“You’ll do,” Raz’iel murmured. He stood up, placing one hand over his wound. Solomon felt his blood go cold and he faltered. Hooks formed from blood shot out, burying deep into Dyn’s flesh. The younger brother’s eyes went wide, his knees limp. Dark wisps slotted into the hooks, yanking him from his position and slamming him into the deck next to Raz’iel.
Solomon rushed forward to save him, only to find himself restrained by Iliana. Seconds later, the siblings disappeared along with all of their followers. He growled in frustration but allowed the Northerner to keep his grip.
“You couldn’t take them all, and I knew that was his next step when I saw him grab Dyn,” Iliana said, holding on until Solomon calmed. Abel swooped down and presented Amnur to them, stuck to his tongue. The energy leaking from his wounds redirected Solomon’s attention. He placed his hand against his throat, concentrating his mind. A clatter of footsteps told him that Sakura had arrived, but he kept his focus.
“He’s lost a lot of blood, and he’s hurt,” Solomon said, running his hand down Amnur’s body. He grabbed the chains keeping his hands bound, and his magic restricted. “These are the source of some of his problems, though not all.”
“I can sort them,” Sakura replied, shouldering in. She put her arms around him, pulling him out of Abel’s mouth and brought him to the floor. With her eye closed, she placed her hands on the left cuff. A focused blast of magic followed, shattering the metal cuff. One hand brushed the metal scraps away before both hands grasped the other cuff. Another blast of magic came, and both cuffs were destroyed.
“I’m not sure which of the three did these injuries, but if any were done by Raz’iel, then he needs to heal naturally,” Solomon remarked. The body can reject his healing and if Raz’iel had been annoying his natural defences, it may freak out when it felt it again.
“Get him to a healer, I’ll sort the situation here,” Iliana said, beckoning to one of the Southern old bloods that were milling around awaiting orders. They hurried over and scooped up Amnur, telling the others to follow. Iliana was left with Abel, along with the sounds of his gentle whining. “That was some quick thinking with Amnur, you were impressive.”
“I should praise you for being brave enough to stand up to them. If that gets back to Lilith, you’re dead,” Abel said, in his preferred draconic tongue. The demon sighed, he was correct. In the moment, he had made his choice, for better or worse. He rubbed the dragon’s head, trying to calm his own nerves as well as Abel’s.
“Well, that didn’t go as we hoped,” the Raven said, having emerged from his home. “I hadn’t been projecting my aether, but I could still feel the presence of a bad individual.”
“That Raz’iel, I assume?” Iliana said.
“It’s gone now, so yes, him.”
“What now? I wouldn’t have thought any of them are going to be kind to Dyn when we duped them.”
“I’ll do what I can, though I can’t say what help it’ll be. All I can say is they had the choice to kill Dyn here, but they didn’t. Why though, I can’t say.”
Chapter 27: Amnur
The healers swarmed around Amnur, knocking Sakura out of the way. She gripped her shoulder, rubbing it after the manhandling. Somewhere under the demon horde was Solomon, evaluating what he believed to be his father’s work. Sariel slung an arm around her shoulder, inviting her over to a set of chairs in the distance.
“He’s in good hands,” Sariel whispered, extending one wing and draping it over her back. Sakura sighed, relaxing against the angel’s soft wing.
“I know, it’s just frustrating to be pushed aside,” she said, staring at the flurry of activity. “The locals of the swamp did accept Amnur, but it was often just the two of us. I got used to tending to his problems, ensuring he was fine.”
“I understand. My mother raised me by herself for most of my life. She was shunned for it, but she refused to give me up like her so-called ‘friends’ told her to.”
Sariel’s statement came complete with air quotes, and a hint of irritation. That aspect of the angel culture annoyed him no end. The judgement, the gossip, the shame. “Maybe one day we’ll change it. I have faith in Uriel.”
