CHAPTER ELEVEN
LYRIANA
“And this is?” Aiden sounded bored as Dario hauled Meera out from the passage.
Bastard. Had they both fucking known Meera was here the whole time?
“I am Lady Meera Batavia. Heir—” She clamped her mouth shut. “I am the niece of the Arkasva, High Lady of Bamaria.”
Dario dragged Meera forward, while Aiden bound her.
There was a flicker of pain in her eyes as the heat of the ropes touched her skin, but she otherwise accepted the binding with her usual quiet grace.
“You were taken, weren’t you?” Dario asked. “Kidnapped by akadim?”
“I was,” Meera said, her chin lifted.
“And you survived?” Dario’s eyebrows narrowed.
Meera made a show of looking down at herself. “Clearly.”
He laughed. “And your other sister? Lady Morgana? She’s not hiding back there, too, is she? Disguising herself as a rock?”
“I believe you already know the answer,” Meera said, her voice sharp.
“Yes, but I’d like to hear it from you.” He winked. “It allows me to form some trust, give you less of a rough time while we’re together.”
“I doubt that.” Meera’s face hardened. “My sister’s not back there.”
“Where is she?” Dario demanded.
Meera’s nostrils flared. “Yet to be rescued from our captors.” She looked Dario up and down and then amended, “Our previous captors.”
“And where exactly were these captors holding you?” Aiden asked. He circled Meera, and her eyes tracked his movement, watching his stave. “What brought you all the way to the North after your escape? What are you doing in Glemaria?”
Meera lifted her gaze. “The akadim held me prisoner in the Allurian Pass.”
Aiden frowned. “That’s the other side of the country.”
“Maybe that’s why you missed the army of monsters invading your territory,” I snapped. “You have an akadim problem that your Imperator’s doing nothing about.”
Aiden’s eyes snapped to Rhyan’s. The mage folded his arms across his chest.
“Look who thinks they know so much about the Glemarian border patrol. Most likely the akadim were made beyond the mountain, in the non-magical realm,” Dario said. “That’s where most monsters in the North come from.”
“Would that not count as a border?” Meera asked.
Dario’s nostrils flared.
The Allurian Pass was on the western edge of the Empire. Aemon was definitely venturing into the human realm and taking the people there to add to his army. It was the only thing that made sense. Reports of akadim activity had grown recently, but the reports weren’t reflective of the numbers he had at his feet. We would have heard about it if that many people were going missing on a regular basis. Now his choice of the Allurian Pass made sense beyond its proximity to the indigo shard. It was an easy place for him to slip into the shadows and build his army of monsters.
“I’ve answered your questions,” Meera said. “You can plainly see I have no weapons as I am a mage. I hope you intend to release me. I was preparing for my travels back to Bamaria to recover from my ordeal. My aunt, Arkasva Batavia, and His Highness, Imperator Kormac, sent soturi to rescue me. To bring me home. Lady Lyriana and Soturion Rhyan were part of that mission. We are expected in the South. I would appreciate it greatly, as would my High Lady, if you allowed us to continue on our way.”
Dario folded his arms across his chest, the corner of his lips lifting. “Interesting. Last we heard, Soturion Rhyan was wanted by Imperator Kormac for abandoning his post with Ka Batavia. Not to mention he’s also wanted by Imperator Hart for an assortment of crimes in the North. Far too many to list.”
“And Lady Lyriana?” Meera challenged. “She’s not committed a single crime. All she did was rescue her sister. She’s my protector and my escort.” Her eyes softened.
“She assisted a forsworn in banished territory. She’s also wanted for questioning,” Dario said.
“Where I was being held captive!” Meera shouted. “Rhyan was on a mission to fight akadim from the South—surely that grants him immunity?”
“Hmm.” Dario shrugged. “No, it doesn’t. Both Imperators seem to have taken an interest in his … affairs.” His dark eyes flicked to me. “And your sister’s.”
Rhyan sucked in a breath, his jaw tensed.
Dario took notice. “Interesting. Unfortunately, I must do as my Imperator commands and bring them before him,” he said. “If they’re as innocent as you say, they have nothing to worry about. Though considering they both attacked His Highness’s soturi on Gryphon’s Mount, they maybe should be worried.”
“And me?” Meera asked. “Am I wanted for questioning?”
Dario’s eyes narrowed. “We’ve been ordered to bring in anyone we find assisting them.”
Aiden had paused before Meera, looking annoyed at the entire situation.
Suddenly, she lunged forward. She was bound, but her hand was perfectly in line with Aiden’s stave.
