Page 117 of Skalterra By Nightmare
Galahad had sent reinforcements.
Painful, acidic greed tore at my insides. Something metallic and delicious wafted on the air, and I breathed the scent in.
Skal.
I could smell it, swirling below us in Lyria’s pool.
Ineededit.
“Careful, Blue.” Ciarán’s voice was back in my head. “The old man is overfeeding you.”
Silver sparks flew into the air as I tried to get rid of the Skal in my veins. I would not let the hunger win.
“Iseult!” I caught my breath on the steps, watching Galahad’s Nightmares fight against Ciarán’s. “Get your grandpa. Take him to the others. I’ll make sure no one follows you.”
Skal sent a shudder through my body, but I had the hunger under control. For now.
“I’m right here, Nightmare,” Galahad boomed behind me. He stood in the doorway to the Sanctum, lit by the several belts-worth of Skal bottles he wore at his waist.
“Urian, where did you send the Riftkeepers?” Iseult hurried to her grandfather’s side, and he leaned against her. Exhaustion weighed on his face, and I wondered what sort of toll making so many Nightmares had taken on him.
“The boathouse, Lady Iseult.” Urian staggered to his feet. Blood ran from beneath his helmet, but he otherwise seemed unharmed.
Iseult stepped away from Galahad to take Urian’s armored hand in hers.
“I think I will miss you the most, my friend.” She bent to kiss his hand, and he recoiled.
“You aren’t leaving.” He pushed his visor up to better see. “Lady Iseult—”
“I failed Tulyr tonight.” She pushed silver hair back from her face to look at me with hard gray eyes. “And my grandfather may have abandoned me four years ago, but I won’t abandonhim.He’s my only family. I will make sure he and the Divine Sovereign find safety. Tell the others—”
“Don’t,” Urian begged. “Please.”
“Lyrguards have only ever brought sorrow upon our home. I was no different. Tell the others I’m sorry.”
“Iseult—” Galahad started.
“No,” she cut him off as she slipped back under his arm to support him. “I couldn’t follow you the last time you left Tulyr. This time, I can.”
Galahad sighed in defeat and looked to me.
“How many lives do you have left?” he asked.
“Two.”
He nodded, as if satisfied by my answer.
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow night, Nightmare.”
More of Ciarán’s army charged through the street, mowing down Galahad’s Nightmares.
“We’ll lead them away.” Urian slapped his visor back into place. “Lady Iseult, it’s been an honor.”
I turned away from Iseult and Galahad before I saw which direction they went. I didn’t like that Galahad asked how many lives I had left. If he kept drinking the Skal at his belts, I could survive the night.
“This way, Nightmare!” Urian ran with a limping gait, holding his longsword high to light our path. I looked back to make sure Ciarán’s Nightmares that had broken past Galahad’s ranks were following us, but a cry brought my attention back forward.
Nightmares charged from around a corner ahead of us, turning the street orange with the glow of their weapons. Urian crumpled under them, and I charged, channeling the Skal I had left back into talons, claws, and swollen muscles.