The flurry of activity began to peter out, making Solomon more visible. He was experimenting with magic, testing different spells on Amnur’s body. Sakura frowned, remembering his earlier words about a second energy signature present within his blood. His discomfort on the issue made sense now, he recognised the signature. No blame could be levelled at his feet, however. Even if they knew about Raz’iel in advance, they probably wouldn’t have stopped him taking Dyn. Putting up a resistance could’ve resulted in someone else’s death on top.
“I think they’re finishing up. Shall we?” Sariel said. Sakura agreed, so the angel offered her a hand. He led her over to the bed, where she could see her father sleeping. His body was patched together with bandages, covered by a loose gown for his dignity rather than warmth. A gentle puff accompanied the movements of his chest, giving Sakura some relief. If nothing else, he was still breathing. She placed a hand against his cheek, feeling the air escape his nose.
“It’s not good news, I’m afraid,” Solomon stated, unable to take the silence any longer. He refused to make eye contact with her, opting to keep his head low. “Raz’iel’s put some form of a curse on him, one that’s going to take me some time to work out.”
“What about the rest?” Sariel said.
“Some injuries, blood loss. Slow healing stuff.”
Sakura thought on it for a while, aware that her father’s future was out of her hands. There was one she could help though: Dyn. Something about Raz’iel presence bothered her. He knew everything about Amnur, so why did he only act now? While it was not something she had told her father, she had met Raz’iel once before. Lilith had found him when he had fled from Shadekeep, following his son’s supposed backstabbing. She had helped him back to health, due to Solomon’s magic temporally blocking his ability to heal himself.
“Solomon, can I trust you with my father? I have something I need to do.”
The mage jerked his head up, making eye contact for the first time. He gawped for a second, before firming his expression and giving her a nod. Solomon knew he had been given her trust and he wouldn’t let her down. She thanked him and stood up, turning towards the exit.
“I’ll stay with him if you don’t mind. Never know if they’ll try and hunt Amnur down still,” Sariel said. Sakura gave him a thumbs up and left. In the haste to get her father up here, she didn't recall the route to the lodge they were in. Abel's bulk should be visible, though. She flew from building to building until she saw the dragon below, interacting with who she assumed was Iliana. A sharp tilt of her wings brought her into a dive, landing her next to Abel. The dragon cooed in reply, lifting his head up and giving her a lick.
“Well?” the Raven queried. Sakura relayed what Solomon had said if his information as to her father’s condition was vague. The Raven thought on the words, before announcing that he’d drop by later to see if he could be of any help. Such matters weren’t his forte, but his abilities gave him a perspective that others lacked.
“What about Dyn? What can we do there?” Sakura said, her heart sinking as she saw the Raven deflate.
“Unfortunately, what I said regarding your father also applies to his brother. I can’t start a war over one individual. I’ll do what I can, though.”
“Is there anyone I can talk to, a contact perhaps?”
“Yes, there is, if it’ll calm you,” he replied, giving her the details she needed to find them. The fact that the siblings turned up today wasn’t a big surprise to the Raven, as one of the servants visit periodically to buy ingredients. Today was their resupply run, so the siblings must’ve tagged along in some vain attempt to arouse less suspicion. This servant held no love for her employers, so she was willing to give information when needed.
Sakura thanked him, only to be interrupted by Abel nuzzling her hard. He whine
d and started to follow her as she paced towards the edge, uneasy with her intentions. “I’m not going to do anything stupid, I’m just going to talk to them. Alright?”
The dragon puffed, but he sat down and let her go. If anyone other than Sakura went, the servant could get spooked or worse, rumbled. She dropped down to the market, blending into the crowds at the stalls. It was quieter than the last time she was here, but it would be enough to keep her goal hidden. Towards the edge of the market sat a small hut, only capable of holding a cart and a bench. This was the building that had been described to her and judging by the cart that was full of vegetables, her target was inside.
She shuffled past the cart and spotted the demon inside, enjoying the brief time they had to rest. The demon too, noticed her. They went to stand up, but Sakura acted to calm their nerves. A touch of small talk did the trick, discussing simple things such as the weather and the produce.
