57. Thyra
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Thyra
The farther Nara carries me away from the border, the more my mind clears.
Taking a careful glance back to the north, away from the groups of Ember Fae on the dunes, I acknowledge what I’ve been trying to ignore.
Across the border, my eyesight reveals to me the wooden catapults, whose existence will have been interfering with my power.
The last Oracle vision I had was of Maxim’s mother drawing blood binds onto his arms even as his fire burned her.
If only I could know her motivations and intentions.
The mountain range grows more jagged the farther we travel while the towers along the border behind me become the size of my thumb.
I keep my eye out for the path Miriam described as a lava trail, which will lead to some sort of cascading rock.
Soon enough, I spot a path of what looks like molten stone flowing across the top of the mountain range. At the same time, I’m aware of the Ember Fae out on the dunes dispersing.
Judging that I still have two hours before the sun rises, I urge Nara toward the molten stone, veering sharply left, closer to the eastern edge of the mountain range.
The dusty plains in the east loom beneath dark clouds, the air becoming grittier the closer we get.
Just as we reach the very edge of the cliff where the molten lava trail curves precariously alongside a sheer drop, a rush of wind billows around us, driving Nara back.
She gives me a warning yip a second before the roar of wind blocks my ears and dust obscures my sight, and Nara pulls up sharply to crouch at the edge of this cliff.
The cause of all this wind storms up in front of me.
Eagles. At least thirty of them, their wings beating, their talons ripping the air.
And at their head, soaring over me in a brutal rush—
“Azul!”
At my cry, he banks sharply right, the other birds following him, none of them wearing saddles or carrying riders, all of them flying in unison and keeping close behind him.
“It’s okay, Nara!” I leap from her back, but I stand like a shield in front of her just in case Azul has bloodshed on his mind.
Hurriedly tugging on the hood and cowl that form part of my Ember warrior’s garb, I pull them over my mouth and eyes and brace against the new rush of dusty wind as the birds circle back toward us, keeping to the eastern side of the burned-out cliffs.
Any higher and they could be visible from within Ember. We’re lucky this section of rock isn’t manned with more Ember Towers. The nearest tower is miles south and situated on the next rise of eastern mountains.
Azul shrieks as he lands in a wash of wind, his crimson eyes wilder than I’ve ever seen.
The flock continues to take a wide circle, dipping behind the cliff, keeping out of sight while Azul comes to a stop on the narrow trail and folds his wings to his sides.
The last time I saw him, he was injured in the bloodlands.
My feet fly, carrying me to him in seconds. “Azul.”
I bury my face in his feathers as he curves his neck around me, his head at my back, a low call rumbling through his throat.
A second later, soft, wolfish growls meet my ears, coming from behind me, ferocious enough for my sensitive hearing to understand how concerned Nara is for me.
Azul reacts by hunching his shoulders and sinking closer to the ground, tucking his wings tightly in a very uncharacteristic non-combative pose.
Nara’s growls take on a questioning tone.
“It’s okay, Nara,” I call softly. “This is Azul. He won’t hurt me. Or you.” I pull back to glare at Azul. “Correct, Azul?”
He cracks open his eyes, a sly gleam before he capitulates and bounces his head.
Nara gives a huffing growl and takes up position on my left, squeezing herself close to the rock face without coming closer to Azul. Her butt ends up squished against the stone and Azul chortles.
“I would keep my distance, too,” I admonish him.
His menacing red eyes gleam brightly again, but then his head lowers and the shine in his eyes fades.
“Azul, what is it?”
He lowers his beak and presses his head to my chest, crooning low and soft. Then, without warning, he shuffles backward, pulling himself out of my arms.
He leaps to the left, off the cliff, spreads his wings, and takes his place at the head of the flock.
The eagles pick up speed, their path carrying them up and overhead.
As Azul soars past, he tips his head at me.
A moment later, the birds sweep northward along the mountain range, this time dangerously close to passing the point where his flock will be visible from within Ember.
If they keep on that path, the warriors guarding the northern towers will soon spot them.
I sprint after him, racing back along the ridge, darting between outcrops, trying to keep him in my sights while Nara runs behind me.
Azul, what are you doing?
Without warning, he veers clear west, encroaching into Ember airspace at an angle that will make the entire flock visible to the Ember warriors at the border.
“No, Azul!”
The Ember Fae will think the eagles belong to Hadrian. They’ll burn the birds down.
Even with my new speed, I won’t be able to run fast enough to stop the Ember Fae from trying to kill the eagles, and I can’t yet fly like Antony can.
My heart leaps into my throat as the flock cuts across the northeastern corner of Ember and I strain my eyesight to follow their path straight toward the Ember Towers.
“No! Azul!”
When he crooned at me before…was he trying to say goodbye?
Horror grips me as the eagles reach the Ember Towers and the sky lights up in flames.