Page 83 of Of Blood and Fire
“You have to burn her, Kaia. I won’t let whatever scavengers remain on this island defile her body.”
Will.
I nodded, collected the sword’s sheath, and walked toward the area where Hannity had come down. Above me, the drakkons circled and began to keen, a haunting and heartbreaking sound.
I sheathed my sword and plowed on through the destruction; a few minutes later, I found Hannity. Or found her torso. The acid that had caused so much damage to Rua’s neck had similarly eaten away at Hannity’s body.
I called fire to my hands and sang our song of mourning, commending her soul to the afterlife and whatever journey was planned for her and Rua. Then I unleashed my flames and reduced her remains to ashes. Behind me, the drakkons did the same for Rua.
As their ashes rose and danced together on the gentle wind, Kaia landed so I could mount. As one, the seven remaining drakkons turned and flew toward Jakarra. The night was young, and our work was not yet done. We still had Halcraft—the island closest to Ezu—to check and Jakarra to clear, and the fucking soldiers encamped there would pay for our loss here on Ezu.
We flew on into the night. The moon started out bright but soon became lost to the gathering clouds, and the wind picked up, harrying our tails, urging us on.
There were no signs of occupation on Halcraft, just the destroyed remnants of what had once been a lovely port city. It seemed the riders were intent on simply erasing any possibility of opposition from some of the islands.
As the Jakarran mountains slowly grew in prominence on the horizon, I ordered Yara, Aarvi, and Cansu to sweep over Zergon to check the status of that island and then approach Jakarra from the rear. As the three of them swept away to the right, I drastically slowed our pace to give them time to position themselves.
The storm unleashed as we drew closer. I didn’t have a coat and was instantly soaked to the skin, but there was a part of me that welcomed the numbness that came with the cold, even though I knew the danger of it.
Yara says small island empty and they ready, Kaia said after nearly an hour.
Have they come across any riders patrolling Jakarra?
Saw two. Killed two.
And hopefully hadn’t warned the soldiers manning watch stations on the ground of our approach in the process.Then let’s attack.
She issued the order, and the four of us dove through the clouds and the rain, heading for the harbor, the boats, and the sea of metal tents and buildings that filled what had once been Illistin.
The six boats were our first target, and the full fury of the drakkons hit them, rendering the first four into explosive ashes and sinking the others a heartbeat later. We swept on into the harbor proper as Yara and the younger drakkons swept down from the mountain. Between us all, we burned their soldiers, their buildings, and their tubes—be they small hand ones or the larger mounted ones—leaving no one alive and no building unlit.
And us—or at least me—exhausted.
We should land and rest for a few hours,I said, rubbing my forehead wearily in an effort to ease the ache.I can’t be the only one ready to drop.
What of boats past empty islands?
They’d be too far away now to chase, and two boats are nothing compared to what we destroyed tonight. Besides, it would be both foolish and dangerous to go after them when everyone is so tired.And, more to the point, I just didn’t want to lose any more drakkons or kin.
She sniffed. Which in Kaia speak meant she agreed but that didn’t mean her need to destroy was in any way lessened.
Tell Yara Kele is in charge of setting up the encampment here. We’ll stay until dawn. Make sure there’s at least one drakkon and kin keeping watch on high, but rotate so everyone gets a chance to hunt and rest.
What we do?
Could you fly me up to the cavern entrance on this side of the Helvede Mountains so I can check in with Katter?
She swept around and headed for the distant dark mountain.You need rest.
I will once I see Katter.
I wait.
No. You should go hunt.
You need eat too. Strength low. No like.
I smiled.Are you nagging again?
