Page 23 of Feathers and Thorns

All sound had been drained from the arena. Not a single breath or shifting of limb could be heard.

Adriel looked to the Oculus, his black eyes narrowed in frustration at the useless object. He bent slowly, reaching for his most precious artifact, when a bolt of blazing red light scorched past his face and into the stormy sky. The frothing clouds roiled and churned, the sight something akin to the cauldrons over which conjurers of other worlds would toil.

Adriel bellowed, holding his face where the bolt had struck, leaving behind an angry red scar that sat diagonally across his previously flawless skin. It did not heal. The Oculus, it seemed, had decided to remove his well-placed mask.

Thunder boomed in the distance, and the clouds spun, the eye of the storm forming where the Oculus’s power had struck.

The couples, who had been silent up until this point, began to murmur, unsure of their next move. Their whisperings were cut short, however, when a bolt of black magic shot down, encasing Adriel in a blinding flash. They had little time to react as a barrage of lightning rained down upon them, each bolt striking its target as a viper would its prey.

Luscinia stared on in horror as, one after another, the couples fell.

“Luce, we need to leave,” Abraxos warned from beside her, but she could not concede to his wish just yet. She needed to see what had become of her brothers and sisters.

She held her breath as the storm dissipated and the incessant humming finally stopped. It felt like hours before they witnessed any movement, though they now wished their siblings had perished. For, before them, rose beasts from which no weaver of nightmares could have imagined.

It was early morning, and smog filled the dank room as the group rubbed their tired eyes. Soren handed Jai back his jacket in silent thanks, and then the four of them trudged downstairs to force down what was sure to be an unappetizing breakfast. They needed to get on the road as soon as possible if they were going to make it to Edras Mora in a timely manner.

“So, we camp out in Braexmirth’s northern border and take your boat back over to Patrivah tomorrow?” Baz asked.

“That’s the plan,” Jai replied. “Should take about two days’ time to reach the docks.”

“Let’s get going then,” Enara concluded as she took a swig of water to choke down the rest of her stale bread.

They all stood, leaving their coin on the table for the barmaid.

“Enjoy yuh travels!” she called after them as they trudged out onto the road.

The cobblestones were uneven, and Soren tripped over a protruding piece of rock. Luckily, Jai’s quick reflexes stopped her from full-on faceplanting.

“Thanks … again,” she said, blushing with embarrassment. She noticed idly that he smelled of beechwood and tobacco leaves—warm and smoky.

“Happy to help.” He gave her a wicked grin before quickening his pace to catch up with Enara and Baz.

“So, how’s the king-to-be feeling this morning?” Baz asked, giving the tracker a side smirk.

“Oh, you know, might try to take over a country or something. Depends on my mood,” he joked back.

“You two, honestly.” Enara rolled her eyes. “You do realize how serious this is, right?”

Baz pinched her sides, causing a garbled yelp to escape her lips before she swatted him away.

“C’mon,” he said, “you know we’re only kidding. Humor is how we cope. Right, man?”

“He’s not wrong,” Jai said with a wry smile.

Enara craned her head back, noticing Soren had been uncharacteristically quiet. She let the boys continue on so she could check in with her friend.

“Hey, lady. You doing okay?”

Soren, who had been lost in thought, looked up at her friend and nodded. “Yeah, sorry, long night.”

“You wanna talk about it?” Enara asked.

“Not really.”

Enara sighed. She knew it was best not to push. Soren would tell her when she was ready. So, she linked her arm with her friend’s, and they walked on silently, watching the guys chat animatedly.

Soren was happy Enara did not force her to recount her nightmare.

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