“A certain bird told me that you have connections to the Firebringer household,” Sakura said, once her guest had accepted her presence.
“That bird would be correct, but what’s it to you?”
With a sharp breath, Sakura detailed everything regarding Dyn and her father. It was a risky move, exposing her identity to this stranger. She feared for her uncle’s continued survival, so she had to take drastic action. The servant gasped and relayed to her that Dyn was a friend, one of the reasons she had agreed to act as a spy.
“Whatever you want, I’ll give,” the servant stated, placing a reassuring hand on her arm.
“Can you smuggle me in? I’m aware the house has barriers to deter intruders.”
“The cart is deep enough that I can bury you under the vegetables, and Az and Lile don’t bother themselves with the grunt work. You should slip in undetected.”
“Thank you. Let’s hope I can pull this off,” Sakura said. With the aid of the other demon, they piled up the vegetables onto one side. She was helped into the cart, wriggling her way between the remaining produce. A few seconds later, the heaped food was rolled on top of her. The servant warned her that it wasn’t going to be a pleasant journey over, with all the bumps in the road. Sakura had to keep quiet, pain or not.
Chapter 28: Taking the Bait
By the time she had reached the house, Sakura’s back was aching. The servant had been correct, as neither the siblings nor Raz’iel had bothered to see to the cart. Once the cart had been dragged to the kitchens, Sakura heard a fist tap on the side.
“It’s late at night and I’m the only one here, so get out quick before anyone else turns up.”
The food on top of her was pulled off, allowing her to slip out. She once again thanked the servant, who told her that if Dyn is anywhere, he’s upstairs. Sakura gave her back a crack before skulking to the door, prodding at the tiny crack. After a few taps, the door opened wide enough for her to peek out. A grand hallway stood before her, with a sweeping staircase that led to her destination.
She noticed the floor was a polished stone, a surface that was going to make noise if stood on. It was to her advantage, but also a hindrance. The hall was silent, so she sneaked out and pressed her back against the staircase. With a deep breath, she placed one foot on the bottom step. One by one, she waddled up the staircase. It wasn’t the most dignified method of walking, yet it was silent.
As she reached the top step, a scream rung out from one of the right-hand room. Sakura knew the voice, it was Dyn. Chills sank down her spine, causing her to gasp. She pressed a hand to her mouth to hide her fear, unsure if Raz’iel could pick up on such an emotion. A second cry pinpointed his location, so she sneaked over and loitered outside. It was a hopeless fight to try and take all three together, assuming all three were inside. There had to be a way to lure them out…
Something tapped on her shoulder, followed by a finger on her lip when she whizzed around. Another servant made herself known, beckoning Sakura into the adjoining room. Seeing no other option, Sakura did as asked. The servant pulled her away from the shared wall, just in time for another scream to ring out.
“I know why you’re here,” she whispered, holding onto Sakura’s shoulders. “I’ve been listening to this for over a week, I dread to think what they’re doing. I’ve got no way to stop it though.”
“Could you somehow create a distraction? I can handle one, maybe two but not all three at the same time,” Sakura asked, aware that it was an extreme demand.
“They’re on edge, I can say I saw someone lurking around outside. It might be enough to drag them away.”
“Don’t get yourself killed, but thank you.”
The servant nodded and ushered her under the bed, providing her with a safe hiding place with a vantage point. Sakura watched as she disappeared out of the room, waiting for a few seconds until a knock wrung out. An angry voice greeted her, but the servant put on her best act and panicked about an intruder. She reappeared from behind the wall, pulling at the unseen demon’s arm. A few seconds later, Sakura saw Az and Lile exit the room.
“Raz’iel! You’re coming too,” Lile barked, “you can pick up on aether signatures.”
The ominous shadow that was Raz’iel followed behind them, shaking his head. He was annoyed to be dragged away from his work, something that seemed to hide her presence from him. Fast footsteps told her they were descending the staircase, so Sakura dragged herself out from underneath the bed. She ran to the door and flattened herself to the wall, taking a deep breath before slipping into the room that held Dyn.
