Page 35 of A Shard of Ice

“You must, or you will die,” I tell him. “Speak to her. Try to calm her down.”

“I’m not talking to a camel!” he snarls.

“Easy, girl,” I coo, trying to do it myself because the stubborn idiot won’t listen.

As they draw closer, Damon raises his hands toward the swooping lizard birds. A burst of energy shoots out from his fingertips, hitting one of the birds and sending it spiraling away with a screech. It lands hard in the sand, smoke rising off its body. The other two birds falter for a moment before both rushing directly at Damon.

He lifts his hands a second time, sweat beading on his brow, but nothing happens.

“What’s he doing? Why doesn’t he finish them?” Cyrano shouts.

“I think he used up all of his magic.” I have to work hard to keep my camel from running away. Cyrano isn’t faring much better.

With their wings out and those terrifying shrieks coming out of their sharp, pointed beaks, they’re a sight to behold. I’m almost inclined to run, but I can’t leave Damon.

“Be careful!” I shout as they both reach the fae, talons bared and ready.

He sideswipes one bird, and it crashes into the other. Feathers go flying. The creatures are dazed but stay airborne, regrouping to attack again.

I have to do something. I have to help Damon.

I kick my camel into motion, heading straight for them. Damon is struggling to hold them off, his energy waning. With a deep breath, I set my sights on the creature closest to me. Perhaps if I distract them, he can get the upper hand.

As the birds strike at Damon, I swing down from the camel’s back with all the force I can muster. My foot connects with one of the creatures, sending it crashing to the ground in a flurry of feathers and dust. I tuck my head and roll, hitting my shoulder. Kakara be thanked, the sand is soft, the impact isn’t too bad, and that it is my left shoulder that takes the brunt of the fall.

The remaining bird screeches in fury, turning its attention toward me. Its beady eyes lock onto mine, filled with malice and hunger. I stand my ground, heart thumping against my ribcage as I prepare for its onslaught.

But before the bird can make its move, Damon grabs hold of its outstretched wing, twisting it with surprising strength. The bird screeches in pain, thrashing wildly as Damon wrestles it to the ground. Its talons rake across his chest.

Damon grunts. There is a snap, and the bird lies still, its neck at a strange angle. The bird I took down starts to rouse, but Damon dispatches that one with a couple of well-placed kicks to the head.

I’m just clambering to my feet when Damon rushes toward Cyrano, who is still battling to control his camel. He grabs the reins and pulls him from the saddle.

“What are you doing? No! Don’t! I—” Cyrano shouts as Damon leaps onto the terrified beast. Then, he takes off at a fast pace.

I realize that my camel is running away and with him, half of our supplies.

Damon rides in line with the fleeing animal and then leans over, taking the flapping rein. It doesn’t take more than a few seconds for him to slow the panicked camel, bringing it to a stop. He dismounts gracefully, leading the beasts back to us, his chest heaving with exertion. There is a long cut bleeding across his chest.

Cyrano is wide-eyed, speechless as he looks from Damon to the fallen lizard birds.

“That was incredible,” I say as Damon reaches us.

“I could have broken my arm,” Cyrano grinds out, rubbing the limb. “I could have dismounted. All you had to do was ask.”

“By then, the camel and our supplies would have been long gone. We won’t survive without them.”

I look at the broken bodies of the lizard birds. “That was a close call.”

“Thanks for your help.” Damon smiles at me, and my insides do that weird thing again, and I don’t like it one bit.

11

Damon

Endless sand is all around us. I shift on the rock I am using as a seat, looking over at the camels, who are cordoned off on a section of rock.

The beasts already look like they are sleeping even though the sun has yet to fully slip beneath the horizon.

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