Page 137 of Riftborne
Behind us, officers ordered civilians towards the barracks. Their shouts were cut short as the Wraiths got close enough to rob them of their breath, leaving their words trailing into the void.
I looked around frantically, searching for Osta.
But I couldn’t find her.
We stood our ground as Aossí rushed past us, desperate for safety within the fortress walls.
A sliver of bronzed hair caught the moonlight, and I saw a figure in an emerald dress following the civilians to safety.
The deepest part of me relaxed, knowing Osta was safe, but every other nerve ending was on fire.
“There’s too much going on in here right now. I can’t tell anyone apart,” I whispered. My head was pounding trying to keep the nerves at bay. The wind picked up around us as hisses erupted from above. The sound of daggers whipping through the air echoed, followed by the metallic clang of swords being unsheathed.
“Wraiths will be targeting the arcanite on the northern lawn. We need to get there.” Laryk was gone, replaced by General Ashford. Something flickered in his eyes, something I had never seen before.Fear.
I ripped one of the vials from my dress and pressed it into his hand. “If you get surrounded, drink this.”
“What—?” His forehead wrinkled.
“Ma created it, but there’s no time to explain. Just trust me,” Ipleaded, my hand closing around his for a beat longer. I didn’t want to let go.
He took one last glance in my direction before sprinting toward the door.
I took off after him. Laryk threw the giant doors open, and we ran into the cold winter night as silence slammed into us. It was brighter now, with the moon and stars illuminating the sky. Stillness drenched the courtyard, a stark contrast to the chaos and death just steps away.
“This way!” he shouted before turning left and bolting across the cobbled path. We ran in unison as darkness descended before us. Muscles clenched as I braced myself, channeling forth the tendrils once again, readying them for battle.
As soon as we breached the shadows, I shot the web forth, searching for a mind to latch onto. Orbs glowed all around us, darting from one side to the other with maddening speed. I followed one with all of my concentration, losing it every time it changed direction.
If I couldn’t center my focus on the mind, I couldn’t command it. I couldn’t destroy it. The familiar feeling of uselessness crept back into my body, but I shook it off. I didn’t have time for such feelings.
“Fia!” I heard Laryk shout, and I searched for his mind in the choas, finding it immediately. I sprinted in his direction just as his hand shot out, firing his dagger toward an inky shape. A guttural hiss erupted through the darkness, and Laryk reached for me. “Fia, where are you?” I was right in front of him. I could see him. Could he not see me?
“Laryk–” I began to scream, but the air was knocked out of me.
In an instant, I was thrown back, sailing violently before slamming down into the wet earth below.
I landed on my shoulder and heard it crack. A cry escaped me and pain shot through my entire body, but I shoved it from my mind.
I had to find Laryk.
The wind picked up, and my feet lifted off the ground against my will. Suddenly, a form was spinning around me violently, creating the vortex I knew would soon rid the space of air.
I reached down, quickly grabbing the vial from my waistband, and popped off the top, downing it as fast as I could.
Calm your breathing.
The air began to thin around me, and my eyes closed, reaching out with the web. I could see the mind racing around me like an insect. I just had to concentrate.
I had to latch on.
Fia, make the damn connection.
The air was gone now. It was only a matter of time before the potion wore off.
Hurry.I unsheathed my dagger, focusing on every single fiber of the web, feeling them like they were an extension of my own body. I waited for the right moment.
Come on.