Her breath disappeared from her chest as she gazed upon her uncle. He was strung from the ceiling, causing his binds to pull tight against his skin. One held tight to his throat, providing him with just enough to breathe. His eyes were closed, but Sakura knew him to be conscious. “I’m here for you, don’t worry.”
Sakura examined the network of chains, debating which to take down first. She wished to remove the one around his neck, to relieve the pressure. With a step back for distance, she leapt into the air and grabbed the chain. A burst of magic erupted from her hands, shattering the metal. Dyn’s head slumped forward, his arms yanked upwards. He whimpered as his body shook, returning to silence as he swayed.
“So, you can cast?” Raz’iel remarked, bending down to pick up one of the metal fragments. “It’s been a while and it doesn’t look like time treated you kindly.”
“You’ve known about my presence here the whole time, haven’t you?” Sakura replied, keeping her back to him. It was perhaps not a wise move, but she needed to keep her nerve.
“The Central Isle’s exiled mage is once again supported by those that threw him out, so something changed. That, and it was your mother who contacted me, so…”
“Dyn was bait then, but my father?”
“Also bait. Lile finding out wasn’t intentional, nor does she know anything about you.”
Sakura took a deep breath. Out of the three that she could’ve come up against, Raz’iel was by far the worst. She was unsure of his intention, given his desire to bait her here. Two solitary footsteps told her of his approach. Maelor instructed her how to carry out an attack. Now wasn’t the optimal time for a lesson. After a third footstep banged on the stone floor, Sakura swung around, her hand pulsing with a purple light. Raz’iel snatched the hand and thrust it into the air, grabbing her face with his other hand.
“Not bad, but now it’s time for you to sleep.”
Her consciousness began to fade, as much as she pushed her aether to fight it. Raz’iel face creased and the spell was ramped up, forcing dark energy into her body. He said something vague as her hearing began to fail her, but she could detect his anger. Pain welled up in her face as his fingers dug into her skin, bringing blood to the surface. The fight was ending for her, she could hold out no longer. Sakura fell to the floor, unconscious.
“I’m trying to get you away from those two, idiot,” Raz’iel murmured with a hint of a pant. He grabbed her body and after a brief chant, the two disappeared.
Cha
pter 29: Consequences
Abel swooped down to the path that led out of the city, shoving his nose to the floor. He gave the earth a concentrated sniff, shuffling around to check nearby locations. The dragon whined as he turned up nothing, not that dragons were known for their sense of smell. Forced to accept defeat, Abel returned back to Iliana.
“I should’ve known better than to trust her when she said it would be ‘just talk’,” Abel said in the draconic tongue, letting out a snort. His tail thumped on the deck. “I didn’t expect her to manage to get a ride in.”
“If I’ve learnt anything about Sakura, it’s that she has a way with words,” Iliana replied, placing a hand on the dragon’s nose to comfort him. “Although I do have to agree with you on that one. It’s one thing being convincing, it’s another to actually achieve it.”
“Now what?”
“Personal emotion aside? We can’t let them have her, there’s too much at stake.”
“But we can’t tell anyone, lest they have desires for her.”
Iliana lent his weight against the dragon, debating the best course of action. Given the Raven’s response regarding Amnur and now Dyn, he doubted that the demon would do anything other than lament Sakura’s actions. He couldn’t blame him for it, either. It was too much to ask, not with the tensions in the South. Still, he felt he had to at least try to convince him. If nothing else, it sealed off that avenue. “Come with me.”
Abel wriggled his body, lowering it down to offer Iliana a lift. The demon hopped on, sliding around on the smooth scales. He placed his hands on either side of Abel’s thick neck, balancing himself. A wash of wind greeted Iliana as the dragon’s wings thrust into the sky, making him once again slip around. It was only a short journey from their current location to where the Raven was, at least.
Skies of Fyir Box Set Page 59
