Page 157 of First Light
“The fort is going to collapse.” Aisling whispered a spell and tried to lift her hand, but it fell limp at her side. “I don’t want to die in the earth. Can you take me… I want to see the sea. I miss the sea.”
The crow cawed again, louder this time, and Carys felt a surge of power in her limbs. The bird flew out of the dark passageway where it had come.
“You’re not dying!” Carys managed to get Aisling to her feet, dragging the woman toward the arch where the crow had flown.
She didn’t stop even though the walls around her were pitch-black. She could see faint blue lights overhead and a dull white glow in the distance. She headed toward it, ignoring the wild shouting in her mind.
Nêrys!
“I’m coming out. Regan stabbed Aisling, and she’s going to Duncan’s cottage to find Seren’s journals. Get me a doctor or a healer or… whatever you can find, Cadell. We need to save Aisling and stop Regan before she gets there.”
There was a rumbling behind her, but Carys didn’t turn to look. The crow in the passageway was joined by another, then another, then another until the cacophony of caws and shrieks drowned out the sound of shouting in her mind.
The black birds swirled around the glowing grey entrance to the fae mound, and Carys stumbled through them, falling to her knees as she reached the lush green grass of the meadow, and the birds flew away.
The fae woman Naida was standing at the entrance, her hand held to the ground and her face tight with exertion. Behind Naida stood a company of soldiers from the castle, Lachlan standing at the front, bronze sword at the ready, and beside him, Duncan was ready with a sword of dragon steel in his hand.
“Carys!” they both shouted.
“Thank the gods.” Naida let out a breath and stood. “Regan’s magic was so strong. If I didn’t know better, I would think she’s fae.”
Carys tried to lay Aisling gently on the grass, but her arms grew weak as soon as the birds flew away and she dropped the dying woman.
Duncan and Lachlan rushed toward them. Lachlan dropped his sword and threw his arms around Carys while Duncan knelt at Aisling’s side, driving his sword into the earth.
“Human, take that iron from this ground.” Naida’s face went pale. “I don’t know where you forged that, but unless you want to make me your enemy?—”
“She’s dying.” Duncan yanked the sword from the earth and slung it over his shoulder, into a leather scabbard. He looked up in supplication. “Naida, she’s dying.”
Cadell roared overhead, joined by another dragon carrying a coracle.
Naida looked up at the dragons overhead. “I will try to heal her.” She looked at Carys, who was limp in Lachlan’s embrace. “Nêrys, calm your dragon before he burns down the forest. He smells your blood.”
“You’re bleeding?” Lachlan asked.
“Cadell!” Carys pulled away from Lachlan and ran to the center of the meadow, waving both her hands overhead. “I’m here. I’m safe.”
Nêrys?
She ran to the edge of the forest and waved her arms. “Cadell!”
The dragon came wheeling down overhead.
“Carys!” Lachlan and Duncan ran after her.
“What are you doing?” Duncan yelled as Cadell’s roars came closer.
“Regan is going to your cottage.” She held back her hair as it whipped around her face. “We have to keep her from getting Seren’s journals. There’s something about those maps.”
“What are you talking about?” Lachlan yelled. “What maps?”
“I’ll explain later.”
Cadell landed, his massive wingspread blocking the sky from view.
Nêrys.He bent his head.Bring your wound to me.
“Cadell.” She ran to her dragon as he bent his head and threw her arms around him. “I’m so sorry I went without you.”