Page 23 of The Lost Nation

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We were quite the motley crew as we stood together on the sandy beach, the wind whipping around us. Luci stood next to the fire demon—Baila—as Benedict took the first step forward.

“Baila.”

Baila let out distressed whine from the bottom of her throat, and lowered herself until she was on her stomach. Her massive head was twice as tall as Benedict.

Luci stepped forward. “Not to be rude, but she doesn’t wish to talk about the past today. Perhaps soon, but not now. It haunts her, she says.”

I wasn’t sure how Luci knew all of that, but I didn’t doubt her for an instant. If anyone could get inside Baila’s head, it was probably Luci.

Benedict’s throat bobbed, and he laid a hand on one massive cheek. “We’ll fix this. Iswear it.”

The creature’s eyes blinked slowly, then it carefully shook its head side to side. Did she just…

“I don’t understand.”Benedict whispered.

Luci put a hand on Benedict’s arm. “She has made peace with what has happened.”

Benedict’s violet gaze focused on the young witch. “Thank you, for being here when all of us forgot about her.” He turned back to Baila.“We didn’t evencheckon you, and you’ve had the power to demand our attention the entire time.”

The ground rumbled as Baila pounded a fist onto the beach. Luci blinked. “She takes offense that you would think that of her. Like I said, she has put the past behind her.”

Benedict hung his head. Kieran came up behind me, and encircled my waist with his arms. I leaned against him for comfort.

“I’m still sorry I didn’t figure it out sooner.” Benedict insisted.

A puff of hot air and embers shot from Baila’s nose, forcing Benedict to duck. “Don’t think for a second this gives you an edge.We will fight, and I'll show you I still hold the upper hand!"

Another huff, then Baila had Benedict dangling in the air by his ankle. A snort escaped me, but Kieran was rolling on the ground in laughter.

Ronan looked caught between indignation and amusement."Shefinallycan best you in a duel! How fitting!"

Kieran descending into laughter, and even Ronan looked amused.

“OK! OK! FINE!” Benedict shifted out of her grip, and reappeared on the beach.“We’ll call it a draw, then.”

We all laughed, even Baila as her giant body made a loud guffaw that sounded more like rumble from deep within the earth.

I felt a small spark of hope. If we could all laugh after all of this...ifBailacould laugh after what had been done to her, and what the demons had made her do...then perhaps there was hope for everyone.

“Ah. Here you all are!” Astrid glided down from the air smoothly, flipping her broomstick into her hand as her feet touched the sand.

“Astrid! We figured out that the fire demon is Benedict’ssisterBaila!”Ronan was almost child-like in his enthusiasm, and I grinned.

The air witch blinked once, and shot only a cursory glance at the large fire demon. “I suppose that makes sense. Welcome back princess.”

She gave a deep bow, and Baila lowered her chin to the ground in acknowledgement. When Astrid straightened, her face was stormy. “Not to interrupt, but a bit of a situation is brewing according to the witches on the continent.”

“What is it?” Benedict demanded, not appreciating the interruption to his reunion. Astrid looked to the sky as if to ask for strength, then just blurted it out.

“Thad is attacking Aldur.”

Chapter 12

Benedict

There was a moment of shocked silence, then Wren exploded.

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