Wings of Lomay (30 page)

Alcander strode in. “What are you doing?”

“One survived.” Drustan shifted into a black dog that stood nearly to Kiora’s shoulders. “Climb on.”

The three raced down the hall. There, in the middle of the city, kneeling on the ground, was what looked like a Tavean with long dark hair—but her thread gave her away as a Shifter.

Kiora and Alcander slid off Drustan’s back and he shifted into human form. The three stood, staring in disbelief. It was Drustan who moved forward, walking down the stairs and kneeling in front of the Shifter.

She looked up hesitantly, trembling like a leaf.

“I wouldn’t have believed it if I wasn’t seeing it,” Alcander whispered. “She masked her thread with evil all this time. Why?”

“Probably to keep herself alive,” Kiora said, leaning her head on Alcander’s shoulder. “Without becoming a slave.”

“But to hold that spell indefinitely . . .” He shook his head. “She must be very strong.”

“Sometimes you find strength in the most unlikely places,” Kiora said. Her heart hitched at the words. It was reminiscent of something Malena would have said.

Drustan put his finger under the Shifter’s chin, gently lifting it a few inches higher until she finally met his gaze.

“What is your name?” he whispered almost reverently.

A shudder went through Kiora and she couldn’t help but feel that she was watching something remarkable, finding joy amongst what had otherwise been only darkness.

“Nara,” the Shifter whispered back.

Nara’s hair changed from black to a glistening red, a lighter and more natural color than the streak of red that ran though Drustan’s dark hair. Her features softened to match the human features Drustan had adopted.

Drustan smiled and stood, helping Nara to her feet.

With more loving care than Kiora had seen from him since they left his Shifter colony in Meros, Drustan wrapped his arm around Nara, leading her forward.

“Nara,” Drustan said, “meet the Solus, Kiora.”

Nara bowed her head in what was not respect, but purely shame.

Kiora pulled Nara into a hug. “No guilt,” she whispered. “You did what you needed to do, and you are with us now.”

Nara made a sound somewhere between and sob and a whimper. Her arms fluttered upwards, but she was unable to work past her shock to return Kiora’s hug.

Kiora smiled at her. “We could use another Shifter—if you would like to join us.”

Nara looked at Drustan, who smiled at her.

Her hands still trembled, but she gave one short nod of assent.

***

EMANE MET THEM AT the mouth of the tunnel, looking curiously at Nara, but not commenting. “All are accounted for.”

Kiora looked over at Leo, who sat quietly on one of the branches in the large tree where they had just emerged. “All but one,” she said.

Emane followed her gaze to the sole Guardian. His shoulders sank and his eyes closed. “Oh, no. What happened?”

“Malena was protecting Kiora.” Alcander put his hand on her shoulder. “I couldn’t get there fast enough.”

Kiora bit her tongue. That was not entirely the truth—although she guessed Alcander was ignorant as to what had actually happened.

“Kiora,” Emane said, “the rebels are wondering about Jasmine. They’re nervous being out here without protection—worried she is going to appear.”

Kiora looked around numbly. “She’s already here.”

Emane and Alcander both jerked straight.

“She probably watched the whole thing. But as long as I continue to destroy everyone, she will continue to let me. Tell the rebels not to worry—we will be fine.”

As Emane headed back out to ease the rebels’ worries Alcander looked at her. “You really think she is here?”

“Yes. I’m almost sure.” She gripped his hand, squeezing it to steel herself. “I’ll be right back.”

Alcander’s eyes flickered over to Leo before nodding.

Kiora walked below the Guardian—the same Guardian she had almost killed by accident when she had first learned magic. “Leo?”

His wings hung limp. “How are you?” he asked. His tone was genuinely concerned.

Kiora wrapped her arms around herself, trying to block out some of the cold. “I’m worried about you.”

He took a deep breath, looking out over the group of rebels. “I have known Malena for longer than I can remember,” he said.

Placing her hand on the trunk of the tree, Kiora swallowed. “She changed my life.”

Leo smiled sadly. “She changed many lives.”

“Leo, I would like you to do something for me.”

“Yes, Solus?” He blinked, trying to pull himself out of his grief.

