Page 88 of King of Fire and Flames

Ruhh flew ahead and skimmed over the waves, the ragged edges of her gown trailing in the foam.

“Fuck. The boat isn’t here,” said Esen.

Ari released the reaver cloak, then whistled, wading into the sea. The slick backs of three dolphins crested in the distance. They swam into waist-high water and circled the Sayeeda with friendly splashes and cheerful chirping noises.

“Come quickly.” Ari waved at Esen, urging her to bring Orion forward.

The dolphins formed a row, pressing the sides of their bodies together in a tight line, while Esen stomped into the gentle surf. She draped Orion over their backs and clamped his fingers around two dorsal fins. “No matter what happens, orc, do not let go.”

“Be safe, Orion,” I called out. “I’ll be seeing you soon in Auryinnia.”

The dolphins traveled in graceful arcs until they reached the middle of the bay, Ruhh flying above as the reaver elves’ hands appeared on the edge of the invisible boat and pulled Orion’s limp body aboard. First, his forearms vanished, then his head and shoulders, followed by his torso and upper legs, then finally, he was gone.

Ari walked out of the surf and stopped in front of me. “Don’t worry, Leaf. The boat is well-equipped with two skilled sailors and three elves. The orc will be fine,” she assured me.

“Thank you. Until we hear that he’s reached Auryinnia safely, I’ll be praying to every god in the realms,” I said.

With his free hand, Arrow felt for me, hitching Bakhur higher over his back before pulling me into his other side. “Orion knew the risks when he helped you board Loligos’s ship, and he chose to do it anyway. You would’ve done the same for him if your positions had been reversed.”

Two sharp screeches reverberated across the sky, and Ruhh flew like a tornado above us, agitated.

“The grymarians are awake,” she hissed. “We need to run.”

“What? What are grymarians?” I asked, my gaze scanning the cliffs and finding only gray rocks and scraggly, shrub-like trees. “I don’t see anything.”

“Over there,” said Esen, pointing a little to the right of where Ruhh was facing.

“Ari, activate your cloak again,” ordered Arrow, squinting into the diffused sunlight. “Shit,” he breathed, squeezing me harder as two gray figures morphed out of the cliff face.

The grymarians leaped into the air, and before we could move a muscle to flee, they landed without a sound on the sand only a few yards away.

The winged creatures were at least a head taller than Arrow, their wiry, muscular builds covered in opalescent black scales. From the neck down, the male and female pair looked like any other fire fae, their powerful, naked bodies gracefully shaped, but their faces were something else.

Dark green scales slithered over large brows concealing luminous silver eyes, adorned with slitted black irises, all framed by stringy brown hair resembling seaweed that had long ago washed ashore.

Their cold eyes tracked over us, assessing before attacking. Twisted black horns curled above their long ears, the tips covered in gore.

“Whatever those things are,” I said, “I think they can see us. All of us.”

Wringing her hands together, Ruhh circled wildly above us. “They’re guardians. My brother never mentioned that he had set them to watch the pyre, but I should have guessed. I should have known. I’m just a stupid dead girl.”

She slapped her forehead, and I tried to grab hold of her as she buzzed past, but my hands slipped through her spectral body. “It’s not your fault, Ruhh,” I whispered.

The grymarians raised dark-red wings, crosshatched with scars, and then leaped into the air, screeching toward us.

“Run,” yelled Arrow, dropping Bakhur on the sand before scooping me up and throwing me over his shoulder as his legs swung into motion. “Everyone stay close to Ari so she can cover us with her cloak.”

“Arrow, don’t leave Bakhur behind,” I said, my hips bucking in protest. “And I don’t think the reaver cloak works on them.”

“There’s no other choice. Your safety is all that matters.”

“I’ll get him,” yelled Esen, tracking back to collect the prince.

We ran in the direction of the palace, not once looking behind us, but just as we neared the path that led toward the fire moat, the dragon-like fae alighted on the sand in front of us. I slid off Arrow’s back, clasping his hand as my boots hit the ground.

Clouds of black smoke wound from the creatures’ clawed hands, filling the air between us. Mesmerized, I reached out to touch it.

Ruhh hissed. “Don’t even look at their magic, Zali. Its purpose is to draw prey close, keeping them placid and the meat nice and tender.”

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