The Remains of Dawn

Chapter Twenty-Two

Oriel was starting to get even more tired of walking when she finally noticed that the space between the trees was getting wider. She looked back at Tassian and he nodded at her, confirming what she was thinking. 

They were getting close. Extremely close. She prayed to whoever was listening to her that Queen Vega was alive with all her might. They needed her to be alive. She would know how to stop Queen Krathys. 

They slowed down as they came across the edge of a cliff. The trees thinned into nothing and the ground dropped off suddenly. Oriel looked over the cliff and sighed. The wind came up and whipped her hair around her face. She missed this feeling. Closing her eyes, she imagined herself flying. Her wings outstretched and this wind against her face. 

Tassian came behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to his chest. She opened her eyes when she noticed that her body was resisting his pull. Oriel looked down at her feet and noticed her feet were dangerously close to the edge. She hadn't even felt her feet move towards the edge. 

Something's wrong with me, she thought to herself. Her wings still weren't obeying her. If she had decided to step over the edge, she would have been falling to her death. She leaned back against Tassian and let him pull her back, further away from the edge.

Borus had started to open his mouth, but he took a look at Tassian and quickly shut it. Oriel looked up at him to see him giving Borus and pointed look with ice in his eyes.

Draya reached over and put a hand on her arm. Oriel looked over at her and gave her a small smile. "We're almost there, my dear."

Oriel looked back over the edge, while still hanging onto Tassian, and smiled to herself. She looked at the scenery around them. The smell of salty water filled her nostrils. Down below them, sharp rocks were being sprayed by the water from the ocean. The ocean was a dark blue and rough. Further out, the water became calmer but closer to the land, it became choppy and rough. Looking more around, she found the path beside them that will lead them straight to the tall tower closer to the water.

"There are about fifteen guards around the outside of the tower," Tassian whispered in her ear. 

"I can still fight," she told him. She didn't know whether she was trying to convince herself or him that she could still fight. She was starting to become afraid of her mind. She had a fear that eventually her limbs would stop working and obeying her. 

Tassian turned her around and made her look at him. "Don't start this again, Eagle. I know you could fight. Don't let whoever is in your head win."

"You have to fight him, my dear," Draya came closer to them. She crossed her arms and gave her a sharp look. "Don't give up on yourself."

"I need you, Eagle." His eyes were pleading with her. The grip on her hips tightened as he pulled her closer to him. "Get him out of your mind and focus. Right now, that's what I need you to do. Once we're safe, you can relax and we'll figure out a way to fight him."

Oriel nodded. She reached around her and unsheathed her swords. She watched Tassian closely as he unsheathed his own swords. "I'll meet you there, Eagle. Please, be careful."

"You too, Tassian." She watched as he spread his wings and stepped over the edge of the cliff. He flew low to the water, keeping to the wall of the cliff before he disappeared around it. 

Draya placed a hand on her shoulder. "Let's go." She moved to stand in front of Oriel and started down the road. Oriel made sure to stay behind them as they continued to travel down the road closer to the tower. Oriel kept her eyes on each of the men standing around the tower. They were spread out evenly making their attack easier. She knew that Tassian was going to be attacking the tower from behind, letting Oriel focus on the ones in the front.