Chapter 25
Ridgecrest Forest, Border of Eldridge and Zamyra
Slowing Melody to a walk, Daya observed the land closely as they made the final approach to the fortress. A bold purple trail of leopard’s bane plants rustled in the breeze, the heart-shaped leaves billowing in the air.
Bright strands of new growth sparkled through the more muted colors of the Eldrin Forest the closer she got to the Zamyran border.
She was partial to the darker forests laced with gold velentha trees on the other side of the mountain range facing Eldridge’s central area.
It was reminiscent of the forests she’d grown up hunting in with her father.
She had to admit that, without the dark activity plaguing the land, it was a beautiful area.
Vibrantly colored Zamyran plants crept over rocks and hills.
Vines circled the trunks of trees. The lush landscape was a blend of two worlds, its beauty and wildness growing with free rein this far out from the populated areas of either realm.
The gateway of nearby Mountainview was just outside her reach.
She could go there in an emergency, and had a few times in the past, but it would weaken her tremendously until she returned to the shadow of the mountain.
The feeling of disconnect was enough to discourage any desires she once had of building relationships with the townspeople.
Better anyway that she remained a stranger passing through when the need arose.
Climbing the last stretch of land brought the fortress towers into view in the distance.
She stopped at the crest and peered through the trees.
Sunshine filtered through the branches and vines between her and her destination.
It was the first time she’d seen it from this point in the day.
Her reconnaissance had always been during rainy weather or with the team in the dark.
A glance back showed Veda wasn’t too far behind on her horse, Shadow.
Neka kept pace alongside them, loping as a cat with her wings tight to her body.
The horse Opal had picked out for Veda was a sweet, steady horse who had been a bit terrified of Neka when they’d met.
A month of sharing their resting space had changed things drastically.
Shadow now took cues from Neka as they traveled through the forest, seeming to trust that the owlcat would provide early warning of any dangers.
Ember circling overhead, scouting in close range above them.
She had been quiet and brooding during the past month, even more short-tempered than usual.
Though she hadn’t responded to any prodding, Daya suspected that Ember’s attachment to Connor had extended to encompass Veda as well.
She rarely let the girl out of her sight.
Ereven, any sign of Connor’s people? Daya’s mind reached far to connect with her winged partner who was out scouting much farther ahead.
Yes, I’ve found them. Two with magic. A day’s ride out.
We’ll wait and camp near the river then.
Visiting the fortress was one thing, but she didn’t want Veda having to sleep there.
She usually left Veda guarded by Neka and Ember at the river while she saw to the prisoners.
She hated to leave Veda alone for even that short amount of time, but it had to be done.
The sooner the prisoners left, the better.
She only hoped that keeping them alive served to assist Connor in his hunt.
The two travelers made their final approach with intense speed, as if they knew exactly where they were going. Dressed in dark shades with weapons visible, they looked like typical mercenaries for hire.
Ereven flew with them, an escort of sorts, as they rode onto the fortress grounds.
Stay back with Neka and Ember, Daya reminded Veda. These people are very dangerous.
To us? Veda asked.
I don’t think so, but stay hidden until we’re sure.
Despite their appearance, there was nothing average about the man and woman who rode toward her. Their energy was familiarly lethal. Thrumming like the sharp edge of a dangerous weapon that invoked caution to those around.
Daya breathed a sigh of relief as she assessed the feelings she and the mountain were getting off the strangers.
Cass had sent Wolflumen to pick up the prisoners, not another Lightning Team.
She hadn’t recognized how nervous she’d been to interact with another team of warriors until the burden had disappeared.
Wolflumen, she was okay with, even eager to meet.
The man leapt down from his horse and stepped forward. “Dayanara of Hannelore?”
Besides Connor, Cass was the only living person who knew her given name.
“Cassia sent you?” Daya asked, remembering to use the name her Wolflumen clanmates used.
“To retrieve two troublesome packages from the mountain’s guardian, yes.” The man smiled, sun-wrinkled cheeks crinkling with the movement. It made him seem much less threatening than he actually was. “I’m Kovvar, and this is Evie, of the Wolflumen clan.”
“I’m Dayanara,” she confirmed and gestured to the sky. “And your escort is Ereven.”
