Black Sapphire | Xaden Riorson | S/H

LXII

・・・　・・・　・・・

     "Keep going!" Tairn commands. "Deigh says they need more time." A boom of thunder cracks across the sky as another bolt rips toward the ground, but I look away with worry. Liam and Soleil are off their dragons and ushering civilians into the exposed mine. Their dragons guard the sides of the path, leaving them vulnerable, but not more than the people.
     Lightning strikes the grass, tens of feet from the venin in the field.
     A trio of gryphons flies toward the entrance with townspeople dangling from each of their claws. They drop the people at the mine's entrance and are off again toward Resson to get more.

     "Focus, crowned one," Tairn reminds me. I pull my attention toward the venin on the ground and another surge of energy overtakes my body. This one strikes closer, targeting an outhouse not too far from her stride and exploding the wooden structure in a frenzy of splinters.
     Her head sweeps the landscape until it rises and then catches on me. There's nothing but malice in her red eyes as she pushes her hand out toward the mountain. Her palm is up for only a moment before she flips her arm and juts out what's now a fist, and the rocks behind us begin to tumble and crash.

     I gasp as I whip my head around. Soleil notices in time, thank the gods, and throws her hands up. The boulders rush away from the mine entrance despite her trembling arms.
     Tairn hovers just a bit higher and I turn my focus back to the venin. I need to stop looking away.
     She's crouching down toward the grass, her hand open again as her palm brushes the blades, and they're all brown. It begins to radiate out from her, reaching the clover bushes that curls its colorless leaves.

     My skin is hot as I release another streak of light toward her. It strikes far to my right, and far too close to the road—and a person—for my comfort.
     "Watch out. Deigh says that building on the other side of the road has a crate of something marked with Liam's family crest," Tairn informs me. I light off another bolt but it's not even close. "He says it's highly... unstable."
     "It's not like I can aim it away," I reply, but my attention stays focused on the expanding circle of decay.

     Soleil begins to charge, and when I glance over, I see Fuil is on her heels and a black dagger is comfortable in her grip. The last of the townspeople on the road make it inside the mine and I can breathe a small huff of relief as Tairn begins to circle the venin moving in their direction.
     The edge of the brown comes into view, as does one last straggler trying to flee to safety. I'd missed him from behind Tairn's wings.
     "We need to get him," I order.
     "Agreed." He begins his dive and I keep myself low, awaiting the impact of the ground so he can jump back up into flight.

     What I don't expect is his hard bank to the left and desperate flaps of his wings jerking me to the side. I don't even have the time to question it.
     The man is dead. His body contorts and curls and his skin pales before darkening like he's burning. His mouth hangs open in the scream he never had the time to get out as the husk of his form lays out on the dirt path.
     "What the fuck?" I breathe. "Soleil!" My voice echoes down the mountainside but it's too late. Her steps stutter as she looks up at me but she tumbles onto the ever-expanding ring of death. She freezes instantly as her legs buckle and moments later, so do her dragon's.