Wings of Lomay (26 page)

“I heard you moaning. I came in to find you lying on the floor, convulsing,” he said, his tone a mix of anxiety at the situation and annoyance at her question. “I tried to wake you, but couldn’t.” His lips pressed into a thin line. “Blood started pouring out of your nose, and then,” he pointed to her head, “your hair changed colors.”

“It did?” Kiora pulled the side of her hair forward to look at it. The white streak that had once been the size of her pinky was now the width of four fingers.

Alcander stood and reached out his hand, pulling her up. The room swam, her legs shook, and her head felt like she had taken a hammer to it. She groaned and staggered forward, falling against him.

“Kiora, what is going on?” Alcander put her arm over his shoulder and helped her to a chair.

She gingerly sat. “My body changed in Meros,” she said. “To accommodate more magic. The Dragon Queen said that because of that change, I was prepared to tap into nature the way the Creators did.”

“She what?” Alcander burst out. “That’s impossible. It’s—”

“I did it.”

Alcander’s mouth was still open from whatever he was about to say. He closed it slowly, frowning. “What?”

“I did it. But I don’t think I’m ready for it. Alcander, there was so much. It was forcing its way through me, and there was always more pushing behind. It—it hurt. And,” she picked up her hair, “the first streak was from the change. This,” she shook the whitened strands, “this was from a few minutes of using nature.”

Alcander shook his head. “Kiora, your body can’t handle it. None of ours can.”

“Obviously I can. It’s just . . . horrible.”

“Obviously you
can’t
! You didn’t see yourself. I was worried your heart would stop.” He took a deep breath, standing straighter as he pulled his Tavean calm around him. “Why didn’t you tell me you were going to try this so I could as least be here to watch?”

“I wasn’t planning on it. I called a vision, but Belen had blocked what I was looking for. I needed more magic to push through it.”

Alcander’s jaw dropped, and Kiora saw the calm he had so carefully placed crumble. “You saw something that had been magically blocked?”

“Yes.”

“But that’s . . . that’s . . .”

“Impossible,” she finished. “I know. But I did it.”

Alcander pulled out the chair next to her. “What did you see?”

***

KIORA CALLED DRUSTAN AND Emane to join them in the library.

“I have a plan,” Kiora said. “It’s long and involved, and a little bit crazy, but it just might work.” She looked at each of them in turn. “We are going to make the enemy believe that their attacks worked. That the fireballs they have been sending down have finally broken through and that the lake is pouring into the city.” They frowned in confusion.

“They are going to think that our only choice will be to leave the safety of the city,” she continued quickly. “When we try to escape, they will be waiting for us.”

“Why are we trying to escape?” Drustan asked.

“Because we need them to believe it,” Kiora said. “When we see that our escape is blocked, we’re going to run straight back into the city. I am going to remove the barriers so they can follow us. We’re going to open every entrance, one by one, and we’re going to make sure that every single creature out there ends up in here.”

There was silence all around.

“Am I . . . missing something?” Emane finally asked, leaning forward over the table. “You talk as if we should be excited, but you still haven’t explained why this is a good idea.”

“The only thing you see is me taking down the barriers,” Kiora said, her eyes shining. “You’re not taking into account that I can put them back up whenever and wherever I like.”

Understanding dawned on their faces.

She summoned a map of the city and rolled it out on the table. She bowed her head over it, studying the layout. “We can’t open them all at once,” Kiora said, tracing her fingers over the different paths and trying to imagine the upcoming battle. “That would be suspicious. It must look like we’re desperately searching for a way out—a way that isn’t as guarded. We will try exit after exit—the timing will have to be perfect. This isn’t a battle—this is a trap. I don’t want to lose anyone.

“Now, we have ten entrances,” Kiora continued. “I need everyone divided into groups, with adequate Shifter protection for each one. Except the Domats—the Domats need to be in this tunnel with the foxes.” She tapped at the map. “The spell concealing the Lights is tied to Jasmine’s life. When she dies, the Lights should be traceable, and we are going to need each and every Domat to help find them.” She straightened, looking at each of their faces, trying to gauge their support. “We need to time this perfectly, and our acting will have to be incredibly convincing.”