“Ah, yes. We met earlier.” Kovvar gave a respectful nod upward to the hawk. “Cassia told us the hawks would lead the way once we got close enough.”
Evie nodded a silent greeting, staying on her horse as she assessed Daya from afar.
Startling eyes—one pale blue and one brown—shone with intelligence even from a distance.
Her dark hair splayed around her shoulders with an energetic charge of its own, as if recently struck with the powerful charge of a lightning bolt.
She was at least a decade younger than Kovvar, only a handful of years older than the teen girl they’d rescued, if Daya had to guess.
“Thank you for coming,” Daya said. “Cassia wanted these two alive for questioning but couldn’t take them at the time. I’ll be glad to have them off my mountain.”
“It’s no trouble,” Kovvar said. “We’re happy for a reason to return to Calderre, actually. It’s been a while. Living out of safe havens is not the same as being home.”
Though an intensity vibrated from him as it did Cass, he had Connor’s charm and friendly demeanor. Not what she would have expected in another Wolflumen.
Kovvar looked back at Evie. Some silent communication must have passed between them because Evie finally jumped down from her pure black horse and came to join them.
“What condition are they in for travel?” Kovvar asked, turning back to Daya.
“Uninjured but weak. They’ve been locked up for a month with water and minimal rations. I don’t have horses for them. Didn’t want to leave any here with the risk of them escaping.”
“No need to make life easy on them,” Evie murmured.
“We’ll have to fetch a few from that town we passed,” Kovvar said, scratching his chin. “Evie, you want to stay or come with?”
“I’ll stay.” Evie gave Daya another assessing glance. “Is it just you?”
“No.”
Though her instinct was to keep Veda hidden and isolated for her own protection, she didn’t want to stifle her. Determined to make her own way and not be controlled by the past, Daya took the risk.
Veda, Ember, you can come meet them.
A moment later, Veda strode cautiously through the trees. She hesitated only slightly, tangling her hand in Neka’s fur as she crossed over the crumbling perimeter of the fortress grounds. Though she seemed steady, Neka might have a few broken feathers by the grip she kept on her friend.
“Veda, this is Evie and Kovvar, family of Cass’s.” Daya continued the introductions to Ember and Neka as well.
“Hello,” Veda said, touching her necklace with her free hand.
Evie smiled, softening slightly at Veda’s presence.
Once the greetings were done, Kovvar left to retrieve horses from Mountainview.
The familiar course of action made Daya’s heart tighten.
Just a month ago, she and Connor had stayed to watch the fortress while the others went to town for supplies.
Shaking off the memories, she steadied herself. Time to end things.
“What are those for?” Veda asked.
Daya looked up to find Evie pulling two thin chains of metal from her pack.
“To keep the prisoners in line. It will help me keep them controlled with my magic on the trip back.”
“Is that why they’re metal, not rope like our collars were?”
“Yep,” Evie said without elaborating. “Can you stay here and keep watch for us while we go have a chat with the prisoners?”
Veda looked relieved not to be asked to enter the dungeon. “I can do that.”
“Great. Dayanara?”
“This way.” Call if you need us, Veda.
I will.
Tromping through the mix of earth and crumbled stone, Daya led Evie over to the central keep that was still mostly intact. The Wolflumen took it all in with measured glances, silently assessing as they walked.
Lighting a pair of lanterns, Daya led them down into the dungeon. It was pitch black, so she hung the lanterns on designated hooks to light the area.
The two soldiers flinched and cursed, throwing arms up to block the light.
She realized that would probably pose a problem for them when they left, after a month in the dark.
She never left light for them since she wasn’t around to keep an eye on the lit flames.
Usually, she darted them with a short-acting sleeping herb so that she could replenish their water and rations and remove their waste.
They’d need to blindfold them the first few days until they re-adjusted to the light.
“Hey, let us out of here!” The surlier of the pair yelled, focusing in on the new face. “This crazy woman has been keeping us captive!”
“We didn’t do anything illegal! Just doing our jobs!” The other joined his comrade at the bars.
Evie stared back at them in her silent way, her single pale eye seeming to glow. Small flickers of energy sparked through her hair though there was no breeze in the dank room.
