Page 50 of Tortured

The vestiges of a strange power surge up through me. This is nothing I can control.

Caedryn is channeling vast amounts of power, and I feel the results as electrifying shocks through my body.

A repetitive chant distracts my own thoughts. I can’t understand the words. The tongue is not one I’ve ever spoken.

Caedryn is using magic. Something dark.

This has nothing to do with the light.

The sky darkens as frightening, black, thunderous clouds roil over the horizon and draw together with alarming speed.

“Is this Caedryn’s doing?” Huflaih shouts. “It’s going to be one hell of a drop off.”

I lean in over his dragon body. “Can you rise above the storm?”

“I can try.” He begins his ascent. “I see the citadel!”

His dragon sight is far more enhanced than my superhuman sight.

The storm clouds clash together and roll into a tight funnel. Lightning streaks through the torrent. As the funnel grows in height, I realize it’s not the altitude we want.

“Go around. Bank!” I exclaim.

The sky is so dim that if it weren’t for Huflaih being able to see in the dark, we’d get turned around.

Whipped around at least.

Huflaih strains in the tendrils of the maelstrom. The currents want to draw us in. Still, the storm over the citadel grows.

All at once, a shrill cry cuts through my mind.

Caedryn in his unholy tongue.

The tempest rears as if a horse in fright and drives through the expanse toward Huflaih and me.

The clouds and rain and tornado of weather suck up the desert sand.

We are being pelted by thousands of grains. A wrath that scourges and tears at my flesh.

Huflaih doesn’t like the onslaught that whips and tugs at his wings, but his scales shield his flesh.

“Drop!” I shout. “Drop. You need to leave. I’ll press on without you. Westin will kill me if you’re injured.”

“No! I’ll will help you. I’ll see you through until I can see the whites of Caedryn’s eyes!”

The torrent’s spiral closes, intensifies. I’m dizzy and clinging to Huflaih and his saddle with all the power the light lends my muscles.

You will expire! Caedryn screams. This will be the end of this.

Yes! Please let it be the end, I hiss.

“Watch out!” I see the change in my mind’s eye before it happens, but the storm is too great.

Too much for a dragon to dodge.

The might of the funnel shifts and drives itself into Huflaih and me as if Caedryn suddenly commands it to.

My grip fails.

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