“Our . . . acting?” Alcander asked.

“The enemy must believe we are fleeing for our lives. They cannot doubt that.”

“If this works, and we manage to take out the army surrounding us, then what?” Emane asked.

“Then we return to the camp on Lake Everleen.”

“How are we getting clear back there?” Alcander asked. “Most can’t bubble for that long, and I don’t think even you can hold a bubble for all of us.”

“That won’t be a problem because we aren’t going to bubble.”

Alcander and Emane looked at her like she was crazy.

Drustan finally cleared his throat. “Why?” he asked, tilting his head to the side as if perhaps he had misheard.

“We will have eliminated all the threats within range—we’ll be safe while we travel. And I want Jasmine to know exactly where we are. She has shown that she has no interest in simply destroying me. She has stood by and watched far too many times, missed opportunities to end it all.” Kiora shook her head. “No, she wants to eliminate as many as she can. Killing me too early will interfere with what she has planned. She will call in reinforcements and will wait to show herself until there’s nothing left.” Kiora paused, looking away. She didn’t like this part of the plan, but it was the only way she could see to get Jasmine out of hiding and close enough to unite the two talismans. “She is going to allow me to destroy her followers.”

“Why Lake Everleen?” Alcander asked.

“With two talismans in play, I can’t have our defenses dependent on magic. Lake Everleen has the beginning of a completely non-magical defense system set up on the beach. We are going to reinforce what’s already there, make it bigger, and lure them in.”

Drustan nodded. “I like it.”

“What do you think, Emane?” she asked.

“You said the defense was on a beach?”

Kiora nodded.

His face paled and he swallowed before looking at her. “I think you are right on track. It’s a good plan.”

“Alcander?”

“I agree.”

They spent the next hour planning each step—dividing people into groups, estimating traveling times and where groups would intersect, mapping out paths, and choreographing—just like a play.

When they finally finished, Alcander leaned back in his chair. “When should we start?”

“We need to gather everyone first thing in the morning and prepare them for their parts—and then we wait for one of the heavier attacks. The enemy cannot question, not even for a
second
, that this might not be what it seems.”

***

KIORA DROPPED HER HEAD against the side of the tunnel in frustration. She had been in this hall repeating the incantation to remove the barriers for over an hour.

“Maybe I should go get Alcander,” Emane said. He walked off without waiting for an answer.

When Emane was halfway back to the city, Kiora stepped out to face the glittering barrier that had mocked all her efforts thus far. Everything she had planned hinged on this spell working. She closed her eyes, trying to feel the power of nature moving around her. It took less time than it had in the library and she willed it to her, jerking at the first painful prick.

“Eeeon fota leon see linow,” she whispered. But as the last of the spell left her lips, nature’s magic retreated. She clenched her fists, taking deep breaths. What she wanted to do was scream—or punch something.

Alcander strolled toward her. “Why are we trying to remove the barrier now?” he asked casually, his blue eyes intent on her.

“I need to make sure I can do it.” She huffed and turned to face him. “But it’s not working.”

He raised an eyebrow. “What do you want me to do?”

“I have no idea. I have tried the incantation over and over again, but nothing happens. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.”

“Try again.” Alcander motioned.

“Eeeon fota leon see linow.”

“Foo ta.”

Relief barreled through her. “I’m pronouncing it wrong?”

“I’m not familiar with that incantation, but I have never heard
fota
used. I am guessing it is
foo
ta
.”

Kiora grinned. With her confidence mended, she spun on her heel, facing the barrier. “Eeeon foo ta leon see linow.”

The colors in the barrier lightened and the flow of magic coming from the top thinned, but only for a moment.

Kiora’s shoulders drooped. “I don’t have enough. I need nature’s magic.”

“Kiora, no,” Alcander said. “It’s too much.”

“Can you think of any other way to get us out of here?” she said with her back turned. He didn’t reply.

