start with one that¡¯s less complicated.¡±


    He moved his hands to the base of her throat with only a slight amount of pressure as she crouched beside them and pointed toward his arms.


    ¡°This technique targets the elbows. They¡¯re weak compared to the rest of the arm and become vulnerable to leverage. The first step is to lock your opponent in place by wrapping your legs around their waist and closing your guard. That way, they can¡¯t pull back and away once you apply pressure,¡± she said.


    Rhydian guided her left leg up around the arch of his hip.


    ¡°I¡¯ve found you have the best leverage if you dig your knees in right about here and cross your legs at the ankles.¡±


    Hesitantly, she brought her other leg up to do so.


    ¡°Good, now squeeze.¡±


    Again, she did as instructed and his hand returned to her throat.


    ¡°Feel secure?¡± Ayduin asked.


    ¡°I think so,¡± Inerys said, voice more shaky than she might have liked.


    ¡°All right, you¡¯ll want to take control of the arms by bringing each hand across to the opposite elbow. Your forearms should be above his and placed horizontally above the bend like this, or it doesn¡¯t work. Bring the elbows close together, then push down.¡±


    Rhydian shifted back when she applied pressure and he gave her a half smile.


    ¡°Try not to break my arms during this next part, yeah? I don¡¯t think Sorisanna will let us spar anymore if you do.¡±


    Spirit¡¯s breath, what did the next part entail, exactly?


    ¡°I¡¯ll do my best not to,¡± she assured.


    Ayduin only shook her head. ¡°When you have the arms secure, you¡¯re going to bring your legs up around his shoulders and raise your hips. You¡¯ll be pushing his top half up and back while keeping his arms pinned against your chest. Mind yourself, though, we¡¯re not here to break him.¡±


    His shoulders were forced together when she repositioned herself and she could tell from the angle alone that snapping the joints would be all too easy with the right amount of force. To his credit, he didn¡¯t hiss or curse when she performed the final step, but he did wince.


    ¡°Once your attacker is in pain and you¡¯ve broken the joint, you¡¯re going to let go, press one foot against his hip and kick yourself away. From there, you¡¯re free to run.¡±


    Her kick-off was a tad awkward, but she managed to find her feet without planting her face in the grass.


    ¡°Nicely done,¡± Ayduin said, peering around to inspect Rhydian, ¡°Still in one piece?¡±


    ¡°Thankfully,¡± he said, sitting back on his knees as he brushed a hand over his hair.


    Inerys¡¯ heart was a wild, wicked thing in her chest.


    ¡°No breakage?¡±


    He gave her a smile, ¡°No harm done.¡±

 Chapter Thirty-Two: Convictions and the Shores of Forgiveness

    Chapter Thirty--Two


    Convictions and the Shores of Forgiveness


    <hr>


    ¡°Vaelor says she¡¯s reached the lake,¡± Ayduin said as she took her seat beside the fire, ¡°We should be safe now.¡±


    Rhydian finally allowed himself to relax as he rubbed at the stubble along his chin.


    ¡°Well, what did you think?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a quick study, but that¡¯s hardly a profound statement, at this point,¡± she said.


    ¡°With that mental core of hers, I¡¯m hardly surprised,¡± Cydan said, ¡°She¡¯s been able to communicate telepathically with the wyverns since her, what, second ascension?¡±


    ¡°Something like that,¡± he said.


    Ayduin tilted her head in thought. ¡°It¡¯s different, but not all that odd, if you factor in wyverns and other sentient species outside the Adai. Some just have a natural inclination toward alternative means of communication that we don¡¯t. Her adaptability could be attributed to her core, but it might also be an inherent trait of hers. It¡¯s hard to tell. I¡¯m more interested in her physical core. From everything I¡¯ve seen, she¡¯s not all that far from us in terms of strength despite being two ascensions lower. Skies only know what she¡¯ll be capable of once she¡¯s out of her foundation stage.¡±


    ¡°Regardless of what she becomes, I say we stay the course. It¡¯s better to have her in control of that strength than not. Fallen trees will be the least of our concerns when we reach the capitol,¡± Rhydian said.


    ¡°It would be nice not having to worry as much,¡± she agreed, ¡°but I still don¡¯t like it. No one should have strength like that.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps not, but it changes little. She has it and we need to do our best to help her get a proper handle on it. She¡¯s progressing nicely enough in her training. Teaching her to spar might be a decent outlet for her. Unless you think we should start a logging business instead?¡±


    She rolled her eyes. ¡°Very funny.¡±


    ¡°At this point, I don¡¯t see the harm in it,¡± Cydan said, ¡°She¡¯s proven herself to us thus far, hasn''t she?¡±


    Ayduin pressed her lips thin. ¡°I''ll admit, she''s not what I expected. Doesn''t mean I''m wholly comfortable with her, though. If something happens and she snaps¨C¡±


    Rhydian cut her off with a raised hand as he met each of their gazes.


    ¡°I think we can all agree that aside from the physical, she''s nothing like that other woman. If there were any indication, one of us would have seen it by now,¡± he said.


    The other man nodded and while he was sure it pained her, his secondrider muttered her agreement before glancing off toward Vaelor as he landed. The copper wyvern shook out his hide as he settled and stalked up the hill to take his place along her side of the camp. He dwarfed the tents, but was ever mindful as his horned head snaked between them to rest his snout at her side.


    ¡°Even if things were to go south, we have years of practice and technique on our side. A few weeks of basic training isn¡¯t going to change that,¡± Rhydian continued.


    She sighed as she scratched along the softer scales of Vaelor¡¯s jaw.


    ¡°Fair enough. And we have silver on hand too, if it ever comes to it.¡±


    ¡°It won¡¯t,¡± he said, more confident in his answer than he¡¯d first realized.


    ¡°I for one am curious to see what she¡¯ll actually be capable of with a little work. We can test our adaptability theory as well. Natural aptitude is all well and good, but there¡¯s a threshold. I still think it has to do with her mental core. No one picks up new skills that fast,¡± Cydan said, crossing his arms.


    Ayduin raised an eyebrow. ¡°Care to make a bet?¡±


    ¡°Always. You know how much I enjoy winning,¡± he crooned.


    As the pair¡¯s banter turned to outright haggling, Rhydian settled back against the log and stretched his legs out toward the fire. Thankfully, the two spirits dancing among the flames were more interested in the embers than his boots today. Little handprints, no larger than a grain of rice, had been burned into the leather along the arch of his left foot the night before when the pair had deemed them worthy of investigation. The material had a tendency to hiss whenever they touched it, which had earned more than a few mad giggles. They had left close to half a dozen prints before they¡¯d seemingly wondered if his skin made a similar sound.


    Fortunately, coaxing them back into the fire before they¡¯d fully burned through his pant leg had been relatively easy. A quick toss of fresh wood and a flaring of his rysk to raise the temperature of the flames had them squealing in delight. For better or worse, destruction spirits were as easily pleased as they were offended. He¡¯d need to oil his boots again, but such was a small price to pay in order to keep the camp from turning to ash.


    Adjusting the flow of vital essence through his arms, he cast his gaze out across the surrounding field. They were still one wyvern short, but if his estimations were correct, Ephaxus and Sorisanna were due back soon enough. Much like Inerys, he had seen his own improvements in recent weeks. He could stand with far more poise now and aside from the occasional muscle spasms, he rarely stumbled or shook when he moved. His flight times were steadily increasing as well, but from the sage¡¯s last report, maintaining proper form while in the air became rather difficult around the three hour mark. Stamina would come with time and in the grand scheme of things, the setback was mild compared to his triumphs, for as of a few days ago, he could finally launch from a level position rather than having to rely on an elevated one in order to take wing.


    Rhydian couldn''t help but wonder if a certain huntress¡¯ secret outings had helped. Tanuzet often reported her smelling of crushed herbs upon her return, which led him to believe she¡¯d learned from Sorisanna¡¯s own innovations when it came to the blood infusions. Beyond that, though, he¡¯d noticed a shift in the wyvern¡¯s morale. He had begun to rest closer to camp and on occasion, join some of their nightly conversations and stories. It was a small change, but an important one and seeing inklings of the wyvern he knew before eased a weight Rhydian hadn¡¯t known he¡¯d been carrying all this time. If going out of her way to engage with the wyvern had indeed brought about his gradual return to self, however slight, Rhydian owed her a great deal.


    ~*~


    Inerys did not have to turn her eyes skyward to know which of the wyverns flew overhead, for she had come to discover wing beats were not all that different from footsteps. Each one held a unique weight, a variance to the movement of the air around them that set them apart. Some, like Tanuzet¡¯s, were little more than a smooth hiss like that of a breeze over sand while others howled like wind through mountain crags. Of the four, Ephaxus¡¯ were the most labored, especially toward the tail end of his nightly flights. The membranes of his wings snapped and cracked as if they were a flag at the mercy of a stiff gale.


    She spared him a brief glance as he passed low over the treeline along the farside of the lake, his posture stiff, but otherwise sound. Sorisanna was perched between his shoulders, waving at her from the saddle. Inerys returned the gesture with a chuckle, a touch envious of the woman and her vantage. Viewing the world from wyvernback was a rare privilege and one she often found herself craving. What more of the world would she see from their future flight across the continent? More and more, she found herself daydreaming, wondering over the possibilities.


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    Sighing, she reached her clawed fingertips toward the hem of her blouse and began to peel the garment away from her tacky skin. She grimaced at the way it tugged loose of her underarms and back, her skin still damp and salty. These days, their nightly routine left her sweat-soaked and sore and tonight was no exception. How the others had been able to stomach her stench through their instruction was beyond her.


    This nose of hers was more curse than blessing.


    She took the time to rinse the fabric in the water, banishing what she could of the filth and stink with the last of her lavender soap. There was no point in sullying the new bar she¡¯d brought with her when enough remained of the old to see the rest of her clothes clean. As she hung the last of her apparel from the branches of a nearby sapling, she paused.


    A familiar presence brushed hers, causing the hair along the back of her neck to prickle. Ephaxus¡¯ emotional nudge was gentle in its approach. Cautious, even, as if he wished to announce his presence before he revealed himself. Or perhaps, sought permission. For a moment, she wasn¡¯t quite sure what to do or how to respond. He¡¯d yet to be the one to approach first. And that aside, she was all but bare in her current state.


    Am I intruding? He asked.


    She could neither see nor scent him.


    Was he still at camp?


    Not exactly, she said, hooking a fang over her lower lip, Is everything all right?


    Yes. I simply thought I might offer my company . . .


    Though he sounded hesitant, there was an underlying urgentness to the current of emotion.


    She pursed her lips, mourning his timing. On Tanuzet¡¯s suggestion, she¡¯d patiently waited for him to come to her for weeks. Of all times to open up, why now?


    You may join me, if you like, she said, deciding she was relieved he felt comfortable enough to do so at all, You won¡¯t mind my bareness, though . . . will you?


    Sensing her anxiety, he said, I have no interest in your flesh, little viper. Your nakedness will hardly offend me.


    Inerys retrieved her new soap from her satchel before easing herself into the lake. Its cool touch sent gooseflesh skittering up her legs, the luminescence of her skin undimmed by the crystal clear water. She waded in up to her chest, mastering her breaths. Her body stiffened of its own volition, but it had endured more frigid waters before.


    That will certainly make things less awkward, she said, undoing what remained of her braid and forcing herself below the surface.


    She turned toward the forest when she emerged, waiting to pick out his shape among the shadows. A majority of the trees were tall enough to allow for easy passage, but the shorter ones closest to the lake forced him to stoop low and pick his way through their more crowded trunks. She had to admit, he moved with remarkable grace for a creature of his size. She would have expected more crashing about, more weight when the finger-like appendages at the junction of his wings met the ground. Instead, she found each movement measured and purposeful, as if he were indeed some giant, winged feline. He went so far as to spare saplings and other lesser trees in his path where he could.


    You¡¯re moving quite well, she said, hoping he would take her words for the compliment they were.


    Sorisanna says I should practice mindfulness, he rumbled, It slows me, forces me to watch where and how I step.


    Helps you focus on your coordination? She guessed.


    Indeed.


    He halted once he slipped free of the treeline, his attention somewhere along the far side of the lake, rather than upon her. She tilted her head, ready to turn and follow his gaze, when he suddenly crossed into the languid waters. Without a word, he circled her and situated himself between her and the rest of the lake beyond. His spinal crests pulled taught from the space between his horns, all the way to the base of his shoulders as he laid upon his side, one massive wing unfurling into a great canopy above her. He even went so far as to ensconce her with his lengthy tail, the end of which was tipped sideways with the tail fins flared wide.


    The creature inside her had begun to rouse, seeking whatever threat the wyvern had sensed. With his body positioned the way it was, it was impossible to see much of anything, save the tops of the trees over his tail. His wing had obscured his head as well, though she could easily guess which direction his head pointed.


    What¡¯s wrong? She whispered.


    He was scaring her and when he didn¡¯t immediately answer, she tried again.


    ¡°Ephaxus?¡±


    He poked his head under his wing, something like an apology in his eyes.


    All is well.


    His actions spoke otherwise.


    Something clearly has your attention, what is it?


    The sigh he gave made his nostrils whistle.


    I noticed Vesryn was not in camp when Sorisanna and I returned. I am aware of your unease around him, so I thought I might see to your comfort in the event the two of you crossed paths.


    She blinked. He was protecting her? From Vesryn?


    I . . . thank you, she said, He¡¯s on the other side of the lake, isn¡¯t he?


    Indeed.


    Spirits, how long had he been there without her having noticed?


    What is it he¡¯s doing, exactly?


    Gathering herbs, from what I can see, he said.


    Inerys supposed a sage out gathering materials was far from out of the ordinary. In all fairness, it was her who had broken schedule. Dawn was nearly upon them and for all she knew, the man was accustomed to foraging at this hour. He may not have been interested in her wellbeing, but she¡¯d heard from the others that he¡¯d been taking advantage of the spirit wilds in his own way, creating all manner of powders and pills. It was how he kept himself busy, they¡¯d said.


    Oh, was all she said.


    His presence out here likely had nothing to do with her, though she appreciated the fact Ephaxus had stepped in when he had. A peek, even if accidental, was a mortifying thought. She pushed it as far from her mind as she could, focusing instead upon the task at hand. The sun would chase her back to camp before too long.


    The two fell into an easy silence as she bathed, until he said, almost tentatively, You are not what I expected you to be, viper.


    She slicked back her lathered hair.


    What do you mean?


    That day, we had delved into those woods to destroy a monster. I was told that despite the odds and losses we had taken, we had succeeded, there was no mistaking the way his voice caught as he spoke, Kieshara¡¯s death had been avenged and given meaning. When I learned of you, I thought we had traded one evil for another. So that is how I chose to see you: as another monster. Weak as you were, I could not see the distinction between that creature and the broken girl it left behind.


    Her fingers graced the edges of her burn scar.


    It . . . was a complicated situation. I can¡¯t say I blame you. I may have felt the same, had our roles been reversed.


    His head drifted down beside her, his eyes warm as he took her in.


    You have a gentle way about you, despite your new nature. I should have sought to make peace with you long before you came to me.


    You¡¯re here now, aren¡¯t you? She asked, carefully reaching out a hand in silent invitation.


    She wasn¡¯t entirely sure what had prompted her to, only that it felt right, somehow.


    His snout tipped toward her fingers and his nostrils flared. Not in offense, she sensed, but curiosity. She had always been sensitive to the emotions of those around her and her change had only heightened the ability. What she felt now was deeper still, as if some unseen string had been tethered between them.


    A shaky breath escaped her lips when he pressed his snout into her palm.


    Was this the acceptance Tanuzet had spoken of?


    Her gaze flitted up to his eyes in surprise and when they met, he blinked deeply.


    There was no helping the smile that tugged at her lips.


    Does this mean we can be friends? She asked.


    If you¡¯ll have me, littlest of vipers.


    One might say you¡¯ve convinced me, she chuckled.


    He rumbled in response. Good. Now, hurry and finish. The sun will be up soon.


    The sun.


    Right.

 Chapter Thirty-Three: The Red Phoenix

    Chapter Thirty-Three


    The Red Phoenix


    <hr>


    It had taken several days for Inerys to recognize the onset of her advancement for what it was. While both her mental and physical cores had been near to bursting for close to a week, the progress had been as gradual as it was subtle. Explaining away her symptoms had been all too easy, for they were not all that different from her normal state of being. A burst of energy here and an errant flutter in her chest there were hardly cause for concern, if she noticed them at all. Her heartbeat had been a bit erratic, but such had not been entirely uncommon after her defense training. Their sessions often left her aglow for hours after the fact.


    However, as the days wore on, the oddities built in intensity. Subtle fluctuations in her stamina evolved into bouts of sudden fatigue. Sometimes, they would last little more than a few minutes and give way to nervous energy. Others, she was left sluggish and utterly useless for hours, to the point where even cycling, which had become as natural as breathing, became a chore. Forcing herself to alternate between the three techniques she had learned had been a tedious affair.


    Her meditations, and subsequent cycling of her mental essences, had been far easier. Which was likely due to the constant exercising of her will. Wrestling her body and core into submission had been no easy task and while her mood had been relatively stable overall, she¡¯d snapped at one of the others a time or two. Thankfully, no one had held the outbursts against her.


    They were, after all, a natural part of the process.


    If Ayduin was to be believed, Cydan had been the most emotional of them all before he¡¯d ascended out of his foundation stage. A fact he had openly admitted to, actually. The process of ascension, regardless of stage, was inherently difficult and everyone reacted to the stress of it in their own way. So long as no violence arose, it seemed all was forgiven in the end.


    Once her impending advancement was confirmed by Sorisanna, she had been ordered to do little beyond eat, sleep and cycle. The saturation of her meals had increased two fold, leaving her brimming with more vital essence than she knew what to do with. It sang through her channels, pushing her core to its limit. In the beginning, she''d been certain a single thought would push it over the edge, send her spiraling into her next ascension.


    For all she wanted to, she couldn¡¯t let it.


    Her body had to be made whole, first.


    Instead of bending to the urgency of the core, Inerys had been instructed to distribute the influx of essence through her gastric, circulatory and musculoskeletal meridians. While functional, they were far more delicate than most at her current stage. Per Sorisanna, changes were made to the respective cycling technique of each in order to facilitate healing and strength in equal measure. Sessions were longer, more varied and always accompanied by an infusion of tea or blood. Her body was at its most malleable upon the cusp of ascension and the sage planned on leveraging every advantage she could.


    In conjunction with the authority Inerys wielded over her own body, focusing upon the internal structures connected to the core had forced it to reprioritize its function. Rather than pushing its own growth, it sought to mend the flaws along her damaged channels and tissues. Her meridians were reinforced, growing thick and dense as they fed on the abundance of saturated essence and ambient aura. Lingering weaknesses and fatigue had ebbed and slowly, the fractured, softly-glowing light along her skin began to fade into thin, web-like scars.


    Then, and only then, did she allow her physical core to resume its preparations for its next advancement. Terrified as she was, Inerys was as ready as she¡¯d ever be. She knelt upon the grass of the lake shore, the soft undergrowth cool along the bare skin of her legs. In anticipation of whatever change awaited her, she¡¯d donned little beyond a knee-length nightdress. She¡¯d seen little point in ruining one of the few sets of clothes she possessed in the pursuit of modesty. There was every chance she would have to peel them off anyway and she was certain no amount of washing would ever erase the scent of that awful black bile.


    Better to sacrifice one garment, than half a dozen.


    She had half a mind to trigger the change while submerged in the shallows, if only to ease the rising heat throughout her body. Sweat beaded her skin and long rivulets had already begun to slither down her back. The tempest within her was beginning to escape her control and if it won, all of this might be for naught. She grit her teeth, all but trembling where she sat as her essence thrashed.


    Her passenger stirred, not in defense or hunger, but out of what she sensed might be concern.


    If you¡¯re not going to help, go back to sleep, she hissed.


    For once, it paused to consider.


    The hair along the back of her neck began to prickle. The entity had always been mindless, driven by what she had assumed was mere instinct, but this¨C this was new. It had acknowledged her.


    As she had it, she realized.


    Rather than receive any sort of verbal or emotional response, she felt the pressure in her body ease. It was slight, but there nonetheless. She tried to focus on whatever it was that now bolstered her will, but her thoughts had turned sluggish.


    Her blood rushed in her ears, her perception gradually beginning to warp. Seconds stretched into what felt like hours. One moment, she and Sorisanna were seated alone together, the next, Rhydian and Ayduin were there as well. He crouched beside her, a hand on her shoulder. His brows were furrowed, though there was an excited, hopeful light to his grey eyes that highlighted the hints of silver in them.


    ¡°How are you feeling?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Like I''m holding back a storm,¡± she groaned.


    ¡°You''re not all that far from the mark,¡± he said, lips quirked along one edge, ¡°are you ready?¡±


    ¡°I think so,¡± she said, her voice far more faint than she might have liked.


    He looked to Sorisanna, who finally nodded after inspecting her channels for what must have been the hundredth time.


    ¡°We¡¯ve done all we can. The rest is up to you,¡± she said.


    Inerys tried to swallow past the dryness in her throat.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be here, though, won¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± she promised.


    Rhydian nodded his agreement, ¡°No matter how things turn out, we¡¯ll be here, at your side.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she murmured as she looked between them.


    Ayduin, of all people, went so far as to give her a wink and what might have been a smile.


    Steeling herself, Inerys adjusted her seat. She could do this. She would do this. For Soren, for Nan, for herself. Setting her jaw, she forced her spine straight despite the ache, tucked her chin and willed her wrists to relax upon her knees.


    Unlike her previous ascensions, this one could not be left to instinct alone. Her mental core would advance first, then her physical. The first guided the second, or so Sorisanna had told her. There was less risk of something going awry under the scrutiny of a freshly sharpened mind. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡°Draw your essence into your cores the way we practiced,¡± the sage said, ¡°this time, let them constrict.¡±


    Inerys took a deep, slow breath as she isolated her mental core. It awaited her command with a cool, steady patience she hadn¡¯t expected. The surealness of it had her wondering if she were in a dream, for the rest of her felt anything but calm. Fearing there was some trick yet to come, she hesitantly drew the psionic essence of her mind into its core. It obeyed without complaint and the structure expanded to accommodate the swell. The silvery sphere began to pulse in time with her heart, awaiting her command as it filled almost beyond capacity.


    She released it and when she did, the core bore down upon itself. Pain lanced through her skull and she grit her teeth against the ache. Though, the sensation vanished as quickly as it had arisen as something snapped into place. Her focus sharpened, thoughts cleared and something akin to instinct or intuition set to cycling the freshly condensed essence. In her mind¡¯s eye, the core had shrunk in size, but grown in density. The meridian surrounding it had sprouted additional channels as well, forming tight, complex loops throughout her mind.