“No!” Dario yelled, and pushed Aiden aside, just before Meera reached him. She’d been so close.
Aiden hissed through gritted teeth, his fingers tightening over the sun and moon wood. “Did you really think that would work?”
“Worth a try,” Meera said, as Dario gripped her shoulders and sat her against the wall beside Rhyan.
“Can we not with these stupid games?” Dario said, rolling his eyes. “This whole thing is a fucking headache I don’t need.”
“I’ve heard you’re used to those!” I snapped, remembering how Rhyan often described Dario as being too drunk to get out of bed for training. “Particularly in the morning.”
A surprised laugh escaped his lips as his head snapped to Rhyan, who was staring down at his lap. “Myself to fucking Moriel.” Dario pulled out his dagger, and tossed it in the air, catching the hilt and tossing it again. “Sure. He told you I enjoy my drink. That I enjoy actual fun, unlike some present company. But did he tell you anything real? Did he ever tell you about the tournament? The Alissedari that he simply had to win? You know how someone wins an Alissedari, don’t you?”
Rhyan’s face fell, all the color drained.
I’ve killed before … My own people when I fled. I killed one of my friends with my bare hands. My friend.
The words he’d spoken to me once in despair, the first time I’d woken him from one of his nightmares.
Now Rhyan was staring ahead, tears in his eyes.
“Look, you can see it all over her face,” Dario sneered, his accent still heavy. “She doesn’t know. We’ve got time to kill. How about a bedtime story?”
Rhyan’s lips were quivering, his chest heaving.
“Stop it,” I said. “Just stop it.”
“Why? Don’t you want to know these things? You should, especially if you’re going to listen to his stories about us. You might as well hear one of ours.” Dario clapped his hands, like he was on stage. “Time for the tale of the Alissedari.”
“Dario, please,” I said again. “Don’t do this now.”
“No? No. I think now’s perfect,” Dario snapped. “Once upon a time there was a boy named Garrett. Garrett.” He paused, letting the name hang in the air, echoing against the walls. “Did he ever mention that name to you, my lady?”
I lifted my chin, my lips pressed tightly together. Rhyan had mentioned Garrett once. Only once. When he thought I was asleep. I felt hollow.
“No?” Dario lifted his eyebrows. “Well, Garrett was one of Rhyan’s best friends. Like we used to be. His father served on the Glemarian Council with Rhyan’s. Like my father used to, before he was killed.” He paused, looking murderous. “Garrett was a soturion—quite a good one, actually—could have been Arkturion one day. He trained with Rhyan. At least he did until the Alissedari. You’re from the South,” he said, as if this was an insult to my intelligence. “I should have clarified before. But just in case you didn’t know, an Alissedari is a tournament fought on gryphon—”
“I know what it is,” I seethed.
Dario held his hands up in mock surrender. “Oh, she is learn-ed. Well, then you must know how this will end, since you already know the victor is created in one of two ways. They’re the last one standing, or, the first to kill. Guess which way our dear friend won ? Go on, my lady. Guess which way.”
I killed one of my friends with my bare hands. My friend.
“They’d promised they’d work together,” Aiden said, suddenly taking over. “To protect each other. And after they claimed their gryphons, they arrived at the stadium at the same time. Together.” He was now choking back tears. “We thought they’d be okay. They’d be safe. That Rhyan would never—” His chest heaved, his neck red. “But then Rhyan had to win. Couldn’t lose now, could he? No. He murdered Garrett. Murdered him right in front of us. In front of the whole fucking country.” Tears streamed down his face, his cheeks red and mottled.
A tear rolled down Rhyan’s cheek.
“You killed him.” Aiden spoke in a hushed, broken whisper. “You killed him. Our best friend. My love.”
By the Gods. That was why I could feel so much grief in his aura. So much more anger than Dario possessed.
Rhyan had never told me. He’d been in too much pain. Felt too much anguish to speak. I remembered when he’d confessed to killing his friend. His nightmares had been so terrible, his aura had started a blizzard—one that nearly froze us. But even that had been too much for him. He’d been unable to confess the rest. To offer any details.
Aiden sank to his knees. Rhyan was openly weeping. And for a second, I was wrapped up in Aiden’s grief. To lose your love, I couldn’t imagine it. Couldn’t bear it. Just the idea of Rhyan being hurt sent me into a rage. But losing him completely … I pushed the thought away.
Gods. It was a horrible story, especially the way they told it. They made Rhyan sound like a cold-blooded killer, like a monster, like his father.
