Chapter 31 #2
Soon the wind became so strong that Talon pushed me down almost flat against Neo’s back as he leaned over me protectively.
He said something near my ear, but the gusts snatched his words away as soon as he uttered them.
The feathers on the edges of Neo’s wings rippled as he made constant adjustments.
The farther we flew into the storm, the more vicious the wind became, until I could feel it tugging at me from beneath Talon’s heavy body covering mine.
It poured over our bodies like endless waves.
Neo didn’t flap his wings or try to fight it; he kept them spread wide, letting the currents carry him.
I closed my eyes and focused on the wind streaming over us.
At first, it was like a roaring beast, the sound deafening.
But I concentrated on the way it streamed past me, and how I could feel it all around me.
Within the roaring, I could detect something else, something like music.
I focused on the sound, trying to block out all other sensation.
The more I listened, the more I could hear it.
It sounded like the way we sang—primal ululations that conveyed everything from deep mourning to joy and celebration.
The music made it seem like the wind was a living, breathing creature. And maybe it was.
I thought about how I connected with Mistral, of that powerful windstorm inside me that seemed to hover on the edge of my consciousness. I had only called out to him, and he had answered me. Would this storm be the same?
Focusing on the way the roaring wind had turned to music in my mind, I sang back to it—quietly at first. There was no reaction or response.
So I made my voice louder and louder still, until I could almost hear my song over the wind.
And suddenly, silence hit me like being struck deaf.
All around me, the wind still raged, though I could no longer hear it.
I reached deep inside me where the power lay in wait.
And instead of calling forth any wind, I focused on the storm in front of us.
When I closed my eyes and listened to the roaring gusts, I could see the wind.
Neo flew in a rushing river in the sky, full of white-capped currents prepared to sweep us away at any moment.
All the other times I had used my power to destroy my enemies, I had released a burst of power.
Now, though, I called the feral windstorm before me, picturing it as nothing more than a light breeze.
It fought like a fish caught on a hook, bucking and thrashing against my mind.
I maintained my concentration, beads of sweat tracking down my forehead despite the cold.
We struggled against each other, but I had only to think of how desperate I was for the power to defeat the Devourer. I refused to give in.
Little by little, the storm stopped fighting and allowed its strength to pour into me.
Deep inside my subconscious mind, where the cliffs overlooked the bottomless ocean, the windstorm’s strength fueled the power within.
Usually, any attempt to call the wind drained me, but this had the opposite effect.
I felt like I had just woken up from the perfect amount of sleep and had cold water splashed on my face, invigorating me.
My heart beat strong, and even the aches in my ribs and muscles from Raven’s attack faded.
Neo straightened out as the wind calmed, gliding high above the mountains.
Slowly, Talon sat up, and I did the same.
I released my death grip on the pommel and looked around me in awe.
When Talon had first suggested that I could control the wind around us for a more comfortable flight, I didn’t believe it was possible. Now, there was proof.
“You’re incredible,” Talon said in my ear, and I glanced back to find him grinning proudly at me.
“I’m still in shock,” I admitted. “But this must have been what Mistral meant, because I’ve never felt stronger.” Power coursed through my body, making me feel like I could take on the world. I pictured unleashing all this massive power onto the Devourer. Surely nothing could stand against it.
“Were you able to call the wind?” Talon asked.
“In a way. It wasn’t like when I summon a cyclone and release it in a massive burst of power. Instead, I grabbed hold of the windstorm and absorbed its energy.”
“And, in doing so, calmed the storm,” Talon said with enough awe in his tone to make me blush.
Neo glided easily through the air, back toward the palace, with only a light breeze ruffling his feathers. Somehow I had done that—controlled the very weather around us. I could only hope it wouldn’t have the effect it usually did on Shazeera and me.
“Yes, and maybe this time it won’t—” I cut myself off abruptly before voicing my thoughts on Shazeera.
I had never told Talon the repercussions of my power, and I was suddenly afraid to trust him that much.
He watched me with a curious gaze but didn’t pry.
Honestly, if he had asked me to continue, I might have shut down.
I had only to think of everything we had been through in our short time together to realize he was worthy of knowing my biggest secret.
I hesitated for another moment before finally saying, “Summoning the wind usually harms my bond with Shazeera, and I’m unable to communicate with her afterward. ”
When he stayed silent for a moment, I glanced back at him again. His eyebrows were lifted in shock. “Why would using your power harm your bond with your horse?”
“It’s complicated,” I said, looking down at Neo’s golden feathers. “We still don’t understand all of it.”
The commander of an aerial army came out in him then, and I could practically hear his brain examining my nonanswer.
“The other times, when you’ve released wind power, you’ve been unable to communicate with Shazeera?
” When I nodded, he continued, “And this time you’re hoping that because you absorbed the energy instead, it won’t have the same effect? ”
“Yes, but I’m too far away to test it right now.”
“I didn’t realize your power had such consequences,” he said, tone somber. “This upcoming battle—it’s a lot to ask of you.”
I put my hand over his as warmth spread through my chest. “Risking our lives in battle with Ozul is a lot to ask of you, too—and the other Eagle Riders. But we could possibly be the only things standing in the way of this creature becoming insanely powerful.”
Talon pulled me even closer and spoke beside my ear. “All of that may be true, but that doesn’t stop me from hating the thought of you in danger.”
