He struggled to his feet, limping and nodding at once. Then, as if he decided that wasn’t good enough, he bowed low.
“We will meet in a week. Take him to Albany’s Edge, Romas,” the Sovereign commanded. Romas nodded briskly and escorted Havoc out of the room, shutting the door behind them and leaving the Sovereign swathed in silence.
The Mage sat down in his overstuffed chair and a wicked grin broke onto his face. Havoc would succeed…but he would also fail. He shouldn’t have expected the Sovereign and his Magi to take Kascien off his hands and out of his life without payback. Even though he was sweetening the deal with a couple of dragons, he had told the Sovereign what he’d expected, what he’d demanded, and that was Kascien away from his precious princess.
Touching a fingertip to his temple, the Sovereign nodded to himself. Yes. It was time to unleash his secret weapon. He would destroy the Wyverns, along with Kascien, once and for all.
***
“So do you know how to use that thing, or is it just for show?”
Kascien glanced up from the flickering of the firelight, his eyes locking on the skinny form of the boy with the eye-patch. The scars on his face made one side of his mouth turn down in a scowl, but the other side was lifted in a playful grin. Kascien wondered for a moment what had happened to his eye, but he didn’t feel that was any of his business. They were perfect strangers.
He blinked at the boy, confused, when Bluff waved to the jewel-hilted dagger hanging at Kascien’s belt. “Oh.” That. The Jirians had told him that the dagger Vik had given him was the same one that the warrior, Cashien, had wielded in his final fight. “Slaves aren’t typically trusted with weapons,” he said wryly.
Bluff just grinned. “So that’s a no, then. You have no idea how to use a blade.”
“Pretty much.” Kascien shrugged and returned to staring at the fire, at the flames licking across desert tinder, sparkling and glowing in golden hues. And he didn’t really care. His body, his entire soul, ached from the exertion of his lesson with Castor, leaving his muscles strained and his bones feeling brittle.
But god it had felt good, the energy that poured through him. The energy he’d always dreamed of, sizzling across his fingertips, out through his very pores. He was a Mage…and he was strong. Stronger than in his wildest dreams. He felt the corner of his lips lift up at the memory, but then Bluff flopped down ungracefully next to him, their knees knocking together, and it slipped away.
“Wanna learn?” Bluff’s good eye was crystalline blue, as blue as Kascien had always imagined Fabiana’s ocean being, all the way on the other side of the world.
“What?”
“Goddess, you’re slow! Do you wanna learn how to do a little blade-work? I was the best in my class and I’m not doing anything right now...” His voice hitched up at the end, posing a question.
Kascien frowned, rolling his shoulders and feeling the ache deep in his bones, but Bluff was right. Who knew when he’d be stranded in the middle of the desert again, surrounded by sandwyrms and defenseless as a baby? “Okay.”
Bluff barked a laugh, more hound than dragon, and leapt to his feet. Kascien shook his head. Did the boy ever stop looking so damn happy? How happy could you be, exiled from the clan you were born and raised in, left alone to hack it out in the desert among the beasts? Kascien wasn’t sure he’d be smiling so much if it were him.
“So what did you do? To get banned to the middle of the desert?” The words slipped from him before he had a chance to filter them. Damnit.
Bluff paused, cocking his head to the side. Sandy-blond bangs hid his eyebrows from view, but Kascien knew they were scrunched together in thought, or maybe frustration. Finally, he just shrugged in a ‘what can you do?’ way. “I was reckless with my princess.”
Kascien’s heart thudded to a stop with a hollow thunk, then kept right on trucking. What? “What do you mean?” he asked slowly, feeling his hair prickle, scales blooming across the back of his neck in a fiery blush. Bluff knew Wylde?
Bluff’s gaze skirted to his, his smile slipping away. “Once upon a time, the Kiir’vanan’s princess was my best friend. We did everything together, joined at the hip. I was reckless, she was restless; it just worked. We’d sneak away from the Nest and go walk among the humans in their Shining Cities, just for the thrill.” He shrugged. “It turned out badly.”
“You got caught?”