    Distantly, she knew her lips had twitched into a smile. Warmth oozed from her nostrils and ears, but she didn¡¯t care. The discharge of her impurities was unpleasant, yes, but ultimately trivial when her physical core had yet to be tamed.


    She seized control of the core with a newfound tenacity. It trembled under her influence and as she repeated the visualization technique, golden, watery light was drawn down into a singular point, condensing, then compressing. The air was abruptly driven from her lungs in much the same manner as when her shackles were set. Suddenly, she found herself an animal too small for its cage. Everything ached, everything burned and everything grew tight.


    And her skin split.


    ~*~


    Rhydian watched in mute horror as the first rupture opened along her spine.


    Inerys had pitched forward onto all fours mere seconds into her ascension, her back arching at an alarming angle as her ribs and shoulders began to expand. Her night dress pulled tight and tore across her chest, then her hips. Black ichor began to ooze from her rending flesh, the fissures ranging in the dozens, then the hundreds until her skin began to slough away from whatever lay beneath.


    At first, he feared it was blood that shown in the moonlight along her writhing body, but when the smell hit him, he knew better. It was a small comfort, however. The oily waste bubbled out from the larger splits along her torso, coating both her and the grass beneath her in what might have been mistaken for tar or hot candle wax. Clotted chunks fell away into the growing puddle, each wet slap of moldering skin more sickening than the last.


    Her body lengthened through the limbs and torso, appearing more in line with Ayduin¡¯s size, even half sprawled as she was. No spare inch had been spared the inky filth and as her ears grew long and narrow, they dripped the horrid substance back into her limp hair. They had traveled higher along her skull, appearing much the way her forebear¡¯s had.


    A part of him had always suspected she might fully change upon this advancement, but he had always hoped he¡¯d be proven wrong. Of course, he hadn¡¯t been. Through the bleeding impurities, he could see it. She was long and lean, having retained the muscle she¡¯d built throughout their time in the spirit wilds rather than succumbing to the same emaciation of her attacker. Though, everything else had become hauntingly familiar. The long talons slowly flexing and receding into her fingertips were the same, as were the subtle alterations that had turned her legs digitigrade.


    Heat radiated from her in waves and as her body began to settle, he sensed her vital essence plummet. Which was hardly surprising, given what had been required to fuel the full scope of her change, but¨C


    Fear swept in to replace his horror.


    Her core was nearly dry and there wasn¡¯t enough essence left to cycle in order to compensate.


    Without it, she would die.


    He snapped out of his stupor.


    ¡°Ayduin, the blood,¡± he demanded, ¡°Quickly.¡±


    Her rosy eyes were wide, her face pale in her shock, but she obeyed and passed Sorisanna the waterskin they¡¯d prepared for her post-ascension recovery. He knew in his gut that it wouldn¡¯t be enough and the sage appeared to reach the same conclusion when Inerys snatched it from her outstretched hand and nearly caught her arm in the process. The desperate, feral growl that tore from her throat had him shoving Sorisanna back and away as he placed himself between them.


    Large, feline eyes found his. Her pupils had narrowed to mere slits of black amid a shattering of stained glass that warred between shades of red and blue. The mind behind them was distant, hazy and for a moment, he feared he faced the same monster he¡¯d once put down.


    ¡°Easy, Inerys,¡± he said, willing a warmth he did not feel into his voice, ¡°It¡¯s me. You¡¯ve made it. You¡¯re safe.¡±


    There wasn¡¯t so much as a flicker of recognition.


    ¡°Rhydian,¡± Ayduin hissed.


    ¡°Go back to camp and bring as much blood back as you can,¡± he said, refusing to break his stare.


    Inerys was quickly draining the waterskin, having punctured the leather with her fangs in her desperation.


    ¡°You¡¯ve lost your mind if you think I¡¯m just going to sit by and let her¨C¡±


    ¡°Now, Ayduin. That¡¯s an order,¡± he said, ¡°Take Sorisanna with you.¡±


    The sage stiffened.


    ¡°What? No! I can¨C¡±


    ¡°With that affinity of yours, you¡¯re nothing short of a walking feast in her eyes. Get back to camp and stay there until I say otherwise. Cydan is to help Ayduin bring back what we need, not you. Do I make myself clear?¡±


    When she made to protest further, Tanuzet interposed herself with a low growl, tail flicking. He could sense her own apprehension through their bond, but in this, their desire to see the others safe was aligned. Dealing with Inerys would be far easier without the others to worry about.


    You better know what you are doing, she said, her voice low in his mind.


    He could do little beyond offer her a small nudge of assurance.


    He considered flaring his rysk in order to get his point across to the others, but quickly thought better of it. If Inerys saw it as a threat, everything would escalate. Instead, he directed his awareness. He shoved the spiritual sense against theirs.


    ¡°The sooner you bring back the blood, the sooner we can get this over with. I¡¯ll handle her in the meantime.¡±


    ¡°All right,¡± Sorisanna said, relenting, ¡°But be careful.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll restrain her, if I have to,¡± he said.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Ayduin said tightly.


    Inerys¡¯ attention briefly flitted toward the retreating women, the waterskin reduced to little more than a strap of leather in her hold. Rather than try to pursue them, she trembled, and the more he studied her, the more he realized she was doing everything in her power to keep from collapsing entirely. However, she was losing the fight. Her eyelids began to flutter and her limbs went slack just as her eyes rolled back into her head. She pitched sideways, but Rhydian broke her fall.


    Sky¡¯s mercy . . .


    He searched her soul and found the essence had already been burned away. She wasn¡¯t going to last until the others returned. Not without blood or essence. He cast his eyes around them, searching in vain for those miracle herbs of theirs. This wasn¡¯t supposed to happen. What they¡¯d brought should have been more than enough to see her stable. They had expected changes, but nothing like this.


    Muttering a curse under his breath, he positioned himself behind her and dragged her into his lap. She was utterly limp, which was as much a blessing as it was a curse. He brought his right arm around her neck in a loose hold, one he would likely have to leverage if this stupid plan of his went poorly.


    Two bitten, one changed.


    They weren¡¯t great odds.


    Still, they were better than the alternatives.


    After all they had done and all they had been through, he wasn¡¯t about to let their efforts be for naught. His duty to the Warden aside, he owed it to Inerys to do everything in his power to keep her alive long enough for the others to return with that precious, cursed blood. He only hoped the woman he sought to save was still in there, somewhere. He sensed her fading, her life slipping away like sand through his fingers. If he didn¡¯t do this, her death was all but assured.


    He¡¯d sacrificed his blood on multiple occasions already, so what was a little more?


    ¡°Please don¡¯t make me regret this,¡± he muttered, pulling the sleeve of his left arm up around his elbow.


    Drawing his blade with her in his arms was awkward, but he made do. The slice was quick and clean and as the blood welled, he quickly resumed his hold with his right arm. He closed his eyes, expecting her to lunge the moment she scented it, but nothing happened. She did not so much as twitch.


    No, no . . .


    He gave her a light shake.


    ¡°Inerys? Inerys you need to wake up,¡± he said, holding his wrist closer.


    He wasn¡¯t even sure she was still breathing.


    ¡°Inerys, please.¡±


    He held his wrist above her parted lips, hoping a taste might be enough to rouse her long enough to take what she needed. Ayduin was going to be livid, but he could handle the fallout later. His change wasn¡¯t even a guarantee. Him readily accepting the chance was reckless, he couldn¡¯t argue that, but it was a necessary risk. Letting her die, when he could save her, wasn¡¯t an option.


    A few drops made it into her mouth.


    He waited.


    His awareness told him her cores were still active. One was notably fainter than the other two, but that was hardly a surprise. What he did not expect, however, was the thread of vital essence traveling along her transversal meridian between her physical and spiritual cores. At first, he thought it stemmed from the former, but no. The direction was flowing to the physical, not from it.


    Somehow, that sliver of power had made it past the shackles. It was thin, weak, no thicker than spider silk, but present all the same. He hadn¡¯t the slightest idea how it was possible. In those moments, though, he didn¡¯t care.


    The moment it reached her dying core, she stirred.


    Rhydian braced.


    And her fangs sank into his flesh.

 Chapter Thirty-Four: Blood and Bone

    Chapter Thirty- Four


    Blood and Bone


    <hr>


    Bone cracked.


    Instinct and muscle memory roared up in response to the white-hot sting lancing through his arm.


    He cursed through clenched teeth, ¡°Fuck.¡±


    It took every ounce of restraint he possessed not to snap her neck out of reflex.


    Behind him, Tanuzet barked in surprise, the sympathetic echo of his broken forearm no doubt rippling through her wing. Inerys¡¯s fangs were buried deep within the muscle, the full might of her jaw proving too much for even his reinforced body to handle. The tendons of his left hand strained as his fingers began to prickle, his wrist rendered immovable by the upper canine lodged between the more delicate bones.


    He forced himself to keep still, to relax and not pull away despite the primal fear clawing at the edges of his mind. This had been his doing, not hers, he reminded himself as darker memories threatened to rise. She hadn¡¯t attacked him. He had encouraged her. He wanted this, if only to save her life.


    This was Inerys, not the woman who had torn his friend apart.


    He still saw her face, though.


    Still heard Ephaxus¡¯ screams.


    Try as he might, his mind always circled back to that creature and its blood-soaked claws. Inerys¡¯ own flexed in and out of her fingertips as she fed, grazing him, but never quite puncturing the skin. Their metallic sheen gleamed in the moonlight, each one a deadly, sharpened dagger in their own right. He shivered each time they touched him, wondering which gelid touch would finally slice him open.


    He felt her smaller, finer fangs descend further into his arm.


    Warmth suddenly spread through the extremity, burning away the pain and leaving nothing, save a blissful numbness, in its wake. He tensed and quickly peered over her shoulder to ensure she hadn¡¯t somehow torn it off. Thankfully, she hadn¡¯t. Delayed as it was, it was simply the release of her venom. He¡¯d nearly forgotten it was an anesthetic. Was its administration a conscious consideration on her part? Or an instinctual application whenever her kind fed?


    Hesitantly, he said, ¡°Tell me you¡¯re still in there?¡±


    All he needed was a sign.


    Anything.


    Several heartbeats passed, but a broken sort of purr rose from her throat. He would have mistaken it as a result of her indulgence, were it not so brief. So pointed. An emotional nudge, not unlike that of Tanuzet in their quieter moments, graced his mental core. It was warm, familiar, but distant, somehow. Tentative as it was, it gave him hope he hadn¡¯t lost her.


    Not entirely.


    He huffed a laugh, though his breath was shaky.


    ¡°Breaking my arm was a bit much, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Of course, she didn¡¯t answer. He hadn¡¯t expected her to, not in those moments, but speaking aloud helped, in its own strange way.


    ¡°At least you were kind enough to dull the pain.¡±


    He checked his hold, knowing full well she was still a danger. With her distracted as she was, he took the opportunity to wrap his legs around her waist and secure her in place. Being reduced to one arm, he¡¯d need all the control he could leverage once the others returned. There was every chance they might have to pry her off of him if she couldn¡¯t be reasoned with and if they did, they were at risk of falling victim themselves. Keeping her at bay himself was the best option, even if it meant further injury. A broken arm and a little bloodshed on his part was a small price to pay for the wellbeing of those under his charge.


    He closed his eyes and set to monitoring his vital essence while he waited. He could still sense the flow through his meridians, despite the utter lack of physical sensation. The essence in both his blood and his channels was being siphoned away at an alarming rate and he had to consciously slow his cycling in order to buy himself more time. He wouldn¡¯t be able to defend either party if he were rendered unconscious and he wasn¡¯t sure the others would be able to handle her on their own without resorting to more harmful means. Ayduin, in particular, would not hesitate to end her. If she were forced to choose between himself or Inerys, there would be no contest.


    He told himself it wouldn¡¯t come to that, though.


    He trusted them.


    All of them.


    Once Inerys took what she needed, she would release him.


    This didn¡¯t have to end poorly.


    As she fed, though, his head began to grow light. Nothing detrimental, yet, but he could feel the effects. Tanuzet pressed her snout into his back to keep him from swaying and he leaned into their bond in an effort to keep his mind sharp. Awake.


    They are on their way back to us, she murmured, You need only hold out a little longer.


    ¡°I¡¯m beginning to think that¡¯s easier said than done,¡± he admitted.


    He sensed Ayduin¡¯s attention long before Vaelor landed and knew he was in for as much of an earful from her as he was from Sorisanna and Vesryn once this was all sorted. She was on her feet and running toward him before her wyvern had fully settled. Cydan was not far behind her, two satchels in hand as opposed to Ayduin¡¯s one.


    He saw her reach for her blade and he stiffened, forcing himself to focus through the haze in his mind.


    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± he said tightly, ¡°It¡¯s not what you think. I put myself in this position, not her.¡±


    Her eyes were wide, warring between confusion, worry and outrage. She gaped for several seconds, her lips trying and failing to express her torrent of emotion. Vaelor had his teeth bared, his hiss rattling deep in his chest. He held his head low, his back arched. The lashing of his tail had Cydan watching him over his shoulder before he spared Ayduin a glance.


    Rhydian could feel Tanuzet¡¯s rising hackles as keenly as if they were his own, but it was Cydan who spoke first.


    ¡°Ayduin, I don¡¯t want to call Inet down here, but I will if I have to,¡± he said quietly.


    A muscle feathered along her jaw and her wyvern tsked.


    She fixed her gold-rimmed eyes on Rhydian, the heat behind them hot enough to melt steel.


    ¡°You better have a damn good reason for this,¡± she seethed, pointing her dagger at him before she sheathed it.


    He met intensity with what he could muster of his own.


    ¡°You, of all people, know I did not take this risk lightly,¡± he said, ¡°Do you have the blood?¡±


    She gave a single, curt nod.


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    ¡°Can you get her off you?¡± She countered.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to find out,¡± he muttered and jerked his chin toward her satchel.


    Cydan crouched beside her as she retrieved one of the blood-filled jars, setting his own bags down to do the same. He searched his face and Rhydian did his best to keep his eyes from drooping under the man¡¯s scrutiny. Between the two of them, he was beginning to feel like an open book. Inerys even had her moments of the same. Though, he supposed blood loss was a difficult thing to mask as opposed to emotion.


    ¡°How do you feel?¡± He asked quietly.


    He grit his teeth against a bout of dizziness.


    ¡°My arm¡¯s broken, but I can¡¯t feel it,¡± he said and when Ayduin¡¯s gaze snapped toward his hand, he added, ¡°It was an accident.¡±


    Her presence swept through him in an active read that left his soul prickling. She cursed and moved closer with the now open jar. She reached for his shoulder with her free hand, but he shied away, only to earn a disgruntled hiss from Inerys.


    ¡°You need to get her off you. Now.¡±


    She was right, but his sluggish thoughts took longer than he¡¯d have liked to process.


    He winced.


    ¡°Inerys,¡± he said hoarsely, ¡°Inerys, you need to let go.¡±


    A growl answered and her grip tightened. Her talons poised themselves along his skin, biting, then relaxing before they drew blood. They were sharp enough to split skin with the slightest provocation and yet, they¡¯d left little more than pressure divots in their wake.


    Realization dawned upon his dull mind¨C whether consciously or not, she was minding those talons. Fangs and feeding aside, she didn¡¯t want to hurt him. Doing so was one of her greatest fears.


    He knew then, what it would take to reach her.


    ¡°Inerys, please. You¨C you¡¯re hurting me.¡±


    Her breath caught and she stiffened, so he pressed.


    ¡°I know you didn¡¯t mean to, but we need to see how bad it is. I¡¯m going to release you now and when I do, I need you to withdraw your fangs. I . . . I trust you,¡± he said.


    Ayduin cut him a glare, but he ignored her. His limbs had grown leaden, his joints stiff and he did not have to feign the effort it took to ease the hold he had with his legs. The withdrawal of his essence stopped and stuttered as if she were fighting with herself in order to keep from taking more. A slight pressure built in his temples and eventually gave way to her voice, faint as it was hesitant.


    Rhydian?


    He smiled a little.


    ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± he murmured, ¡°Do you think you can let go?¡±


    She stirred in his arms, giving a start as if she were only now aware of where she was, what she was doing. To a degree, he¡¯d retained the ability to feel certain pressures and though they were dull, he almost wished he could not feel anything at all. Something along the roof of her mouth flexed, the level of articulation she possessed as impressive as it was horrifying. Her teeth wiggled independently of one another along both her upper and lower jaw, tugging along his skin like a viper trying to free its fangs from the body of its prey.


    She was gentle in her withdrawal, though the one she¡¯d sunk into his wrist had proven more troublesome. It had become wedged between the smaller bones, causing far more discomfort on Inerys¡¯ part than Rhydian¡¯s each time she attempted to pull it out. In the end, Sorisanna had been called back in order to safely remove the canine without further harm to either party. Inerys¡¯ mental apologies verged on sobs all the while, her guilt hitting him with a keener edge than he was used to.


    ¡°There,¡± Sorisanna said, biting her lip.


    She guided him back against the grass once the two were free of one another and carefully placed his arm over the pillow upon his chest to keep it elevated. Careful as she¡¯d been, the world seemed to spin as he laid there, head pounding. Much as he wanted to inspect his arm for himself, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to actually move. Sleep beckoned him and though the grass was a far cry from the comfort and warmth of his tent, it suddenly became the most welcoming place in the world.


    Surely, no one would mind if he took a nap¨C


    Sorisanna shoved something hard into his mouth and placed both hands over his nose and mouth until he was forced to swallow it. Whatever it was had been cold and hard, like a small, smooth stone. It clacked against his teeth until he¡¯d finally maneuvered it into the back of his throat.


    He swatted at her with his good arm, but she had already drawn away. Not that his efforts would have done much good. In his current state, he¡¯d be lucky if his waving about intimidated the lake¡¯s cursed mosquitos.


    ¡°What did you give me?¡±


    ¡°A condensed blood tablet, now sit still,¡± the sage muttered.


    She didn¡¯t have to tell him twice.


    ¡°How bad is it?¡± He asked.


    The sage¡¯s brow was bent in her inspection, Ayduin the dark, brooding shadow at her back.


    ¡°It¡¯s definitely broken,¡± she said, ¡°But I¡¯ve seen worse. Inerys poked a few pretty holes in you, but no lacerations.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± Inerys whispered, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it, I¨C¡±


    Her fingers were trembling around the half empty jar she held. Cydan draped one of their spare blankets around her shivering form and crouched beside her, his expression tight. One of the other jars lay tipped on its side, empty. Skies, had he blacked out once already?


    He couldn¡¯t recall when they¡¯d given her the first one, let alone the second.


    Had they given her enough?


    ¡°Don¡¯t be,¡± Rhydian said drowsily, ¡°I knew what . . .knew what I was getting myself into.¡±


    Tears spilled freely down her cheeks, leaving silver tracks down her face amid the oily waste still clinging to her unwashed skin.


    ¡°What happened?¡± She whispered, looking to the others for answers before her eyes sought his.


    They were the most peculiar color he¡¯d ever seen; torn between reds and blues in ways that always seemed to change depending on the angle of the light. The curious white edges, that had once taken up far too much of her outer optic, were gone. With the irises now taking up the entirety of her eye, she bore the same glossy black along the corners they all shared. He hesitated to compare her to the Adai, but the facial similarities were there. Her face had turned vulpine where it had once been softer, rounder.


    Did she still have those curious spots along her nose and cheeks? What had she called them? Freckles?


    You are staring, Tanuzet said quietly.


    His slow blink was a touch delayed.


    He was?


    ~*~


    Ayduin whirled on her.


    ¡°You attacked him, that¡¯s what happened,¡± she hissed.


    Inerys flinched.


    ¡°Ayduin,¡± Cydan said lowly, ¡°That¡¯s not fair and you know it.¡±


    She pointed a finger at Rhydian¡¯s mangled arm.


    ¡°Is it? Look what she¡¯s done to him! He¡¯s lucky she didn¡¯t pull his arm off.¡±


    Through her cold terror, Inerys managed to face the wound she¡¯d inflicted. Her fangs had punched clean through skin and muscle alike, leaving the surrounding tissue raised and dark. The bruising was far easier to make out along his blue-black skin than she¡¯d expected. Black patches marked the breadth of the wound, the blood gummy and slick where it had mixed with her saliva.


    She could scarcely believe she had been the cause of such a wicked bite. The punctures were spaced in a manner that should have been impossible, given the current configuration of her jaw. However, its ability to expand and contract in order to grab and hold whatever she latched onto was undeniable. While she hadn¡¯t left full lacerations, she¡¯d torn the entry points when she¡¯d locked in.


    And broken his arm in the process.


    The bend was perfectly centered within the bite pattern, its angle alone enough to make her sick. Along his wrist, though, was a long slit. Its uniformity stood in sharp contrast to the surrounding savagery and could have only come from a blade. Had he opened his own wrist for her? What had compelled him to do something so reckless?


    She tried to swallow past the sudden dryness in her throat, yet each time she did, she tasted his infernal blood on her tongue.


    ¡°She was dying, Ayduin. I did what I had to.¡±


    Dying.


    His voice was far too faint, his face more pale than she¡¯d ever seen it.


    What had happened to her? This advancement was supposed to fix her, not make things worse. If he had truly put his life on the line to save hers, how desperate had the situation been? He had not saved her life once, but twice. How could she ever repay him after this?


    Tears welled in his secondrider¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°And look where it got you. You could have been killed,¡± she said, voice raw as it caught, ¡°Skies, she bit you, you damned fool! You knew the risk and you let it happen anyway. What if you change?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know that,¡± she said through her teeth.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough, Ayduin,¡± Sorisanna snapped, ¡°We¡¯re all worried. Screaming at the man isn¡¯t going to change anything and neither is blaming Inerys. If you¡¯re not going to help, go back to camp.¡±


    Cydan rose and placed a hand on her shoulder.


    ¡°He wouldn¡¯t have resorted to this if there were any other way. We all saw what happened during her ascension. None of us expected such a dramatic shift. We were under prepared, that¡¯s all.¡±


    She swiped at her wet cheeks with the back of her hand.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. And he paid the price.¡±


    Sorisanna shook her head as she reached for her satchel and cast it open. Three golden spheres drifted up into the air to fall into a steady orbit behind her head, each as bright as a newborn sun. It had been weeks since Inerys had seen them and she found them every bit as mesmerizing as they¡¯d been when she first encountered them.


    ¡°I¡¯ve mended worse. I can repair the damage but as for the change . . . we¡¯ll have to wait and see,¡± she said.


    He wouldn¡¯t change, Inerys told herself. He couldn¡¯t. Sorisanna would heal him and all would be well.


