I shouldn't have come here, Rib thought over and over. I should have just waited!
Zheal paced feverishly in front of him, muttering Huskhn words to himself. He pulled at his white leather gloves and scraped wet black locks out of his face every time they got dragged down by the rain.
How could I sneak away? I'd sooner lead them straight to Tyrone than escape.
I really shouldn't have come here!
Memory, clearly unaware of the anxiety Rib tried so hard to conceal, purred as she often did, rubbing her flanks against him like a cat. Huskhn warriors were gathering to see their leader in such turmoil. Once, they said something to him, but he yelled in response and they fell silent.
For the third or so time, Zheal collected himself before advancing on Rib and ordering with carefully controlled voice, "Take me to Damara."
His love is tormenting him.
Yet again, Rib gazed back at the young man with his best face of ignorance, though he felt the fear in Zheal's eyes reflected his own.
He has powder with him.
How am I supposed to get away with Memory?
"Dumb beast!" the Huskhn cursed under his breath and turned back to his pacing. Rib took the chance to use his inner eyelids and stare around for the bewitchment magic, wherever it may be.
If I could just ruin it, then-
Oh, no?
There, he saw the powder inside a drawstring purse that hung from Zheal's belt, safely sheltered under the man's thick fur cloak.
How am I supposed to spill that?
He'll bewitch me as soon as he realizes what I'm doing!
Even in the rain, Rib had no doubt the powder could be forced on him at such close quarters.
Memory now begged for his attention, butting him in the shoulder and dipping down in a pup-like invitation to play with tail swishing behind her.
Maybe I can get her to chase me out of here, Rib thought suddenly. Would she ignore Zheal's call if for a game? So long as he isn't on her back, the Huskhns would never be able to catch us.
But they'd still have the powder?
Rib deemed it worth a try, nonetheless, batting back at his sister, who sprung up in excitement and began tearing around him. Twice, she slipped in the mud but leapt to her feet again. Three times, her scurrying sent a spray of puddle water up to drench the nearby Huskhns.
"Tairg!" Zheal yelled at her and she skid to a halt.
No! Don't listen to him.
Rib playfully nipped and tugged on Memory's wing.
Come with me?
His sister hesitated until Zheal ordered her to his side, then crept over, peering apologetically at Rib from behind the man who stepped forward.
"So you've come to play, have you?" Zheal asked in a low voice, glaring at Rib. "Abandoned your master for a little game?"
The Huskhn picked up a rock the size of his hand.
Rib jumped back right when the man hurled it at him.
What?!
The stone flew past him to hit a crumbling wall with a loud crack.
"Go on!" Zheal shouted, taking up another rock. "Find Damara!"
Memory made a series of distressed sounds as more Huskhns began throwing rocks at Rib, who leapt behind a broken house.
They're stoning me!
The rocks that hit him did little to hurt his tough scaled hide, but the malice behind the Huskhns' actions frightened him.
What should I do?!
Rib stared around through the downpour.
If I fly away, Zheal will follow me on Memory.
But if I stay here, who knows what they'll do to me!
Then, perched on a wall beside him, Rib spotted a marble white wyvern peering at him with scarlet eyes.
"Ivory!" he gasped. "Get Tyrone! The Huskhns are after me!"
To his relief, the winged monigon spread her wings and took off to disappear in the rain.
"You talk?"
Rib wheeled about to see Zheal mounted on Memory, staring at him in shock.
Oh no. Rib couldn't keep the alarm off his face now. He's found me out!
The Huskhn's expression then changed from disbelief to dread.
"What have you done with Damara?" he uttered, touching the bag of magic at his side. Soon, his warriors came around the bend behind him, axe, spear, shield in hand.
Oh no, Rib thought again and backed away. They'll bewitch me- or worse!
"What have you done with her?!" Zheal thundered and delved his hand into his bag. A fistful of powder he drew out, but when he cast it towards Rib, the rain immediately doused it out of the air.
Nonetheless, Rib turned and retreated down the street. He wanted to flee the town, but knew Memory would be made to follow after him and didn't think he could fight Zheal alone. That would require close contact- exactly what Zheal needed to bewitch him.
This is where Tyrone and the others will come, Rib thought, the shouts of Huskhns behind him. I need help!
He assumed since Ivory had just been here, she must've found Lynx already. Hopefully by now Rib's brother was back with the rest of their siblings, too. Rib was sure once they found out he was at the Huskhns' camp, they'd agree it was time to act.
Together, we can stop these Huskhns, Rib thought for sure, dodging between buildings as he was chased. He found it easy to evade the warriors that charged and yelled after him.
Zheal was the real problem. Carrying him, Memory looked timid in the pursuit, but the man drove her mercilessly and she leapt after Rib with speed and agility.
Rib slid his inner lids over his eyes so he could better react, should the Huskhn try to use his magic again.
I need to ruin his powder. If I could just put a hole through that bag, it would all pour out and turn to muck.
But how do I get so close to him?
Rib tried to think of ways to avoid being bewitched as he continued to race around the town. Holding his breath sounded too risky on its own.
Memory, if only you understood what's happening!
You could throw him off your back and pin him to the ground.
Rib cleared a wall, an idea suddenly striking him.
I should just snatch him up in my talons, keep my head well away, and drop him in the river!