They continued to plead with her for their freedom until they dissolved into screamed curses at her disinterest in talking to them.
Only then did she finally step closer, boldly standing within grabbing distance should the two try to reach for her through the bars.
“The only laws I follow are those of nature, and you are most certainly at fault. Cause any trouble, and I will kill you without a second thought. Bringing you back is a favor, and I never agreed that you’d arrive alive. ”
The surly soldier returned to stand across from Evie, hands resting nonchalantly on the bars. “I’d like to see you try. You’re barely more than a child. Let us out, and we’ll see if you’re capable of holding even one of us.” He sneered.
Quicker than Daya would have thought possible in their malnourished state, he launched his arms through the bars to try to grab Evie. Before he reached halfway across the distance, the power roiling in the air snapped with vicious force.
The soldier screamed as the dungeon lit with blinding light. The sharp crack of lightning was deafening. The scent of seared flesh nauseating.
When Daya’s vision cleared, she saw the mouthy soldier lying prone on the ground and the other huddled in terror against the back of the cell.
“Dead?” Daya asked.
“Not quite,” Evie said, sounding resigned to have to leave the man alive.
The remaining soldier was cursing a quiet stream of words from realms far and wide as he stared between his fallen friend and the Wolflumen outside his cell.
Evie tossed the metal chains through the bars to him. “Put a collar on each of you and lock it.”
Shaking, the man did as he was told, first on his unconscious friend and then on himself. He yelped when a quick sizzle lit up the metal.
“Zevat,” he cursed. “You’re an abomination! You should be locked up in here instead of us!”
“Someone tried that once,” Evie murmured.
The lack of explanation left Daya wondering just how traumatic her experience had been. Given that Evie was wielding such extreme power, she could only imagine what her childhood must have been like before the Wolflumen.
Turning away, Evie led the way back up the stairs. Daya followed her, still marveling at the raw power that seemed to pour off her. Remnants of energy snapped and danced through her hair, lighting up space around them.
Veda was waiting nervously for them just outside the walls of the keep when they came out. “Are you okay? I felt magic and heard a loud crack, and I was worried.”
“We’re good,” Evie assured her. “Just warning the prisoners to behave once we leave.”
“I thought it might be you. Daya’s power feels different,” Veda said, looking curiously at the other woman. “What did you do?”
Evie held out her palm, and a small swirl of lightning danced in her hand. The air cracked and sparked around it in a vortex of energy.
“Oh wow. Does it hurt?” Veda asked, raising up on her toes to see better without leaning closer to the sphere of magic.
“A lot,” Evie admitted. “The energy can be overwhelming.”
Veda considered that, watching Evie thoughtfully as the lightning winked out from her palm.
“What do you plan to do with this place?” Evie asked, looking between the two of them.
“We were just discussing that last night but haven’t decided yet,” Daya said.
“I want to destroy it, but I feel guilty about that,” Veda admitted.
“I can understand wanting to destroy it after what happened here.” Evie looked around the mountain. “But the surrounding land is a really beautiful piece of nature when it’s not overrun with monsters.”
“What would you do?” Veda asked.
“Well, if I were an earth mage, I’d probably help nature reclaim it,” Evie said.
Daya smiled, because that was exactly what she had suggested the night before.
Giving it back to the earth, to let time and nature take its course, was instinctive to her.
Veda had been surprised, not realizing they could do such a thing with their magic.
It had given her plenty to consider during the night.
“You wouldn’t destroy it?” Veda asked Evie.
“I’ve destroyed a few places. It can feel really good when it was full of bad people who hurt you. But I’ve also destroyed one that I really loved, by accident. Once they’re gone, it’s never the same.”
Holding her necklace in her hand, Veda looked up solemnly at Daya. “What do you think Connor would do?”
“He’d rebuild it, use it for a good purpose,” Daya said with certainty.
She was just as certain that Cass and Marin would destroy it. None of the options were wrong, but she was determined to let Veda make the choice, as she’d been the one harmed at the site.
Veda reached out to pet Neka, stroking her feathered layer of fur thoughtfully.
“Just remember, you don’t have to destroy all of it,” Evie advised. “You can pick which parts to keep for the future, and which to bury deep within the earth.”