Nature responded quickly, with little urging from her. It stabbed, merciless and forceful, beginning its loop around her body. It was worse this time. Her vision blurred, and hot blood trickled down her upper lip. She repeated the spell and more magic entered to supply the incantation with what it needed. Her body shook under the pressure. The barrier flashed, then vanished.

“Kiora!” Alcander grabbed her, putting one hand on each side of her face. “Let it go. Can you hear me?”

Kiora was worried that if she tried to speak, she would lose her hold. If she couldn’t do it now, what made her think she could control this power during a battle? She couldn’t quit. Shaking her head, she took a step forward.

Alcander reluctantly moved out of her way, his hands slipping from her face.

Kiora wiped the blood from her nose with the back of her hand. Squinting, she took stiff, deliberate steps toward one of the rooms that had not been converted into stables. It seemed so far away. The magic looped faster. Her heart pounded and each beat hurt worse than the last. She touched the doorframe and repeated the incantation again. The barrier appeared, blocking the doorway.

“Test it,” she grunted, falling against the wall. “Make sure . . . it works”

Alcander walked in to the magic. It seized him, checking his thread before letting him through.

Kiora muttered the incantation a third time, pulling the barrier back down. Having completed the test, she released the magic and crumbled to the ground.

Alcander was at her side in a moment, pulling her into his lap. He anxiously looked over her, running his hand over her hair and pushing her face against his chest. “Your body can’t handle what you are putting it through,” he murmured, his lips against her forehead. “Please stop. You are going to kill yourself.”

“I have to do this,” she whispered. “It’s the only way.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Into the City

THE SOUND OF TROOPS being assembled jolted Kiora straight out of bed. She inwardly cursed everyone’s desire to ensure she got enough rest instead of making sure she was awake when she needed to be.

She had been up half the night working with Drustan on the final parts of her plan. And although she had probably been in bed a couple of hours, it felt like five minutes. She fumbled around for her boots, only finding one. Bleary-eyed, she scanned the room until she located the other one a few feet away.

She snatched the boot, hopping on one foot while trying to put it on and nearly falling. Growling, she moved to a chair and plopped down, yanking the boot on.

Malena fluttered in through the balcony doors. “Relax, Kiora,” she said. “They have it under control.”

“I’m relaxed,” she grunted, shoving her hair out of her face. “I’m fine.”

“I could hear you grumbling from outside,” Malena said.

“I’m supposed to be down there helping. Not up here sleeping.”

“Those two boys of yours insisted you not be disturbed,” Malena said with a knowing smile.

Kiora groaned, covering her face with her hands. “Don’t call them that.”

“They are both very loyal to you.”

“You’re not making it better,” she said, her voice muffled through her fingers.

“You have chosen Alcander, then,” Malena said mildly. “I wasn’t sure.”

Kiora slumped in her chair. “Yes.”

Malena fluttered over. Landing on the arm of the chair, she looked up. “How things have changed from the first day I found you hiding in the woods, trying to run away from who you were meant to be.”

Kiora bit her lip. “That was a very bad day.”

“But not the worst, was it?”

Kiora shook her head. “No, not the worst. If you would have told me then what I was going to go through, I don’t think you could have talked me into it.”

“And yet, you are here. Would you change anything?”

Kiora frowned. “Of course I would. Look at what’s happened.”

“You only say you would change things because you are not thinking deeply enough.”

Kiora rolled her head to the side, raising her eyebrows as she looked at Malena’s perfectly tiny face. “You’re telling me I’m wrong?”

“Our experiences make us who we are. Your pain has only amplified your beauty, both inside and out. You
are
your experiences—and what you choose to do with them. To change that is to change you. What part of
you
would you give up?”

A blast from above rocked the room and Kiora leaped out of her chair, running for the door. She took the stairs two at a time, Malena flying right behind her. Bursting out the front doors, she found Drustan waiting for her.

She jolted to a stop. “You’re awake.”

Drustan eyed the barrier that rippled with residual Dragon fire and magic. “Indeed. Alcander does not hold my need for sleep in the same regard as yours.”