Page 95 of Terragnata and the Heir of the Earth

Fayzien used the rest of the antidote on Xinlan next to me, and Cobal beamed. “Debt paid,” the creature winked. “Though it was not difficult. If these so-called protectors of yours knew anything of the forest, they might actually be useful.”

I made to give Cobal a rueful smile, but its words triggered questions that the poison had suppressed.

“Leiya, what are you doing here withFayzien?” I rasped. “Where are Leuffen and Sanah?”

She stood up, extending her hand towards me. As she lifted me to stand, my eyes caught on my forearm, which now lacked the faint shimmering line that had signaled my first victory. “Terra, we need te go, now.”

I glanced at Xinlan, still in a heap on the ground, but finally stirring. Her golden tattoo was also gone, and my brows furrowed. Something wasn’t adding up—had the Skøl ended? I could have sobbed at the sight of Leiya alive and well, but why come back, and why withhim?I jabbed my hand through the air in Fayzien’s direction, as if to re-ask my question.

Fayzien stood, moving next to Leiya. He only gave me a smirk and said, “We are here to take you to the king, dear Terra.”

My heart constricted at the thought, however unlikely, that Leiya would betray me to the king. But before I could say a word, Leiya whipped around and landed her fist square on Fayzien’s face, his nose crumpling under a satisfying crack. He bent over and started heaving, blood spurting all around him.

“To the gods, that was an overreaction to a joke,” he wheezed.

“’At was fer the North Sea, ye worthless bastard,” she replied, venom dripping from her words.

She turned and faced us, sighing. “I dinna come herewethFayzien. I found Fayzien, who was also looken’ fer ye. Though I’d rather eat knives than work wi’ such felth, I needed hes help.”

“Is Leuffen alright? Sanah?” I whispered.

“Aye, both are. They’re awaiten’ us en Viribrum a’ the docks. Though the others… I dinna know how they fared. We lost the shep, ye see.”

I stepped back from Leiya and moved towards Fayzien, no plan in my mind, only rage. But Leiya rested her hand on my shoulder, making me pause. Her look saidhe’s not worth it.

“We dinna have time fer the whole story,” she cut in. “Fayzien’s storm was sweft, but she was naye small. I knew we’d be shet out a’ luck, so I shefted and flew out en search a’ land. When I made et back te the shep, She was gone. I only saw Leuffen and Sanah, clingen’ te a piece a’ what was left a’ the Casmerre.

“An on our way here, we saw Drakkarians. A great many—maken’ their way te Valfalla. I tried,triedte find Cas, te tell hem or the keng. But when I arrived, some dickhead Skøl maker found me and bound me throat wi’ a spell, so I couldna speak. I was portaled ento thes circus, naye able te say a word about the attack. But I’m tellin ye now, we have te leave,immediately.”

So that’s why the crowd disappeared, and the rings were gone. What happened to the spectators?Another wave of haziness swirled through my mind, my legs trembling.Damn, that venom is strong.

“Terra, snap outa’ et!” Leiya shook me. “I saw a’ least ten thousand Drakkarian Wetch warriors, comen’here.Te Viribrum. They’ll have made et te the palace already. We canna stay.”

At this, Fayzien inhaled sharply, his normally cavalier, debauching attitude replaced with an intense focus. “Ten thousand? Leiya, could you be mistaken? The only way that many warriors would have gotten here is through the Dusked Sea, or through the southern Viribrum border, which we would have known about weeks ago. And the queendom monitors the Dusked Sea diligently, as you know, for Drakkarian ships.”

Leiya turned to face him. “Well, I was wonderin’ jest that, Nebbiolon lap dog. Thewhyes clear enough—the idiot Darlan has been threatenin’ a Drakkarian invasion fer months. Even a novice warrior shoulda expected counteraction. An’ even a novice warrior knows te use distraction te their advantage. What better distraction than a competition that occurs every fefty te a hundred years and leaves the palace unguarded! Idiots—the lot of ‘em. Thehowes more interestin’. Perhaps Nebbiolo wants te return te ets Wetch roots, eh, an has allied weth Drakkar once more?”

“Never in our history have we been ‘allied with Drakkar.’ As you know, Nebbiolo was founded as a refugee state for persecuted Drakkarians,” Fayzien ground out.

“Why,” I rasped, interrupting the two of them before they ripped each other to shreds, “would all of Valfalla have abandoned the Skøl? Cas wouldn’t have left me… or…” My eyes shifted to Xinlan. “Us.”

“As soon as I heard of the impending invasion from Leiya, I portaled to Cas and told him. He asked if I’d personally evacuate you two.” Fayzien’s upper lip curled in disgust. “Just as well; I’m sure the Rexi would have ordered the same. Cas left to defend the city honorably, alongside the king and any able fighters, while I came to play rescu—” a screech pierced the air.

Cobal hunched over, dry heaving post outburst. I hobbled over and laid my hand atop its leathered back.

“Terra,” the Talpa struggled to breathe. “I smell.”

“Smell what, friend?” I croaked, protecting the creature’s given name.

“I… can’t… breathe,” Cobal gasped and choked. “It… it isash.”

We looked at each other. A single flake of ash drifted in front of my face, illuminated by moonlight.

The smell of smoke filled my nostrils.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

SHADOW FLAMES

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