“A Mage grabbed me. I told her to run, but you can’t argue with Wylde Debraux. She doubled back to help and we both nearly died that day. We couldn’t keep it from her father. He saw me as dangerous to his daughter and to his clan. I haven’t seen her in almost three years.” He smiled once more, but it didn’t touch his eyes. “Then I found Yuri and this place, this little band. They’ve become my family. We can be reckless together and no one will ever know the difference.”
There was a weighty pause. “What about you?”
He watched Bluff closely, gauging his reaction as he spoke, solemn. “I became a dangerous twinblood and fell in love with the king’s daughter. No big deal. I think he overreacted.”
The boy stiffened, brows shooting up to hide beneath his bangs. “You love Wylde?” His voice was guarded. So Kascien’s gut feeling was spot-on; Bluff did have feelings for her, feelings that extended deeper than childhood friends. He felt a stir of possessiveness, but forced it back with a sigh. It didn’t matter now.
“Not that it does me any good. I’m banned from the Nest. Reitsch is afraid I’ll have a meltdown and destroy his people. The dragons tried to get me to stay with them, but…it’s not my place.” He gave a soft, self-deprecating laugh. “So I’m Mage and Wyvern, yet unwanted by both. Isn’t life just a bucket of sunshine and roses?”
They basked in silence for many minutes. Then Bluff cleared his throat. “I’m sorry.”
“Me too.” Kascien met his gaze, then pulled out the slender dagger at his belt. Irianthe. “You still up for this, sob stories aside?”
A grin slowly brightened the other boy’s face. “Definitely.”
***
“You’ve gotta be shitting me.” Kascien could only stare.
Yuri laughed, a husky sound in the too-hot air, and shook her head. “Best learning’s through experience. You need to learn, we need an extra hunter—it’s all good. Don’t worry, we’ll give you a proper burial if the garblers get you.”
Kascien scowled. “You wish.”
But he wasn’t sure about this, not one bit. He’d only been a part of the desert group for all of two days, and those two days had been filled with lengthy magic lessons with Castor and spur-of-the-moment blade-work with Bluff. Two days didn’t give him enough experience to wander the desert at noon and hunt down dinner of who-knew-what. The sandwyrms were bad enough, but Mackie had left him with bedtime stories of bigger, badder beasts.
Bluff’s shoulder bumped his, knocking him forwards, his grin feral. “Once you get used to hunting, there’s nothing like it. Besides, you have an epic weapon. Irianthe won’t let you down.”
Kascien snorted. “Somehow, I’m not encouraged by this, seeing as Cashien died at the hands of the Magi, Irianthe or not.”
“He might’ve died, but his death wasn’t wasted,” Halo said in a rumble, crossing beefy arms across his chest. He looked intimidating and damn well knew it. “The war ended with his life and that’s how he would’ve wanted it. I don’t know how you got your hands on his weapon, but don’t go putting her down so quickly. Irianthe’s special. Blessed by the Goddess.”
“Or so they say.”
Three sets of eyes pinned on him and narrowed and Kascien knew he was treading on thin ice.
“It’s not just some myth, kid.” Yuri’s voice was quiet. “Cashien was the real deal. He was a warrior and a savior and he deserves respect if you’re gonna be sharing Wyvern blood.”
He rolled back on the balls of his feet. “Alright, okay. Sorry. I just find it hard to believe that this…” He pulled out Irianthe and she gleamed under the sizzl
ing sun. “Is more than just another pretty weapon.” He ran his finger along the curve of the blade. It wasn’t silver, but then again, you didn’t need a silver blade to kill a Mage. Steel worked just as well.
Yuri smirked. “Why not stab yourself with it and find out, twinblood. See what that pretty little blade can do.”
“Let’s not, and say we did,” Bluff said, stepping between them. “Kascien, believe it or not, Irianthe is blessed. Stab a Mage and it will leech the magic from his core. It works slowly, like a poison, so you don’t notice anything at first. But believe me; she’s special. Can we just go? My stomach’s staging a protest.” He placed his hand on his stomach as it gave a loud bellow.
“Sounds like a garbler.” Mackie’s wicked grin was aimed at Kascien. “Let’s go, child. Let’s see what you can do.”
So they trekked eastwards, the sun beaming down on them. Kascien strayed behind, Bluff ever-present at his side, shooting him reassuring looks whenever Kascien caught his eye. He felt sweat bead, burst, and trickle down his forehead, streaking wet lines down the planes of his back, tickling against the hairs at the back of his neck. He reached a hand up to swipe at the perspiration.