    She couldn¡¯t help but wonder, though, did he hate her for what she¡¯d done? Did he regret trying to save her miserable life a second time? She wasn¡¯t sure she could stomach his ire, his disapproval, not with how well everything had gone these past few weeks. She thought she¡¯d finally found her place, proven she was worthy of everyone¡¯s trust and now . . . now she¡¯d broken it.


    One lapse in her control may have just cost her everything.


    She hadn¡¯t realized she¡¯d begun to shake until a hand found hers despite the grime and filth. His touch shattered what little resolve she had left and she choked on her sob. She nearly dropped the jar she held in her other hand, her fingers curling around Rhydian¡¯s. They were so cold . . .


    ¡°I¡¯ll be all right, Inerys. I promise.¡±


    Instead of hate or anger, she found only concern in those grey eyes of his. Concern for her, not himself. Perhaps he really was a fool, fretting over the monster who had maimed him rather than himself.

 Chapter Thirty-Five: Echoes

    Chapter Thirty-Five


    Echoes


    <hr>


    Inerys¡¯ long ear ticked back toward the forest when she heard movement in the underbrush. The reflex had been so natural, it still felt surreal to her. Her fangs, her claws, her ears¨C she knew how and where to move each one as if she¡¯d lived with them her entire life. Foreign as her body had become, her advancement had brought about an inherent comfort, as if she¡¯d always belonged in this new form and had simply never been able to find it until now.


    But that couldn¡¯t be right. She¡¯d been born a Hound, not. . . not whatever she was now. She knew in the depths of her soul that there was no coming back from a change like this. Spirits, what would Soren and Nan think of her when she returned? What of Alaric? Her fellow Hounds? The purebloods?


    Though she had yet to see herself in any clear reflection, she knew there was no hiding what she had become. Her ears alone would be impossible to conceal unless she sheared them off, to say nothing of her height, nor the pale silver of her skin. She wasn¡¯t even sure she¡¯d be able to stuff her strange feet back into her boots.


    The flat of her foot had lengthened and positioned itself higher along her leg, having aligned itself more closely with her shin so the angle of the new bend was less egregious than it was on other animals. All things considered, her legs were fairly straight, her ankle joint had merely shifted position. And she perpetually walked upon what had once been her tip-toes, though they too were different. They were more in line with a cat¡¯s paw, complete with both pads and blackened, retractable claws.


    It was hard not to stare at them as she sat upon the lower half of a long, flat boulder in the shallows of the lake. Rather than vanishing entirely, as she¡¯d hoped they would with this advancement, the scars of her fractured soul remained. The intricate webs shone like burnished gold in the moonlight, lacing her skin from toe to mid-thigh. Her arms were much the same, though thankfully, the overall glow had faded. The metallic luster was odd, but not entirely unwelcome. The more she stared, the more she began to admire the scars. Unusual as they were, they were a testament to all she¡¯d endured in order to survive.


    In a way, she was proud of them.


    She traced one of the patterns along her forearm with a careful finger as she tried to soothe her worried mind. Sorisanna sat higher along the boulder behind her, her fingers running along Inerys¡¯ scalp as she picked bits of remnant skin from her hair. They had washed it twice already and yet every scrub seemed to yield more filth. The locks themselves had grown so pale, they were nearly white. Though, streaks of black had developed in seemingly random sections, leaving her hair striped in irregular patterns. The sage had been rather taken with it, which gave Inerys hope it was more appealing than the skunk¡¯s tail she¡¯d envisioned when she first noticed the stark change in color.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she murmured, ¡°For staying with me.¡±


    After the others had left to see Rhydian to his tent, she feared she¡¯d be left on her own. Physically, there was nothing wrong with her. Her core had fully healed, her fractures had closed and her pain had all but disappeared. The advancement had been a success. Aside from being covered head to toe in black, sticky waste, there was nothing to fret over.


    And yet Sorisanna had stayed.


    Ephaxus had even joined them, though he had yet to say so much as a word to her. He studied her from time to time when he wasn¡¯t monitoring the surrounding woods, not hostile, but scrutinizing in his appraisal, as if he had yet to determine whether or not she was still a threat. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to meet his eye, nor glance in his direction outside of his reflection. Between her physical alterations and her behavior, she¡¯d likely lost whatever tenuous foundations she¡¯d managed to build between them. In her mind, she¡¯d embodied his partner¡¯s murderer in every sense.


    So why hadn¡¯t he stormed off like Ayduin had?


    Why hadn¡¯t he screamed at her?


    ¡°You didn¡¯t think I¡¯d cast you aside, did you?¡± Sorisanna asked.


    A part of her almost wished she had.


    ¡°After what I did, I wouldn¡¯t have blamed you.¡±


    How Rhydian had been so quick to forgive her was beyond her.


    The sage sighed softly, her fingers delicate as they drew yet another collection of goo from her hair.


    ¡°You would have died, had he not acted, Inerys. Rhydian slit his wrist knowing full well what would happen. He knew the risks. He wouldn¡¯t have taken them if he didn¡¯t trust you.¡±


    Tears stung her eyes as she tried to swallow past the growing lump in her throat.


    ¡°I don¡¯t even remember what led up to it. One moment I was cycling, the next, I¨C I had my teeth buried in his arm,¡± she said, desperate, ¡°There was no sense, no control, nothing. I could have killed him!¡±


    The sage placed her hand upon her shoulder.


    ¡°But you didn¡¯t. You came to your senses. You released him.¡±


    ¡°I broke his arm, Sorisanna.¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯ve mended far worse. Aside from some scarring there won¡¯t be any lasting complications. I promise.¡±


    ¡°Unless he changes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen nothing to suggest he will. Tanuzet and Vesryn are both monitoring him while he rests. Should anything happen, I¡¯ll be the first to know. The important thing is that you¡¯re both safe and alive. Try to focus on that,¡± she said.


    The knot in her chest refused to yield, but she nodded.


    ¡°You¡¯ll tell me if something changes, though, won¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Of course I will.¡±


    Inerys ran her tongue along her fangs, her upper right canine still sore from its earlier entrapment. The memory of it scraping along Rhydian¡¯s bone had her shivering. No matter how many times she¡¯d rinsed her mouth, she could still taste his blood on her tongue. She wanted more, if she were honest. Horrified as she¡¯d been over the whole affair, she could not deny the way it seemed to call to her now.


    Somewhere along the edge of her mind, she sensed him. She wasn¡¯t sure how or why, but it was almost as if a string had been tied between them. She could neither see nor touch it, yet it existed all the same.


    Was it because she¡¯d passed this curse onto him? Did the change connect them? It was the only explanation she could think of. She¡¯d consumed his blood countless times before and nothing of the sort had ever arisen until now. What made this time different? She doubted Sorisanna would have the answer and in truth, she was afraid to ask.


    The two fell silent for a time, until Sorisanna flicked a handful of goop off to one side.


    ¡°There, that should be the last of it.¡±


    Inerys reached to pull her hair back over one shoulder and ran her claws through the limp strands.


    ¡°Thank you. I would have never gotten it all out on my own,¡± she said, managing a small smile over her shoulder.


    Sorisanna¡¯s had lost none of its usual warmth.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad I could help. I wouldn¡¯t blame you if you wanted to lather it a third time, though. With that nose of yours, I¡¯m sure the smell will drive you mad, otherwise.¡±


    She grimaced.


    ¡°That¡¯s probably wise. Would you mind staying a little longer? I . . . could use the company.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t sure she could stomach Ephaxus¡¯ silent judgment all on her own.


    ¡°Of course. I hadn¡¯t planned on running away, you know,¡± the woman said, stooping to rinse her hands.


    Am I not company enough? Ephaxus asked, stirring the star-flecked water as his tail twitched.


    Inerys gave a start, fumbling the bar of soap in her hair.


    You . . . didn¡¯t seem interested in conversation, she said. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    He tilted his head to one side.


    You were still recovering. I thought it best to give you the time you needed. Would you prefer I take my leave?


    Her brow knit as she worked the lather through her curls.


    No, no, I just . . .thought you were somehow upset with me. Considering. . .


    What happened? He guessed.


    Swallowing, she nodded.


    His sigh sent his nostrils whistling.


    Tanuzet told me of what transpired. I will not lie and say it does not disturb me, but I agree with Sorisanna. Rhydian¡¯s faith was not misplaced. You have become something new, but your grief tells me you have retained your heart. I am . . . pleased to see it, he murmured and brought his head low to gently nudge her side, Truly.


    Inerys caught Sorisanna watching them out of the corner of her eye, a brow arched.


    ¡°The two of you are getting along rather well,¡± she said.


    We have simply come to an understanding.


    The sage took a seat in the grass and leaned back upon her hands as she stretched her legs out before her.


    ¡°I¡¯d say it''s become more than that. Wouldn¡¯t you?¡±


    Ephaxus and Inerys exchanged looks.


    ¡°Is . . . that a bad thing?¡± She asked, backing further into the water in order to properly submerge herself.


    ¡°Not necessarily, but given your history, the others are going to wonder how it is the two of you have become so friendly, especially if you keep on like this. Personally, I¡¯m happy for you. Whatever it is the two of you have been up to, it¡¯s helped bring Ephaxus out of his widowing. For that, you¡¯ll always have my thanks, but some of the others might take this rather poorly. At least, at first.¡±


    Inerys had feared the same.


    ¡°You mean Ayduin?¡±


    Sorisanna nodded.


    ¡°Would our friendship truly upset her?¡± She asked, frowning.


    ¡°If it were only that, perhaps not, but if what I just witnessed is any indication, there¡¯s more to it.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Wyverns are social creatures,¡± she said, ¡°They form close emotional connections, which can result in bonds like those formed between themselves and those they trust to ride them. You¡¯ve grown affectionate with one another. Protective. Keishara was one of Ayduin¡¯s closest friends. She may not take your relationship well.¡±


    There was no need for Sorisanna to elaborate, for Inerys knew of the woman¡¯s feelings toward her. She had begun to come around in recent weeks, but after what had happened tonight, whatever rapport they¡¯d built was gone. She¡¯d seen it in the woman¡¯s eyes. Once again, Inerys had become the enemy, the monster. Time alone may not be enough to mend that particular bridge, especially if she somehow saw her relationship with Ephaxus as some sort of betrayal.


    He was quiet for a spell, and she sensed he had only now realized the truth of the sage¡¯s words. They had grown close, hadn¡¯t they? It wasn¡¯t as if she¡¯d sought to replace his late partner, though. She¡¯d simply wanted to remedy the bad blood between them.


    Had that been a mistake?


    ¡°Would it be better if I were to keep my distance?¡± She asked, fearing she¡¯d caused more than enough trouble already.


    She regretted the words as soon as they¡¯d left her, for the thought of doing so struck her as a physical pain. The dull ache in her chest had her pressing a hand to it in confusion and she glanced up to Ephaxus, who appeared just as alarmed. Of the two, he was the first to recover.


    No. I will speak with her. She will come to understand, in time, even if her temper might suggest otherwise. She is still in mourning, as am I.


    Inerys knew that fact all too well. Some nights, she sensed his emotional turmoil from afar and heard his quiet keens. She wasn¡¯t quite sure when she had begun to notice them, but she was fairly certain it had been after he¡¯d come to apologize to her. Looking back, things had changed after that night.


    She found herself lost in thought as she reached for her towel, trying to decide how much weight Sorisanna¡¯s assumptions truly held while she and Ephaxus conversed quietly among themselves. Had it been the ache that startled Ephaxus? Or her words? If it were the former, could he sense her and her emotional state as keenly as she felt his?


    Something caught his attention along the treeline and he deftly brought his tail around to conceal her despite the towel she¡¯d wrapped around herself.


    ¡°My eyes are closed!¡±


    Inerys blinked and tried to peek around his rosy tailfin.


    ¡°Cydan?¡±


    ¡°Vesryn sent me. Is it safe to approach?¡± He asked.


    She glanced down at herself. It wasn¡¯t as if he¡¯d seen plenty of her already, but she would prefer to be better clothed this time.


    ¡°Can you give me a moment?¡±


    ¡°Take all the time you need.¡±


    Sorisanna may have a point, you have become rather protective, she said.


    Ephaxus huffed, but made no effort to move his tail until she¡¯d slipped into her clothes.


    Is this decent enough for you? She asked, spreading her arms to prove she did, in fact, have a shirt on.


    His eyes narrowed in his inspection.


    Mm, this is acceptable, he said and withdrew his fins with a casual flick.


    She pursed her lips as she glanced toward her boots, then her feet.


    Cydan halted a few steps shy of Sorisanna, his brow rising.


    ¡°Skies, Inerys, you look¨C¡±


    ¡°Different?¡± She said, fearing his reaction until she noted his expression.


    Was he impressed?


    ¡°That¡¯s putting it lightly,¡± he said, ¡°But that¡¯s hardly a bad thing. I think it suits you.¡±


    ¡°See? I told you, you¡¯re not nearly as scary as you think,¡± Sorisanna said.


    Heat crept into Inerys¡¯ cheeks.


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    The sage rose to inspect the steaming cup in his hands.


    ¡°You said Vesryn sent you?¡±


    ¡°He did, but I was planning on coming back down here on my own, anyway. He¡¯s made a tea for you,¡± he said, offering it to Inerys.


    It smelled of herbs and essence and something sweet.


    The sage gave an approving nod.


    ¡°That man¡¯s overseen more ascensions than most do in their entire lifetime. His recovery materials are some of the best.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised he¡¯s prepared one for me at all,¡± she muttered.


    She inspected the cup, half expecting something to be wrong with it. The man rarely gave her anything. He¡¯d practically ignored her existence ever since Sorisanna¡¯s arrival.


    Drink, little viper, Ephaxus soothed, It will aid your recovery while you sleep.


    ¡°Sleep doesn¡¯t sound so bad, actually,¡± she said, even if she wasn¡¯t sure she¡¯d find it.


    ~*~


    Her dreams were strange, vivid things.


    No matter the context, they were fractured.


    Disjointed.


    She stood alone in a valley, facing snow-capped mountains the likes of which she had never seen. They bore some sort of significance to her, though she did not know why. The surrounding forest was old, she knew, but the trees were odd in their presentation. Their leaves were of deepest red, their trunks appearing as though they were made of bone. She reached to touch one, but the world shifted.


    A long, empty corridor stretched out before her, ornate and warm, yet the details were lost to her. No, no it wasn¡¯t empty. There were people on the floor, motionless and blurred, somehow. The longer she stared, the more the gore came into focus. They were bodies.


    So many bodies.


    Blood painted the stone walls around her, its copper tang thick in the air around her. Her hands were slick with it and when she raised her stained fingers, she was filled with a horrific clarity. She had done this. She¡¯d slain them all, she was alone. Her entire House¨C gone.


    The entity slithered through her mind like the oily parasite it was and she went, thrashing, back into the darkness.


    Glimpses of frightened faces and strange places came and went. Something had arrested her spirit, but she didn¡¯t care. Her strength would be enough. It had to be. She had to get to the tower, she had to kill it, had to kill him. Nothing else mattered. Her thoughts warped and she could no longer tell where the voices were coming from. They whispered to her, though. Damned her with their soft, distant songs.


    The tower.


    She had to get to the tower in the mist.


    She heard wings upon the wind.


    Someone was hunting her.


    They¡¯d found her.


    She used her Voice to stop them.


    Used her claws to end them because that cursed tower was the only thing that mattered.


    Light exploded in her vision. Once. Twice. The third came and then, pain.


    It radiated through her back and her strength failed her. She stumbled into the mist because she knew she was dying. She could not see her attacker, but she could smell him and he was close. She couldn¡¯t fail, she¨C


    She scented blood in the air as she knelt beside the stream. Not hers, but someone else¡¯s. It was both foreign and familiar. Where had it come from?


    She forced herself to focus through the pain.


    She could hear the girl¡¯s breathing. She smelled like them, but she could use her. Her Voice drew her into the open.


    Before she could see the girl¡¯s face, Inerys abruptly found herself upon Tanuzet¡¯s back, riding the currents of Mistwatch, then the spirit wilds. The visions were hazy and her senses had yet to recover from the overstimulation of those that came before, but she could think clearly again.


    Or, as clearly as this awful dream would allow.


    She saw herself as if being viewed by someone else, felt guilt and pain and fear in equal measure. Days blended together, but the throughline remained the same; she had to save the others, had to save . . . herself?


    Once they reached Cyllicia, she would have answers.


    Answers to what?


    A woman stood before her, both known and unknown, yet her name escaped her. She was powerful, that much she knew, like some goddess made flesh. She¡¯d charged her with a new duty: bring her the girl.


    Her mind struggled to piece out the details, to make sense of the array of foreign thoughts and emotions. Each time she tried to sort them, they slipped through her fingers like water. Not dreams, she realized, but memories.

 Chapter Thirty-Six: Like a Nightmare

    Chapter Thirty-Six


    Like a Nightmare


    <hr>


    If Rhydian could have leaned into his tent for support without fear of taking it down with him, he would have.


    The world spun and he stumbled sideways. Mercifully, he¡¯d been able to keep himself upright, but the sudden movement had his vision blurring. Muttering a curse under his breath, he pressed a hand to his temple. Skies, his head hurt.


    His sluggish mind failed to register the man seated beside the entrance.


    ¡°Glad to see you back among the living, ser,¡± Cydan said.


    Rhydian gave a start and dodged sideways.


    ¡°Skies, Cydan. You can¡¯t sneak up on me like that.¡±


    ¡°Ser?¡±


    He cast him an incredulous look, only to find the man had been quietly whittling upon the stump he¡¯d dragged in front of his tent. Between the shavings and the nearly complete carving of Inet in his hand, he¡¯d likely been there for some hours. Not sneaking, then. Monitoring.


    Right.


    He must have been worse off than he¡¯d thought.


    ¡°How long have I been out?¡±


    His forthrider glanced up at the dusky sky.


    ¡°Around eighteen hours or so?¡±


    Rhydian spluttered.


    Eighteen?


    No, that couldn¡¯t be right. He still felt like the dead. It was dawn, it had to be. If he¡¯d truly slept so long, surely he wouldn¡¯t feel like such a walking corpse.


    ¡°I¡¯m serious, Cydan. How long? I need to check on Inerys.¡±


    ¡°I am being serious. You¡¯ve been asleep ever since we brought you to your tent last night.¡±


    Rhydian cast a vague gesture toward the horizon, his hand stiff and heavy. When had the weather turned so cold? It was miserable.


    ¡°The sky doesn¡¯t lie.¡±


    The man politely cleared his throat and pointed his dagger in the opposite direction.


    ¡°East is that way, ser.¡±


    Brow furrowed, he humored him with a glance in the direction he¡¯d indicated.


    Oh.


    So it was.


    His pride all but shriveled and the tips of his ears grew hot. Clearly, eighteen hours hadn¡¯t been enough. He hadn¡¯t realized he¡¯d become such a complete and utter invalid overnight.


    ¡°It might be best if you lay back down, ser. You¡¯ve lost a lot of blood,¡± Cydan said, rising to place a steadying hand upon his back.


    Shaking his head only made his dizziness worse.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± he assured, ¡°Sorisanna gave me a blood tablet.¡±


    ¡°Which is meant to help over a period of days, not hours.¡±


    ¡°I can manage. I just need to take things slow. Where is she, anyway?¡±


    ¡°She and Ephaxus left to gather herbs not that long ago.¡±


    ¡°Good. Inerys will need the extra essence. How is she?¡±


    ¡°You both need it,¡± he corrected, ¡°And she¡¯s fine. Sorisanna checked in on her before she left. She¡¯s still asleep.¡±


    He wanted to see for himself, but it was better to leave her to rest.


    ¡°She¡¯s healthy?¡±


    He nodded.


    Rhydian took his first full breath since last night.


    ¡°Good. That¡¯s . . . good.¡±


    His eyes lingered upon her tent, but he turned away to survey the rest of camp. Was he imagining it, or were things unusually quiet? Ordinarily, most everyone would be gathering for breakfast by now, though Vesryn was the only one seated beside the fire.


    Aside from Tanuzet and Inet, the fields beyond were largely empty, which in itself was an odd sight, for whatever reason.


    ¡°Is Ayduin out hunting?¡±


    Cydan sighed, ¡°That¡¯s what she told me before she left, but she¡¯s been gone for hours. She needed some time away, I think. If she¡¯s not back by twilight, Inet and I plan on going after her.¡±


    The events of the night prior were rather hazy, but he recalled the look in her eye when she¡¯d returned to find Inerys¡¯ fangs buried in his arm. After all they had been through, skies, after what she had been through, perhaps expecting her to forgive him was asking a little bit too much. He¡¯d placed his life on the line with little regard to how she might take it. He¡¯d wounded her.


    He would have done it all again in a heartbeat, though.


    Their lives came first.


    They had to come first.


    ¡°She¡¯ll come back, when she¡¯s ready,¡± he said.


    She hadn¡¯t abandoned them. Of that, he was certain. Distancing herself was how she coped and he wouldn¡¯t infringe upon it. Not when he¡¯d crossed so many lines already.


    ¡°Fair enough,¡± Cydan said, ¡°Well, if you refuse to lie down and rest, can I at least talk you into sitting by the fire? You look like you''re a heartbeat away from the grave and Sorisanna will have both our heads if she sees you walking around.¡±


    He certainly wasn¡¯t wrong, on that account. Rhydian was sure he was on thin ice with her as it was. He vaguely recalled her scolding him for sending her away while she¡¯d mended his arm and he wasn¡¯t keen on tempting fate any further.


    He rested a hand against the hollow of his stomach.


    ¡°Something to eat would be nice.¡±


    With luck, the campfire would chase off this infernal cold, too.


    After trying and failing not to stumble along like a drunken fool, Rhydian finally accepted Cydan¡¯s help. Progress was slow, but steady. His limbs felt as though they¡¯d turned to iron and for a time, he was convinced even the grass was conspiring against him. The long blades clawed at his boots, determined to make each step more difficult than the last. He would have lashed at them with his fire, were his rysk and core not working so hard to keep him warm and compensate for the lack of adequate circulation.


    Vesryn stood in alarm as the two approached, his disapproval etched into the fine lines of his face.


    ¡°You should be resting, boy. In your state, you¡¯ll be lucky if a cold doesn¡¯t claim you,¡± he said.


    ¡°Spare me the lecture, Vesryn. I¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    Shaking his head, the man crouched beside the kettle he¡¯d set among the outer embers.


    ¡°Why is it you only seem to listen to the women in your life?¡±


    Rhydian shrugged a shoulder as Cydan guided him down to the grass with his back to the log.


    ¡°They tend to threaten me and unlike you, I know they¡¯ll follow through on them.¡±


    The older man snorted, ¡°You have a penchant for pain.¡±The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Gritting his teeth, he closed his eyes and rested his head against the log in an effort to quell his nausea.


