36. The first one falls
36
The first one falls
Talon
“ I can’t see anything,” I said, putting the oar down.
Kaine sat up and examined the thick fog that had settled down around us.
Nidori jumped to her feet. “I could fly up and find the way.”
“Wait,” I said, summoning a bright light.
Kaine raised his hand, shielding his eyes. “Ouch! Watch where you’re shining that,” he said, pulling a cloak over himself. I shot him an apologetic look.
“Okay, Nidori. That should be enough for you to find us again.”
“Along with anyone else in a half mile,” Kaine grumbled from under the cloak, which I realised was mine.
Nidori rose up into the air, disappearing into the blanket of white. We waited for a moment, the only sound the waves lapping against the boat .
Then she returned, wings buzzing as she settled back to her spot. “We need to head that way,” she said, pointing, and I adjusted our course, letting the light flicker out. “We’re not far now.”
“Gods, Talon. You really should give a warning next time. You could blind someone with that,” Kaine poked his head out of the cloak.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said, a small smile on my face. He was gorgeous even as he sulked, his silver curls all messy.
“What’s that?” Nidori asked, tearing me from my thoughts. I looked up to see another light ahead of us in the fog. It wasn’t golden like mine had been; it was a pale blue.
“Looks like a waywird,” I said slowly, turning and looking around to see if more were coming. Sure enough, I could make out more blue glows flickering into existence. “Water spirits. They’re harmless enough. It’s actually not bad for us. They float over shallow rocks, trying to lure boats aground. They’ll show us where not to go.”
“As long as they’re the only thing out here that noticed your beam,” grumbled Kaine, pulling the cloak over his head again.
I resumed paddling, keeping in the direction Nidori had pointed at. The waywirds were now a beacon for us, telling us we were heading towards land. My hands were freezing on the oars, almost numb after the hours of paddling and of icy water dripping over my skin.
We had been out here for ages, and I was tired. I was looking forward to sleeping when we found dry land, even if I would be sleeping alone.
I squinted into the fog, blinking as it appeared to twist before my eyes. I blinked again, hard, but it did not make the shapes vanish.
Instead, they became clearer, and I realized the waywirds were not the only creatures out tonight.
“Shit,” I whispered, leaning forward and beckoning Kaine and Nidori close. Nidori looked at me with wide eyes, Kaine peering out from his shroud. I put my finger up to my lips. “Fogtyls,” I whispered. “Blind. Be quiet.”
Kaine nodded, glancing up. Nidori pressed her finger to her lips, eyes wide. I settled the oar on my lap and tried to sit still.
They reminded me of giant jellyfish, floating in the air, tendrils and tentacles hanging down. Some were low enough that they brushed the water, whereas others ended high above our heads.
The waves lapped against the boat, pushing us along. We had run into a whole herd, the tentacles thick around us like vines in a forest.
Kaine flinched as one got caught on our vessel. It let out a wet thump as it fell inside. We all froze, watching the end lazily extending up, exploring the air. Shit. Shit. Our course shifted as the tentacle started to drag us away from the island.
Kaine shifted quietly sideways, towards the tendril, glancing at me and Nidori. I gritted my teeth but nodded. He moved forward again, silently, closer. Nidori grabbed her hair, pulling it taut as we both watched his foot stretch out, touching the invading extremity. He stayed like that for a long second as I held my breath. Slowly, slowly, he moved his foot up, shifting it up into the air. My eyes widened as the end touched Kaine’s leg, but he kept moving, gradually shifting the tentacle out of our boat. A cold sweat broke out on my back, and my body felt like a loaded spring.
All that tension was released when something brushed my back. I jerked forward and dropped the oar. It clattered to the floor of the boat.
I only had a second to look up in horror before movement exploded around us. I dove forward, wings out, trying to protect the others. Tentacles lashed at us, beating down on my back, my wings desperately trying to keep them out. Kaine had shed the cloak and drawn his dagger, and was viciously slashing at the ones closest to us .
They don’t grab under the water , I remembered. I hoped I was right.
“In the water, on my signal!” I roared, pulling my arm free of one tentacle. Two more took its place.
“What’s the—” began Kaine, but I raised my hands, releasing a roaring fireball that exploded around us, pushing all the tentacles back. We didn’t have long; I shoved Kaine, and he fell over the side with a splash. Shit. He better be able to swim. Nidori flew up, clearing the worst of the grasping mass.
I jumped, plunging into the icy water. I opened my eyes under the surface, but it was pitch black, and I couldn’t see a thing. I still clung tight to the oar, which gave me a little extra buoyancy. Something latched on to my foot, pulling me down, and I struggled, kicking, trying to shake it off. I caught a glimpse of what looked like silver seaweed beneath me and realised it must be Kaine. I swam down, grabbing him and kicking hard, flapping my wings to try and bring both of us to the surface again.
I rose above the waves, gasping, and Kaine struggled as well, almost pushing me under. I coughed. There was a cracking noise as the boat Nidori had made was crushed. We watched as pieces of it were lifted up into the air, disappearing into the dark shapes in the fog.
“Calm down, Kaine, or you’ll drown us both,” I said, trying to avoid being shoved under the water.
His hair was plastered to his face, eyes wide. “I can’t swim.”
“I’ve got you. Stop struggling.” I pulled him close to me and wrapped my arms around his chest. His panicked flailing was slowing, and he took deep, gasping breaths. I kept talking, trying to keep him calm. “Spread your legs out, and just try to float.”