But I knew Rhyan. I knew without a doubt, there was more to that day. That as impossible as it seemed, he’d killed Garrett because he was trying to do the right thing. He was always trying to do what was right, and then he beat himself up over every little thing that went wrong, even those things that were out of his control. I couldn’t even imagine what Garrett’s death had done to him. What it was still doing.
My arms ached with the need to go hug him, to hold him, to comfort him. To listen to him as he finally confessed the truth. But Aiden had gone still, and risen back to his feet. Everything in his aura and demeanor was harsh and guarded.
Rhyan shook his head, looking desperate. “I wanted to tell you, Aiden. So many times. I—fuck. To say I’m sorry isn’t enough, but it’s the only words I have and I should have said so before. But I … I am sorry. More than you know. I think about him … I think about Garrett …” His voice was hushed, too much emotion to speak louder than a whisper. “Every day. Every fucking day,” he croaked. “But there’s … there are things you don’t know. Things that—that …”
“I know. I know what I saw. And you think about him every day? I hope you fucking do. Because I do. And you know what else I think about?” Aiden asked, crouching down before Rhyan again. “Not the way he looked after you’d killed him. Or the way he lay lifeless in your arms. It’s the last night we were all together that haunts me. The day your nose was broken. You remember that, don’t you?”
Rhyan’s eyes widened, and he nodded slowly.
“I fixed it! Healed you! Mended your bones while Garrett sat at your bedside. Were you plotting it then? Deciding that in order to win, you’d sacrifice your friend? Did you always plan it would be Garrett, not Dario? Did you ask your father to separate Dario and Garrett at the tournament so he wouldn’t stop you?”
Rhyan sucked in a breath, his eyes watery and distant, lost in memory. Then his head fell forward, his shoulders shaking. He looked so helpless. I was desperate to inch toward him. To at least brush my fingers against his, to offer whatever comfort I could. But Dario gave me a look that made me freeze.
“I took care of you. My last day with him, with the love of my life, and I was at your bedside,” Aiden said, his voice low. “Then I watched you wrap your hands around his neck. And for a year, for a whole fucking year, all I’ve wanted was to do this!” His hand fisted over his stave and then—
“No! Don’t!” I screamed.
There was an awful crunching sound, followed by an agonized yell of pain from Rhyan. Aiden had broken his nose.
“Rhyan!” I yelled.
“Fuck!” Rhyan’s head snapped back, banging against the stone. His chest heaved, muscles straining painfully against the ropes, as his shoulders shook. Then slowly, he lifted his head, bringing it forward. There were tears in his eyes, blood gushed freely from his nose, as his fingers twitched helplessly at his sides.
“Stop it!” I yelled. “Don’t touch him!”
“Or what, my lady?” Aiden stepped back, his hands shaking, his aura wild as obvious flares of anger and grief battled for dominance.
“Are you okay?” I asked Rhyan, my voice shaking.
Dario sneered. “Yourself to Moriel. He fucking deserved it.”
“Fuck you!” I shouted, struggling to get to Rhyan’s side.
“Fuck me?” Dario placed his hand over his heart. “I don’t think so. Not tonight anyway. And I would refrain from commenting on the situation. Because there’s one glaring detail about that night you won’t comprehend. The one where you weren’t even fucking there!”
“I couldn’t care less what happened right now,” I growled. “All I know is he’s hurt!” I glared at Aiden. “And your friend is the one who hurt him.”
“Lyr.” Rhyan’s eyes were bloodshot, his mouth tight with pain as he shook his head in warning. “Don’t. Don’t. It’s okay. I’ll be all right.” Suddenly his eyes widened, staring behind me. “Fuck!” He strained as he shouted, his voice full of command and warning. “DARIO!”
A low growl echoed across the cave. I turned my head, stomach twisting in horror as an akadim, completely impervious to magic, walked right through Aiden’s wards.
The beast was so tall, the top of its head nearly brushed the ceiling. It was completely naked, wearing only a silver collar around its neck. We’d seen those collars before. It connected him to his master, and let them share power in a kind of twisted kashonim. This wasn’t any old akadim who’d stumbled upon us. This was one of Aemon’s monsters.
One of Moriel’s.
Dario grabbed a torch from the wall, and raced toward the flames to light it. Then he withdrew his blade, his black curls shining in the firelight.
“Aiden,” Rhyan yelled, spitting the blood that spilled onto his lips. “Aiden. Unbind me! You must! Unbind me, now! Aiden!”
