22. Kiar
Chapter 22
Kiar
F or a moment there, I had thought it was all over. It wasn't the first time that my life had come to a brief end only to be brought back by Clem's magic.
This though, the surge of strength and power that wasn't dimming or diminishing, was far preferable to waking up as a shadow in Sun's cell with my soul barely intact.
I laughed aloud, forgetting where I was, forgetting that I was still surrounded by enemies. It didn't matter in the least. A winged noc beast swiped past me, stabbing me with pincers and even without deflecting, it was like my skin had armor. I felt the attack, but it deflected off of me as though my skin was a shield.
Grin growing wider, I turned, meeting the surprised gaze of my attacker.
“Oh, is that all?” I asked gleefully and leaped at him, catching him by the wing and tearing it off like it was made of paper.
The creature screamed but I did not have sympathy for my enemies, especially not right now when we had nearly lost it all.
With sharp claws and limitless strength, I cut through his flesh until he stopped moving.
Only when the last twitch ran through his fallen body, did I finally look up again, searching the scene for any of my comrades.
Hadi was on a rampage, stronger than ever now, throwing bodies left and right. And in the air above us, Bracken flew, a truly magnificent creature with a new wing that may as well have been made from starlight.
Overwhelming love and satisfaction filled me as I watched him explore his new speed and agility with wonder, shooting through the air faster than an arrow while Clem–beautiful Clem–clapped excitedly.
I understood.
It was hard not to feel celebratory, but this wasn't over yet. We had to kill the emperor.
Where was Sun ?
I found him almost at once as a great cheer rose from the crowd near the entrance. Spinning to see the commotion, my grin only grew at the sight of Sun.
He was covered in black blood, his eyes gleaming as he ripped Daaku apart with his bare hands. Our new strength was a delight to see especially on my human lover.
Laughing triumphantly, I slithered through the people to get close enough to watch the manic display as Sun continued, showing no signs of stopping.
He dug his hands between the plates of the giant's body and with bulging muscles pulled him apart, shouting and grunting as he did it again and again, leaving the creature literally in pieces.
I moved to get closer and only then noticed that someone was following me.
Spinning to catch them, I stopped dead as I came face to face with a horse. For a moment we looked at each other until her dark, discerning eyes told me everything I needed to know.
“Haru,” I said, and she huffed in response. “So, you have come all this way following your master?”
I glanced over her, not surprised to see that her flesh had regrown. Now only patches of missing fur remained to tell her tale of falling on the battlefield and being resurrected years later to rejoin the war. Tsuki had done something truly amazing.
I reached out, smiling, and patted her neck.
“I know what it is like to be brought back,” I informed her. “And yes, I do share my soul with your master, but you should save this reunion for him.”
She huffed again and I could see the excitement in her eyes.
“Come,” I said, and turned on my tail to hurry to Sun.
He was dismembering Daaku's large head from his body now, his teeth grit and bared with the force of his concentration.
“It is done,” I said loudly. “Daaku is not coming back now, Sun. He poses no threat.”
My voice seemed to pierce through his concentration, and he finally paused and turned to look at me.
All the various parts of Daaku remained alive, writhing uselessly wherever they had been thrown.
“It is hard to believe that this bastard was the one who had us overthrown and killed,” I spat venomously.
Sun shook his head fervently.
“It wasn't him. It was Emperor Gaulu. He has been controlling not only Daaku, but probably the entire noc side. Keeping the war going. Keeping himself on the throne. That bastard! He ran toward the palace as soon as I was upon him.”
I could hear the frustration in his voice and reached out, squeezing his shoulder.
“Then we shall waste no more time,” I promised. “Let us go after him. Now.”
Sun nodded, finally looking at me and freezing at the sight of Haru, just as his horse gleefully skipped to him, head-butting him and nuzzling him.
“H–Haru?” he asked, and I nodded.
“Your steed has been through a lot to reunite with you,” I said. “Take her now. Head after Gaulu.”
His hands stroked Haru reverently. He couldn't even look away.
“But the others–”
“I will gather them. We will follow close behind you. Go .”
It felt momentarily strange to push Sun to ride away to face another unknown danger, and atop a horse instead of Hadi. But with the new found strength that Clem had somehow given us all, my worry was greatly diminished. He had torn apart the noc king with bare hands, after all.
“Meet me at the palace,” Sun said, worry across his face.
I wanted to comfort him, but there was no time.
“Go!” I said, smacking Haru's backside. “We are behind you!”
Finally, Sun turned his gaze forward, leaping through the city streets on his beloved horse's back, his long hair flowing over his shoulders.
My heart ached watching him go. Sun was right, we should all be together, but if Emperor Gaulu was controlling the nocs, there was no time to waste. He may have other plans up his sleeves to make it even more difficult. If we didn't catch him soon, he could get away. We couldn't allow that to happen.
With sudden urgency, I spun around.
Bracken and Clem were now embracing high up in the air.
“Bracken!” I shouted. “Clem!”
But the fools didn't hear me. They were still too busy celebrating. I understood that the new feelings surging through us were almost euphoric, but the battle was still at hand.
Instead, I shot through the crowd toward Hadi.
When I came upon him, I didn't need to say anything. The moment his gaze landed on me his eyes widened.
“Sun,” he said simply.
“He has ridden his steed to the palace to face the emperor alone.”
Hadi cursed and suddenly, without even saying a word to me, he reached down and pulled me, hoisting me onto his back and leaping through the crowd.
I held on tight, not used to this new sensation of jumping so high and then landing with a crash. I had never been on Hadi's back before, but then again, his landings were somewhat more graceful than Bracken's and I could get used to it.
“What is happening?!”
Clem's urgent voice drew my attention, and I looked over, realizing that he and Bracken were flying with us now.
“Finally!” I chastised. “Sun has ridden off to the palace to face Gaulu.”
Clem's eyes widened but Bracken's face darkened with determination. Goddess, I was glad to see the bastard still alive.
“He's not facing that asshole without me,” he promised and shot forward, going ahead of us.
Good. We would catch up with Sun fast. He would not face the emperor alone.
He would not face anything alone. We wouldn't allow it.