I shivered at the vibrations of his deep voice so close to the sensitive skin of my ear and neck. “If it makes you feel any better, I don’t want you to have to face this thing, either.”
“It does make me feel better,” he said and kissed my neck.
My eyes fluttered closed as I let out a sigh of pleasure and leaned back into him. Behind me, his chest rumbled with a chuckle, and I turned to look at him wide-eyed. “What are you laughing about?”
“Neo,” he said, running his hand over my hair. “He’s warning me I better not take this any further while we’re riding on his back.”
“I’m sorry, Neo, we’ll behave,” I promised, heat from a blush creeping over my skin even as I had to stifle a laugh.
But when I tried to lean forward to put a little distance between us and hopefully cool things off a bit, Talon gently tightened his hold.
I gave in, leaning back against his wide chest. Tomorrow, we would walk through the gates of hell, facing all the horrors within.
Despite the countless very real and pressing worries on my mind, being so close to Talon on the back of his eagle, nothing but wind and sky around us, silenced every thought in my head.
All too soon, though, the pasture where we’d left Shazeera and Zamir came into view.
Even from this great height, I knew Shazeera raised her head, ears pricked to watch us approach.
A shiver of worry whispered through me at the thought that I might not be able to talk to her now, especially when I was about to face the Devourer.
But before I could make the attempt, a familiar voice pushed its way into my mind.
There you are. I was beginning to worry the wind carried you away.
And I’m so thankful to hear your voice, I told her, tension immediately melting from my shoulders. Even though you clearly didn’t have a lot of faith in my abilities, I added teasingly.
I turned to Talon with a relieved smile. “I heard Shazeera just now.”
She snorted. It wasn’t you I was worried about. That eagle could have been simply exaggerating his prowess in a windstorm.
“Good,” Talon said close to my ear. “You were right about the difference in energy distribution this time. It didn’t drain you or hurt your bond. Let’s hope tomorrow goes the same way.”
Neo landed, and Talon dismounted first before catching me as I launched myself off Neo’s back. Shazeera waited for us, tossing her head in impatience as Zamir remained statuesque beside her.
I went straight to Shazeera’s side and put my hand on her warm neck.
I’m glad you’re back safe, she said. So tell me truthfully: Do you feel fully prepared for the battle ahead?
Yes, I was able to absorb the windstorm’s power until it increased my own. I’m ready, I promised her, though I couldn’t ignore the little tremor of apprehension that ran through me.
She couldn’t, either, by the way her ears swiveled suspiciously at me. But Zamir drew our attention.
Zamir saluted Talon and bowed her head to me. “Commander, I contacted Falcon as you requested, and he needs to know when he should be here to guard Shazeera.”
“Tell him tomorrow at dawn,” Talon said.
“Understood,” she said and strode away toward the palace, presumably to send word to Falcon.
To me, Talon said, “I’ve asked Falcon to guard Shazeera since Baz, Kestrel, and Zamir will be with us. He is trustworthy.”
I nodded, grateful for Talon’s foresight. I didn’t want to leave Shazeera unguarded while we faced unknown horrors in the west wing. I stroked Shazeera’s silky coat. “I’m worried for Shazeera if anything should happen to us,” I said.
She snorted and shook her head. Do not even speak of such a possibility.
It would be foolish not to, I told her.
“I’ve already prepared for that,” Talon said, and when my eyebrows shot up, he added, “not that I expect us all to go in there and die, but you should always make plans in case of death during battle. Falcon will fly Shazeera back to your people if we are killed.”
“And you trust him?” I asked, anxiety still twisting my insides. I wished it were Baz, Zamir, or even Kestrel—Eagle Riders I had come to know and trust to look out for Shazeera.
“Yes. He’s young, but he will carry out my orders. Even if I’m dead.”
“Please don’t say that,” I said, my voice sounding strangled.
“Believe me, I don’t intend to die tomorrow. I will guard you with my life,” he said. “I only wanted you to know that Shazeera will be taken care of in any scenario.”
I nodded. “Thank you for doing that,” I managed to get out, glancing at Shazeera.
Tell him I appreciate his concern—for both of us, Shazeera said.
I relayed that to Talon, and he bowed his head toward Shazeera before turning back to me. “I want to speak to Emperor Altair before we carry out this mission. I want to gauge his mental state and make sure he hasn’t completely succumbed to Lord Heron’s influence.”
“Or the Devourer’s,” I added with a grimace.
“I’ll escort you back to your room, and I’ll have Zamir stand guard inside.”
His words only reminded me that I needed a constant guard now. And even if we succeeded in the morning, likely the threats against me would only increase. I doubted Lord Heron would accept defeat.
I turned back to Shazeera and placed both hands on her cheeks. Our foreheads touched as both of us closed our eyes. She smelled like grass and earth and home. I love you. As soon as I can, I’ll come back here.
I love you more than life—just come back to me alive. Everything else we can deal with as it comes.
Be ready for anything, I told her. Even if we manage to defeat the Devourer, Emperor Altair likely won’t take it well. It’s a very real possibility we’ll have to break the treaty and flee.
She dipped her head in acknowledgment. I hugged her once more before finally forcing myself to walk away. My heart felt like lead in my chest.
Talon stayed close to my side as we walked out of the pasture, and I glanced back at Shazeera, praying it wasn’t the last time.