Page 123 of Fate and Flame
“We have to get to the Gap,” I yelled over the roaring winds surrounding us. “Quickly.”
We trudged through the snow, moving as fast as we could. We were close to the mountain range, close to the area Lichen had called the banshee, but I couldn’t see a single landform to pinpoint exactly where we were.
“What’s in the Gap?” she yelled back to me as we sank into the thigh deep snow.
“Dragons,” I called, still moving.
She stopped. “You’re fucking kidding me.”
“Nope.”
“This is why I never trust your ideas.”
“Have I led you astray yet?”
“Oh, no. Swimming with the hydra last week was a real riot.”
“If that was sarcasm, I’m telling her you said that,” I yelled, pulling her into motion.
“I hate you,” she answered but kept the pace anyway.
“Love you too, G.”
We walked forever, moving at a snail’s pace in the storm. I could have tried magic, but it wasn’t worth the cost, unless we got lost. And I couldn’t stop the storm anyway. I played out the battle happening at the border over and over in my mind. Fen was smart, he was a warrior. He had Kai and Greeve there as well as the dracs on the way and the rest of the soldiers. Still, I couldn’t get the picture of him lying on the ground out of my mind. I couldn’t stop myself from worrying over him, though I tried not to distract him with the bond. I willed my mental shields to protect those emotions as best they could.
Eventually the storm settled, and though we were still stomping through deep, deep snow, sometimes waist high, we did eventually make it to the base of the Dregan Mountains.
“This is a terrible idea.”
“For the thousandth time, you don’t have to come with me. Just go home, I’ll meet you there.”
“Fuck that. I’m not leaving you here with these beasts.” She paused. “Oh gods, is that … ?”
“The Mists.” I turned to face them. “The old hag actually did put them back.”
“I get it now.” She hugged her chest. “I never did before. But Greeve, life without him …”
“I know.”
We continued on in silence, both rolling through a thousand scenarios of our mates’ deaths. Autus was moving his army. Even if it was only a small piece right now, we needed to get a plan in place. We couldn’t let him come to our lands.
“Hello, little liar,” Pathog said, standing at the opening of the gap. “Have you brought me someone to play with?” The tremendous lemon-colored beast moved in closer, his wings tucked to his side as he breathed in Gaea. “Her kind are rare. I would keep her.”
I kept my tone flat. “She’s not available.”
“Are you sure?” he asked, tilting his head so he could see her through one massive eye.
“She’s sure,” Gaea snapped.
“I’ve come to strike a bargain with you.” I crossed my arms over my chest and dug a boot into the ground while I waited for his response.
The scales along his back rippled as he shuddered at the word. “Why would you make a bargain when you are at liberty to demand?”
“Because I would never wish to be enslaved to anyone and I imagine you don’t either.”
“The bargain, then?” His yellow tail dragged along the muddy ground, rocks and pebbles scattered, and sludge flew through the air.
I looked to Gaea, hoping I was right in trusting her with their secret.“I will open my mind and allow you to take back the name I hold over you in exchange for your entire hoard agreeing to patrol the border of the Flame Court until Autus or I am dead. I will not ask you to join our war against him, but I would ask you to protect our lands.”