“The Guardians were not meant to perish in this battle, or any battle outside of Meros. That is your home—that is what you protect. I would be honored if you would carry news of Malena’s death that they might hear it in person, and take back up your protection of my people and my home.”

“You wish me to leave?”

“No. But I wish for you to protect those I cannot. And I do not want word of such a loss to be sent any other way than by one who loved Malena as much as I did.”

Leo slowly came to his feet, his head still bowed. He stood like that for a moment before straightening. “Malena never held pride in anything—except you.”

Kiora looked away, her eyes brimming with tears. “Thank you.”

“Be safe, Kiora,” Leo said before flying away. He enclosed himself within a bubble as he cleared the top of the wall.

Alcander and Emane were organizing the rebels back into their groups for traveling. Taveans flew on foxes to offer security to the rebels who would be traveling on foot—Kiora doubted they would need it.

Alcander gave a few short whistles—calling more of the Marlocks. The long, furry animals with sweet, bear-like faces and legs that were much too short for the speed they possessed rolled and leaped on one another in the most carefree and delightful way. Kiora couldn’t help but smile.

***

THE REBELS MADE IT halfway to Lake Everleen before stopping to rest for the night. Jasmine did not make an appearance. Although relieved, Kiora was sick at the twisted depravity—to watch people destroy one another and enjoy it.

They had stopped to camp near a meadow filled with tall, dry grass. At the base of the grass lay a dusting of tiny white balls. Not snow, really, and almost too small to be considered hail, but it crunched lightly beneath her boots. She didn’t bother with a bubble and found it unbelievably refreshing not to have to hide.

The sun had not quite set, but between the battle and their travels, the rebels were exhausted. Kiora put up a large barrier to sleep beneath in case of roaming soldiers. As the group ate the food they had summoned and laughed around the fires, they told exaggerated stories of battle—mostly of her. Their laughter filled the sky with frozen white puffs of air.

Kiora slipped away.

She lowered herself to the ground and breathed out, looking around at the grass that stood a few inches over her head and offered the brilliant illusion of solitude.

A memory flashed and she closed her eyes, a smile slowly spreading across her face. She had loved to hide in the fields as a child, where the plants grew over her head and she could escape into a different world. She was scolded once or twice for damaging the crops in her play.

She plucked the fuzzy top off a strand of grass. She rolled it between her fingers, sprinkling the tiny seeds inside over the ground and watching with interest as each one fell.

“Aren’t you going to eat?” Alcander asked from behind her.

“I’m not really hungry.”

Alcander motioned to the ground. “May I?”

“Your pants will get wet.”

Alcander looked at the sky, sighing, as if begging the Creators for patience. “I’ll be fine.”

“Sit where you like.”

Alcander sat down, putting his hand on her knee. Magic flowed through her—kind, gentle, and loving. “It is all right to mourn now, Kiora. You lost a great friend today.”

Kiora watched the setting sun. It painted the clouds in the most brilliant of colors. Pinks and oranges splashed across the puffy bottoms, while the tops of the clouds maintained a brilliant blue. It was beautiful.

“You were half right—when you said Malena saved me,” Kiora finally said.

“Half?”

Kiora couldn’t take her eyes off the beauty before her—it was her balm. She wrapped her hand around his. “Malena wasn’t protecting me, Alcander. I would have been fine. It was your life she saved today.”

When he didn’t say anything, she finally turned to look at him. His pale eyebrows were pulled tightly together. He stared at the ground in front of them.

A breeze picked up, bringing with it even cooler temperatures and swaying the grass around them, filling the silence with a pleasant sound.

“I was trying to get to you when you stopped to help the Shifter,” Kiora said softly, “trying to shield you before the Dragon filled the tunnel with fire. I wasn’t fast enough.” She shrugged wearily. “Right before the battle, Malena asked me if I had chosen you. She saved you, Alcander—for me.” Her voice hitched.

“You said I was
half
right,” Alcander whispered.

Kiora’s mouth went dry, her stomach rolled, and her heart pounded. “She saved you . . .” She swallowed. Alcander squeezed her hand. Admissions of love were painfully difficult for her, especially when her fear and worry were running rampant. She looked wearily over at him. “Can’t you just look?”

