Wylde Magic | Book 3

Fifty Nine: Uncertainty

My arms ached as we flew low back to the ruins.

The battle with Bara Khalja took a lot of my magic and even more of my energy. I regretted not bringing anything with us, including something to eat. I sighed looking down at my open palms, feeling the dwindling magic just beneath my skin, knowing what it would cost me to draw much more without giving myself a chance to rest. What's worse is that I was in better shape than the other two.

Spaulder's injury to his neck was worrisome, but he wouldn't let us dwell on it as he glided over the marshlands. It bothered all of us that we couldn't see where Bara Khalja was despite the lack of cover for a force so large, but we did have a good idea of where he was going so with Spaulder's speed we would at least be able to reach the elven ruins first.

Schula's damage on the other hand, seemed to be mostly internal. The scrapes and bruises she had gained over the battle would be mostly gone by morning, but she was haunted by the claims Bara Khalja made on the battlefield. There was no distracting her from it, and she didn't speak unless I asked her a direct question. My heart ached for her, but I trusted she would be ready to defend herself when we met our enemy again.

So, the long flight back was mostly silent torture. Not only had the warlock disappeared, but we were left reeling from the battle and would unlikely be given chance to recover before bloodshed was brought to us once more. I was anxious that we had lost sight of Bara Khalja, and I could only pray that we got back in time to prepare the others for battle.

Marshlands eventually gave way to trees, which stretched for miles. The air was cold outside the court lands, true winter setting over the whole of the Wyldes. I eyed the skies, willing the clouds to stay white and without threat of snow.

Spaulder's flying became more erratic the longer we went. We would slow down before he got up to his usual speed again, or we would dip much lower than he was flying before and then he would seemingly realize and take us higher again.

My stomach was in knots of stress by the time the field of the lost elven city came into view. Cold air rushed over me as Spaulder dipped down, and my stomach dropped as he picked up speed. More speed than I was used to from him, and my voice was shaky as I called out.

"Spaulder?" I said just over the wind, but still we dipped faster and bolder with the ground looming near.

"Spaulder!" I called, and my panic snapped Schula out of her thoughts.

With a crunching crash, Spaulder ran his belly along the tops of some trees he let get far too close during the descent. Branches and treetops snapped and broke, falling to the ground below as Spaulder snarled, falling away to the right in the now hectic tumble to the ground.

Small blessing that we were in the clearing, because there was ample space for the tremendous size of Spaulder to somewhat right himself as he crashed into the ground. The impact threw me off of him, and Schula went the other direction.

My name was called from more than one direction, but I couldn't keep track as I panicked and tried to right myself before crashing into the hard ground myself. Twisting to face the ground, my eyes widened as my impact was disrupted by a blue fae.

"Oof!" I grunted as I landed in Thain's arms hard enough to knock both of us back, though mercifully the sturdy fae stayed on his feet.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. His expression of surprise was almost comical, but he leaned in to the kiss as he set me back down on my feet.

"Thank you," I said, turning to run to Spaulder's side.

Thain followed as I ran around to see Spaulder's face better, meeting Schula there. My eyes met hers, and the concern the icy fae wore on her face alarmed me. Looking down, Spaulder's eyes were closed, and he was struggling in some kind of pain.