by E. L. Todd
“Cora.”
She stilled, her fingers still deep in the fur, and sucked in a breath through her teeth.
The steed released threatening clicking noises from his mouth.
Her hand slid down his flank before she turned to see eyes identical to hers, the same ring on his hand that was on her own. In black battle armor, he approached, his powerful shoulders rigid, walking with strength and grace, the balance of a warrior, the confidence of a king.
She swallowed as the emotion in her heart leaped into her eyes.
He halted in front of her, his chin dipped slightly to meet her gaze.
She stared back, the sun rising behind him, making his powerful armor shine. “The queen said yes?”
His eyes regarded hers, steady and still.
“Then why are you doing this?”
He held up his hand, showing the Riverglade ring. “Sor-lei.”
“Callon…”
“Tor-lei.”
A smile formed on her lips. “Thank you, Tor-lei.”
The steed took flight, high above the sky, and headed in the direction Callon suggested.
He sat behind her, grabbing on to the shoulders of the beast, tense and nervous the entire way. “You look like you’ve done this before.”
Cora rose and fell with the beat of the wings, remembering how it felt to ride Flare across the desert to Eden Star. “Guess I’m a natural.”
“How did you get his cooperation?”
“I reached out my mind and felt.”
He was quiet for a long time, then unexpectedly said, “Impressive.”
Having Callon with her for the journey quieted the fear in her heart, but the drums of anxiety still pounded in her ears, knowing that Flare and Rush were being tortured just the way she had been.
“Cora, they’re here.”
“They?”
“Please don’t tell me you didn’t expect them to follow us.”
She looked over her right shoulder and saw a Shaman approach, his palm raised with glowing fire in the center of it. “Shit.”
“Cora—”
“We aren’t in Eden Star anymore, and shit is totally the appropriate word right now.”
“If you maneuver the steed and line up a shot, I can fire an arrow.”
“Okay, I’ll try. Cover me.” She cleared her mind and connected with the beast.
He was torn, torn between the Shamans and the woman who gave him the flower. She persuaded him to dive and make a sharp turn.
Callon latched on to her, jumpy when he wasn’t on the ground anymore.
“Here we go.” She came around, approaching the Shaman from behind.
When they were straight once again, Callon placed his arrow and fired.
The Shaman dodged out of the way.
Callon did it again and missed. “Cora, your left.”
She told the steed to drop.
They plummeted down before he opened his wings again and swerved out of the way.
“Cora, we can’t outmaneuver them when they’re on the same steeds that we are. And I’m not as proficient with the arrow while in flight. We certainly can’t keep this up all the way to Rock Island either.”
“I’m realizing that.”
One was on each side of them, drawing closer, their fiery palms raised. But they never fired, just tried to intimidate.
“They want me alive.”
“Doesn’t help the situation, Cora.”
“Cover me again.”
“What are you going to do?”
She closed her eyes and held on to the steed, but instead of reaching her mind out to her new friend, she reached it toward the Shaman on her right. She knew she’d hit her mark when she entered the darkness of his mind. Skulls, shadows, caverns, death…it was all there. It was all he wanted, all that consumed him.
When he felt her, he pushed back, a piercing scream in her mind.
Without even knowing what she was doing, she attacked his mind, crushed his skull the way he did to hers.
He shrieked again, but this time from his lips.
His mind went black.
When Cora opened her eyes, she saw him fall from the sky.
Abruptly, the other Shaman took off, flying in the opposite direction as quickly as possible.
Callon looked down below then over his shoulder. “What did you do?”
“I did what they did to me… Crushed his skull.”
Twenty-Five
The Dungeon
The island was illuminated by the torches spread out over the terrain. There were watchtowers, dark pits, rocks and sand. There were no trees, no flowing water, nothing that resembled Eden Star.
She directed the steed to lower at the edge so they could dismount. It’d been a day and a half of travel, with no rest for Cora because she had to direct the creature that had turned against its own kind. Callon had tied himself to her body so he could sleep, to make sure he was well rested for what would happen next.
They dismounted, their boots hitting the surface that looked like sand but was actually bedrock. Flare, I’m here.
His words came, just as broken as they were last time they spoke. There was no excitement or jubilance at her arrival. Hurry. We’re in the castle, in the prison down below. He’s not going to last much longer.
Guide me.
Flare sent the terrain with his mind, showing her the way between the pits and into the entryway of the castle. Guards are on the watchtowers.
“They’re in the castle. There were guards along the watchtowers.”
Callon readied his bow. “I see them. You said you were good with the bow.”
“Yes.”
“How good?” He examined her as he tightened his vambraces.
There was no time to be humble. “I would have hit the Shaman with the first arrow.”
He trusted that without question. “Then you need to cover me.” He pulled his helmet out of his pack and placed it over his head, the vines of the forest used as subtle artwork along the metal.
“While you do what?”