But Aiden was frozen, his aura filled with fear, as he watched with stunned horror as his friend approached the akadim. He grasped his stave, his knuckles turning white. His face had paled with the same look of terror I knew I’d had when I’d first seen akadim up close. Despite how seasoned Rhyan and Dario were at fighting, Aiden was a mage, not a warrior. This was probably the closest he’d ever been to an akadim. Maybe even the first one he’d ever seen with his own eyes.
“Aiden!” I yelled, my entire body vibrating. “You have to unbind us! Or we’ll die!”
The akadim growled, and swiped sharpened claws at Dario’s chest. He backed away, just enough for the beast’s nails to graze his armor. With a yell, Dario launched the torch at the akadim’s head, but the beast swatted at it, sending the flames flying back in my direction.
“Lyr!” Rhyan screamed.
The torch hit the wall beside me, the fire catching on loose twigs. The sticks blazed instantly, the flames licking at my leg. Shit! Shit, I was going to burn. Angling my boot away, I repositioned myself, and kicked out, stomping on the flames until smoke rose beneath my foot.
“AIDEN!” Rhyan roared, sliding his body toward mine as if he could pull me back from any further dangers. “Aiden! Unbind us.” His voice filled with panic. His muscles strained to near bursting, his fingers touching mine. “NOW!”
Dario yelled as he raced for the akadim. But it grabbed him, hoisted him into the air and tossed him into a wall with a sickening thud. His vadati stone smashed to pieces beside his head.
Another growl echoed through the cave, this one louder and deeper. A second akadim, its body thicker and more muscular than the first, had entered, wearing the same silver collar around its neck. Another one of Aemon’s soldiers.
These were a new breed. When I first fought akadim, I’d been protected by Asherah’s chest plate. Her blood was like torture to them, because she’d been a Guardian. That had saved me when I had no magic. But now the undead who served Aemon carried his blood in their veins, the blood of a reincarnated God. They could touch me now. As well as Rhyan, and Meera.
And worse, they had the potential to activate the Valalumir inside me. Aemon’s blood, the blood of a Guardian could do that.
We absolutely had to get free.
“Aiden, do it. Release them,” Dario finally commanded, pulling himself to his knees. His pants had torn at his knees above his boots, and blood was dripping from his forehead, his face covered in soot. With a grimace he was back on his feet, repositioning the hilt of his sword between his hands. “Now!”
Aiden blinked rapidly, then pointed at me with his stave. There was a blast of light, and at last I felt the ropes drop from my body, my magic and strength rushing back through my limbs. I felt like I’d been underwater, and I’d just risen to the surface, and could breathe again. I jumped to my feet, immediately racing to the corner where they’d thrown my armor and weapons as Aiden unbound Rhyan and Meera.
The mage’s eyes darted between us as we brandished our swords, bodies tensed to fight. He took a step forward, like he was going to help, but I snatched Meera and my stave off the ground first, pushing her behind me. Aiden’s chest heaved, his hands trembling at his sides as the akadim roared.
“Aiden,” Rhyan said firmly. “Aiden, listen to me. I need you to take Lady Meera to the back, and stay hidden until the threat ends.” He held his friend’s gaze, offering him the confidence he’d given me so many times before when I’d needed it. “Okay? You’ve got this. You’re strong. Keep her safe.”
Aiden’s throat bobbed, but to my surprise, he nodded, his eyes blazing. “On my life.” He pressed a fist to his heart twice, before flattening his palm. Meera took his hand, offering a reassuring squeeze, and he nodded. He placed his other hand on Meera’s elbow, his eyes meeting mine before disappearing with her into the shadows.
I held my sword with two hands, my eyes meeting Rhyan’s. Dario raced for the first akadim, jumping and striking its arm.
For a second, Rhyan pressed his side to mine, a brief reassuring touch we’d both needed. Then his voice was low in my ear, strained from his broken nose. “Attack its right flank. I’ll go left. Strike deep. No holding back.”
My throat tightened, but I nodded, tightening the grip on my sword. Rhyan’s lips curled back, his body preternaturally still, ready to attack. I took off towards the right. He ran left. The akadim’s eyes flashed on me, his claw at the end of a giant, muscled arm thrashing. I leapt, swinging my sword across his body. The blade struck his skin and the hit reverberated through the hilt and up the nerves in my arms. I resisted the blade’s inclination to bounce back, slowly piercing through the rough skin to the thick cords of muscle. Gritting my teeth, I pushed, straining as hard as I could without losing my grip. Blood spurted from his arm as my feet touched the ground, my sword still in my hand.