He saw no flaw in the plan, and so he changed direction, thinking he would draw Memory to the town square where he would have plenty of room to turn on Zheal. But the moment he rounded a corner, a warrior caught him by surprise with a heavy mace to the head.
The blow was solid and Rib staggered to the side, his skull throbbing, his sight blurred. He may have heard Memory give a cry before the warrior bashed him with his shield and he buckled to the ground, his muzzle submerged in the puddle before him.
Rib watched through unfocused eyes as his attacker standing over him was shoved aside by Zheal, now dismounted. He could feel something prodding him, perhaps Memory. It was hard for him to think. Little bubbles rose in the water from his nostrils while his lungs ever so slowly compressed beneath his weight.
Need to breathe?
Leering above him, Zheal gave some sort of command to the assembling Huskhns, reaching his hand into his bag. Rib felt someone straddle his neck and grip him under the jaw line to lift his snout from the puddle.
Wait?the powder?
Just then, an enlivened roar reverberated through the town and the men lifted their heads to the stormy sky as none other than Lynx swooped towards them. On his back was a man fully suited in armor with a long lance at the ready. The visor of the knight helm he wore covered his face, but it was obviously Tyrone.
They've come! Rib's mind finally found itself again.
With a great outward breath of freezing air, Lynx turned rain drops to ice shards that struck the Huskhns like stinging wasps. Shouting, the warriors lifted their shields and ran for cover. Zheal commanded Memory to his side and mounted her saddle, quickly surrounded by protective guards as he himself drew his fine sword.
Rib couldn't see any of his siblings other than Memory, but his mento
r came and landed before him, taking a fighting stance against the warriors that advanced.
"Rib, are you alright?" Tide asked, mouth muffled by the spear shaft he bit down on and snapped with a jerk of his head. The Huskhn whose weapon it was dropped his broken end and retreated.
"Yes!" Rib exclaimed in exasperation, jumping back as warriors now thrust their blades and metal tips at him. "But my sister!"
Memory was shrinking back from all the fighting, though from atop her back Zheal looked like he wanted to kill someone. With fierce expression, he glared at Rib especially, sword held still and prepared.
"We aren't leaving without her," Tide assured Rib and bowled a Huskhn over with a whip of his tail. Still more men surrounded him, but Rib's mentor could clearly hold his own, dodging their attacks and getting past their defenses to take them out.
Rib beat his wings and hovered above to figure out how he should help. Warriors grouped in three places, some around Tide, others guarding Zheal, and the rest trying to strike down Lynx and Tyrone.
The icebreather was still assailing Huskhns from the air, blasting them with ice splinters before clawing and biting them when he was closest to the ground. At the same time, Tyrone thrust his lance at the men that targeted Lynx's wings and flanks.
"Lynx!" Tyrone shouted from behind his metal visor. "You've wounded him enough!"
Lynx spat out the Huskhn unhappily. "But look," the dragon complained as the injured man dragged himself away. "He's still moving!"
This is gruesome! Rib was appalled, seeing how more and more puddles turned red from the blood of grounded Huskhns. Some warriors got back up when they were knocked down, while others tried to get out from under the boots of their comrades and escape Lynx's ice attacks.
Rib watched with the one desire for it all to stop. But the Huskhns were still putting up a good fight and it was clear the only way to stop them would be to defeat them.
But if we just get Memory, we can leave the fight.
Looking at his sister, his heart flipped inside his chest when he saw that Zheal was forcing her through the crowd to Tide. The teal dragon was so focused on his battling that Rib feared he would accidentally hurt Memory if she was driven too close.
Though Zheal had his sword out, its blade splashed by the rain, the Huskhn appeared more preoccupied with grabbing magic from his bag. Rib stared at the man whose eyes fixed on the teal dragon.
He's going to bewitch Tide!
Immediately, Rib dove towards Zheal, barreling through a couple warriors in the process. Just as the Huskhn looked ready to make his move on Tide, Rib slammed into him and tore him out of Memory's saddle to pin him to the ground.
The young man dropped his sword before his back slapped against the mud.
I did it!
Rib saw the bag of magic on Zheal's belt soaked through by a puddle and met the Huskhn's eyes. Zheal stared up at him in fear for a split second, then threw his free arm at Rib's face, opening his fist to release a handful of powder.
What?!
Rib's first reaction was to gasp when the dust enveloped his snout before the rain even touched it.
He took in a breath of the magic and slowly relaxed, fastening his gaze expectantly on Zheal beneath him.
"Let me up," the Huskhn ordered.
Let him up.
Rib stepped back and watched Zheal stand.
Throwing off his sopping fur cloak, the man called for his dragon steed, Tairg. Zheal recovered his sword and sheathed it before mounting the beast.
The sounds of fighting still rang out around them, but Rib kept his eyes on his bewitcher, who now stared intensely at him from the saddle.
"Take me to Damara," Zheal demanded. "And by my sword, she'd better be alive."
Take him to Damara.
Rib turned his body for the town Rookton and took to the air without another thought. Zheal came beside him on his dragon and they soared over Swaine River.
A voice called after them, but was abruptly cut off.
Take him to Damara.
Rib led on into the lower kingdom, stopped by nothing and no one.
Rookton would soon be on the horizon, and there, his target would be.
Damara.
Chapter 31