I moved the oar, slipping it under his arms to help him. He was still panting but did as I said .
I leaned backwards, starting to kick and warily watching the scene above us. Our talking had attracted some tentacles, and my heart pounded as they brushed by us, tips dipping into the water, but thankfully, that was all they did. The waywird’s blue lights still floated over the water; a beacon of hope. Shallows.
I started the slow, laborious journey of moving us across the cresting waves and to shore. My legs and wings were burning, but I kept going.
“Nidori?” asked Kaine.
I shook my head. “I don’t know. I saw her fly up. I think she got away.”
I heard her voice calling our names. She sounded panicked.
“Kaine! Talon!”
What was she doing?
“Nidori!” shouted Kaine, getting a mouthful of seawater. He tried again. “Nidori, we’re all right! Meet us at shore!”
“Kaine?” she called again. I saw her now, her tiny form zooming across the water.
She met my eyes, relief flashing across her face.
Then a dark shape twisted behind her. I started, trying to shout or warn her, but it was too late; she screamed as a tentacle lashed out. It collided with her in mid-air, and a sickening crack rang out. I watched, horrified, as her tiny form plunged towards the surface of the water.
“Nidori!” Kaine cried, his voice breaking.
I lost sight of her; I was desperately trying to memorise where she had landed.
I kicked, my feet hitting rock, and staggered upright, setting Kaine down, so he could gain his footing. I frantically pushed through the waves to where Nidori had disappeared .
“She’s there,” he gasped, pointing down. I dove under the waves, summoning a bright light under the water.
It was so much quieter under the waves, another world. My light lit up the water in an eerie glow, revealing a landscape that usually remained hidden. I swam down, fish darting out of my way as I dove. I could see her, resting on the bottom of the sea floor. The water pressed all around us, sealing us in. I was an invader in this world, unwelcome and death would come to me if I lingered.
I swam on, my lungs burning, and scooped up her tiny frame, pressing it gently to my chest. Her hair tickled my face. I kicked off the bottom and made my way back up, holding her limp form tightly in my hand.
I crashed through the surface, gasping for air again. Sounds returned—the crashing of the waves, the calling of birds. Kaine was hugging himself anxiously, looking like a drowned rat. He grabbed my arm, trying to help tug me to shore.
I lay Nidori down on the pebbly beach, Kaine hovering anxiously.
“Heal her,” he snapped, and I bit back a retort. What did he think I was doing?
“It’s not doing anything,” I said, my voice shaking. I was pouring all the magic I had into her tiny body, but she seemed to burn through it as fast as I could give it, her wounds too great for me to fix. Tears burned in my eyes. Maybe if I just fixed her skull, her spine, that would be enough.
Fuck, if I still had my oath, I could do this.
There was a rustling sound, and vines sprang up from the ground, pushing me back and wrapping around Nidori. I caught a glimpse of her face, her eyes encircled with bruises, before she was obscured. I sat, my empty hands trembling, trying to figure out why she’d been taken away .
Kaine tore at the vines frantically, but they thickened, twisting tighter around her. A faint yellow light surrounded the tangle, and a figure the size of a child formed on top. She had dark skin and long black hair. Her dark eyes glowed from within her slightly shifting features. Mother Leihandra stared at us, expression unreadable.
“There is no more you can do for her now,” she said, her voice like wind chimes. She sat down on top of the dome she had formed. “Her fate rests in my hands.”
“Won’t someone come and stop this?” I asked. “Gods aren’t supposed to interfere.”
Leihandra snorted.
“Supposed to. Ha. Trust me, enferni, I am allowed to try and save her.”
“Try!? Will she be all right?” Kaine asked, his voice breaking. I didn’t speak. I had felt the extent of her wounds.
Leihandra gazed at me, not blinking. “Time will tell,” she said, crossing her legs. “Rest assured, if I cannot save her, no one can.”
“Not encouraging,” Kaine said tersely.
Leihandra shrugged, turning her attention back to the dome. She ran her finger along the top. “You should go on. The sun will rise soon. The tower is close now, and the path is laid for you to do the right thing.” She turned back to me, her piercing eyes sending goose bumps along my skin. “Especially you, enferni. I trust you will do what is right.”
She blinked, and more vines sprouted in a wall around her, rather decidedly cutting off our conversation.
It was silent for a moment as we stared at the green dome that looked so out of place on this beach.
“I thought she was dead,” said Kaine hoarsely. He sat beside me. “Why did she come and look for us? That was so stupid.”
“She was worried about us.” I was still trembling; the sight of her crumpling above me replayed in my mind.
“That’s idiotic,” said Kaine, as if maybe, if he said how stupid it was, he could go back in time and convince her not to do it.
“She’s lucky she has Mother Leihandra,” I said. “I doubt my patron would step in if I neared death.”
Kaine nodded, but I noticed his teeth were chattering. He was soaked, and the cold air was getting to him.
I started stripping off my wet clothes, squeezing the water out. Kaine followed suit, shivering as he worked.
“Here.” I pulled him into a hug.
He seemed shocked for a moment, arms splayed out awkwardly before he slowly brought them around my back. He was freezing; I wrapped my wings around him to try and warm him up. He rested his head on my shoulder, closing his eyes. For once, he had nothing to say, and so we stood. A lump formed in my throat. Despite our bare skin, this embrace was purely about comfort. Reassurance. One small thing against the wall of fear that surrounded us.