The akadim growled, and before I could attack again, Rhyan made his second leap, the tip of his blade arcing downward. The beast’s arm hung limp from its shoulder, less than a tendon keeping it from falling off.
It sank to its knees, groaning in pain as its severed arm hit the floor with a sickening thud.
Rhyan readied his sword again. But then a blood curdling scream rang through the cave. The first akadim had lifted Dario into the air by his neck, strangling him. Dario kicked helplessly, and stabbed at the akadim’s arm with his dagger, but it was no use. The akadim squeezed harder, ripping Dario’s armor away from his chest. He was stripping him for access to his heart.
To eat his soul. To turn him forsaken.
“NO!” Rhyan roared.
“Go!” I shouted. I could see the pain in his face, the warring needs to protect both me and his friend.
Rhyan stared hard at me, his eyes assessing.
“Just a fucking rope,” I said. “Go!”
He ran for Dario just as I launched myself forward. I’d kill this akadim on my own.
The beast swayed, blood flowing freely from his severed shoulder. I bent my knees and jumped, lifting higher than I ever had. And with a thrust, I drove my blade into its heart. He howled, his remaining arm scrambling to grip the hilt. Gritting my teeth, I pushed and shoved until I felt my sword meet the barrier of muscle on his chest, tough and thick. My boots found purchase against his thighs, and I pushed the blade in even further, forcing it past the beast’s muscle and bone.
On the other side of the cavern, I caught Rhyan launching himself onto the akadim’s back. He wrapped his arm around its neck from behind, and withdrew his sword. Rhyan drove the blade through his back. He grunted, until the blade burst through the front of the akadim’s chest. Dario fell from its claws, hitting the ground with a sharp thud.
I jumped back from the akadim before me, my blade still embedded in its chest. Rhyan yelled at Dario to get out of the way, but he just lay on the floor.
“Dario!” he yelled.
His chest rose and fell—he was alive—but otherwise, he wasn’t moving.
The giant swayed and tipped forward. His eyes going blank as he began to fall, the blade’s point positioned right where Dario lay.
I bit back a scream as Rhyan yelled out.
“DARIO!”
The akadim fell. Dario was going to be impaled. Rhyan leapt from its back, his feet barely touching the ground before he dove forward, wrapping his arms around his friend. They rolled off to the side, their legs tangled, just as the sword and beast smashed to the cave’s floor.
I raced forward again. My beast was still alive—and my sword was in its chest. I needed to pull it out and strike again.
“ Maraak Moriel ,” it growled, its collar shining in the firelight.
King Moriel. Aemon.
It grinned as it grabbed hold of the hilt of my sword, swatting my hands away. I fell back.
The akadim roared, spitting blood laced with its putrid breath against my face. Its red eyes narrowed to slits, fangs protruding from its mouth as it pushed my sword deeper into his chest, mocking me, making sure I knew that I’d missed his heart.
My chest heaved, as I prepared for my next move.
“ Maraaka Ereshya, ” it said, licking its lips.
Queen Ereshya. Morgana …
I stumbled back.
My eyes burned. Aemon’s betrayal was one thing. But Morgana’s? Was it possible? Could it be that she hadn’t just taken the shard, but that she was being worshiped by these monsters, too? That she was ruling over them? Commanding them?
No, no. She couldn’t. She wouldn’t.
But she was.
“You fail,” it growled. “Lost your sword. Can’t kill me now.”
“Don’t be so sure about that,” I said, unsheathing my dagger. My name flashed across the steel in the firelight.
The akadim laughed, mocking the size of my weapon. But a second later, I’d launched myself forward. While it protected its heart, I shoved my dagger through its hand.
The akadim screeched, arm flailing, giving me the few seconds I needed to unsheathe my sword from its chest. I struck again. And this time, I didn’t miss the heart.
Some animalistic sound echoed against the walls as the akadim’s eyes widened, then went dark. It seemed to be still, suspended in movement for several agonizing seconds, before it toppled forward, my sword crashing onto the floor beneath it as I stepped aside.
Across the cave, Rhyan still held Dario in his arms, trembling with shock. His face was red, like he was still trying to breathe after being choked. But Rhyan’s eyes, puffy, dark and swollen, were on me, looking me up and down, assessing that I wasn’t hurt. That I was safe.
He lifted one arm, his palm outstretched to me, and I ran, dropping to my knees to hug his side. My arms tightened around him like I needed him to breathe, and for a second, I let myself sink into him, my face buried in the warmth of his neck.
