Page 111 of A Scar in the Bone
“Shall we?” Magnus motioned us to continue.
Fell nodded, taking my arm. He kept me close to his side, guiding me as we began walking again, our steps crunching over the snow. My gaze trailing land and sky, uneasiness seething beneath my skin. The emergence of these warriors had not lessened my disquiet.
“We searched long and hard for you, my lord. Still do, in fact.” He shot another peculiar look my way and then quickly glanced away.
Fell’s expression lightened, and I knew what he was thinking. He was thinking it a good thing that they still searched and had not given up on him. At least his warriors had not. I’m certain the same could not be said for the soldiers Stig had brought north with him. The warriors of Fell’s army, however, still cared enough about him to send out scouting parties. They had not given up, and they would be happy for his—forour—return.
So why did I still feel this unease? Why did I still sense danger lurking ahead? We were so close to the Borg. And yet not there. Not yet. We still passed through the Crags.
Perhaps this was me from now on. Forever. This damaged and hunted thing that could never feel relaxed and at home in my skin. Perhaps I would spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder and jumping at every sudden sound.
Or perhaps it was more substantial than that.
Because, I vowed … I could feel them.
Whoever they were. I sensed them out there, tracking us, their eyes fastened on us, hawks stalking prey.
I was not wrong.
They came out of nowhere, swarming us. We could not defend against them. Not as we were. Not as they were. Three of them versus five of us—five seeming humans against a flock of—
“Tamsyn! Get down!”
I stood frozen, shocked as the harpies came at us in a blur, a shrill screech of sinewed bodies flying through the trees and diving for us. They were not nearly as large as dragons, but their claws were still big, longer, and their teeth …more.
Their mouths opened wide to reveal several rows of razor-sharp teeth. Aside from that, their faces were very human in appearance, only angular with sharp, slashing lines that marked them as predators. Long hair that looked greasy and unclean flowed from their scalps. They were terrifying.
I felt the familiar fire swelling in me, eating up my windpipe, expanding my throat. Smoke steamed from my nose and gathered in front of my face in great smoldering gusts.
I caught a glimpse of Fell. He shook his head fiercely at me and mouthed the words:No. Don’t.
And I understood.
I couldn’t change. Couldn’t reveal my dragon. My secret. Our secret. Not in front of Magnus and the others.
I swallowed down my heat, pushing the char and ash low into my belly.
We fought with weapons. And yet brute force, swinging swords were no match for these hellish creatures. They were skilled at evasion, winding like serpents in the air, dodging the cut of blades, their mouths wide with shrill screams, hands slashing, their long nails making ribbons out of human flesh.
A few of Fell’s swings landed. Black blood sprayed the air, but the harpies did no more than shriek and keep going. The only way to vanquish them would be to transform into something equally formidable. And yet we could not.
Fell and Magnus wedged me between them to shield me.
The other two warriors fell beneath the flurry, the snow turning to red slush.
We continued to fight. Fell and Magnus, hacking and slicing with their swords.
Magnus swung his great sword with both hands, cleaving the thick skull of a harpy. His sword remained imbedded in her head, and Magnus pitched forward as she fell back, taking him with her, her death scream splitting the air.
So they weren’t invulnerable.
And yet I was exposed without Magnus before me.
One of the harpies spotted the opportunity and dove for me.
I braced myself for the collision, for the blow to come, the tear of teeth and nails into me, but Fell suddenly appeared, shoving me out of the creature’s path and slashing his sword across the harpy’s midsection. Guts spilling, she veered off sharply with a howl, clutching the slippery slide of her entrails.
“Go!” Fell shouted in my direction. “Run!”