“There’re two swordsmen guarding the entryway next to the alarm bell. I need to get to them before they set off the alarm and alert everyone on the island. It’ll make my job much harder if we aren’t successful. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Then don’t miss.” He immediately departed, running in silence, sticking to the boulders as much as possible.
She readied her bow and pointed her arrow at the first watchtower. She held her breath so the bow wouldn’t shake, and once her focus was secured, she released. The arrow flew through the air and dropped inside the tower—making the guard collapse.
The sound of steel on steel hit her ears.
Callon was in battle.
She moved forward and readied the next arrow, sending it through the sky and hitting the next mark.
She wanted to watch Callon fight, but she had to keep her focus.
The guardsmen started to notice, and they quickly slid down the ladders to rush to the bell.
Cora moved quicker, taking down one and then the next.
Callon was battling the two swordsmen, enormous men in full armor.
A guardsman pulled out his bow and aimed at Callon’s back.
She got him first.
Another came with his sword raised, ready to slash at the back of Callon’s neck.
She got that one too.
She got them all.
Callon bested one of the swordsmen then moved to the other. Now that it was just a single opponent, his sword danced in the flames. He was so quick, his footwork impeccable, ducking like he knew the moves before his opponent made them. His energy was conserved in a perfect flow, in a beautiful dance. Within seconds, he defeated his opponent, his dead body toppling down the stairs to the dirt below.
He lowered his sword to his side, glanced at the dead bodies around the pits, and then looked at her. “Let’s move.” He took the lead and breached the entryway
to the castle. “Stay behind me.”
I’m inside. Where do I go?
The stairs on the right.
She directed Callon. “Right.”
Callon didn’t question her and followed her orders. They descended into a corridor of empty jail cells.
Be careful, Cora. General Noose is somewhere in the castle.
Who is that?
One of the best swordsmen in Anastille.
“Callon?” she whispered.
He stopped but didn’t turn to her.
“General Noose is here.”
He didn’t ask questions, as if he knew exactly who that was.
Cora reached the cells that were full, but Rush was nowhere in sight. She kept moving, made eye contact with someone, and then stopped and went back. “Bridge?”
Callon stopped and turned back. “The friends you spoke of?”
“Uh…not quite.”
Bridge was against the wall, his eyes sleepy, covered in bruises and dirt. “Cora…?” He spoke in a raspy voice, like he was parched.
The prisoners in the other cells came to the bars, watching their interaction.
“It’s me.” She pulled on the bars, but it was no use. “I’m going to get you out of here, alright? I just need a key…”
Callon suddenly shoved her hard against the bars, his sword hitting another’s.
“Wait, stop!” A woman with dark hair next to Bridge rattled the cages. “He’s with us.”
Callon stepped back and lowered his sword.
A young man her age with weathered skin lowered his sword, dressed in boots and a jacket rather than battle armor, raised a ring of keys, and shook them. “Got ’em.”
Bridge breathed a sigh of relief. “Never thought I’d be happy to see you again.”
“What are you doing here?” the woman with dark hair asked. “We assumed you left.”
One by one, he unlocked each door, letting them go free. He reached her cage last and regarded her. “Like I’d leave my fair maiden behind…”
Her eyes softened as she looked into his, and then he reached up and smacked her ass.
Bridge groaned. “Anyway, let’s go.” He stepped out of the cage and turned to Cora. “Are you here for Rush?”
“Yes. Have you seen him?”
“He’s down below,” Bridge said, his eyes falling. “I’ve heard him a couple times…” He glanced at Callon. “Who’s this?”
Callon sighed with frustration. “Cora, we don’t have time for this.”
“Right.” She turned to him. “You guys leave. I’ll get Rush.”
“We can help,” Bridge said.
Callon stepped forward. “You’re weak and have no weapons. You’ll just get in our way. Flee. Now.”
Bridge held his gaze before he looked at Cora again.
“He’s right,” Cora said. “We’ve got this. Besides, Rush can’t carry all of you.”
Bridge nodded. “True.” He quickly moved forward and gave her a hug. “We’ll meet you guys at the hideaway.”
“Alright.”
He took his companions and left with the pirate.
Callon moved forward again and approached the next set of stairs.
Silently, Callon snuck up on more guards, snapping their necks and making their bodies crumple to the ground before they even knew they were there.
Where now?
Next set of stairs. At the very bottom.
“Keep going.”
They descended the last set of stairs and entered a damp basement, the coldness like a foggy graveyard.
Rush was on the floor, bloody and unrecognizable.
There was a man in a red robe—and she recognized him instantly.
The Steward of Easton.
The man who was responsible for her torture.
Anger made her nostrils flare, her hands shake, a desire for vengeance never more prominent.
Flare’s voice came into her head. Kill. Him.
Callon moved into the cell first, sword drawn, ready to strike him down.
The steward was aware of them before they even approached, the dragon he was bound with sensing their approach once they were at the bottom of the stairs. His sword was unsheathed instantly, yellow, covered in dragon scales.