    ¡°Please, I¡¯m not a masochist.¡±


    ¡°You could have fooled me,¡± he said, offering him a cup of tea, ¡°Here, drink this. I¡¯ve gathered enough material to see you two ingrates through the next few days.¡±


    He chose to ignore the slight, opting to take careful sips of the herbal brew, lest he spill it all over himself and look more the fool.


    ¡°I''m glad to see you''ve finally decided to make yourself useful.¡±


    A muscle flexed along the man¡¯s jaw, partially obscured by his greying beard.


    ¡°I may not care for our ward, but that doesn''t mean I''ve been shirking my duties, boy. Sorisanna is a bright young woman, I''ll give her that, but even she needed help refining those infusions. Tailoring them to Adai and Adai-adjacent physiques is different from those of wyverns,¡± he said, taking a seat beside him.


    He peeked an eye open, too tired to correct the man¡¯s lack of honorific.


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t you mentioned anything before?¡±


    The man loosened the edge of his sage¡¯s cravat, his eyes upon the fire.


    ¡°Because I don¡¯t need a pat on the head for doing my job.¡±


    Rhydian supposed he could respect that. It didn¡¯t change his feelings toward his behavior, but there was something to be said for a man of quiet dignity. How much more had he done behind the scenes? Had he been brooding as often as Rhydian had thought? Or had he actually been of use in his own way? Perhaps he¡¯d ask Sorisanna when she returned.


    His thoughts were too muddled to comb over the details on his own, at present.


    When Rhydian didn¡¯t offer a reply, he asked, ¡°How are you feeling?¡±


    ¡°Like I¡¯ve had a few too many and a fever to boot.¡±


    The man¡¯s dry chuckle was devoid of any true humor.


    ¡°You¡¯re lucky that creature didn¡¯t take your arm off.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not a creature, Vesryn, she¡¯s a person, same as you,¡± he said, though his left arm began to itch along his freshly mended scars.


    ¡°You can call it whatever you like,¡± he muttered, ¡°I still don¡¯t trust it.¡±


    Cydan spoke up from where he¡¯d been preparing a meal across the fire, ¡°You might change your mind, if you took the time to actually talk to her.¡±


    ¡°Our duty is to deliver it to the Wardeness in decent health. She said nothing about making friends with it.¡±


    The glare his forthrider cast the sage through the flames could have rivaled Ayduins.


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen you treat criminals with more grace. How is Inerys worth less in your eyes?¡±


    Rhydian could have imagined it, but he could have sworn he saw the older man¡¯s knuckles turn white where they gripped his own cup.


    ¡°Some of us know a mad dog when we see one. You¡¯ve brought a predator into our midst and instead of letting it die, you¡¯ve decided to nurse it back to health with your own blood. If it weren¡¯t for its pretty face, you would have put it down like the last one.¡±


    A low growl issued from Tanuzet as her hackles began to rise.


    Slowly, Rhydian began to sit up.


    ¡°Pardon me?¡±


    Vesryn met his eyes.


    ¡°Tell me I¡¯m wrong, boy.¡±


    Pretty face? What, exactly, was the man implying? She had been a victim in all of this, not some ill-born spirit preying on his baser instincts for survival. If it weren¡¯t for Rhydian and his inability to end the last one cleanly, none of this would have happened to her.


    He hesitated, though.


    There was, after all, a determination that drew him to her, something in her smile that made his heart skip despite the fangs. He had yet to fully make sense of it, but there was something there. Now that he¡¯d stop to think, it was impossible to ignore. Skies, had everyone else seen it?


    Vesryn had.


    The vindication in the man¡¯s eyes told him the man had found exactly what he¡¯s been looking for. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was shame or rage that stoked his nerves, but Rhydian wanted to punch the man. One solid hit and he could put this coward of a man back in his place. Only, he wasn¡¯t even sure he could find his feet without help.


    I could do it, Tanuzet said, her hiss causing the fire to shudder and pop in the wake of her breath.


    Allowing her to snap at him would likely have a similar effect. In truth, he was tempted to let her take it a step further. Would his satisfied little smile still be there after she snapped her teeth within an inch of his face? The shock alone might have been worth it, but Rhydian decided he wouldn¡¯t rise to the bait.


    His jaw clenched.


    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± he muttered, ¡°He isn¡¯t worth it.¡±


    Vesryn rose, likely assuming Tanuzet had been called off entirely.


    ¡°You best start thinking with the right head before you get yourself killed. Or worse, the rest of us.¡±


    She lunged and her jaws snapped just shy of the sage.


    The man yelped and in his haste to move out of range, had thrown himself clear through the fire and onto his back on the other side. Cydan was on his feet and Rhydian himself had shoved himself further against the log he¡¯d leaned upon. She had moved so quickly, the man hadn¡¯t had the chance to flare his rysk in defense. He stared up at her, wide-eyed and panting.


    I would suggest you keep your tongue behind your wretched teeth, sage, lest I liberate your head from your shoulders myself.


    Rhydian shuddered as her anger bled into him.


    ¡°Easy, Tanuzet,¡± he murmured, reaching to place a shaky hand along her cheek.


    Inet had dropped her head behind the man, her lips pulled back over fangs that glinted in the firelight. Both growled low in their throat, pinning their prey to the ground through the weight of their glares alone. Cydan was holding his head, likely trying to wrestle down his own influx of emotion through their bond.


    When neither female moved, Rhydian used the ridges and spikes along Tanuzet¡¯s jaw to find his feet.


    Gathering himself, Rhydian placed a soothing hand upon her scaly cheek. His whole body ached in protest, but he willed himself to stand and cross the short distance to the man¡¯s side. For a moment, he feared the man may have had a heart attack, but a quick sweep of his soul told him he was merely stunned.


    Despite his desire to let the sage suffer under their combined ire, he offered him  his hand.


    ¡°I suggest you take your leave, Vesryn. If we have further need of your assistance tonight, someone will come find you.¡±


    His wide eyes flicked toward his outstretched arm, eyeing it as if he expected some sort of trick.


    Eventually, he took it and though he clearly had more to say once he¡¯d recovered, he wisely kept his mouth shut. He dropped Rhydian¡¯s hand the moment he was on his feet, glancing between he, Cydan and their wyverns as if he might curse them all. In the end, he stalked off without so much as a nod.


    ¡°I remember a time when that man was actually pleasant,¡± Cydan said, ¡°When did he become such an ass?¡±


    He watched him disappear into the forest at the far edge of camp.


    ¡°The moment we decided to spare Inerys,¡± he said, ¡°I can understand fear. Cowardice, even, but I can¡¯t help but feel like there¡¯s something more to it.¡±


    ¡°Should we do something about it?¡±


    ¡°No. Better to leave him to the Wardeness. If he¡¯s determined to dig himself into a deeper hole, I say we let him. We have more important things to focus on.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not worried he might retaliate?¡±


    ¡°It wouldn¡¯t do him any good. That being said, we should still keep an eye on him. There¡¯s still plenty of time for him to decide to be an idiot.¡±


    ¡°Will do, ser,¡± he said, patting Inet¡¯s snout.


    Rhydian wavered on his feet, but Tanuzet¡¯s head was already at his side.


    Take a seat before you hurt yourself, she said gently.


    ¡°I will,¡± he promised.


    The tea had given him a small boost, but it would take far more than a single cup to see him back on his feet. Even so, there was a level of unease rising in his chest. When he¡¯d finally woken up, he¡¯d noticed his heartbeat was more labored than usual, thanks to the bloodloss he¡¯d yet to recover from, but this was different. It grew erratic and forced, though the sensation was a step removed from his senses.


    He pressed a hand to his chest, only to find the rhythm he felt did not match the rising tempo he felt in his bones. Was he imagining it? He sensed Tanuzet¡¯s attention join his, but it seemed she had reached the same conclusion¨C whatever was happening, hadn¡¯t originated from him.


    What in sky¡¯s name was that?


    ¡°Rhydian?¡± Cydan asked, ¡°Are you all right?¡±


    ¡°I think so,¡± he said, trying to focus on the source of the disturbance.


    His eyes drifted toward Inerys¡¯ tent of their own volition, instinct warning him she was in some sort of distress. Tanuzet felt it too and, in a way, his sensitivity to the woman¡¯s emotional state was not all that different from the one he shared with her. He wasn¡¯t sure what to make of it.


    ¡°Something¡¯s wrong,¡± he said and thankfully, the other man had already caught on.


    He moved to help Rhydian toward her tent, a worried urgency to both their steps.


    Her muffled cries sounded from inside and when they parted the canvas, they found her sweat-soaked and thrashing. Her words were little more than incoherent ramblings, yet here and there, he caught phrases. They were hard to discern, but the more he listened, the more he recognized them¨C They were fragments of conversation that had once been spoken from his own lips. Her voice had morphed into a haunting rendition of his own.


    ¡°The woman needed to be stopped, my Lady,¡± she  said, ¡°I was simply carrying out my duty.¡±


    At first, he didn¡¯t understand. Clearly, she was having some sort of conversation, but the context of whomever she was speaking to was lost. She continued, responding to unspoken questions that were all too familiar when he finally put two and two together.


    Skies, she was reenacting his first encounter with the Wardeness.


    How was that even possible?


    He knelt beside her, eager to see her awake and well.


    ¡°Inerys? Inerys, wake up, it¡¯s just a dream.¡±


    His hand found her shoulder and her voice fell to a hoarse whisper.


    ¡°Who is she talking to?¡± Cydan asked, kneeling across from him, his expression tight.


    ¡°I have an idea, but it¡¯s mad. Let¡¯s get her calmed down, first.¡±


    He nodded.


    Rhydian carefully brushed her hair away from her face, searching for any indication she might return to her senses.


    ¡°Inerys?¡±


    Her eyes snapped open and she immediately pulled away, frantically glancing between he and Cydan as she backed herself into the corner of her tent. Sweat lined her forehead, her chest rising and falling in labored pants. Her mind was still somewhere else, but soon enough, the glassiness receeded. Panic and something akin to rage replaced it as they settled on Rhydian.


    She bared her fangs.


    ¡°Where in spirits¡¯ name are you taking me?¡±

 Chapter Thirty-Seven: What Lurks Beneath

    Chapter Thirty-Seven


    What Lurks Beneath


    <hr>


    Inerys struggled to parse her own identity from the maelstrom in her head.


    Rhydian reached for her, and for all the concern etched into his face, all she could see was the man who had taken her life. The ghost of his cursed arrow bit into her spine as she scrambled away from him. Her attention fixed upon his hands, certain she¡¯d find one of the silver heads poised to take her through the heart this time. She was trapped. She was at his mercy. He would kill her, he¨C


    No.


    No, he was her friend.


    The man had saved her life twice over.


    And she¡¯d been in his mind, too.


    She wasn¡¯t sure how or why, but she knew the truth of it in her bones. She¡¯d seen the world through his eyes, thought with his mind and spoken through his lips. He¡¯d become familiar to her in a way she could not quite put words to, as if she had somehow become him. As if, at least in part, she had been within them both, for the broken mind she had first found herself in, despite being shrouded in delirium, had been just as tangible.


    Was it possible what she had experienced were not dreams, but memories?


    The implications of such a truth made her blood run cold.


    If she was correct, it meant everything she had seen, heard, felt, had been real.


    She fought to make sense of it all, her eyes dancing between Rhydian and Cydan without truly seeing either of them as her mind relapsed. She¡¯d seen so many dead within those stone corridors, some of them children. Had she truly been responsible for their deaths? The horror of it filled her anew, stole the breath from her lungs. She¡¯d slaughtered them all with her bare hands.


    She remembered the presence, then. The entity. It had slithered through her head, infecting her with its foul thoughts, bending her to its will in ways that should have been impossible. No one, save Mraize, were strong enough to influence her. She was a monarch, not some foundling child.


    The cycling of her mental core surged, fracturing the foreign mind to give way to Inerys¡¯ own once more. The upset left her dazed and with far more questions than answers. What had that thing been? Clearly, it had driven the woman mad, but why? And who was Mraize?


    Had he been the man she¡¯d been so desperate to find? Some intrinsic part of her knew him, yet every time Inerys tried to recall why, she found nothing beyond an inkling of power so vast, she was nothing but dust in its shadow. The echo of it eclipsed even that of the otherworldly woman Rhydian had been meeting with.


    The woman he was taking her to see.


    The woman he didn¡¯t trust.


    The Wardeness.


    Days before they had left Mistwatch for the spirit wilds, he had told her there were people who could help her, but he had never gone into any real detail. She had assumed them to be healers of some sort, sages beyond even Sorisanna¡¯s impressive skill, not some ruler of unfathomable power. Now, she knew the truth of it, but what frightened her most was the fact he himself did not know what the Wardeness wanted with her. In fact, he feared what might await them all.


    Why, then, did he intend on delivering them anyway?


    The answers were buried among his memories, she was certain of it, yet she could no more control them than she could a tempest. Latching on to a single thought or emotion was like trying to catch the wind. They were there, teasing the edges of her sanity as they spun and spun. Everything she needed was right there, if she could simply focus.


    Her passenger stirred and she instinctively bared her teeth, expecting the other entity to take hold. Only, it didn¡¯t. Where the woman¡¯s had slithered like cold oil through her skull, this one came from everywhere and nowhere all at once. It was familiar, dare she say warm, yet it still stoked her temper. She did not need its help a second time. There were too many voices in her head already, too many warring identities.


    Her gaze snapped to Rhydian, whose rioting emotions she sensed as keenly as she did the wyverns¡¯.


    ¡°Where in spirits¡¯ name are you taking me?¡± She demanded.


    He watched her with a newfound wariness.


    ¡°Cyllicia,¡± he said with a certain reluctance, searching her face, ¡°But you already know that, don¡¯t you?¡±


    The name summoned forth a memory, a fragment. Cyllicia. The word alone had become a tether and through it, she saw the city and recalled the Wardeness¡¯ instruction. Now that her body had been made whole again, they would take her to her. But how had he known what she¡¯d seen? Why were he and Cydan in her tent?


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± She asked.


    ¡°We¡¯re not sure,¡± Cydan said as the men exchanged looks, ¡°Rhydian sensed something was off, so we came to check on you. You were thrashing when we found you, speaking in your sleep.¡±


    ¡°You were recounting meetings I know you were never privy to, Inerys. How did you do it? What did you see?¡± Rhydian pressed.


    She huffed a laugh.


    So it had been real?


    ¡°I saw that woman¨C the Wardeness, through your eyes. It¡¯s like I was you. I¨C those were memories I saw, weren¡¯t they?¡±


    His expression tightened and he was silent for a long moment.


    ¡°It¡¯s possible, though I don¡¯t know how.¡±


    Inerys had a feeling she did, though she refused to give it voice.


    ¡°Who is she, Rhydian? Why didn¡¯t you tell me about her before?¡±


    ¡°I was planning on telling you after your ascension¨C¡±


    ¡°You should have told me before we left Mistwatch! You don¡¯t even know what she wants with me. Who¡¯s to say she¡¯ll ever fix me, let alone send me home?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, I should have, but there¡¯s nothing you or I can do to change it now,¡± he said, ¡°but I told you I knew someone who could help. I never lied to you.¡±


    She supposed he hadn''t, he''d only been intentionally vague. What she didn''t understand was why. He''d been forthright when it came to everything else. What made this different? Had he feared her reaction?


    Or had he been too afraid to tell her the truth of her situation?


    ¡°Can she? Or have you led me along on nothing but hope this entire time?¡±


    He flinched and she knew she¡¯d struck a chord. Spirits, she¡¯d been right, hadn¡¯t she? Nausea welled and her heart sank.


    ¡°I wish I had answers for you, but I don¡¯t,¡± he said quietly, ¡°We¡¯re all operating in the dark. We have been since the beginning. For better or worse, the High Wardeness is our best option. She¡¯s the most powerful woman in the country and she¡¯s been part of this whole mess from the start. If you truly witnessed our meetings, you know just how little she¡¯s given us to work with. Given the circumstances, I understand her desire to withhold information. Communicating over distances isn¡¯t always safe, but I¡¯m confident she¡¯ll share more of what she knows once we¡¯re face to face.¡±


    ¡°How can you be so sure? I¡¯ve been inside your head. I know you don¡¯t trust her.¡±


    He sighed. ¡°Call it a feeling. Maybe it¡¯s hope, maybe it isn¡¯t, but I have to believe good can still come of this. She wants you safe and healthy, which means she has a vested interest in you. I¡¯m not sure why, but I promise you I intend to find out.¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    A vested interest.


    That could mean any number of things and Inerys wasn¡¯t sure if any of them boded well for her, despite his words. Whether it was her own panic, or the vestiges of her sire¡¯s, Inerys didn¡¯t know. Though she couldn¡¯t see it, an invisible noose was being wrapped around her throat. She needed air and space and silence; time to piece herself back together and purge the ghosts from her head. Maybe then she¡¯d be able to think clearly again?


    Before either man could protest, she rose on shaky knees and moved for the tent¡¯s entrance. Cool air swept over her as she burst from the canvas, but she didn¡¯t stop. Didn¡¯t linger. Instead, she made for the sanctuary of the forest as she banished the tears from her eyes.


    ¡°Inerys, wait!¡± Rhydian called, but she didn¡¯t look back.


    Tanuzet made no move to stop her as she passed and neither did Inet. Were she in her right mind, she would have been thankful, but in those moments, all she wanted was to put as much distance between herself and everyone else as possible. Her ability to sense their emotions only fed the chaos in her head, as if every mental sense she possessed had been flayed open and left raw, just as her physical senses had been when she¡¯d first changed.


    She had to get a handle on it, for if she didn¡¯t she would drown amid the influx.


    Her pace quickened and soon, she found herself sprinting through the vegetation like she might outrun the foreign thoughts entirely. For all the changes her body had incurred, she neither tripped nor stumbled. She negotiated the terrain on instinct alone, leaping across hidden ravines and racing across open flats with a speed she¡¯d never known. She used one clawed hand to control her descent down a steep slope, the soft, moist earth giving way beneath her feet. There was no hesitation, no sense of distance or time. She ran until her lungs burned and darkness crept in along the edges of her vision. Only then, did she slide to a stop in the midst of the forest.


    She stood, quivering from head to toe as her talons dug deep into the mossy soil. The world spun and slowly, she sank to her knees. Her mental core cycled with a certain desperation, sorting and dispelling what didn¡¯t belong. But there was so much. She held her head, trying and failing to regain some semblance of peace.


    A familiar presence rose, tentative and wary. The brush of its consciousness was soft, yet clear, as was its unspoken question: would she lash out at it a second time?


    The clarity behind its awareness chased a shiver up her spine.


    Part of her wanted to smother it on principle. It was a parasite, an unwelcome guest. It didn¡¯t belong inside her.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± She asked through grit teeth.


    Her passenger watched her from some hidden hollow in her soul, wanting to reveal itself, yet hesitating. It didn¡¯t want to be in pain anymore. It could be useful. It could help her, if she let it. If she promised not to hurt it again.


    She shivered.


    ¡°What good could you possibly do?¡±


    From somewhere deep, it reached out with a wispy tendril. Its gelid touch soothed the ache between her temples, dulled the noise. It assured her it could do more. It had helped her before, hadn¡¯t it?


    She thought back to the moments before her ascension. She supposed it had, but that didn¡¯t mean she trusted it. It had only ever driven her to madness before. One good deed did not make up for its prior transgressions.


    It was protecting her, it argued.


    ¡°Protecting me how, exactly?¡± She asked.


    She sensed its deliberation, yet for all it tried, it couldn¡¯t give her any one reason. It was simply protecting her. When it registered a threat, it acted.


    ¡°And you would have gotten me killed, had I not shoved you back into whatever hole you crept out of.¡±


    It had been asleep, it told her. Awake, but not awake.


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t make any sense,¡± she muttered.


    It wished it had an explanation. Everything was muddled and dark, but it wanted to help.


    She was going mad, wasn¡¯t she, entertaining this creature?


    ¡°Fine,¡± she said.


    Delight radiated from her passenger as it crawled into the light of her mind¡¯s eye. Where she had expected some sort of worm or scuttling thing, she found a formless collection of wispy shadows. It pooled as it settled, and urged her to take a meditative stance. She needed to relax and clear her head.


    ¡°That¡¯s easier said than done, parasite,¡± she said.


    The sooner she did as instructed, the sooner she would feel better, it thought pointedly.


    Acknowledging this thing at all had been a mistake, but she did as it suggested. What was the point, though? She didn¡¯t see how cycling her physical core would help and her mental one had been running itself ragged already.


    She wasn¡¯t going to cycle. She was going to meditate.


    ¡°Fine, but this better not be some trick.¡±


    At this point, what did she have to lose?


    Reluctantly, Inerys closed her eyes and allowed her passenger to guide her through the process. It was strange, listening to impressions and suggestions of thought rather than spoken word, but she managed. Breathwork and mindfulness were the last things she expected it to teach her, yet here she was, breathing in deep, steady intervals on its order. The techniques were new and she briefly wondered where it had learned such knowledge.


    On occasion, she cursed her wayward mind for wandering back to the spiral of her own anxiety. It was an easy pitfall and one she knew all too well, for it had plagued her long before her change. Each time she strayed, the presence soothed her and brought her back to the present. She could acknowledge her shortcomings and thoughts, but it would not allow her to dwell upon them. The damned thing was a mother hen, scolding and praising her.


    But its methods worked, she could not argue that.


    Bit by bit, the voices, the noise, the incoherent images, faded. Her mind grew quiet and still and for a moment, she lingered in the peace it brought her. How long it had taken her to relax, she couldn¡¯t say, but the world was still dark when she opened her eyes.


    Her passenger purred its tired contentment.


    Better, it wondered?


    ¡°Better,¡± she said quietly.


    She could admit that much.


    She still took issue with its choice of residence, but there was little she could do about it. Compared to everything else, it was a cursory concern, if she were honest. So long as it minded itself, perhaps there was no harm in letting it linger until she had the time and energy to sort it.


    With an aura of satisfaction, its influence receded and her passenger returned to wherever it dwelled within her. Was that exhaustion she had felt before it slipped away? She tried to seek it out, confused, but its den eluded her.


    ¡°I would have said thank you,¡± she mumbled.


    It would rear its head eventually, she knew.


    In the meantime, she needed to figure out where she was, for she recognized nothing of the surrounding forest. Sighing, Inerys bit her lip. Much as she wanted to hide out in the woods for the foreseeable future, the others would begin to worry. Beyond that, the sun would rise soon enough and she was in nothing but a long shirt. She wasn¡¯t keen to test the resilience of this new body either. The light was likely just as cruel.


    She was about to rise, when she paused.


    Her ears twitched.


    When had the woods gone silent?


    The hair along the back of her neck rose. She scented the breeze, wondering if one of the wyverns were responsible for the sudden lack of sound and movement. Though, she smelled nothing and heard no wings upon the wind. Which meant she was alone. And she was the prey.