Rhyan crushed me to him, his hand a steadying presence on my back, pulling me somehow closer. I lifted my head, our foreheads pressed together, and he let out a sigh of relief. He moved, his lips brushing softly against my forehead before he pulled back, his eyes heavy as they met mine. “Lyr,” he said, his voice choking up. “Are you hurt?”
“No.” I buried my face back in his neck, trying to catch my breath. To breathe in his scent, to feel he was alive. To revel in the knowledge that somehow, again, we’d survived. “You?” I asked, squeezing him.
“Just my nose,” he said roughly, his fingers squeezing the back of my neck.
Dario took several deep breaths as he shifted himself to sit on the floor.
“You got to breathe, Dario,” Rhyan said. “You hear me? You’re okay. You survived. Take a breath.” Rhyan reached for him, but the soturion ignored his gesture, standing on his own, some unspoken conversation happening between them.
Dario’s eyebrows narrowed, but he nodded.
“We need to patrol the perimeter,” Rhyan said. “See if more are coming. You’re all right?”
His face was contorted in pain, but Dario gave a firm shake of his head.
Aiden and Meera emerged from the darkness of the passage, their faces pale.
The moment she saw me, Meera ran from Aiden into my arms. “Lyr,” she cried. “You’re okay?”
I nodded. “We all are.”
She looked with disgust at the dead akadim, her eyes lingering on their collars. “Aemon sent them.” Her voice was quiet, too low for the others to hear.
I nodded, the backs of my eyes burning. Not just Aemon. Morgana. But I couldn’t bring myself to say it yet. To hurt Meera even more than she already had been.
Maraaka Ereshya.
“Let’s go,” Dario said. “Rhyan and I will secure the perimeter. Lyriana, I need you to protect Aiden and Meera.”
I nodded. “I will.”
Heart thundering, I watched Rhyan and Dario grip their swords and head outside, their bodies vanishing into the falling snow.
I stood before Aiden and Meera, my body tensed, and my ears alert. A minute passed before Rhyan and Dario burst inside the mouth of the cave, their chests heaving, eyes wild.
“The fuck!” Dario roared, bending over, his hands slamming into his knees as he caught his breath.
Rhyan pushed his hair back, grimacing, his face red. “There’s a dozen out there. And more are coming. We’re surrounded on all fronts.”
Meera shook beside me. “They’re trying to bring us back.”
“Or kill us.” I reached for Meera’s hand, watching as Aiden turned to Dario and Rhyan, his face ashen in color.
“Maybe,” Meera said quietly, “Maybe we let them take us. They … they didn’t hurt us before. Morgana wouldn’t—”
“NO!” I shouted.
“We’re trapped then.” Aiden looked ready to panic.
Rhyan stared outside, and straightened the strap across his chest. “No. We’re not. We have a gryphon, big enough for all of us.” His accent was rough, the posh noble lilt he’d practiced completely gone. He looked between Dario and Aiden. “Give me thirty seconds. I can find him. I’ll get us out.”
Dario scoffed. “Right. Like we’re just going to let you walk out of here.”
“Are you fucking serious?” Rhyan spat. “You know I’ll come back!”
Dario’s face reddened, his eyebrows narrowed.
“I swear on my Godsdamned life!” Rhyan shook his head. “ Me sha, me ka. We’ll fight about this on the gryphon. If you want to break my arm next, be my guest. But by the Gods, I won’t let anyone here die tonight.”
A roar called from outside the cave. Another answered. The akadim were getting closer.
Rhyan rushed to stand before me, his breath coming short. I reached for his shoulders, my fingers pressing into the leather of his armor. His green eyes fell on mine, blazing with light. There was something desperate in the way he looked at me. Like he was memorizing my face.
“You’ll come back,” I said breathlessly.
His jaw tightened. “I will always come back for you.” He reached for my neck, his fingers brushing softly against my skin. Then I felt him grip the chain I wore, his hand sliding down toward the clear, white vadati stone. He pressed it into my palm, and leaned into me, his breath against my ear.
“Be ready,” he commanded. This was the voice of an apprentice now, ordering me to follow the chain of command. “The gryphon won’t fit inside. I’ll fight my way to the cave’s mouth, get as close as I can. When I call for you, come.”
I nodded. “Be careful.”
He pressed his fist to his chest, his knuckles brushing against mine. “ Mekara .’’
“Rakame ,” I whispered back. My throat felt too tight for words.
And then he was gone, his figure swallowed by the darkness beyond the cave.