“Yanno, if you pull scales on, it’s a little easier to bear,” Bluff said, covered in a sheen of grass-green scales that gleamed like diamonds under the sun. Kascien stole a glance at the others. Everyone but Yuri wore scales, but somehow, the woman wasn’t sweating at all. Bluff caught Kascien’s eye and whispered, “She puts herself through some hardcore training; I’ve never seen her break a sweat, not even in battle. She’s a badass.”
Kascien couldn’t hold back the bark of laughter that rose up his throat at the District language. Bluff shot him a smirk and Kascien opened his mouth to shoot off a retort when a hiss sliced across the air, bringing with it a chill. Bluff jerked to a stop, hand reaching for his blade. Kascien’s heart picked up speed as he clumsily drew Irianthe.
Yuri held up a hand and the group fell silent. Another hiss, then a low, warbling cry. Bluff flicked his blade-wrist, looked right at Kascien, and mouthed, “Garbler,” just as a massive creature with a leathery black hide ambled into view. Its jaws alone were massive and drool hung in strands from its fangs. The beast tested the air, whuffing out another low rumble, and pupilless eyes stared into Kascien’s soul.
His heart bottomed out. Great. They were gonna get eaten by one of the devil’s minions...
Yuri shrilled a high-pitched whistle and the beast roared, swiping at its ears. Bluff gave Kascien a shove, his shout an echo in the air as Kascien’s brain snapped back to life. “Don’t let it bite you, whatever you do. Its saliva is filled with acid and it’ll eat away at your skin until there’s nothing left. Go for its legs. The goal is to get it onto its back; the only soft spot on the beast is its underbelly.”
Kascien nodded, wincing as the garbler roared, its cry wavering and falling in low pitches. Their luck, it was calling its pack, or whatever sort of group garblers ran in. Yuri whistled again and once more the beast faltered. This time, Bluff was faster; he leapt to the side, swiping his blade across the back of the garbler’s leg, earning a wounded howl from the beast. It spun and swiped with a paw, but Bluff was faster. Red-violet blood spattered the sand, soaking it.
“Kascien! Left!” Halo shouted, dodging another swipe of the angry beast and Kascien turned just in time to see the beast was lumbering his way on all fours, head lowered like a bull’s. And on top of its skull were two jagged spikes. His stomach was a living dartboard.
He threw himself to the side, rolling along the sand and felt the ruffle of air as the garbler raced straight past him. Too big to slow itself down, it roared in frustration. Kascien’s eyes locked on the beast’s hind leg and before better judgment could stop him, he raced forwards, Irianthe outstretched.
The blade sliced clean across muscle and down to bone, earning a scream from the creature. Its left leg buckled out from under it. Kascien backed away, ready to dodge to either side, when he heard Bluff yelling: “The right one! Get the right one!”
Kascien quickly sliced the dagger across the garbler’s tendon, just as Yuri leapt forwards. “Move, Kascien!” Her voice was hard, but tinged with excitement as she got right up next to the beast and whistled, piercingly loud. The garbler let out a bellow and reared backwards to get away from the noise. But its hind legs were too wounded to stand on and it tumbled backwards, belly up.
His fingers white-knuckled around Irianthe’s hilt, Kascien scrambled out of the way as the beast fell. It collided with the sand with a roar. He felt Bluff at his side. The boy let out a whoop of laughter.
Mackie swept forwards with the grace of a lioness, unsheathing her half sword and burying it deep in the garbler’s gut. It screamed, low and pained, and shuddered beneath the blade as blood began to gurgle and pool around it.
“It’s over?” Kascien glanced to Bluff, who grinned and nodded. Holy shit, they’d just felled a giant desert beast. He felt a swell of pride—they’d needed him to cut it down. He’d been the closest, but he’d also been the most inexperienced…yet they’d needed him. No one had ever needed him before and it felt good. His power buzzed and rippled along his skin, making the hairs on his arms prickle and raise. He felt alive. More than alive.
Maybe this whole train wreck he called his life would work out after all.
