Page 141 of The Shadowed Oracle
“You’ll have to ask her when she gets here!”
Ifshe got there. Ingrid grew worried about her absence. Monia, too. Especially Monia. They’d all planned to meet once they’d managed to escape. If they’d been discovered or they were left behind, there was little chance they’d survive the night. Lucilla had disappeared the moment Ingrid made her leap,giving her ample time to get a head start to the ship. But Monia. Monia hadn’t shown her face. Not since last night, when the machinations of their escape were set.
Ingrid kept her eyes ahead, shirking the anxious thought and focusing instead on quelling Dean’s concern. “But we discussed it. Lucilla was to use the whole jar. Every last bit!” That was what it would take to drain Enitha’s power. Erase that hex on Arryn, as well as any active spell she’d placed on…
“Haxus. His curse wasn’t broken,” Ingrid blurted, more to herself than anyone. “Horace didn’t return to his Viator form in the arena. Not until after he was dead.” She paused, anger overcoming her. “Enitha’s spells are still intact, then. Arryn’s spell wasn’t broken.”
Dean muttered under his breath, cursing.
“Any ideas?” Tyla called out impatiently.
“A few,” Ingrid lied. “But we’ll worry about that when we get to him.”
If anything, dragging Arryn kicking and screaming to their boat wouldn’t be the most difficult thing they’d done that day. And they had to contend with the rioting civilians and the Queen’s guard first.
The crowd had thickened and the guards seemed to replenish no matter how many they struck down, but they’d managed to make it to the final tunnel before being led out into the city. If they could squeeze through, the final obstacle would be the heavily guarded trade gate.
Ingrid could almost taste it. The sun was just now peeking out of the clouds and the smell of the shores nearby wafted into her nose.
Spread more evenly now, the mob could clearly see the battered and bloodied intruders coming. They dispersed into a feverish dash for safety. The only stilled bodies in the sea of mania now were soldiers on the hunt.
Tyla switched to the bow Dean had bestowed upon her, picking off the most immediate guards standing in the way of their path to freedom. Soldiers were dwindling as fast as the crowd. The gate grew larger and larger in their sights. Just a little longer. Only a minute.
“Above!” Dean shouted suddenly. “Watch your heads!”
Shadows were cast on the stone below them like heavy rain clouds, flying by so fast they’d be out of sight as soon as you looked up. Occanthus birds—it must’ve been. Enitha had hundreds of them, all paired with experienced riders. They were being tracked, swarmed upon from the ground and the sky.
“Another thing to worry about when we get there?” Tyla snorted.
Raidinn answered for Ingrid. “No other option right now!”
“When do we ever have options!?”
Ingrid nearly smiled at that. But what had tasted like hope a moment ago, now disintegrated in her mouth like ash.
An army, growing thicker and thicker by the minute, appeared before them. Occian soldiers were cramped so tight that each helmet seemed to be welded together, their spears like iron teeth waiting to consume them.
There was nothing to be done but stop in their tracks.
They were fully surrounded, the gate blocked off.
“What now?” It didn’t register as a question until the confusion was apparent on Tyla’s face. “Rai, you think you can cut through until there’s a hole?”
“I was about to ask you the same thing.” Raidinn slumped his shoulders forward, then rolled them back in a deep stretch. “I know this might come as a surprise, but carrying you all on my back is a little exhausting.”
Dean’s mouth hung open. “What the fuck do you—I’mliterallycarrying someone on my back right now.”
Veston grunted. “Does the jest never end!?” His jarring voice was an odd addition after he’d been so quiet, but Tyla agreed.
“Maybe not the time,” she said, taking a long, defeated breath. “We need a plan. This is looking worse and worse.”
Her brother continued to smile mischievously, looking around at the enemy. “This?” Raidinn asked mockingly. “This is nothing.”
“I’d hate for this to become a theme,” Veston said. “But, may I ask again? Are all Earth-born males like this? You find this entertaining?”
“Hell yes,” Raidinn said. “Seems as good a time as any for a laugh.” He picked a bit of flesh from his blade, staring at the wall of enemies ready to attack. “Look here. We’ve even got clowns at the party. Like one big carnival show, this is.”
None of the armored guards moved. Raidinn took a step closer, dug his own sword into the ground, then leaned on it like a crutch, daring them to attack.