    A quick scan of her immediate vicinity yielded nothing of use, yet something watched her all the same. Its attention crawled along her skin, testing, weighing. Its touch was remarkably light and for a moment, she wondered if she had stumbled across someone, rather than something. The sensation was not all that different from when Sorisanna inspected her soul.


    Inerys maneuvered herself into a crouch as she debated her next move, each and every muscle poised on the defensive. She could fight, if necessity forced her hand, but flight was likely the wiser choice. Without her ability to cast her awareness the way the others could, there was no telling what ascension her stalker belonged to. So, she would run.


    Exhaling a careful breath, she straightened.


    And the forest erupted.


    Reflex had her dodging back and away in an airborne leap as a massive creature surged through the trees, jaws open. Its maw snapped shut over the space she¡¯d been not a heartbeat before, its reptilian features at odds with its otherwise canine physique. While its scales and the shape of its head were reminiscent of a wyvern, it was the furthest thing from. She¡¯d never seen anything like it. Whatever it was, its cognition must have been a near match to her own, for it was already twisting after her before she¡¯d fully landed.


    Gasping, she threw herself clear of its outstretched claws. She landed hard on her side, but hadn¡¯t the time to recover before the beast was on top of her. She rolled and scrambled away on all fours, her own talons digging deep into the damp soil until she finally managed to find her feet.


    She bolted back the way she had come, weaving through the trees in hopes of thwarting her pursuer. Most were too large to fully bar it from her, but the brief blind spots her quick redirections offered might be enough to break the creature¡¯s line of sight or, at the very least, make it more difficult for it to run her down than a straight path. She hadn¡¯t the faintest idea how far she¡¯d fled from camp, but she hoped she¡¯d draw near enough to the others¡¯ range that someone would sense her coming. Rather than scream, she sent out a desperate emotional burst. She only hoped someone sensed it before the scaly beast caught her.


    It slammed into the tree she¡¯d ducked around and the resounding impact rattled the surrounding forest like a small explosion. Roots sprung free of the ground as the trunk groaned and pitched forward with the momentum. Inerys chanced a glance over her shoulder, but rather than split its head open, as she hoped it might, the creature barreled over the obstruction and used it to lunge down at her from above. The heat of its breath chased her around the neighboring evergreen and into a gnarled thicket, where its jaws closed around a collection of entwined branches.


    She backed herself to the far side, eyes wide. The damned thing held two rows of razor sharp teeth in place of one and still bore the remnants of more than a few past meals between them. The stink of carrion had bile rising on her tongue. Wood crunched beneath the force of its maw and before it could chew its way through, Inerys fled. She needed to put as much distance between herself and that thing as she could manage.


    She¡¯d made it to the top of the hill further up the way before it bellowed its pursuit, crashing through the underbrush like the mad beast it was. Inerys choked on a dry sob, certain it would snatch her up at any moment. But then the air pressure changed and several objects whistled past her. Out of instinct, she brought her arms up to shield herself, but she quickly realized she hadn¡¯t been the one in harm¡¯s way. Half a dozen wet thunks issued behind her and the reptilian hound shrieked in pain. Wind buffeted her, right as a blur of white crashed through the canopy from above.


    With a snarl, Ephaxus slammed down upon the beast with all the force of a raptor bearing down on a field hare. Its back buckled and before it could whip around to snap back at its attacker, he wrapped his jaws around the back of its skull. The pair struggled, vying for control and it was then that Inerys realized just how large the creature was. It attempted to roll onto its back to break the wyvern¡¯s grip, but Ephaxus maintained the upper hand, talons buried in its back, wings beating wildly.


    In her awed stupor, Inerys tripped and landed on her backside, though out of the corner of her eye, she registered the faint glint of metal along the periphery of her vision. Her attention flicked to the source to find Ayduin, bow in hand, watching her down the length of a notched arrow. Her breath hitched and for a moment, dread rooted Inerys in place. She could see the conflict in the woman¡¯s eyes, weighing the risk of ending what she saw as a threat here and now. There were no witnesses, no voices of reason.


    No one to protect her, not with Ephaxus engaged with what had now become the lesser of two perils.


    Resolve hardened the woman¡¯s expression and black hoarfrost quickly spread down the length of the arrow. Inerys whispered a prayer to whatever spirits might listen, but rather than pierce her heart, the reinforced projectile streaked past. It struck the creature in its soft underbelly as Ephaxus hoisted its front end up off the ground. Keening, its forelegs flailed for purchase when the arrow struck home.


    Blood began to fountain from the wound, but Ephaxus ended the threat indefinitely with a clean jerk of his head. The resulting crack echoed through the night and stole Inerys¡¯ breath away entirely. She sat, stunned, as the creature¡¯s body went slack. The wyvern¡¯s head dipped with the sudden dead weight and he released it, allowing the body to drop with a heavy thud.


    Inerys sensed his rage quickly shift to panic as he sought her out, expression fraught with an almost wild desperation. When their eyes met, those feelings suddenly became her own. They surged through her, driving all else from her mind as she stumbled toward him. She needed to touch him, needed to comfort him as well as herself.


    He practically threw himself before her.


    Inerys, he breathed, dropping his snout and bringing her close.


    Shaking, she leaned into the side of his chest, thankful for the protective wing that sought to shield her from the world.


    I¡¯m here, she said, cursing the tears that burned in her eyes.

 Chapter Thirty-Eight: Second Chances

    Chapter Thirty-Eight


    Second Chances


    <hr>


    The thread between them had grown into something more, somehow and though she could not explain it, the change felt right. She found solace in Ephaxus¡¯ presence, in the relief that rippled from him in unseen waves. She was alive. He¡¯d saved her.


    Her fingers curled against his scales, savoring the warmth she found in the shelter of the wing he gently held her with. Never, in all her wild imaginings, had she ever wondered what it might be like to be hugged by a wyvern. The idea alone was absurd, yet here she was, embraced all the same. His soft purring brought a smile to her lips.


    You really are just a big kitten, aren¡¯t you? She asked.


    A bold comparison, little viper.


    But an accurate one.


    He hummed thoughtfully, I shall suffer none but you to make it.


    Don¡¯t worry, that soft heart of yours is safe with me, she teased.


    It best be, he said with a mock growl, lips raising over blood-stained teeth.


    The sight should have frightened her. Weeks ago, it likely would have, but so much had changed. He¡¯d come to her defense and had not so much as hesitated to place himself in harm¡¯s way despite the risk to his own healing body.


    Are you hurt? She asked.


    Aside from a few scrapes? No. I am far more worried about you. You appear sound, but are you truly well? Truly whole?


    I think so, she said, Thanks to you.


    When I realized how far you were, I feared I would be too late.


    She sensed it, then: the anguish he¡¯d restrained. The raw, unbridled panic. It bubbled just beneath the surface like some festering wound. It was not all that different from what she¡¯d experienced when her mother died. Or when her father had left for good, though that was a different pain.


    You weren¡¯t, she said, I¡¯m here, safe and sound.


    He drew back then, bringing his eyes in line with hers. She could guess well enough what was going through his mind, for the loss swimming amid the rose gold of his gaze was unmistakable. His inspection swept her from head to toe, as if he didn¡¯t quite believe her. He even went so far as to nudge her with the tip of his snout from different angles, testing her substance like she might be a ghost, rather than a living woman.


    Stilling him with a hand, she leaned into him and rested her forehead against the soft ridge between his nostrils in an effort to soothe him.


    I¡¯m fine, I promise. I¡¯m just a bit scuffed, same as you, she murmured.


    Ephaxus drew a deep breath and closed his eyes. They lingered, the tremors she had noticed gradually beginning to fade as his body relaxed. Her own rapid pulse leveled out, syncing with what she suspected might be his.


    Good, he said, I am not sure what I would have done, otherwise.


    Dwelling on it does neither one of us any good, she said.


    He sighed, dipping his head.


    You are right, of course. Rhydian is on his way. He will be glad to see you are safe as well.


    Of course he was. She was beginning to think he worried far too much after her health. Not that it was entirely unjustified, all things considered. She only wondered if the same could be said of his secondrider. Had she truly been aiming for her before she¡¯d turned her arrow on the beast instead?


    He told me you  . . . had a disagreement?


    Of sorts, she said, stepping back to wrap her arms around herself.


    Now that she was back in her right mind, part of her felt guilty for having left things the way she had. Perhaps her reaction had been unwarranted? He hadn¡¯t lied, per ce, he¡¯d merely omitted the specifics. Important ones. Though, she should at least give him the chance to explain. After all he had done and sacrificed for her, it was only fair.


    Is that why you ventured so far?


    Reluctantly, she nodded and though she felt she could trust Ephaxus, now was not the time to recount the details. They were being watched and Inerys had yet to determine whether or not the secondary threat had passed. Her ear tipped back in Ayduin¡¯s direction as she approached and with a certain trepidation, she turned to acknowledge her. She half expected to come face-to-face with another arrow when she did, but no such follow-up was made. Her bow was held loosely at her side, her free hand fidgeting as her attention flitted from Inerys, to Ephaxus and back again.


    Inerys¡¯ first instinct was to swallow her nerves and seek an explanation that might satisfy the woman, but she quickly tramped it down. What had she done that warranted a justification of any sort? Was she not supposed to speak with certain people? Was she not supposed to mend bridges or earn the trust of those around her? Unlike some, she had not been the one to draw a weapon with the intent to kill, so why should she be the one to apologize?


    Ayduin silently took her measure, searching for something Inerys couldn¡¯t quite place. She seemed to judge her worth the way a father might when weighing the merit of his daughter¡¯s latest suitor. In truth, she wasn¡¯t sure what to make of it. However, rather than demand answers of her, the woman looked to Ephaxus.


    ¡°How long has it been going on?¡± She asked, jaw tight.


    The wyvern arched his elegant neck as he regarded her, the question not appearing to surprise him in the least. Rather, he¡¯d anticipated this particular conversation. Inerys sensed as much through that new avenue between them, though the full context alluded her.


    Inerys and I have been conversing for close to a month, he said.


    She studied him.


    ¡°And when did it develop?¡±


    Inerys pursed her lips. When did what develop? Their friendship?


    Days ago, perhaps.


    ¡°Was it intentional?¡±


    Ephaxus hesitated, but said, No. It formed of its own accord. Neither she nor myself had any design upon it.


    Ayduin released a long, slow sigh through her nose as she considered the two.


    ¡°And you¡¯re . . . content with this?¡±


    I am, he murmured.


    Inerys couldn¡¯t help but feel she was missing something. If she knew more about the situation as a whole, perhaps she¡¯d be able to figure it out. She thought to ask, but the subject of Kieshara was a delicate one for both parties. Perhaps she would ask Cydan or Rhydian, but not tonight. She had enough to sort through. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    Like whether or not Ayduin had actually leveled that arrow at her heart. Absent the fear and adrenaline, she was beginning to doubt what she¡¯d seen. Had she mistaken the woman¡¯s line of sight? She supposed it was possible, but that look . . .


    ¡°I can¡¯t say I approve,¡± she muttered, ¡°but it isn¡¯t my call to make.¡±


    With that, she stepped past the pair in favor of their fallen foe.


    What was she talking about? Inerys asked, glancing after the woman.


    I will explain in time, he said.


    She bit her lip, Should I be worried?


    About Ayduin?


    She nodded.


    No. She may not approve of us being so close, but she spoke truth. My dealings are not hers to dictate. Regardless of her personal feelings, she will respect my decisions.


    She breathed a small sigh of relief.


    That''s something, at least.


    She absently rocked back on her heels as she watched the woman, torn between following after in search of answers and simply waiting for Rhydian to arrive. Of all the reactions she had anticipated, this wasn¡¯t one of them. She had expected more surprise, more rage, but there was only resignation.


    It was . . . odd.


    As was Vaelor¡¯s absence, but she imagined he was likely monitoring them from above. Awaiting Rhydian and Tanuzet, perhaps? At present, she decided it wasn¡¯t important.


    Curiosity had her joining Ayduin, though she was sure to maintain a healthy distance for her own peace of mind.


    ¡°Your ability to get yourself into trouble is uncanny,¡± she said, slinging her bow over one shoulder.


    At this point, Inerys was inclined to agree.


    ¡°What is that thing?¡± she asked.


    ¡°A drake,¡± Ayduin said, ¡°Big one too and of its fifth ascension.¡±


    That explained the speed.


    ¡°I take it it''s one of those larger predators I was warned about? I¡¯ve never seen anything like it.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re common enough sights around here. Bastard likely sensed those fancy cores of yours and couldn¡¯t help himself.¡±


    ¡°Fancy cores? I thought I was still an advancement behind the rest of you?¡±


    ¡°You are.¡±


    Inerys frowned and asked, ¡°Then what makes me so special?¡±


    ¡°You were alone,¡± she said simply, ¡°Far less risky to hunt such a dangerous meal when it''s separated from the rest of the pack.¡±


    Inerys cursed herself. She¡¯d made herself the perfect target. How had she not recognized it sooner? Spirits, she¡¯d been an idiot.


    ¡°I guess I can¡¯t blame it for taking the opportunity,¡± she said, rubbing her brow.


    Sparing her a sidelong glance, Ayduin crossed her arms.


    ¡°Care to tell me what you¡¯re doing so far from camp?¡±


    ¡°Not particularly.¡±


    ¡°Mm. Unfortunately for you, you¡¯re going to tell me anyway. Now, what happened?¡±


    This wasn¡¯t a conversation she was keen on having with anyone right now, but ill intent aside, the woman had played a role in her rescue. She¡¯d earned an explanation, at the very least, no matter how small. Beyond that, she knew Ayduin would continue to press until she gave her something.


    ¡°Rhydian and I had a disagreement,¡± she said, quoting Ephaxus, ¡°turns out you''re not the only one who needs time to herself every now and again. I needed time to think, clear my head.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough, but I¡¯d argue wandering almost four leagues toward the origin is a bit extreme.¡±


    ¡°Wait, four?¡±


    Surely, she hadn¡¯t covered that much ground?


    ¡°You didn¡¯t notice the change in aura?¡±


    To be fair, she hadn¡¯t noticed much of anything after she fled.


    ¡°I . . .must have been caught up in my own head,¡± she said, which wasn''t entirely untrue.


    ¡°Must have been some disagreement,¡± she hummed.


    Inerys hadn¡¯t failed to notice the implied question, but she wasn¡¯t keen to elaborate.


    Mercifully, Tanuzet¡¯s arrival drew both their attention and spared any further interrogation on the matter. Something was off, though, for she flew with far less confidence than usual. Her movements were slow and deliberate and she touched down with a degree of caution. Not for herself or the situation, but for the man upon her back.


    Rhydian was pale as a corpse, yet he tried to climb down from the saddle anyway. Never mind the fact that he appeared two steps from his own grave. The blue-black luster of his skin was gone, replaced by an ashen remnant Inerys barely recognized. Spirits¡¯ breath, had he been in this condition when she¡¯d left? How had she not seen it?


    Ayduin had fallen silent beside her, having been struck just as blind by his appearance. However, her stupor was short-lived. She practically bristled as she leveled a finger at him.


    ¡°Rhydian Allair ne¡¯Tanuzet, if you step down from that saddle, I will smother you.¡±


    And I shall let her, his wyvern growled.


    ¡°I told you never to use that name,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°Got your attention though, didn¡¯t it? I should throttle Cydan for helping you up there in the first place.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be absurd. He had nothing to do with this.¡±


    She raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°You mean to tell me you climbed up there all on your lonesome? In your state?¡±


    He grimaced, which apparently gave Ayduin all the confirmation she needed.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I thought.¡±


    He tried to swing his leg over the saddle, the movement sluggish and stiff. Tanuzet shifted her weight just enough to have him slump back over in his attempt. Rhydian grunted, but wisely remained where he was this time, teeth grit against what Inerys suspected was a bout of dizziness.


    ¡°What happened?¡± He asked once he caught his breath, ¡°Is everyone all right?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re fine, Rhydian,¡± Ayduin said, then jabbed a thumb over her shoulder, ¡°Minus our new friend here. He had it coming, though.¡±


    He stared at the drake for a long moment, expression awash with exhaustion and concern. Inerys shuddered when his eyes found her, the unease of their prior conversation tying her stomach into knots. Her guilt over the state he was in only made it worse, for she had been the cause. In the face of it, she couldn¡¯t fully blame Ayduin for contemplating her retribution.


    ¡°Inerys, are you¨C¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said, gaze fixed upon a single point, ¡°Just a bit rattled. I, your arm¨C¡±


    The fact she had inflicted such damage was difficult to fathom, for it looked as though he¡¯d been attacked by some animal. The puncture marks were spread close to an inch apart at the point of entry in a half circle along his forearm, but tapered down into a closer approximation of her normal jaw size after it had splayed and contracted when she¡¯d latched on to him. The resulting drag left the scars jagged and overstretched in places with a depth of color that suggested the wounds themselves had gone far deeper than skin alone.


    He gave her a wink and a tired smile.


    ¡°We¡¯re even, now,¡± he said.


    Brow knit, she brushed her fingers along the rough, uneven skin of her burn scar. It had persisted through her advancement, though was less prominent than it had been before. It seemed they¡¯d both left their mark upon the other.


    ¡°I suppose we are,¡± she said.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be lucky if I don¡¯t put a muzzle on you the next time you ascend,¡± Adyuin said with a shake of her head, ¡°Go back to camp, Rhydian. We can handle ourselves from here. Sorisanna will have your head, otherwise.¡±


    She can be . . . intimidating when vexed, Ephaxus agreed, It is best to heed her instruction. The sooner you rest, the sooner you will recover.


    To say nothing of the opinion of your own bondmate, Tanuzet grumbled, already poised to take wing.


    ¡°We can . . . speak later,¡± Inerys found herself saying, ¡°About what happened? I¡¯ll come back. I promise.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll hold you to that,¡± he said, his voice nearly lost to the wind as Tanuzet deftly leapt into the air.


    She had her doubts as to whether or not he would actually rest until they returned, but one could hope. When they would do so however, had become a mystery. What more was there to be done? The beast was dead.


    She spared Ayduin a glance over her shoulder, wondering what she might have in store for her now that the three of them were alone once more. She was crouched beside the drake¡¯s head, seeming to contemplate something. Without looking, she gestured for Inerys to join her and reluctantly, she did so.


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± She asked.


    ¡°Hmm? No. I¡¯m only debating where to start.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Harvesting our friend, of course. You honestly think I¡¯d let a prize like this go to waste?¡±


    ¡°I hadn¡¯t considered it a prize . . .¡±


    Ayduin snorted. ¡°And here I thought you were a huntress.¡±


    Her lips thinned. ¡°I was, but I¡¯ve never hunted anything like this. Is it even edible?¡±


    Perhaps it was the yellowed, viscous saliva oozing from its open maw that had put her off to the idea. Or the fact the damned thing had nearly made a meal of her.


    ¡°There¡¯s more to use than just the meat,¡± she said, ¡°Scales like those can be used for any number of purposes. Powders, armors, the list goes on. The cores are the real prize, but those are more difficult to get to. We¡¯ll save those for last.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, we?¡±


    Ayduin gave her a feral grin.


    ¡°Seeing as how you have energy to spare, you¡¯re going to help me carve this thing up.¡±

 Chapter Thirty-Nine: To Skin a Drake

    Chapter Thirty-Nine


    To Skin a Drake


    <hr>


    Inerys may have been skilled in the visceral art of field dressing, but it didn¡¯t mean she enjoyed it. Quite the opposite, in fact. It was sticky, smelly business and she was often alone in her dealings which made some hunts far more difficult than others, depending on the kill.


    She wasn¡¯t quite sure where to start on a creature of this size. Subtract the wings and perhaps half of the tail and the drake was comparable to Ephaxus himself. It was a daunting prospect, considering the largest animal she had ever cleaned was an elk.


    Pulling up the sleeves of the blouse Ayduin had lent her, she walked a slow circle around the beast. She¡¯d never processed a tail before. Or something with scales, for that matter. Did they pull off like hide or were they more tedious? Something had to hold them to the body, right? She¡¯d never put much thought into the specifics before. Inspecting the ridging along its hips, she decided she¡¯d find out soon enough.


    The wounds Ephaxus had left in its back were deep, perhaps enough to have punctured the gut cavity. Such was less than ideal, but she could still work with it. What she was less certain of, was how much of the backstrap was actually salvageable. There was plenty of meat beyond it, but it was one of her favorite cuts on most other animals. There were always the tenderloins, though.


    ¡°How much of this are you planning on harvesting?¡± She asked, sparing the other woman a glance over her shoulder.


    Ayduin angled the blade she¡¯d been sharpening, judging its length with a critical eye.


    ¡°As much as we can,¡± she said, ¡°I think we¡¯ve all grown tired of venison and fish.¡±


    Inerys wrinkled her nose at the mention of the latter. Once, she¡¯d enjoyed the trout she¡¯d occasionally buy from the market, but now the scaly little creatures turned her stomach. They had been smelly enough before her transition, but at least they¡¯d been somewhat bearable. Now, she had to force herself not to gag at their mere proximity whenever Cydan fished them from the lake and brought them back to camp.


    ¡°Neither one of them are all that appetizing these days,¡± she said.


    Admittedly, she¡¯d been far more interested in the blood Sorisanna prepared for her each night. Essence aside, the herbs offered a far more interesting flavor profile. She sometimes missed the more complex notes the mens¡¯ blood provided, but she was content to keep that little detail to herself. Especially around Ayduin.


    ¡°Most of it will go to the wyverns, but there¡¯s more than enough to be had for ourselves. Never dressed anything like this, I take it?¡±


    ¡°A drake? No. We¡¯ve nothing remotely close to these in the Fringe. There may be some out in the deepwoods, but I¡¯ve never been misfortunate enough to see one.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough. Luckily, most of the principles still apply, so it won¡¯t be all that different from what I imagine you¡¯re used to.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear I¡¯m not completely out of my depth,¡± she said, eyeing one of the wounds that had bled.


    She hadn¡¯t eaten yet . . .


    And Ayduin had noticed her staring.


    Of course she had.


    ¡°Do you need a moment?¡± She asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°You sure? Because I¡¯m not nearly as charitable as Rhydian is.¡±


    Inerys huffed a laugh that was devoid of any humor.


    ¡°I never had the impression you were. You made your feelings rather clear when you aimed that arrow at me.¡±


    Rather than deny or deflect, Ayduin met her eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯re still breathing, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°I suppose I am.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯d say my intentions speak for themselves,¡± she said.


    They did, despite the unease she felt after what had transpired. The notion didn¡¯t exactly make them friends, but at least the two were still amicable. All things considered, things could be far worse.


    Ayduin gestured for her to follow.


