Page 146 of Queen of Legends and Lies
The eyril must be feeding them somehow, making them more powerful. Or their increased strength correlates to their proximity to Narc. Either way, I can’t get past its defenses.
With fury and desperation warring inside me, I dart forward, trying to outflank the drachen. Even with the monsters stronger now, my tears might still purge the corruption, if I only had timeto muster a few up and rescue Rose. Dodging drachen and the corrupted, I finally reach the altar.
But it’s not the altar I care about. Not yet. Not until I save Rose.
A flailing talon catches my arm, lancing me with a fiery sting. Gritting my teeth against the sudden pain, I keep my attention trained on the girl. “Rose, come to me. It’s Lark. Get away from the drachen!”
But there’s no recognition in those coal black eyes.
Only deadness.
She darts away.
When I try to follow, her drachen protector lunges for me, teeth gnashing and claws extending.
I dance away, narrowly evading its grasp. The drachen presses its advantage, forcing me from the altar. More corrupted close in, flanked by countless drachen. I’m wasting too much time and attention on Rose.
And I’m surrounded.
Anger and hopelessness course through me. I need to break through, to get back to the altar.
But if I do that, I risk hurting Rose.
My throat aches, and my dry eyes burn. Still no tears.
A torrent of determination burns away my despair. No. I won’t give up on her. Won’t abandon this child to darkness. That doesn’t mean I have to relinquish my main mission.
If I continue waiting—if I manage to get myself killed or corrupted—thousands of people will die. Narcwillcome back to life. It’s only a matter of time.
Gritting my teeth, I tap into the wellspring of magic within. I may not be able to free her, but I can protect her. And destroy the drachen at the same time.
Then I’ll deal with Narc.
Twin spirals of flame and air burst from my palms, whirling a protective cocoon around Rose. The surrounding drachen recoil, hissing in fury. Inside the barrier, she scratches and claws, trying to get out.
“Hold on, Rose!” I shout over the roar of the flames even though I know she can’t hear me within the confines of her corruption. “I’ve got you!”
The fire doesn’t touch her, held at bay by the shimmering air shield I’ve woven. But it’s a temporary solution at best.
I need to finish this.
Closing my eyes, I reach for the magic again. This time, I weave threads of earth into the mix, adding the solid strength of stone and soil. It settles around me like armor, like a second skin of impenetrable rock. Then I expand that power outward.
Shifting its shape, I form the front into a point, a wedge to push through the assembled mass.
I’m wreathed in a glittering aura of flame, air, and earth. Both corrupted and drachen hiss and attempt to attack, but the elemental power repels them.
Now they’re getting between me and the shield around Rose.
I can’t lose sight of her.
With renewed determination, I weave through the mass. Everyone and everything that hits my shield burns, human flesh and drachen limbs alike.
I try not to look at their faces.
Try not to see their deaths.
But death surrounds me.