Callon’s was sage green, the same color as the vines of the forest, infused with both power and serenity. His eyes remained on his opponent, his sword poised to be flicked with his wrist. “Go, Cora.”
She dashed across the cell and bent down over Rush. “Rush, can you hear me?”
“General Callon.” Easton’s taunting voice filled the dungeon. “How’s the wife and son?”
Sword clashed against sword, and the battle began.
“Rush.” She shook him, trying to get him to wake up.
Let me try.
A few seconds later, Rush’s eyes opened wide, and he sucked in a deep breath. “Cora…?”
“Yes. I’m here.”
His eyes shifted back and forth quickly, like he couldn’t believe what they showed him. “What…?” His face was bruised and bloody, swollen in so many places he almost didn’t look like himself. His clothes were torn, cuts and open wounds everywhere, festering.
The tears inched up her throat, but she beat them away. “I need you to get up. I can’t carry you.” She helped him sit upright, listening to him groan with just the subtle movement.
Callon and the Steward of Easton continued their sword battle across the dungeon, circling each other, their blades coming together then breaking apart. The red robe billowed around the steward in his movements, and the green sword was a streak of color as it swung.
“Come on, Rush. You can do this.” She propped his arm over her shoulder and tried to lift him.
He ground his teeth and screamed as he pushed, but then he collapsed. “I…I can’t.”
She turned to Callon, needing his help.
He was backed into the wall, the steward getting the upper hand.
She nearly dropped Rush to go to Callon’s aid, but then she spotted the rock near Rush’s head, which was bloody because it’d been bashed into his body somewhere. She grabbed it and threw it right at the steward’s head.
Callon kicked him back and sliced him right down the arm.
Rush cracked a pained smile. “Attagirl…”
“Try again. I’m sorry, but you’re too heavy…”
Rush groaned as he tried again, letting out a low cry as he got to his feet, this time using the wall for support.
She supported all the weight that she could and guided him out of the cell, moving slowly, at a snail’s speed. When she got to the stairs, she turned to the sword battle. “Callon?”
“Go.” He never took his eyes off his opponent. “I need to finish this.” He circled his opponent then faked to the right, landing his blade across the other arm.
The steward let out a scream.
“Come on.” She let Rush use the wall for support, and they moved up, step by step. “Push through it.”
He grimaced with every step, heaving and sweating, like all the bones in his body were broken.
They reached the top of the stairs, and Cora checked for the guards.
There were none. “We have two more of these. Come on.”
They reached the next flight of stairs, and Rush leaned against the wall, breathing through his agony.
“Rush, I’m sorry, but we have to—”
The castle started to rumble like an earthquake was below their feet.
The steward is changing. Hurry.
“Let’s go.” She forced Rush up the next flight of steps, the rumbling getting worse, stones starting to fall from the ceiling. They reached the top and came face-to-face with a guardsman.
He unsheathed his sword and moved.
Rush quickly grabbed Cora’s blade from her hip and shoved it right into his stomach.
The guardsman groaned and collapsed.
Rush let out a scream then fell to his knees, his body giving out.
Cora grabbed her sword then looked back down the stairs. “Callon?”
He’s coming. Keep going.
She grabbed Rush again. “Come on. Just a little farther…”
He went limp, his eyes glazing over.
She shook him. “Come on!”
Callon ran up the steps. “Coward.”
“Callon, help me,” Cora said. “I can’t carry him.”
Callon immediately bent down to throw him over his shoulder.
But then went still.
The castle was shaking, stones were falling, but he remained still.
“What?” Cora asked.
Callon stared at Rush’s face before he looked at her again, a burning rage in his eyes. His nostrils flared and his hands shook. He’d never been this angry, and now he looked like a volcano about to spew lava.
“Please…” She grabbed his forearm and squeezed, begging him as the castle crumbled around them.
He clenched his jaw so tightly that his veins protruded through his skin, and the darkness of his eyes looked like chasms directly to hell. He let out a scream of fury before he picked up Rush and threw him over his shoulder.
Hurry.
They reached the main level, and even with a full-grown man over his shoulder, Callon slayed the guards in his path. The castle collapsed, and a roar sliced through the night.
They sprinted out of the castle just as it collapsed, the stones falling exactly where their heads had been just seconds before.
Hurry! Put him down and back away.
“Drop him,” Cora instructed.
Callon put him down without gentleness. He backed away, his sword in hand, searching the sky for the dragon that would emerge momentarily.
Instantly, Rush became Flare, turning fire-red, elongating his body and becoming the menacing beast she had first met outside her village. He lowered himself and extended his wing so they could climb on.
Cora went first, running up to the top.
What’s he doing?
Cora turned back to see Callon standing there, sword still in hand, eyeing Flare without an ounce of respect.
There was only disdain.
Pure disdain.
“Callon.”
ROAR!
She reached out her hand so he could grab on to it. “Tor-lei, please.”