    ¡°I¡¯d gather what blood you can before we start. It¡¯ll be good to have some extra on hand.¡±


    Nodding absently, Inerys fell into step and suddenly found herself peering into an archway that appeared to lead into some sort of store room.


    She shivered.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll ever quite get used to that,¡± she said, blinking at the sight of an open doorway in the middle of the forest.


    ¡°Funny,¡± Ayduin said, stepping into her annex, ¡°Having grown up around them, I hardly notice anymore.¡±


    The air inside the place was notably still as she followed her inside. There was a certain stagnation that made her nose itch, but she chose to ignore it. While she was no expert, she knew enough to know spaces like these were inherently odd.


    The contents within the large room were remarkably well organized, complete with row upon row of neatly arranged shelves. Everything had a place and a clear division based off the specific type of provision. Rhydian hadn¡¯t been lying when he¡¯d claimed the woman had just about anything someone might need. There were blankets and clothes, tools and trinkets. There were even baskets of fruits and vegetables and other perishables Inerys realized were not all that vulnerable in a place like this. Suspended animation was quite the preservation method, it seemed.


    Were those cases of wine over in the corner? And sheets of leather along the adjacent wall? Spirits, what didn¡¯t this woman have on hand? She led her down one of the short isles with a hum and paused in the middle to glance over the center shelves with a finger to her lips.


    ¡°Ah, there we are. I knew I had a few extra jars on hand,¡± she said, reaching to tap one of the slatted wooden crates before her.


    By a few, the woman meant two dozen. Nearly all were quart-sized. Inerys couldn¡¯t help but wonder what she used them for. Or planned on using them for, rather.


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re comfortable sharing them for such . . .unsavory purposes?¡± she asked.


    Ayduin shrugged a shoulder.


    ¡°If it keeps you from snacking on anyone else, I¡¯d say it''s a small price to pay,¡± she said, ¡°I¡¯ll store them too, so long as you make sure they¡¯re sealed tight when you¡¯re done harvesting.¡±


    ¡°I will. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. Now, hop to it. We have a lot of work ahead of us.¡±


    Inerys didn¡¯t argue.


    When she¡¯d returned to the drake, she¡¯d only brought six jars with her. It was a perfectly respectable number, she thought. Enough to gather what she needed without taking advantage of the generosity. However, Ayduin had other plans, for she brought the remaining eighteen and set them and their crates beside her without a word.


    ¡°Point taken,¡± she sighed.


    ¡°Good,¡± she said, ¡°Now, I¡¯m going to start skinning. Come find me when you¡¯re done.¡±


    With a small sigh, she set to work once Ephaxus had positioned the carcass into a more advantageous arrangement. Instead of placing the filled jars back into their respective crates once she was finished, Inerys set them aside. Collecting what she¡¯d needed had been easy enough, but it was not without its messiness. More than a few bore bloody handprints that would need to be rinsed prior to storage. A task she knew was easy enough for a woman who commanded water the way Rhydian did fire. Compared to Sorisanna, the two used their abilities so infrequently that the huntress sometimes came up with subtle excuses in order to see them do so. Conjuring water in order to clean jars might seem a mundane task to everyone else, but to Inerys, it was still an awe-inspiring sight. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    She wondered what she might be capable of, if given the chance, as she made her way to Ayduin. The woman had sectioned out the larger, bony scales along the creature¡¯s back and already worked the wide strap away from the flesh from the base of its head, to its hips. Vaelor held the long strip aloft in his mouth as she worked, drawing it higher bit by bit as she separated it from the rest of the hide. The dark pigment held hints of blue and green, which occasionally caught in the light. What would the guild pay for something of this quality? This rarity? Inerys imagined they might be beside themselves if they ever managed to acquire such a material.


    She noticed, along the exposed muscle and spine, that there were four, large, clean punctures along the shoulders and neck. Something metallic poked out among the flesh, but she couldn¡¯t place what it was. It almost appeared to be the end of some giant metal rod with a rounded end.


    ¡°What are those?¡± She asked.


    Iron darts, Ephaxus said.


    ¡°Wait, these are yours, aren¡¯t they? Fashioned into one of the techniques you were telling me about?¡±


    He gave a pleased sort of purr, Indeed.


    Her brow rose.


    ¡°I can¡¯t say I¡¯ve ever seen darts of that size before. You don¡¯t think they were overkill? What with your claws and everything?¡±


    Had they been properly aimed, he could have ended the threat with a single projectile through the skull, she thought.


    I hadn¡¯t considered it at the time, he admitted.


    She didn¡¯t need him to explain any further, considering the circumstance.


    ¡°Either way,¡± she said, ¡°They¡¯re impressive.¡±


    ¡°And difficult to carve around,¡± Ayduin said.


    I will remove them once you are at a safe distance, he assured.


    She drew back once she finished her cut midway down the drake¡¯s tail and wiped her brow with the back of her exposed forearm as Vaelor moved to drape the bony panel from one of the nearby branches. With the whole of the backstrap exposed, Inerys could finally judge its viability. Certain sections were still usable, but between the bruising and other damage, she wondered if it was even worth the effort.


    ¡°I imagine we¡¯re going gutless with this one?¡± She asked.


    Unless there was a more appropriate gralloching method she wasn¡¯t aware of, it was best suited for the task at hand.


    Ayduin nodded, ¡°I¡¯d rather not deal with the nasty bits more than necessary. We¡¯ll have to contend with them to a degree when we dig out the cores, but I¡¯ll show you how to do so without having to wrestle the guts.¡±


    The mental image had Inerys growing green around the edges.


    Ayduin gave her a wry smile.


    ¡°Come now, don¡¯t tell me our resident blood drinker has a weak stomach?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve always had a . . . thing about the intestines,¡± she said, trying and failing to put the image of the wretched things out of her head.


    ¡°A . . . thing?¡±


    Inerys brought a hand to her mouth and forced herself to take a deep breath.


    ¡°It¡¯s hard to explain,¡± she admitted, ¡° let¡¯s just say the sight of them makes me sick and leave it at that.¡±


    If she went into any real detail, she¡¯d really start retching.


    ¡°Seems like more than just the sight,¡± Ayduin said, analyzing her in perhaps a new light, ¡°I didn¡¯t take you for the squeamish type.¡±


    ¡°We all have our shortcomings. To be fair, it''s the only organ I take issue with.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough. Well, lucky for you, they shouldn¡¯t make an appearance tonight.¡±


    As it would turn out, skinning a drake was not all that different from skinning an elk. The textures were different and there was far less hair to worry about, but the task in itself was equally straight forward. Tedious, on something so large, but manageable between the two of them. Ayduin could give any seasoned Hound a run for their money, if Inerys were honest. She was fairly certain even Dravas would be impressed.


    ¡°Have you hunted these before?¡± She asked.


    The woman glanced up from where she was cleaning the last of the hide from the tail.


    ¡°More often than you might think. When we were sent off for our survival training, we found them easier to hunt than the prey species,¡± she said, then tilted her head in apparent consideration, ¡°I learned when I was a girl, though. My clan made a living hunting banuk. More giant skinks than drakes, but they¡¯re close enough.¡±


    ¡°Your clan?¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Ayduin hummed, ¡°Sometimes I forget your lack of worldliness. It¡¯s a small community of sorts. Ours was nomadic, so we never settled in one place for long.¡±


    ¡°That must have made things interesting.¡±


    She shrugged, ¡°I¡¯d never known anything else. Honestly, it took me years to feel comfortable in one place after they sold me to the Talhavar.¡±


    Inerys nearly sliced open her own finger as her blade slipped.


    ¡°Wait, they sold you?¡±


    ¡°I manifested a natural affinity,¡± she said simply, ¡°I was worth ten times the clan¡¯s annual profit. It was an easy choice for them.¡±


    ¡°I''ve never heard of- how old were you?¡±


    ¡°Thirteen.¡±


    Inerys hadn''t even been out hunting on her own at that age. The concept of buying and selling someone as if they were livestock was unsettling in a way she''d never thought possible. Was such common practice in the world at large? Were all members of the Talhavar bought? Spirits'', what of Rhydian? Ephaxus?


    ¡°I''m sorry,¡± she said, uncertain of what else one could say in the face of such a revelation, ¡°Was it difficult for you?¡±


    ¡°It''s. . .not like that. Bad, I mean. If anything, the Talhavar saved me. Living in the desert was as much a gamble as our hunts. Sure, the sudden change took time to get used to, but otherwise, it was the best thing that ever happened to me.¡±


    ¡°And that''s where you met Rhydian and the others?¡±


    She tugged at the freed hide, then began to carefully roll it from the tail up.


    ¡°He was my first friend, actually. Found me early on in my arrival, but he''d already been at the academy for a few years at that point,¡± she said.


    Inerys smiled a little.


    ¡°So he''s always been fond of strays?¡±


    ¡°To his own detriment, yes,¡± she sighed.


    It was an admirable quality, she thought, even if she did agree with Ayduin on some level. The man took responsibility for everyone and everything with little regard to his own health. The previous night had been proof enough. One day, she hoped to prove less of a burden to him, to repay him for all he''d done. She hadn''t the slightest idea how she might achieve it, but she would try.


    ¡°For what it''s worth, I''m glad to have met you all,¡± she said quietly, ¡°I only wish it had been under better circumstances.¡±


    It was some time before Ayduin said, ¡°Kieshara would have liked you.¡±


    Ephaxus gave a soft, almost mournful rumble in agreement.


    With his help, they quartered the drake''s exposed side, taking everything shy of the backstrap. Strong as she and Ayduin were, there was only so much they could do in order to reasonably articulate the limbs and tail of a beast that likely weighed close to six tons, if not more. It had taken all three of them per limb, the women slicing through muscle and tendon while Ephaxus maneuvered respective pieces as necessary. They''d already decided to divide the legs among the wyverns along with a good portion of the tail, though there was still plenty left for everyone else. The tail alone yielded four impressive loins on its own, though they had yet to harvest the other half.


    ¡°It''s best to carve out the cores before you dress the other side,¡± Ayduin said, gesturing down the length of the body with her blade, ¡°you lose some stability otherwise.¡±


    ¡°Makes sense.¡±


    She pointed toward the partially exposed pelvis.


    ¡°The physical core is the most troublesome. If you''re not careful, you''ll puncture the gut, so it''s best to take things slow.¡±


    Inerys resisted the urge to hold a hand over her nose as the woman worked, walking her through each step with the care of any proper instructor. She deftly sliced through membrane and flesh alike, explaining how and where to push in order to keep the nasty bits safe and away while she extracted the core.


    The glow alone was unmistakable, shining through the gore as it was unveiled. It was around the size of a small melon and appeared more like some glass sphere rather than the incorporeal mass she expected, a lacey sort of membrane encasing it.


    ¡°The cores are solid?¡± She asked.


    ¡°More or less,¡± Ayduin said, ¡°the different aspects of the soul exist in a sort of limbo between the physical and spiritual realm while you¡¯re alive. After death, the cores and meridians solidify and are left behind in the physical world.¡±


    To her credit, the secondrider humored Inerys¡¯ dozen follow-up questions over the next hour with little complaint, pointing out the various meridians and their connection points. They were shrivelled and black as the membrane they''d been pulled from, but still distinguishable enough to identify. The whole system was as fascinating as it was disturbing.


    She repeated a similar process in order to extract the spiritual core, though it had involved the breaking of at least two ribs near the heart. Inerys had lended her own strength to the effort, she and Ayduin prying the bones apart in favor of cracking them in two. Blood had welled from the site, one of Ephaxus¡¯ darts having punctured clear through the lung. They''d both leapt back in order to let the cavity drain, but retrieved the core as soon as they were able.


    Unlike the warm gold of the physical core, the spiritual was a deep brown and emitted little in the way of light. Upon closer inspection, however, Inerys noted a sort of sparkely bronze dust swirling about inside.


    ¡°What you''re seeing is earth essence,¡± Ayduin said, ¡°spiritual cores often adopt a color related to whatever essence affinity they contain.¡±


    ¡°So ordinary animals can manifest affinities and rysk?¡±


    ¡°They can, though it''s not quite the same. Their system may be similar to ours, but it''s fairly rudimentary. They have to achieve a certain level of sentience in order to properly develop their souls.¡±


    The fact they could do so at all was incredible.

 Chapter Forty: The Nature of Omission

    Chapter Forty


    The Nature of Omission


    <hr>


    The world beyond the deepwoods was fascinating. Terrifying, but captivating all the same. Out here, the possibilities seemed endless and the curious part of her, the part she had sacrificed in order to provide for those closest to her over the years, wanted to explore each and every new facet.


    From time to time, Inerys would hold the drake¡¯s earthen core up to the light of the moon as they walked, admiring the way the dark, sparkling dust swirled about inside. She wondered if Cydan''s was similar in appearance, given the shared element. Would Rhydian¡¯s contain flame rather than the silty essence she saw now or was it merely a different color? What of Ayduin¡¯s? Or that of Ephaxus with his metallic affinity?


    Spirits, what would her own look like?


    ¡°So, all spiritual cores bear some sort of color?¡± She asked, sparing Ayduin a glance as they picked their way down a fern-dappled hill.


    They had sent the wyverns on ahead with the bulk of their prize, having opted to return on foot since there would be no training of any other sort tonight.


    ¡°When they settle, yes. But when and how is subject to circumstance.¡±


    ¡°Such as?¡±


    ¡°What essence domain you choose when you achieve your forth ascension and when you open the transversal meridian between your mental and spiritual core,¡± she said, ¡°Or if you manifest an affinity before then. It¡¯s not entirely uncommon, but cases tend to be few and far between among the general populace, regardless of country.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re one of the exceptions, then?¡± Inerys asked, recalling what she¡¯d told her.


    Ayduin brought one of her hands up, ice creeping along the length of her fingers to solidify into long, crystalline claws, ¡°Mine has been a light blue for as long as I can remember.¡±


    A part of her envied the ease in which the woman wielded her rysk. It was a tool, a natural extension she called upon through thought and feeling. Inerys¡¯ own had only ever sought to kill her.


    ¡°Does an affinity mean your domain is already decided?¡± She asked.


    She nodded, ¡°There¡¯s no changing your path once your spirit has been aligned. Most people choose a domain that will benefit their trade in some form or fashion. Farmers and herbalists will either settle for earth or wood while a blacksmith or artificer might choose fire or metal.¡±


    ¡°I suppose that makes sense. I imagine others decide based on what their gut tells them?¡±


    ¡°Or whatever they fancy most when the time comes. Every now and again, some idealistic twit decides he¡¯s going to be the next sovereign and chooses whatever path he thinks will grant him the most power or prestige.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t exactly sound wise.¡±


    ¡°It isn¡¯t, but brash fools abound in every aspect of life. Invokers are no exception.¡±


    ¡°Invokers?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the technical term for us. For those of us who develop our path beyond its infancy, that is,¡± she said, dismissing her ice, ¡°Those who decide theirs for the wrong reasons rarely make it far. Calling them invokers at all is honestly laughable. Implies a level of dedication that often doesn¡¯t exist. They¡¯re the sort to boast about success without following through with what it actually takes to achieve it.¡±


    Inerys couldn¡¯t help but think of those purebloods she and her friends had brawled with in the tavern¨C imposters with dreams of glory and wealth. It was a wonder they had survived at all when everything from their equipment to their horses was ill-suited to the dangers of the forest. Arrogance would only get you so far and even luck ran out eventually. Her¡¯s certainly had and she¡¯d practically grown up in those woods.


    She bit her lip as she finally stowed the core away in her satchel, ¡°Do you think I could be an invoker?¡±


    ¡°You actually want my opinion on the matter?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the only one I trust to tell me the truth rather than what I want to hear.¡±


    Ayduin drew to a halt to study her. The moment didn¡¯t last longer than a heartbeat, but Inerys found herself fidgeting nonetheless under the woman¡¯s attention. Her eyes always had a way of stripping her bare, as if she could see clear through her to the truth through observation alone.


    ¡°Fair enough.¡±


    Inerys took a slow, exaggerated step sideways to get them moving again, hands clutching at her satchel strap to keep from fussing.


    ¡°So . . . what do you think?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve come this far, haven¡¯t you? If you can crawl back from the brink of death and forge yourself anew through blood and sweat and sheer force of will, you¡¯ll have no trouble cultivating a path.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± She asked, taken aback, ¡°You¡¯re . . . serious?¡±


    She hadn¡¯t expected that.


    ¡°You did say you trusted me. Are you having second thoughts?¡±


    ¡°No, no, you¡¯ve just surprised me.¡±


    ¡°Because that sounded awfully close to admiration?¡±


    ¡°Well, yes. It did, oddly enough.¡±


    Ayduin chuckled, ¡°I might not be an avid supporter of you, but I can recognize grit when I see it.¡±


    ¡°And here I thought you resented my existence.¡±


    ¡°Part of me does,¡± she admitted, "but at this point, that has more to do with me and my own troubles than it does with you. Our flight is my family. You were a threat. To a degree, you still are, but I¡¯m willing to give you a chance. If . . .if Ephaxus can come to see you as a friend, perhaps I can too. Just don¡¯t expect things to change overnight. All right?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± she promised.


    The woman gave a small nod of appreciation, though Inerys sensed she was eager to shift the focus of their conversation because she asked, ¡°Are your shackles still holding?¡±Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    ¡°So far. I¡¯m fairly certain I¡¯m down to the last one, though.¡±


    ¡°How can you tell?¡±


    Inerys pursed her lips and subconsciously began rubbing at the steady pressure in her sternum.


    ¡°Ever since my accident, I¡¯ve felt like there¡¯s a storm in my chest. A violent one. In the beginning, the shackles were a sort of castle. The storm was still there, still raging, but I was safe within the stone walls. Little by little though, they¡¯ve been worn down and now, it feels like there¡¯s little more than a barn standing between me and that tempest. It¡¯s only a matter of time before it gives way and when it does, I¡¯m afraid I might blow away.¡±


    Ayduin¡¯s brow drew in concern, her lips thin.


    ¡°Have you told Sorisanna? She¡¯s prepared to set more if you need.¡±


    ¡°I know she is, I just haven¡¯t had the chance to speak with her about it. Everything happened so quickly after my advancement. I will once we¡¯re back at camp, provided she¡¯s not preoccupied with Rhydian.¡±


    ¡°In all fairness, she¡¯s likely drugged him. The man doesn¡¯t know when to quit.¡±


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t, does he?¡± She sighed.


    ¡°I¡¯ve always had a love-hate relationship with that particular quality of his.¡±


    ¡°I can see why.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t worry too much. Sorisanna will have him back on his feet in a few days. He just needs rest.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do my best not to. He scared me, that¡¯s all,¡± she said, though she¡¯d scared herself as well. She was the reason for his current condition, after all.


    ¡°We¡¯re all a bit rattled, Inerys. I¡¯d be more concerned if you weren¡¯t,¡± Ayduin said, ¡°That being said, I am acting command in his absence. When we get back, you best march yourself straight to the sage¡¯s tent. You¡¯re bound to get an earful from her, but she¡¯ll be able to buy you more time to prepare for the arrival of your storm.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t say I¡¯m eager for the lecture, but I¡¯ll see her as soon as we get back.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡±


    For a time, the pair travelled in silence. It was not awkward, but contemplative. After all that had transpired, Inerys needed time to process and knew she was not the only one. The walk, while long, helped clear her head. She saw things with more clarity and knew a conversation with Rhydian was also in her future.


    In her addled state, she feared she¡¯d jumped to too many conclusions. It was hard not to, especially with the knowledge of his own reservations on the matter. She tried, time and again, to understand why he had withheld the details. The odds had been stacked against her for months now, perhaps he thought he was protecting her from the additional stress? Preserving her drive to continue on with the hope she might one day return home? Logically, she knew he had a reason. Likely a good one, but she couldn¡¯t help but wish he had been more forthright from the start.


    A lie born of omission was still a lie.


    Still hurt.


    ¡°What do you make of this Warden business?¡± She asked, unable to keep her spiralling thoughts wholly to herself any longer.


    She caught the slight stiffening of Ayduin¡¯s shoulders, but made no mention of it.


    ¡°Honestly? It¡¯s a mess. At this point, I¡¯m not sure what to think. The woman¡¯s a bloody sovereign.¡±


    Thanks to the context she¡¯d gained from Rhydian¡¯s memory, the term wasn¡¯t entirely new. Inerys hummed absently, mulling over the implications of a meeting with a woman of her station. What would someone like the Wardeness want with her?


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised Rhydian mentioned it so soon after your little incident. Was that the disagreement you mentioned?¡± Ayduin asked.


    ¡°It was, but he didn¡¯t exactly tell me.¡±


    Outrage suddenly lined the woman¡¯s eyes as she looked to her.


    ¡°Skies, I told the others to keep their mouths shut. Who was it?¡±


    ¡°No one,¡± Inerys assured, ¡°They kept their promise. No one else breathed a word.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t follow.¡±


    ¡°Well, technically Rhydian did. In a way. Or . . .his memories did? I¡¯m not entirely sure. It¡¯s complicated.¡±


    ¡°Then uncomplicate it.¡±


    Inerys blew out a breath, trying to decide how best to explain her latest oddity.


    ¡°While I was asleep, I witnessed what think were memories. It¡¯s all a bit muddled, but it¡¯s like I was in his head. I saw myself in the deepwoods when he found me, saw him kill that other woman. You were there too. There were other images, fragments of conversation. I saw the Wardeness though. I know Rhydian doesn¡¯t trust her. If I¡¯m honest, I don¡¯t think any of you do.¡±


    Ayduin took her by the upper arm and pulled her to a stop. Her hold wasn¡¯t enough to hurt, but Inerys wouldn¡¯t be able to pull away without effort.


    ¡°Wait, you¡¯re telling me you heard what they discussed? How?¡±


    ¡°I wish I knew,¡± she said.


    The woman¡¯s jaw flexed in some apparent deliberation, but she sighed, ¡°You and everyone else, I¡¯m sure. Fine. I won¡¯t lie and tell you I¡¯m ready to trust the woman outright, but I¡¯m beginning to understand her interest in you. They were memories? You¡¯re certain of it?¡±


    Slowly, Inerys nodded.


    ¡°How long has this been going on?¡±


    ¡°Ever since my ascension.¡±


    ¡°A new development, then. All right. Have you seen anyone else¡¯s? Ephaxus¡¯? Mine? Sorisanna¡¯s?¡±


    She shook her head, ¡°No. All I saw were Rhydian¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡±


    No.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t lie about this,¡± she promised.


    ¡°Does he know?¡±


    ¡°He and Cydan both. They found me while I was . . .thrashing, apparently. They thought I was having a nightmare.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like a bloody nightmare,¡± she muttered, ¡°Why only his? It doesn¡¯t make any sense.¡±


    She paused.


