The Blades

Chapter Nineteen

October 10th

We docked the next afternoon in a small town in Solaris, about halfway through the trip. Airys met me on the dock, yawning and stretching. I could see his muscles ripple under the tight Naryan clothing as he moved. I pursed my lips as I felt my heart give a few involuntary beats in response.

"Where are we?" he asked.

"Mifeld, they told me," I said, my eyes finding Akinli as she came up from below deck. She gave me a flirty smile and came to stand on my left as we sailed into port. Her hand grazed the back of mine slightly as she stood very close to me.

Mifeld was a small fishing village on the East side of Solaris. A lot of the town was built upon the water, with small boats to get around or walkways suspended above the lapping waves.

We said our farewells to Gantar, Arun, and Captain Vael and left the ship, Akinli mounted atop her blood bay steed.

We talked to a fisherman who spoke very little of the Common tongue but between Airys and Akinli, they managed to work out an agreement in Naryan. His small schooner was large enough to take Torigon and the fisherman promised he could get us to Atheria by nightfall.

The three of us assisted the small crew of five men with as much as we could as we navigated the seas. The waves were calm under the afternoon sun as we sailed South for the white marble city of the Elves.

Sure enough, we docked that night, essentially shaving the time it would have taken on the Dancing Dragon by half. We helped the crew unload supplies and then made our way up the palace, Akinli walking close to my side.

Passing through the portcullis and leaving our weapons with the guards, we found Bayah, sitting on the front steps, using a stick to draw in the dirt. She seemed bored. She looked up as we approached and her face broke into a smile and then it fell. Then, I realized she wasn't bored. She was sad.

"Bayah, what's wrong?" I asked, knowing the look my best friend gave whenever something was bothering her.

"You need to come inside," she said, her voice low and giving away nothing. Airys and I looked at each other as we followed her, Akinli hanging back slightly.

Bayah led us to a small room that doubled as a hospital for the castle's inhabitants, we opened the door and found everyone else crowded around two beds that held Kodi and Sygnet.

My heart leaped at the sight of them and as I made to run to Kodi's side, Airys put out a hand to stop me. Together, he and I walked forward with Akinli awkwardly bringing up the rear. She stood back as we joined our friends.

"What happened?" Airys asked quietly.

Kodi opened his mouth as he tried to explain but the words stopped in the back of his throat and all Sygnet could do was look at her hands.

"They're all dead, Airys," Flax said.

"Who?" Airys looked at everyone around him. Then realization dawned on him before it dawned on me, "Gossamer?" His voice was quiet as realization hit me. I could sense Airys' world come crashing down. It didn't make sense. It was supposed to be the most secure location in all of Eravith.

"Nyx soldiers stormed the tunnels and wiped out everyone. Sygnet was away, you remember, and Kodiak had turned into a mouse to hide." Flax closed his eyes as he spoke, while Tercet buried her head in Bayah's chest.

"They're all gone?" I asked quietly.

Flax nodded, "All of them. No one could have survived. It wasn't a fair fight." I could see the tears begin to fill his eyes and suddenly my throat began to close. Seeing his vulnerability was too much for me and I felt the desire to leave.