Page 101 of Shadow Wings

I can’t smell them.I couldn’t smell anything besides the acrid smoke. It burned my eyes and singed my nose. But as we lifted over the final range between us and the fire, I sawthem.

Dozens of the emperor’s spawn crawling over the rocks and through the low-lying trees. Their unwashed stench wafted into the air, wet leather and body odor, making my stomach churn. In their wake, another fire raged just below, the orange-and-red flames devouring the small copse of plant life. The men shouted and waved at one another in a cut up version of the Drae language I could only understand a few words of. The Druman must have created their owndialect.

They’re headed toward the next mountainrange.

You can understand that?Obviously.Is the emperor here?I asked nervously, looking back over myshoulder.

Draedyn’s not here. At least, not anywhere close, or I’d feel him. You probably would, too, now. Besides, personally coming doesn’t seem to be his style. He’s been using his Drumanfirst.

We flew over the Druman, my insides going cold as we passed.That’s way more than just a Phaetyn search party. You don’t think they’re here for us . . . doyou?

They probably all came together when they picked up on her scent. But we shouldn’t discount that this force was likely meant for us too. He’s testing the strength of hisenemies.

Yes, I remembered. A solid tactical plan: Test the enemy’s strength to know how much force will be required to crush them. Even this high up, being near the Druman made my heart race and my chest tighten in panic. I pushed back the fear, but I couldn’t make it goaway.

They won’t be looking up, Princess. And the smoke will keep ushidden.

I pressed forward, determined not to let my fear dictate myactions.

The narrow valley was rocky with little visible vegetation. We flew through the mountains, scanning for evidence ofhabitation.

There are enough down there to take out a small army. Mistress moons, Tyrrik! They’re focused on that next range. Look, the ones at the front are running.A shiver ran down the long length of my spine.They’ve foundher.

Both of us pumped our wings and flattened our necks, streamlining our bodies to gain speed. I narrowed my eyes to try and see through the smoke. Failing that, I tuned in my ears. The thump-thump of heavy boots on the packed ground and crackling of the blaze below overrode everythingelse.

She’s over the other side,Tyrrik said.All the way through thepass.

How can youtell?

I’ve had longer to practice my fine tuning. She just gasped, and even though she’s running, her step is light. I can’t see herthough.

We swept over the next range, and I furiously scanned the area. The smoke was slowly funneling through the pass, but the air was still fairly clear on thisside.

A small scraggly thicket of trees with a narrow stream on one side took up most of the valley; the gray cedars butted up against the rocky slope. A golden web was visible in the trees, and a wisp of movement was all that gave away the Phaetyn’slocation.

Even with her hiding and using her ancestral powers, the Druman were nearly upon her. The Phaetyn was so small in comparison to the muscled frames of the emperor’s mules. They surged through the pass and spilled into the valley. The distance separating the two enemy species shrunk, and trepidation crawled through myDrae.

Tyrrik swore, already descending.We’ll not get her out without a fight, Ryn. I’m goingdown—

Tyrrik, no! There’s too many ofthem.

I’ll hold them off. You can do this. Get in, pick up the Phaetyn, and get out. It’s the only way, Princess. If you want to save her, we’ll need to do it thisway.

He was right. We had only seconds before the Druman caught up with her, a minute at most. He was right, but . . .Can you fight that many? I could come down with you.I—

Not yet, he said, continuing his descent.Promise me you won’t come down until it’s possible to get away with hersafely.

For a moment all I could process was Tyrrik’s panic. I stared at the ground, revulsion’s sour taste on the back of my tongue and burning the back of my throat. There had to be close to one hundred Druman down there, and Tyrrik was going to fightthem.

He flattened himself, angling his body almost vertically above the front line ofDruman.

Promise me,he pressed, still thinking more of me than the foe he was about to fight.I won’t be able to concentrate if you’re downthere.

I could feel the truth of his words through our bond, but I hesitated, realizing what that promise mightmean.

Could I really stay up here if the tide turned againstTyrrik?

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