    ¡°Unless . . .¡±


    Inerys held her breath, wondering if the woman had suddenly come to the same conclusion she had.


    ¡°Did something similar happen when you drank any of the other blood?¡±


    She hesitated, but nodded.


    ¡°Not to the same degree, but ever since I woke up, I¡¯ve been getting these flashes. They''re brief and while there are thoughts, they¡¯re simple. I¡¯m on all fours, grazing or stripping bark and, well, I¡¯m sure you can guess the rest.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, I can. Skies, you¡¯re full of surprises, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    She rubbed at her brow, mindful of her clawed fingertips, ¡°I¡¯m about as thrilled about them as you are.¡±


    Ayduin huffed a laugh and released her in order to cross one arm over her middle and raise her opposite hand to her chin in thought.


    ¡°Mm. Whatever this ability is, it seems to have come about as a result of your advancement. Can¡¯t say I¡¯ve ever heard of someone developing something like this, but then again, you¡¯ve been a damn anomaly from the start.¡±


    ¡°You would know more about this sort of thing than I do.¡±


    ¡°Which, unfortunately for us both, is nothing. Our only real hope lies with the Wardness. She¡¯s been a part of this from the beginning. She has to know something.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t intend on holding my breath.¡±


    ¡°Neither will I, but . . . know that we¡¯re trying. If nothing else, trust in the fact Rhydian will do everything in his power to keep you safe. You might be pissed, and I get that, but he has your best interests at heart. We all do, even if some of us are more prickly about these sorts of things.¡±


    The hint of a smile found Inerys¡¯ lips.


    ¡°Thanks, Ayduin.¡±


    Her eyes narrowed, ¡°Don¡¯t mistake this for me being soft, yeah?¡±


    She had to bite back a snicker as she raised her hands in an effort to placate her.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dream of it.¡±


    That actually earned her a scowl.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been spending far too much time with Cydan.¡±

 Chapter Forty-One: Theres Always Something Else

    Chapter Forty-One


    There''s Always Something Else


    <hr>


    That night, everyone had received their own, personalized lecture.


    Inerys sat upon one of the two cots within the sage¡¯s medical tent, ears still ringing from her own recent scolding. She was a woman grown and yet in the span of a few short minutes, she¡¯d been reduced to some obedient, reprimanded child. Sorisanna hadn¡¯t even raised her voice. Hadn¡¯t needed to. In truth, she was frighteningly similar to Nan in that regard and the shame Inerys felt was all the deeper for it.


    After learning the sage had indeed drugged a certain firstrider in order to ensure his rest, she wasn¡¯t eager to test her own limits any further. So, she sat and waited while Sorisanna prepared a medicinal tea and riffled through her chest of books. What the woman was searching for was beyond her, but whatever it was must have been important. The muttered, incoherent curses indicated as much when she didn¡¯t immediately find it. Inerys thought to offer her assistance, but quickly thought better of it.


    Instead of tapping her foot or toying with the cuffs of her sleeves, she decided to actively cycle in order to pass the time and take her mind off the incessant desire to find Ephaxus. She shifted between techniques at regular intervals, doing so with far more fluidity than she¡¯d been able to achieve before her latest advancement. Her essence flow was strong and sure and maintained a steady passive current she no longer needed to tend. There was no pain either. The dull, consistent aches were gone. She hesitated to say she felt normal again, what with the profound changes she¡¯d incurred, but perhaps something akin to it.


    ¡°Finally,¡± Sorisanna muttered. Straightening, she ran a hand along the cover of her leather bound tome, ¡°You¡¯re not where I left you.¡±


    ¡°Is everything all right?¡± Inerys asked.


    ¡°Hmm? Oh¨C more or less. My trunk is just a bit out of sorts.¡±


    She dared a peek, noting the perfect disarray she¡¯d come to associate with the sage.


    Sorisanna glowered, ¡°Believe it or not, I do have an order to things.¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t suggesting otherwise.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re giving me that same look Rhydian does.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry?¡± She tried.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± she sighed, tucking the book under an arm as she ran her fingers through the loose curls framing her face, ¡°It¡¯s just been one of those days. I probably set it aside without thinking while searching for something else.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to add to the chaos.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much about it. The past few days have been hard on us all. It¡¯s hardly the first time things have gone awry around you and I¡¯m sure it won¡¯t be the last.¡±


    Inerys was inclined to agree.


    ¡°Cydan says I keep things interesting,¡± she said, attempting to ease some of the tension.


    ¡°Some might say you do an awfully good job too,¡± Sorisanna said, patting her book as she took a seat beside her on the cot, ¡°I started a record to keep it all straight when you first arrived.¡±


    ¡°You did?¡±


    She couldn¡¯t say she was entirely surprised, given how thorough the woman was when it came to most everything involving her craft.


    ¡°Have a look,¡± she said, offering it to her.


    Tilting her head, Inerys thumbed through the first few pages. Most were introductory notes and basic observations regarding her fever and pallor. Though, such quickly changed after she regained consciousness. There were intricate drawings of her claws, fangs and jaw, the accompanying observations posing theories as to how everything worked, connected and functioned. Shy of dissecting Inerys outright, speculation was all the woman had. Even so, her documentation was remarkable, her penmanship excellent. She was a tad jealous of the latter, really. She couldn¡¯t recall the last time she¡¯d had to write anything. Her skills were likely no better than a child¡¯s.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t missed a single detail, have you?¡± She asked, amazed.


    And only a touch disturbed.


    The woman knew more about her than she did, apparently.


    ¡°It pays to be exhaustive. You never know what might be important or what you might have missed in the moment.¡±


    ¡°I see your point,¡± she said, skimming and rereading certain sections, ¡°You really think my venom could be used as a field anesthetic?¡±


    ¡°Mmhmm. You, my dear little vampire, may just bring about the next medical advancement.¡±


    ¡°Vampire? Is that what we¡¯ve decided to call me?¡±


    ¡°Vesryn¡¯s convinced it''s the name of the species you belong to and from what I understand, the Wardeness all but confirmed it to Rhydian during their last meeting. I¡¯ve been picking his brain on the matter, but he''s been a bit scattered recently.¡±


    Some of Rhydian¡¯s memories were still hazy and incomplete, but the term sounded vaguely familiar. His meetings with the Wardeness had grown entangled and challenging to separate. She should have the answers she sought, but she simply couldn¡¯t access them.


    ¡°Scattered? How do you mean?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s difficult to explain. For the most part, he still seems like himself, but every now and again, Vesryn gets this hazy look and suddenly can¡¯t remember things. Like the other day, for instance. I asked him how he knew what you were, but he couldn¡¯t give me a straight answer. I thought he may have been tired, so I let the matter be for a few days. When I asked again, the same thing happened, only with a slightly different explanation,¡± she said, brow furrowed, ¡°I fear the stress may have triggered some sort of mental decline. I was planning on talking to him about it, but I don¡¯t know how to broach the subject.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Inerys murmured, ¡°I had no idea. He seems well enough whenever I see him, but it¡¯s only ever in passing. Has this sort of thing happened before?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, to be honest. I¡¯ve been trying to remember if there was anything out of the ordinary prior to us coming here. He was more reserved after everything happened at Mistwatch, but it didn¡¯t strike me as odd at the time. We were grieving, so we were all a bit out of sorts.¡±


    ¡°Do you think it might pass? Once all of this is over, I mean?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s possible, but mental afflictions are hardly my area of expertise. I was trained to mend bodies, not minds. Even if I was, I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything I can do about it until we reach Cyllicia.¡±


    ¡°Which we can¡¯t leave for until I get a better handle on myself?¡±


    Sorisanna nodded.


    Sighing, Inerys rubbed at her temple, ¡°I¡¯m not sure I¡¯m ready to face whatever¡¯s hiding behind those shackles.¡±


    ¡°I can only imagine how intimidating it must be,¡± she said, placing a warm hand upon hers, ¡°But we¡¯re here to help you through it. I promise. You¡¯ve faced the hardest part already and come out the otherside, no?¡±


    Her gaze fell to their hands, studying the golden scars lacing her fingers. Beneath Sorisanna¡¯s smooth, unmarked skin, they appeared utterly out of place. More like a painting, than actual flesh. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡°I guess I have,¡± she said.


    ¡°We¡¯ll take the next few days to rest. After that, we can begin preparations.¡±


    ¡°But¨C¡±


    ¡°No buts. You¡¯ll take the time to settle into this new body of yours, which means nothing physically strenuous or new until I say otherwise.¡±


    ¡°I just sprinted who knows how far without issue,¡± she argued.


    ¡°And nearly got yourself eaten in the process. Your coordination is impressive, I¡¯ll give you that, but proper acclimation takes time. I have plenty of other tasks to keep you busy in the meantime, but I will give you the firstrider treatment if I have to.¡±


    Inerys narrowed her eyes, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t. You¡¯re bluffing.¡±


    ¡°Are you willing to test that theory?¡± Sorisanna asked, pointedly crossing her arms.


    She held the sage¡¯s gaze, debating. For all the effort it had taken to process the drake, she still had energy to spare. It thrummed in her veins, aching to be used. This body was whole and strong and she would be lying if she claimed she was not anxious to see what more it could do. The feats she¡¯d achieved tonight, natural as they had been in the heat of the moment, were of the sort her former self could only dream of. How was she supposed to spend days idling about?


    Sorisanna, for her part, simply stared right back, daring her to pursue the subject further and dig her own grave. Inerys muttered something under her breath. Sorisanna was a sage, after all. She supposed she did know best when it came to these sorts of things.


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll take things easy. Am I allowed to go out for walks, at least?¡±


    She had to do something other than laze about all night until Sorisanna said otherwise.


    ¡°With someone accompanying you, yes.¡±


    She breathed a sigh of relief, not about to argue the stipulation.


    ¡°Do wyverns count?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be silly, of course they do.¡±


    Well, in that case she¡¯d be inviting Ephaxus to accompany her. For whatever reason, she¡¯d had a certain underlying anxiety ever since they¡¯d parted ways. She imagined it had something to do with the fact he¡¯d saved her. A walk might help steady her nerves, provided they could find the right trail. His size wasn¡¯t conducive to most hikes or other ground treks.


    ¡°You already have someone in mind, don¡¯t you?¡± Sorisanna asked.


    ¡°Is it that obvious?¡±


    ¡°You have a certain look about you, that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°He saved my life out there, it¡¯s hard not to think about. Besides, he¡¯s good company.¡±


    She crossed one leg over the other, hands settling over the book after Inerys returned it.


    ¡°He is,¡± she agreed, ¡°I still can¡¯t thank you enough for the effort you¡¯ve gone through. It¡¯s made quite a difference.¡±


    Inerys didn¡¯t think she deserved such praise, but she nodded.


    ¡°It was easy, once I saw him as a person and not some monster.¡±


    The sage fell silent for a moment before asking, ¡°What did Ayduin have to say about the matter?¡±


    ¡°Not as much as I thought she might,¡± she admitted, ¡°She wasn¡¯t pleased, but I¡¯m still breathing. That has to count for something, right?¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, she handled it better than I expected. She¡¯s always had a temper.¡±


    ¡°Honestly? I¡¯m just as surprised as you are. I wasn¡¯t really a part of the conversation, but I think she and Ephaxus reached some sort of understanding.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± she said, then bit her lip, ¡°When you can, you should talk to Rhydian. He¡¯ll be out for the next day or two, but he¡¯ll want to hear of this.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Inerys said, beginning to toy with her fingers.


    They had plenty to discuss already. She¡¯d planned on telling him for weeks now, but after all that had happened within the last few days, her dealings with Ephaxus seemed little more than a paltry footnote. If he was willing to forgive her for feeding from him, surely he wouldn¡¯t be too upset over her sneaking out every night?


    ¡°You¡¯ll be glad you did,¡± Sorisanna assured.


    ¡°I¡¯m not offering myself up for another lecture, am I?¡±


    ¡°Hardly. It will be good to clear the air, though. Make sure we¡¯re all on the same page going forward.¡±


    With an unknown future looming on the horizon, they would be her only allies. Despite everything, she trusted them. Trusted Rhydian. These people were her friends and keeping secrets from them would only jeopardize what they¡¯d built.


    For the briefest of moments, Inerys considered telling Sorisanna about her passenger. Would she have an answer as to what it might be or where it may have come from? If anyone could, it would be her. Perhaps she¡¯d even have a way to help rid her of it entirely.


    She sensed it along the periphery of her being, curling its spindly, shadowy legs in response to her thoughts. There was worry, there. Fear, even. Revealing its existence could be dangerous for them both. What if shedding light upon it somehow made things worse?


    Perhaps now was not the best time for such things.


    ¡°I¡¯ll seek him out once he¡¯s awake and feeling better,¡± She said, studiously ignoring her unwelcome guest and dismissing any thoughts related to it.


    ¡°It¡¯s for the best,¡± Sorisanna said, rising, ¡°Now, are you ready for your next round of shackles or would you prefer to wait?¡±


    Taking a deep breath, Inerys made to stretch out along the cot.


    ¡°Do your worst.¡±


    ~*~


    Half an hour later, Inerys was curled up beside the fire, sipping her recovery tea. Ephaxus¡¯ snout rested beside her in much the same fashion Vaelor and Inet¡¯s did beside their respective bondmates. His presence soothed her, but unfortunately did little to sway the ache around her core. She rubbed at it from time to time, cursing the shackles.


    At least you are no longer coming apart at your seams, Ephaxus said.


    It still hurts, she muttered back.


    You will live.


    For a while longer, at least.


    He audibly snorted, drawing a raised eyebrow from Ayduin.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Inerys said, ¡°You were saying?¡±


    Admittedly, her mind had wandered away from the conversation. Adyuin had been filling Cydan in on the details of their impromptu excursion, so doing so had been rather easy. It wasn¡¯t as if she hadn¡¯t heard or experienced a majority of the developments already.


    ¡°That instead of waiting around for the Wardeness, who may or may not see fit to share anything with us, we should test your little blood memories ourselves. I¡¯m hesitant to say they were a fluke, but we should see if they happen again the next time you feed,¡± Ayduin said.


    ¡°To see for certain,¡± Cydan clarified.


    Inerys glanced between them, unsure if she liked this particular line of thought.


    ¡°Right,¡± she said, drawing out the word, ¡°Please tell me you¡¯re not expecting me to bite anyone else?¡±


    ¡°No, no. We were thinking of testing it out on the drake¡¯s blood, actually,¡± he said, ¡°Seeing as how you haven¡¯t had any yet.¡±


    ¡°No bone-crunching required,¡± Ayduin hummed.


    Inerys grimaced and shot the woman a small glare.


    She only smiled back.


    ¡°We¡¯re testing more than the ability itself, aren¡¯t we?¡± She asked.


    The two exchanged looks, Cydan being the first to speak up.


    ¡°We¡¯re curious to see if they¡¯re something you might be able to control or glean specifics from. They seemed spontaneous, aimless, from what Ayduin¡¯s told me.¡±


    ¡°If there was a rhyme or reason to them, I didn¡¯t see it.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but what if you could?¡± He asked.


    ¡°I suppose I could see it being useful, but I doubt anyone is going to let me take a nibble once they learn what I can do.¡±


    Ayduin shrugged. ¡°Simple. Don¡¯t tell them. The knowledge doesn¡¯t have to spread beyond us.¡±


    ¡°She has a point, but that¡¯s not exactly what I¡¯m saying. We¡¯re not asking you to become some sort of spy, we just want to see what you can do.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re awfully interested in all this,¡± Inerys said.


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised you aren¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Being inside someone else¡¯s head isn¡¯t all that fun. To say it¡¯s disorienting is putting it mildly. I was more than just inside Rhydian¡¯s head, I was him.¡±


    ¡°But that makes it all the more fascinating.¡±


    Inerys groaned and rested her head back against the log she¡¯d propped herself up against.


    Ayduin nudged her with an elbow.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me there isn¡¯t a part of you that isn¡¯t curious?¡± She said.


    Inerys only huffed. There was, but the stubborn part of her didn¡¯t want to admit it. Exploring the changes to her physique were one thing, but this was something else entirely.


    ¡°There¡¯s a high chance you¡¯re going to encounter the memories regardless, right? If you learn to control them, maybe you can learn to keep them at bay?¡±


    She paused, for they would happen again, wouldn¡¯t they? She¡¯d go through the same dizzying experience every time she fed. Spirits, but she was growing tired of this. Was a break too much to ask for?

 Chapter Forty-Two

    Chapter Forty-Two


    <hr>


    Rhydian often dreamed of a silver-skinned woman who left strange gifts under his bed.


    Sometimes, she brought small stacks of wide, flat stones from the lakebed or sticks no longer than a man¡¯s finger. Others, she brought tiny, star-shaped flowers that reminded him of coals left to the ashes of a fire. Their petals glowed bright with the promise of heat, of a warmth so thorough, it would chase away the cold gnawing at his bones.


    He never saw her face. It was veiled and indistinct, yet there was a familiarity to her he could not place. Whether she was a spirit or some construct of his own mind, he could not say. She offered a certain comfort not unlike that of Tanuzet¡¯s. Their presence existed somewhere just beyond him and while his bondmate¡¯s remained a constant amid an otherwise empty world, the woman¡¯s came and went like the wind.


    When he at last began to wake, his memory of her grew distant. There was a weightlessness to his existence and along the periphery of thought, he wondered if it were possible to be drunk off too much sleep. His senses were the last to rouse, his world of canvas and borrowed blankets rendered colorless and deaden by their absence.


    Were it not for the slight shift in weight, he may not have noticed the fact someone had settled along the edge of his cot. He stirred as a cool hand touched his forehead, then the pulse along the underside of his chin. Sorisanna¡¯s spirit brushed his as she examined him, light and warm as a spring breeze.


    ¡°Welcome back to the land of the living,¡± she murmured.


    He gave a sore chuckle as he rolled onto his back, ¡°The living? I still feel like the dead.¡±


    ¡°Well, fortunately for you, you know longer look like a corpse. A bit pasty, sure, but I¡¯ve seen worse.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a compliment,¡± he said, ¡°When I agreed to a sleeping draught, this wasn¡¯t exactly what I had in mind.¡±


    ¡°Oh hush. You were only out for a couple of days,¡± she said, holding a recovery tea aloft for his retrieval.


    ¡°Days? I thought we agreed to the better part of one, not several?¡±


    How much had he missed?


    ¡°Relax, the camp hasn¡¯t burned down in your absence. We both know you needed more than a single day¡¯s rest.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± he sighed.


    There was no point in arguing.


    ¡°Sages usually are,¡± she hummed, ¡°Now drink. It will make you feel better.¡±


    He forced himself into a seated position along his blanket-strewn cot in order to take it, cursing the effort such a simple maneuver had required. He could scarcely recall a time he¡¯d ever been reduced to such a miserable state. His thoughts were sluggish, his limbs heavy, yet his first tentative sip of the herb-rich brew promised to usher in a swift remedy for both.


    He cycled his physical core as he drank in order to hasten the onset of his relief. He¡¯d had concentrated teas before, but the vital saturation level Sorisanna managed to achieve in a single dose was in a league all its own. The supplemental essence fizzed along his tongue like sweetened mineral water. His channels buzzed as they feasted on the excess and bit by bit, his core began to stabilize.


    ¡°How is everyone?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Good. They¡¯re all in one piece, despite their best efforts,¡± she said, rising and stealing the singular chair from his travel desk in order to grant him some space.


    ¡°That¡¯s some relief, at least,¡± he said, distracted by a sudden scent, ¡°Does it smell . . . warm to you?¡±


    He wasn¡¯t quite sure how else to describe it. The air of the tent was unusually warm. Pleasantly so, but certainly not natural.


    Sorisanna simply pointed to the open space beneath his cot.


    Hesitating, he maneuvered himself onto his stomach to take a better look at whatever it was she¡¯d gestured to.


    And paused.


    Large, flat stones had been arranged into a neat circle, the seams between them filled and smoothed with clay that was no doubt harvested from the shores of the lake beyond camp. Admirable as its construction was, it was the flame-aspect blooms in the center that caught his attention most. As well as the dozen or so fire spirits gleefully dancing around them in a uniform ring.


    ¡°Skies,¡± was all he said.


    ¡°That bit was Inerys¡¯ doing,¡± Sorisanna said.


    ¡°It was?¡± He asked, finding it difficult to tear his gaze away in order to spare her a glance.


    ¡°Helpful, aren¡¯t they?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d say she¡¯s doing well, then?¡±


    ¡°Remarkably so, all things considered. I had her on light activity for a few days to make sure there weren¡¯t any more surprises, but she¡¯s been cleared as of last night. She spent most of it in the sparring ring.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    Sorisanna chuckled, ¡°You know how post-ascension highs go. She¡¯s eager to see what she can do and with that fancy new body of hers, I don¡¯t blame her. Keeping her honest during her recovery period was the real challenge. I had to have her escorted during those nightly walks she insisted upon and even then, she managed to return with stones and mud and giggling spirits.¡±


    Rhydian hid his smile.


    ¡°She¡¯s resourceful, I¡¯ll give her that. Incident aside, I¡¯d say her advancement was a success.¡±


    ¡°I could have done without the theatrics, but at this point it¡¯s hard to expect any less from you lot. You¡¯ve all kept me on my toes these past two months. Her, most especially,¡± she said, crossing her ankles as she sat back, ¡°I have to admit, I had my doubts. I¡¯ve never seen such severe fracturing. It should have taken years for her channels to recover. Skies, that spiritual core all but shredded her transversal meridian. To say nothing of the other ruptures I found throughout her system.¡±


    ¡°Lucky for her, she had quite the sage on hand to treat her,¡± he murmured.


    She briefly glanced away, though he did note the slight darkening along her ears.


    ¡°Normal physiques were never my strong suit, you know that,¡± she said quietly.


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t make you any less brilliant, Sori.¡±


    This time, she smiled a little.


    ¡°Mended or no, she would have had trouble if she ever decided to pursue higher advancements. Well, prior to her change, anyway. Whatever triggered those physical alterations worked wonders for her meridians. The scarring is minimal.¡±


    There had been a time when overcoming her injuries had seemed an impossible task. Fostering her into her fourth ascension had been a distant hope, the idea of daring for anything more almost too cruel to consider. And yet she¡¯d prevailed. Escaped her fate.


    They should all be so lucky.


    ¡°It¡¯s hard to believe she¡¯s made it this far, but I¡¯m glad she has,¡± he said.


    ¡°Rewarding, isn¡¯t it? To see all your efforts pay off?¡±


    ¡°A bit surreal, if I¡¯m honest, but you¡¯ll hear no complaints from me.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± she said, ¡°Now go. Get some air. The others are eager to see you back on your feet, firstrider.¡±


    ¡°Yes, ser,¡± he said, only to have Sorisanna roll her eyes at his antics.