“You’re grinning now? Wait ‘til you taste garbler haunch. It’s freaking delicious,” Bluff said and in response, Kascien’s stomach growled.
Halo used his sword to lop off the beast’s head and then hauled one leg over his shoulder. The back end of the Garbler drug along the ground, blood trailing behind them as they slowly but surely reached the Jiria camp. Wyverns flocked around them and excitement rode heavy on the air as Halo and a man called Dash began to gut it and skin the heavy hide off the carcass. They threaded the metal pole through the middle so they could cook it.
Dusk had fallen when the dinner bell clanged. Yuri carved the beast with a large, serrated knife. The rogues gathered, plates outstretched, and their leader cut them each a thick slice of meat. Bluff grinned from behind his plate as a slab of garbler was served to them “Yum.”
Kascien and Bluff sat down a little ways off, propped up against one of the houses, and Bluff stuck a bite in his mouth. “Ouch! Damn that’s hot!” he barked out on a laugh, but bit a chunk off anyway. He chewed thoughtfully, watching Kascien. “You can’t tell me you’re not hungry.”
Kascien stuck his fork in the middle of his slice and juices oozed out. His stomach did a little flip. “It looks half raw.”
“It is.”
Kascien blinked.
“It’s good. The best way to eat garbler, but hey, if you don’t want it, pass it along.” Bluff made a stab with his fork and Kascien pulled his plate out of reach. “Thought so. Besides, you’re Wyvern now. You can stomach a little blood, yeah?”
With that, Bluff bit into his steak and tore another bite free. A streak of reddish juice trailed down his chin and he wiped it away with the back of his hand.
Kascien stared down at the pink-tinted meat. He never ate his meat rare, but then again, it wasn’t often that slaves got real meat. He shook his head, swallowed back the nausea, and took a hesitant bite. Delicious flavor danced across his taste buds, shocking him. “Wow.” He stared down at his slice with new respect. He could get used to meals like this.
Bluff hooted and made another swipe, and Kascien didn’t bite back the dragon’s rumble that came from his chest. It echoed between them, petering out in a growl. For a moment their eyes locked, Bluff’s good eye widening as a grin spread across his face. Then they both erupted into laughter.
“You’ll make a fine Wyvern, Kascien,” Bluff said around a mouthful of meat, then froze as a shrill wound through the air; a Wyvern’s shriek. Kascien craned his head to follow Bluff’s gaze to the skies, where a black Wyvern circled and screamed again.
“I’m guessing that’s a bad thing?”
Bluff shook his he
ad and rose to his feet. “It means the scouts’ve spotted something. I’ve gotta go.” Kascien moved to follow him, but Bluff placed a firm hand on his shoulder, pushing him back. “Sorry, newbie. You get to stay here, just in case. We’ll be back soon.”
With that, he changed shape and took to the sky with a dragoncry of his own.
Chapter Fifteen
The sun was setting, turning the sand blood-red in all its glory. Wylde’s calves and thighs ached from riding her bond for nearly two days straight and Aevie moved slowly now. Though they hadn’t flown all that long today, dragons just weren’t meant for long-distance treks across the Vanla desert.
She had the bad feeling they were going in circles.
She wrapped her fingers in the dark mane running down the dragon’s neck and adjusted her seat so that a spine wasn’t riding up on her. This was a wild goose chase; between bouts of flying and loping across the dunes, she hadn’t seen Kascien anywhere. It was like the desert had swallowed him whole…and it was quite possible that that was true. He could’ve become a tasty morsel for a flock of night trackers. He didn’t know the dangers of the Vanla. How could he?
One more day.
Wylde’s heart ached at the thought, but she’d give it one more day. At dusk tomorrow, she’d head back for the keep. After three days, anyone on foot with no water or food would be as good as dead. He’d become an easy target for any predator. And she couldn’t keep asking so much of her bond. They were both exhausted and Wylde yearned to curl up and sleep for a week.
Aevie stiffened, wings flaring out as his head snapped up. He rumbled out a low growl and Wylde’s skin bristled. She gazed up, eyes locking on the lithe forms of a fleet of Wyverns flying to the right of them. Coming right at them. She swallowed back the anger that hitched in her throat. So that was it, then. No sign of Kascien and her father was coming to haul her back to the Nest like a hatchling.
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