Alcander’s eyes smoldered as he looked down at her with half open lids. Taking his free hand, he rubbed his thumb over her cheekbone. “No,” he said, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear before kissing her forehead. “I want to hear you say it.”

Kiora gave a nervous laugh, looking down. She deserved that. “She saved you . . . because she knew I couldn’t live without you.”

In a moment, Alcander’s arms were around her, pulling her into him and squeezing her tight.

Kiora buried her face in his shoulder. Alcander held her in their own private grassy world, where they could hear nothing but the swishing of the stalks, and ran his hands over her hair as the sun set.

***

THE TEMPERATURE CONTINUED TO drop and the fires around the enclosure were not strong enough to combat the winter chill. The rebels shivered in the dark, with the exception of the Shifters who had each chosen forms with thick fur coats. Even the Winged people, who had their wings wrapped around their bodies, looked miserable.

“Alcander, we need warmer clothes,” Kiora said.

“Summon them.”

Kiora bit back a sarcastic retort. “Any ideas on where to summon them
from
?”

“Tavea.” He pushed his hair back over his shoulder. “It’s deserted. No one will have need of them this winter.”

Kiora closed her eyes, imagining Tavea as it had looked from the hillside. The glittering castle, the fairytale-style homes. She didn’t need to know which house or room they were in—just the general area. She summoned coats, scarves, blankets—continuing to pull until she felt the strain that indicated there was no more of what she was requesting.

As the rebels dug through the pile for warmer clothes, sighs of comfort filled the camp. The Winged people used their newly acquired swords to cut holes in the back of their coats to accommodate their wings. Emane walked over, holding a pile of coats and blankets out to Kiora and Alcander.

“Thank you.” Kiora pulled one on.

Emane wrapped a blanket around Kiora’s shoulders and plopped down next to her while Alcander shrugged into his coat. The sleeves were at least three inches too short. Alcander’s mouth twisted to the side, stuck somewhere between a smile and a look of annoyance.

“You look ridiculous, Alcander,” Emane said with a grin.

Alcander held up his arms. “You did this on purpose.”

“Possibly.” Emane jerked his head toward Drustan. “Look at those two,” he said. “He seems fond of this new Shifter, doesn’t he?”

Drustan and Nara had both shifted into flying foxes and lay on the ground, Drustan’s body curled protectively around hers.

Kiora watched as Drustan nuzzled his snout into Nara’s neck. “I’m not sure what happened, but the connection was instant.”

“Seems like a cruel twist of fate,” Emane said.

Kiora frowned. “What do you mean?”

“To find love days before a battle that might take it all away.” He shrugged. “But I suppose it’s better than not finding love at all.”

***

KIORA WOKE TO RUSTLING in the grasses surrounding the camp. The fires had gone out in the night. She blinked, trying to focus, pulling down the blanket from around her face. The rustling continued and a flash of white caught her attention.

Alcander’s arm was draped around her waist and she gently slid out from beneath it, trying not to wake him.

The morning air was freezing and her breath puffed out as she wrapped her arms around herself, rubbing them to take away the chill. Her coat was still warm from the blanket, but the cold cut through.

“Hey,” Emane whispered.

She looked behind her. Emane sat up, pushing off his blankets. “Where are you going?”

“I want to see what’s making that noise.” She knew the threads, but wanted to get a closer look.

Another streak of white darted through the grass to the side, and Emane smiled.

They walked through the tall grass, following the scuffling sounds. They walked past the flying foxes that were nestled down, asleep. Their heads rested on their paws and their thick fur was frosted.

The further out they walked, the taller the grass became until Kiora could barely see over the top. She stopped at a section of grass that had been completely flattened—it was about the size of the center of the city—and in the middle the Marlocks leaped and frolicked—wrestling, running, and darting in and out of the tall grass. One of them bounded out from its hiding place and pounced on another. Their play varied from slow and laughable to moving so rapidly, their shapes nearly blurred.

Kiora laughed. “They are so cute.”

“I know, and the fastest things I have ever seen.” Emane gave her a mischievous sideways glance. “Want to have a race?”

“What?”

“You. Me. On them. Come on, before anyone wakes up and notices we’re gone.”