    He took his time rising, half fearing he¡¯d stumble sideways and end up a miserable heap upon the floor if he wasn¡¯t careful. He held his own, though. His limbs were stiff, but steady.


    He debated changing before making a public appearance, but ultimately decided against it. He was in desperate need of a bath, even he could admit that much, but sullying new clothes was a waste. He only hoped that under the circumstances, the others would forgive his stench, particularly those with more than sensitive noses.


    Tanuzet pressed her snout into his chest when he emerged and nearly sent him stumbling back the way he¡¯d come.


    ¡°Easy, Tanuzet,¡± he laughed, ¡°I don¡¯t think Sorisanna would appreciate me being broken a second time.¡±Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Her eyes narrowed.


    You are never allowed to scare me like that again, little one. Or it shall be my wrath you answer to. Not a sage¡¯s.


    ¡°Understood,¡± he said, holding up his hands.


    She glared a heartbeat longer before her gaze softened and she quietly began to purr.


    He eased, leaning into her.


    ¡°I didn''t mean to worry you,¡± he murmured.


    You have always been too selfless for your own good. I have learned to accept this. All I ask is that you exercise more caution in the future, lest someone accuse you of having the wisdom of a hatchling.


    ¡°I will,¡± he promised.


    ~*~


    Their evening meal had been a lively affair the like of which Rhydian hadn¡¯t expected, if he were honest. His memory was a touch hazy, but he had recalled far more division amongst the group after Inerys¡¯ ascension. He¡¯d feared the whole ordeal had fractured what fragile trust they¡¯d built, but the unified front he found instead argued quite the opposite.


    Inerys laughed and joked with everyone, including Ayduin, which in itself was a resolution he hadn¡¯t known he¡¯d wanted these last few weeks. For a time, he wondered if what he witnessed was an act performed for his own peace of mind, yet the ease of their banter suggested this wasn¡¯t the first favorable interaction they¡¯d shared since he last saw them. Surprising, considering how closely Ephaxus rested behind the young woman. There was no doubt Ayduin had not sensed what had transpired between the two. Even if she hadn¡¯t, body language was everything.


    She knew and by all appearances, approved.


    Or tolerated, at the very least.


    And she was not the only one.


    Rhydian had guessed the direction of their relationship shortly after he¡¯d learned of Inerys¡¯ secret outings and was fairly certain Sorisanna had held her own suspicions around the same time. Cydan had been the only one to give voice to his own, though Ayduin¡¯s mood had betrayed her own conclusions as surely as any confession. He only wondered if the woman herself was aware of their bond.


    In many ways, she had become a stranger since their last encounter. The softer, rounder edges of her face were gone, replaced by sharp angles more reminiscent of his finer featured, desert-dwelling kin. However, there was a distinct, almost feline quality to the structure of her eyes and jawline. He could not pinpoint any one attribute that set her apart, for the changes had been too numerous and too profound.


    Were it not for her silvery skin, one could easily mistake her for an Adai at a passing glance. Though, the more one took the time to look, the more alien she became. Her skin, her hair¨C skies, her entire physique¨C were something else entirely.


    Yet beneath it all, there were hints of the woman he¡¯d quietly come to care for.


    She had been a woman worthy of admiration long before her ascension, both in mind and body, but it was her heart that had first captured his attention. A heart that endured to this day. He now knew it was her he had seen in his dreams or perhaps more accurately, in his moments of fleeting consciousness. She had taken the time to build a small shrine and fill it with one of the most precious gifts a flame spirit could ask for, all for the sake of ensuring his comfort. Was it her guilt that had driven her? Or perhaps something more?


    He almost feared the answer.


    Every now and again, he caught her wayward glances from across the fire, though she had yet to fully acknowledge his presence. When it came to him, she¡¯d been reserved throughout a majority of their fireside antics. She spoke freely and openly with the others, but almost appeared to be avoiding him. They hadn¡¯t exactly parted on the best of terms, had they?


    While he was content to leave the matter be until after breakfast, he fully intended on broaching the subject before the night¡¯s end.


    To his surprise,though, she had been the one to approach first. She¡¯d waited until the others were preoccupied by their post-meal clean up, expression pensive, ears tucked back in a manner that indicated this was not a conversation she¡¯d been looking forward to. A certain degree of trepidation gnawed at his insides, but he forced an easy smile all the same.


    ¡°Did you have a moment to talk?¡± She asked, voice quiet as she toyed with the fingers of her opposite hand.


    ¡°Of course,¡± he said.


    She bit her lip and spared a glance over her shoulder at the others before returning her attention.


    ¡°I was hoping for someplace more private. I don¡¯t suppose you¡¯d care for a walk?¡±


    He raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t a trap to catch me alone and unaware, is it?¡± He teased, hoping his attempt to disarm the tension was not entirely misplaced.


    Her cheeks darkened to a deeper shade of grey, rather than pink, but the effect was the same.


    ¡°What? No! I¡¯m not¨C I wasn¡¯t¨C¡±


    ¡°Easy, I¡¯m only teasing. A walk would be perfect. I could use the opportunity to stretch my legs,¡± he said, ¡°lead the way.¡±


    She searched his face in what he could only assume was disbelief, though soon enough, she scowled at him.


    ¡°You¡¯re completely and utterly terrible, you know that?¡±


    He shrugged.


    ¡°Someone may have mentioned it a time or two.¡±


    ¡°Whomever they are, they may be onto something,¡± she muttered, but seemed to relax as she stepped off in the direction of the lake.


    It wasn¡¯t until they¡¯d reached the treeline that she said, ¡°I wanted to apologize. For my reaction, for the bite . . . for everything, really. Sometimes it¡¯s easy to forget I¡¯m not the only one affected by all this.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t hold any of it against you, Inerys. If nothing else, know that. It¡¯s a difficult situation for anyone to find themselves in,¡± he said.


    For a spell, she said nothing at all, only minded the initial slope that led to the shore beyond the forest. Conflict warred across her face, yet he could only guess after the reason. Had he said something wrong?


    ¡°I suppose I had this idea in my head that when this was all said and done, I could go home. See Soren and Nan and all the others. Perhaps even go back to the way things were before,¡± she said, her voice hinging on that final word. She batted a tear from her cheek, but did nothing to mask her sniffle, ¡°but I know I can¡¯t. I think I¡¯ve known for a while now, but just didn¡¯t want to admit it because doing so felt like I was somehow giving up on them. I took it out on you. I shouldn¡¯t have. For that, I¡¯m sorry. I know you were doing everything in your power to help me. You have been since the beginning.¡±


    Her admission broke something in him.


    ¡°Inerys¨C¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like I haven¡¯t been keeping my own secrets,¡± she continued, each word coming forth with more urgency than the last, ¡°I know I should have told you sooner, but I¡¯ve been sneaking out for weeks. After all that happened with Ephaxus, I wanted to make things right. I started hunting after everyone else went to bed. At first, I did it as a peace offering just to get him to talk to me, but then¨C¡±


    ¡°It became something more,¡± he said.


    She choked on what might have been a sob as she caught his arm and drew them both to a sudden stop.


    ¡°How did you know?¡±


    He blew out a breath, grasping for the right words.


    ¡°I¡¯ve known for a while now. I saw you sneak away with my own eyes.¡±


    ¡°What? Why didn¡¯t you say anything?¡±


    ¡°Because pressing you for explanations wouldn¡¯t have done either of us any good,¡± he said, ¡°Part of me knew you would tell me when you were ready, so I decided to trust you. For what it¡¯s worth, I¡¯m glad I did. You helped bring Ephaxus out of his widowing.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, widowing?¡±


    ¡°Wyverns usually die within days of a bondmate. Some last weeks, but it¡¯s not a common occurrence. Ephaxus was managing well enough, but he started deteriorating shortly after he and Sorisanna arrived in the spirit wilds. It starts with seclusion, then a loss of appetite and then,¡± he raked a hand through his loosely braided hair, ¡°they die.¡±


    Inerys wavered as she took a step back, bracing herself against the trunk of a nearby tree.


    ¡°All those days he spent curled up on the other side of the clearing, he was just waiting for the end, wasn¡¯t he?¡±


    He gave a grim nod.


    ¡°Tanuzet had been doing her best to lift his spirits, but there¡¯s only so much that can be done once the process starts.¡±


    ¡°That explains why she was so eager to help me.¡±


    ¡°She cares for him a great deal. We all do.¡±


    Her brow knit, ¡°Then how was I able to make a difference?¡±


    He shifted on his feet.


    ¡°That¡¯s a bit of a complicated answer,¡± he admitted.


    ¡°Then uncomplicate it,¡± she whispered.


    His lips edged into a smile at her phrasing.


    ¡°I see you¡¯re starting to take after Ayduin,¡± he said, then sighed, ¡°Simply put? Some souls call to one another. No one is sure how or why, only that they do. Wyverns are extremely social creatures, but there¡¯s always one bond that sets deeper than the rest.¡±


    She tilted her head, guessing, ¡°The one with their bondmate?¡±


    ¡°Sometimes, they¡¯re lucky enough to find two.¡±


    Her eyes widened and he knew then that she understood. She leaned back into the trunk and sank to her knees. All she did was stare, eyes turning glassy as tears began to spill over her cheeks.


    Rhydian crouched before her and dared to take her hand into one of his own.


    ¡°You¡¯ve known that too, haven¡¯t you?¡± He murmured.


    Her face all but crumpled as she nodded and she threw her arms around him. By some miracle, he managed to remain upright, teetering for balance while she sobbed into his shoulder. For a stunned moment, he wasn¡¯t sure what to do. Skies, what was he supposed to do?


    Exhaling a careful breath, he drew her close, one arm wrapped around her, the other tangled in her hair.


    ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± he found himself saying, ¡°Everything will be all right. I promise.¡±


    Her body shook, but he didn¡¯t care.


    He¡¯d hold her as long as she needed.


    Eventually, she drew back, eyes wet and puffy. She wiped at her cheeks with the back of her sleeve as she schooled her breaths, the vestiges of her fit occasionally drawing the corners of her lips back into an ugly frown. He rubbed gentle circles along her back, content to give the time she needed to compose herself.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said, but made no move to fully pull away.


    ¡°So am I,¡± he said, ¡°Looking back, there¡¯s plenty I¡¯d like to have done better.¡±


    She thumped him on the chest.


    ¡°Please. You, of all people, have nothing to apologize for. I¡¯m the one who made an ass of myself.¡±


    He wanted to argue, but said, ¡°Then . . What if we make a promise to one another instead?¡±


    ¡°What sort of promise?¡±


    ¡°To both agree to do better going forward?¡±


    Her face softened as she considered, her gaze briefly catching upon his lips before finding his own in earnest.


    ¡°I could do that,¡± she said.

 Chapter Forty-Three

    Chapter Forty-Three


    <hr>


    Inerys sought to compose herself as Rhydian helped her to her feet. She ran her hands up along her damp cheeks, then up into her hair to push the loose curls back and away from her face. Spirits, so much had changed.


    Not only had she been practically born anew, but she¡¯d managed to inadvertently bond a wyvern too.


    ¡°Does everyone know?¡± She asked.


    ¡°Perhaps with the exception of Vesryn,¡± he said, ¡°but I wouldn¡¯t exactly count on it. The man and I don¡¯t talk much these days, but he isn¡¯t daft.¡±


    The confirmation of her idle suspicions gave rise to an unexpected weight. The truth of it had been there all along, clear as day, yet time and time again, she had explained away the anomalies. Or willfully ignored them, in some cases. If anyone in this camp was daft, it was her.


    ¡°You¡¯re certain these sorts of things happen on their own? I mean, I didn¡¯t somehow force this, did I?¡±


    If she had¨C


    Warmth radiated through the fledgling bond between them.


    No one forces a wyvern to do anything, Ephaxus said, voice rumbling through her mind like distant thunder, Not even vipers.


    Rhydian gave her a knowing look.


    ¡°He¡¯s given you an answer, hasn¡¯t he?¡±


    She grimaced.


    ¡°Is he in your head too?¡±


    He gestured to his eyes, ¡°No, but it looked like you were somewhere else for a second. There¡¯s a certain degree of dissociation when communicating through the bond, especially in the beginning. It takes years to learn how to mask it and even then, some of us still have our slip-ups.¡±


    ¡°Us,¡± she echoed, then stiffened,¡°Does this make me a Talhavar?¡±


    ¡°A Talhavar? No. I¡¯m afraid there are more than a few prerequisites you¡¯ve yet to achieve on that front.¡±


    She bit her lip, ¡°But Ephaxus and I are bondmates.¡±


    ¡°True,¡± he said, ¡°but not all Talhavar have wyverns and not all wyverns are Talhavar. We¡¯re merely an order. A sort of national guard, so to speak and members are not limited to any one species. Wyvern¡¯s simply tend to fall under the aerial division due to their inherent nature. By extension, whomever they bond with during their first year or two at the academy also join. It¡¯s always been the way of it.¡±


    ¡°So I¡¯d have to be a member already?¡±


    ¡°And be trained accordingly.¡±


    She relaxed a little.


    ¡°Well, at least I don¡¯t have that to worry about on top of this Wardeness business,¡± she said.


    There had to be a limit to the chaos.


    If only she knew how to go about implementing such a thing . . .


    ¡°The subject of the Talhavar will come up eventually, just not in the way you might have been thinking. While you may not belong to our ranks, Ephaxus does,¡± he said, ¡°though, given all that¡¯s happened, I was going to suggest an early retirement.¡±


    Her brow knit.


    ¡°You were? Is that something he even wants?¡±


    If he wanted to remain, would she somehow hold him back?


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, I haven¡¯t spoken to him about it yet.¡±


    She hesitated, but asked, ¡°Is the bond permanent? Or . . .optional? If he went through all the trouble of training in order to become what he is today, I wouldn¡¯t want him to throw it all away for my sake.¡±


    Distantly, she felt the wyvern¡¯s alarm, though he remained silent.


    Was it her thoughts he was interpreting or was he somehow privy to their conversation through her?


    Rhydian rubbed at the back of his neck, an edge of concern lining his eye.


    ¡°The pair¡¯s first flight typically seals the bond, so in theory, not following through on it might prevent the same level of attachment. To be honest, I¡¯ve never heard of a rejection. Compatible souls are compatible for a reason, Inerys.¡±


    ¡°I was afraid you¡¯d say something to that effect.¡±


    ¡°I know this must all be overwhelming, but these are the sorts of questions only he can answer for you. In this situation, I won¡¯t be of any help or authority, I¡¯m afraid. Bond business is, well, between bondmates,¡± he said.


    She glanced off in the direction they¡¯d come, the forest path quiet, save the crickets. Ephaxus¡¯s mind lingered along the periphery of her own, a certain anxiety weighing on him. He feared she¡¯d reject him now that she knew, didn¡¯t he? She sent a warm assurance across the shared space between them, for she would do no such thing.


    ¡°I suppose that makes sense,¡± she said, ¡°am I able to ask you some questions, at least? About bonds in general?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± he said.


    She took a deep breath, nodding absently. She had a whole host already, she simply couldn¡¯t decide which were most pressing. Maybe if she made a list¨C no. No, she should speak to Ephaxus first. They were bondmates, after all, surreal as it all was. They¡¯d discuss things first, then she could take whatever remaining questions she might have to Rhydian.


    She hadn¡¯t realized she¡¯d become caught up in her own thoughts until he said, ¡°Inerys?¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°About the Wardeness,¡± he began, ¡°I hadn¡¯t intended for you to find out that way. I had a plan, you know. Not that it matters much now.¡±


    She placed a hand upon his upper arm.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°While I appreciate it, there¡¯s no need to apologize. Truly. You had no idea any of that would happen. No one did.¡±


    He knew that, didn¡¯t he?


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t change what happened.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps not, but what I said still holds true. Sometimes these sorts of things happen. It isn¡¯t anyone¡¯s fault, though we can choose how we move past them. I¡¯m only sorry I overreacted as I did. Don¡¯t hold it against yourself. Please?¡±


    He sighed, ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡±


    If only it were that simple.


    She saw the conflict in the man¡¯s eyes and wished beyond anything that she could chase away the lingering, festering guilt. This was a man who held himself accountable for far too much and she hadn¡¯t the slightest idea how to help. For all her assurances, a portion of doubt would remain. She¡¯d seen it happen before. Even now, he was beginning to withdraw, his gaze already growing distant and unfocused as if his mind were arguing with itself.


    Spirits, she had to do something.


    She hadn¡¯t brought him all this way to seek a resolution, only to have him leave more conflicted than when he¡¯d arrived.


    Better, they had to do better. It was what they¡¯d agreed to, right? She might not be able to will away his anguish, but perhaps she could try something else? Attempt to find some other way to save him from his own spiraling thoughts? Assure him that all he¡¯d done and sacrificed had been worth something, as it had meant everything to her.


    Her heart raced, for there was something she could try.


    But it was foolish at best.


    Reckless, even.


    She brought her hand to his cheek and dared to brush his lips with her own. With the pair of them nearly matched for height after her transformation, it was easy. Her kiss was gentle, but steadfast in its surety.


    ¡°I never thanked you,¡± she murmured, ¡°for saving my life a second time.¡±


    He stiffened, but made no move to pull away. If anything, the man appeared utterly stunned. He stood motionless, searching her face and as he did, she felt her cheeks grow hot.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¨C¡±


    Rhydian deftly backed her against the tree behind her and silenced her with a kiss so thorough, it pushed all else from her mind. Her gasp was lost to the wind, arms wrapping about his neck to draw him closer still. Blood roared in her ears, but she didn¡¯t care. Couldn¡¯t think beyond the taste and feel of a man who had seen her through the most terrifying moments of her life and helped her move beyond them.


    Whether their escapade had lasted mere seconds or perhaps minutes, she couldn¡¯t say. She¡¯d been kissed before, but not like this. They were both breathless by the time they came back to their senses, mirroring tentative smiles.


    Spirits¡¯ breath, but she¡¯d wanted to do that for far longer than she¡¯d care to admit.


    ¡°Too much?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Hardly.¡±


    His low chuckle made her heart flutter.


    ¡°Good.¡±


    Inerys returned her hand to the side of his face, though this time, his came to rest over hers.


    ¡°Scars or no, I would do it all again,¡± he whispered.


    The confession made her heart ache.


    She closed her eyes, pressing her forehead to his.


    ¡°I feared I¡¯d gone too far, that you¡¯d let me take too much.¡±


    Thinking back on it was enough to make her sick.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± he promised.


    ¡°I know.¡±


    She felt she hadn¡¯t been able to breathe until she¡¯d seen him step out of his tent again.


    ¡°I am curious though,¡± he said, drawing back after a time, ¡°What made you decide to attract so many flame spirits?¡±


    Her brow knit.


    ¡°You were cold as death. I wasn¡¯t sure what else I could do to help, shy of starting a bonfire in your tent.¡±


    ¡°You weren¡¯t afraid they¡¯d decide to burn it down all on their own? You saw what they did to my boots.¡±


    She shrugged as casually as she could manage.


    ¡°Someone once told me they could be an asset under the right circumstances. All I had to do was keep them happy.¡±


    His eyes playfully narrowed.


    ¡°Whoever told you must have been wise indeed. Where did you manage to find the fire-aspect flowers?¡±


    ¡°Those were Ayduin¡¯s doing,¡± she admitted, ¡°I may have dared her to find something better after she made fun of my little bundles of sticks for the dozenth time.¡±


    He laughed.


    ¡°She can work miracles with the right motivation. It¡¯s good to see the two of you back on amicable terms.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say we¡¯re the best of friends, but she¡¯s gone out of her way to help me these past few days. Especially when it comes to the blood memories.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re still experiencing them?¡± He asked, brow furrowing in concern.


    She bit her lip, sobering in light of the change of subject.


    ¡°It happens every time I feed.¡±


    ¡°Every time?¡±


    She nodded, stepping around him to continue down the path while they discussed the specifics.


    ¡°I told Ayduin about them on our way back to camp after and we both agreed they were worth looking into. We¡¯ve spent the last couple of days performing different tests in order to determine how it all works.¡±


    ¡°What have you found?¡±


    They¡¯d learned more than she¡¯d originally anticipated, if she were honest.


    ¡°That I can see the memories of whomever or whatever the blood belongs to whether I want to or not. I don¡¯t have much control over what I see, but focused meditation has helped me access some of what I¡¯ve already seen. The amount I consume doesn¡¯t have any bearing, though. It¡¯s all the same whether I have a drop or a full cup,¡± she said, ¡°The fact I can do any of this makes the others nervous. They haven¡¯t said as much, but they don¡¯t have to. I¡¯m not blind to the implications. I only hope they trust me enough not to take a bite out of them for the sake of learning their secrets. It¡¯s not like I can decipher them, anyway.¡±


    He took it all in with a thoughtful expression, a hand rubbing at the stubble along his chin.


    ¡°Interesting. Did it ever happen before your advancement? Perhaps to a lesser degree?¡±


    She shook her head.


    ¡°No. It came about afterward. So far, everyone agrees it was just another one of the changes.¡±


    ¡°It makes sense. The fourth ascension often comes with the most alteration. None so extensive as yours, but I believe we¡¯ve long since determined you¡¯re an outlier to most rules.¡±


    ¡°Apparently I¡¯m fascinating enough to have a whole journal dedicated to my study,¡± she hummed.


    Rhydian winced.


    ¡°Did Sorisanna finally decide to show you her handiwork?¡±


    ¡°She did. I wasn¡¯t exactly surprised though, she¡¯s alway struck me as the sort of woman who documents everything.¡±


    ¡°It makes for thorough work.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure. I¡¯m starting to see why she terrifies you. Those sketches of hers are hauntingly perceptive. It¡¯s like she¡¯s been able to mentally dissect me.¡±


    ¡°The longer you think about it, the more disturbing it all becomes. Trust me.¡±


    She shivered.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me twice. I have enough to fret over as it is. Coming to terms with the fact our sweet, innocent sage is actually a horrifying, flesh-weaving monster is on the very bottom of my priority list.¡±


    Rhydian chuckled, coming to a stop beside her when they reached the lake.


    Of course, he¡¯d already noticed what awaited him.


    She hid her smile as she toyed with something in her pocket. She was rather proud of it, for it had taken her hours to determine which scent would compliment his natural one most.


    ¡°What¡¯s all this?¡± He asked, thumbing through the neat stack of linen resting upon the largest of the mossy stones.


    ¡°Oh, that? Consider it a waking present.¡±


    ¡°Inerys . . .¡±


    ¡°Yes, Rhydian?¡±


    ¡°This was all a ploy to get me to bathe, wasn¡¯t it?¡±


    She pivoted and thumped a bar of soap against his chest.


    ¡°Guilty as charged. You smell terrible.¡±