“Ezo, distract them for me, I’m going to get Luna, and we’re going to escape.” The drake nodded its head and launched forward with all the speed it could muster. Dreiki dashed. Luna was utilizing elementals, so she was likely hiding somewhere nearby. He whistled the beginning of a tune, waiting for that tune to be finished.
He whistled again and again until he heard Luna finish the tone. He tracked onto the sound, crouching next to a mound of snow and ice. It cracked and crumbled, as Luna poked her head out, “What’s wrong? You’re not meant to be here yet!”
“Rixam and Gornax are in danger. We have to save them and retreat!”
“Where’s Tadios?”
“I wasn’t able to meet up with him, but he should be in the clearing, come quick! I need someone to carry Rixam and Gornax away. Ezo is buying some time, but I don’t know how much we have.”
“Got it.”
The two of them rushed over. Dreiki could feel the heat of Anitus’s flames, and the residual static from Amaro’s magic prickling his fingers. He and Luna erased their presences. Dreiki spotted Rixam trying to crawl away with Gornax, “Luna, have an elemental carry Gornax, I’ll get Rixam. We need to go, and fast.”
“On it.”
The snow came alive, scooping up Gornax in its arms and running. Dreiki skulked forward, offering his shoulder to Rixam, “Come on!” He whispered.
“Thank you,” Rixam slurred out.
Once they had all retreated a good enough distance, Dreiki pulled a small metal whistle from his pocket and blew into it. The silent whistle signaled Ezo to retreat. Soon enough, the drake regrouped with them, offering its back for Rixam to ride on top of, “We’re going to get you to the medical tent.”
“My wings…” Rixam said.
Dreiki felt his heart leap into his throat. He had forgotten to pick up Rixam’s wings so they could be reattached. Could they even grow back?
“I grabbed them,” Luna said, catching up from behind with Rixam’s severed wings under her arm, “I covered our tracks, but I think that red haired girl saw us leave.”
“Even so, if we can make it to the medical tent, that’s neutral territory,” Dreiki said.
“Fuck. Fuck!” Rixam growled, digging his face into Ezo’s mane.
“It’s not your fault, Rixam.” Dreiki said, “It was-” His throat closed. The Osazi’s curse was absolutely vile, “It was my fault.” He said.
“No, it was mine. I should have listened to you.” Rixam’s jaw flickered, “I should have cut his horns when I had the chance and run, but I got too angry. I wanted to beat him. I wanted him to know I beat him!”
They arrived at the medical tent to see how packed it was. Not just with the other children, but adults too. Shiira was at the center of it, commanding the other healers as they rushed around like busy drones in a hive.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
“Another one? No, you’re from the war games aren’t you?” Shiira said, looking over Rixam, “Good, you’ve got his wings with you. Put him on that pelt over there,” she pointed, “Your giant friend will have to wait.”
“What’s going on here?” Luna asked.
“Just some bad luck, that’s all. I’ve handled worse.”
“Where is Tadios? Is Sancta alright?” Dreiki asked, only for Shiira’s attention to be pulled elsewhere.
“Did I hear you were lookin’ for Tadios?” A dark-skinned girl said nearby. Dreiki recognized her. She was L’Maya’s daughter, Arika, “Yes, where has he gone?”
“I’m guessin’ you’re Argo then?” She glanced at Rixam, “What happened to him?”
Rixam sat up, “Just some chrometail interrogations, Arika. Don’t make a big fuss on my behalf.”
“Who did it? Something like this is going too far-”
Rixam raised his hand to stop her, “Where’s Tadios?”
“He left to meet up with someone named ‘Argo’, I’m guessing that’s shorty over there?”
Rixam snickered, “That’s Argo, yes. Did he say where he’d be?”
“Said Argo would know where to find him, whatever that means.”
“He’s headed for the clearing, then,” Dreiki said, moving to leave
“Wait a sec Argo,” Rixam said.
Dreiki turned, “Yes?”
“Tell Tadios what happened, but tell him we’re alright,” Rixam said, “I don’t want to make a scene out of all of this, but I also don’t want those two to get away with what they did. I can still feel the sting of that sword.”
“Got it. Take care of Gornax.”
“I always do,” He chuckled.
“Kid!” Shiira called out.
Dreiki perked up, confused as to whether or not she was talking to him.
“Catch,” she said, chucking a strange seed at him.
He caught it, “What is this?”
“Eat it. It’ll help.”
“But I’m not here for- '' He caught Shiira’s eyes. “You’re smarter than that aren’t you?” they said to him.
“Thank you,” he said finally, glancing over to Luna, “Let’s go.”
He was worried about Tadios and what the nobility might be planning. Most of all, he was worried about what the Osazi had done. He tried to summon a flame in his palm, but it felt like driving nails into his fingertips. He did not know that thing could take his magic away. How had it happened? When L’Maya talked about the Osazi, she had neglected to mention that was an ability it possessed. Was it some sort of punishment for attacking it? Dreiki looked at the seed in his palm. How much did Shiira know, and how did she know? Was she alluding to the Malaki, or was there something else?
“Why did she give you that?” Luna asked.
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out, myself.”
“I’m sure we can trust her, though.”
Dreiki smiled. If someone like Luna trusted her, then there was nothing to fear. He swallowed the seed.
“Feel anything?” She asked.
Dreiki tried to summon his magic, but nothing had changed. He shook his head, “It might take some time to work, I dunno.”
With the help of Ezo and Luna’s ice elemental, they were able to get to the clearing at a good pace. The remaining captains were already directing people into their positions as they hurried around the clearing to heal each other and prepare.
In the center of it all was Tadios who sat patiently meditating.
“Sorry we’re late!” Dreiki called out, getting Tadios’s attention.
“Argo! Good to see you’re still in the game. Where’s Gornax and Rixam?”
“We’ve got a lot to talk about.”