Six of Ruin (Heirs of Irenwell #1) ✔

Chapter 53: Death's Lullaby

Abazmakiel came to fetch us from the cliff some time later, but not before he wholeheartedly laughed at the scene. The dragon carried us to the uppermost plateau between two snow-covered mountain peaks. There, we made an inventory of everything we've lost in the battle.

We had no weapons left; all of our swords and daggers and knives melted. Nickeltinker used all of his vials and potions in the battle and spent the rest on trying to heal our bruises, cuts and burns. Danilo was badly hurt; his left arm was broken and his right arm burned all the way to his elbow. The fire burned the soles of our shoes, which meant we had nothing to walk in anymore.

Ace was nearly dead. His face was pale, his eyes dim, his lips cracked and he looked like he might collapse any moment now. Rixen was badly burned, too, the skin of his palms was blistery and red, pieces of it falling off. Nickeltinker wasn't as badly burned, but he was bruised all over and his rib was broken.

My palm was burned and bruises covered both my arms and legs. The energy still coursing through me prevented me from feeling the pain, though.

Our clothes and our money were gone. The only thing I had left now was the pedant around my neck, the copper crown on top of my head and the few golden pieces I've stolen from the palace's basement.

We were too tired to hunt, but the dragon was kind enough to burn random, wandering boars to a crisp for us to eat. Ace made small satchels out of leaves for us to carry the food in. Nickeltinker managed to collect some herbs to make healing patches which we tied around our feet and palms.

The dragon brought a few empty scrolls, ink and a quill, and Ace wrote a long letter explaining our narrative. We have failed to lock the plane of Ir-kaal, the letter read, As of Naz has betrayed us, killed Rixen of Orathia, and the rest of us managed to escape. We were returning to the Middle Continent; hurt, defeated and ultimately failing to complete our assignment. The crow flew to the skies, carrying our message.

The lie strangely hurt. The world wouldn't know what we went through, the world wouldn't understand what we had to go through to save them.

I sat on the grass-covered plateau and stared ahead, not sure what to feel. There seemed to be a barrier within my mind, preventing me from registering everything that's happened. I was glad. I was pretty sure I'd break down and die right here if I faced everything.

"Your food and fresh water are packed." Ace put down the last leaf-satchel and stood up. "Rixen and I can hunt something, but the three of you will be travelling overseas for the next week or so."

"Great." I mumbled. "How are you going to get back to the Middle Continent?"

"Very, very slowly." Rixen snickered. "But at least I'll be in good company."

Ace pursed his lips, "I'll leave you behind, shadowman."

"Like you're currently capable of surviving on your own." Rixen squinted.

Ace ignored him, "We need more healing patches. Nick?"

"On it!" The floran jumped off the rock and hopped after Ace to the forest's edge.

"Irina," Danilo called me, he was resting against a tree nearby, "Can I talk to you for a moment?"

I bit my lower lip and exchanged a glance with Rixen, "Sure."

Allowing Ace to use my magic to create the earthquake that took down Orathia was the hardest decision of my life. It wasn't the mere usage of magic that so irrevocably changed my life, but the fact I used it in front of Danilo.

And I was yet to see the consequences.

I sat on the ground in the shadow of the tree, "How are you feeling?"