Page 75 of The Cradle of Ice
Across the sand, Shiya climbed radiant and bright out of the surf and waded to shore. Her face was a mask of fury, her eyes fiery. She sang out like a struck bell, ringing loud and strong.
The bats overhead scattered away.
Those on the ground scrabbled from her path.
She strode swiftly toward Nyx and the others, an unstoppable force.
Moments ago, as soon as Nyx and Daal had entered the plaza, she had sensed Shiya’s approach through the sea. Maybe even before that. It had drawn her onward. Through the bloodshed, past the carnage, under those black wings. Nyx didn’t know how the bronze woman had come to be here, only that she was. Shiya was a promise of water in a dry desert.
As the bronze woman joined them, Nyx basked in that bridling glow. She let it warm through her, sharing it with Daal via their grasped hands. She closed her eyes, breathing in that power until she found her voice. She opened her throat and heart and added her harmony to Shiya’s strength.
The sun around them blasted wider, shining more brilliantly.
The raash’ke screamed and fled from that sudden blaze. It must’ve been too much, too startling, too frightening. The horde spun and beat and clawed their way into the mists, seeking the blessed darkness of the icy world above. She watched until the skies cleared, and that malignant keening fell mercifully silent.
Only then did Nyx sag again to the sand.
It’s over.
Still, she stared at the wreckage, the bodies, the ruins around her. She felt no happiness, no glory, only relief.
She could also not shake a deep-seated worry. She remembered the strength of that horde-mind. After her first brush with it during the rescue of Henna, it had never struck at her again with such force. Perhaps it was cautious after her fiery assault. She could still smell the bat’s charred heart, feel the flames burning through her. She shied from that memory, ashamed at what she had done to Daal, but also unable to deny a longing ache in her bones to wield that power again.
Yet, that act was likely the only reason she and Daal had made it this far. It had driven the horde-mind into the shadows, leaving the raash’ke with little guidance, allowing her meager reserves of power to forge a path to the plaza.
A voice called to her, full of joy that felt misplaced here. “Nyx!”
She turned to see Jace running toward her, followed by a limping Fenn. As the pair reached her, they drew her into a large embrace. Others began to crawl out of hiding, rising from nooks and cubbies. The town stirred forth all around, recognizing the threat was over.
At least for now.
Daal’s mother and father rushed to them. Floraan clasped her son’s arm. “Henna?”
Daal wiped blood from his brow. “Safe.”
Floraan sobbed in relief. Her husband hugged them both tightly.
Graylin kept close. Shiya shadowed their group and continued to glow, though the intensity of her song had ebbed. Still, she maintained a steady hum, like a flashburn forge waiting to be reignited if needed.
Across the square, faces stared toward them, some in horror, others in awe. The Reef Farer and his family gathered at the edge, wary but knowing the newcomers had likely saved Iskar—even if the horde had been lured down here by the crashing of their swyftship.
A harsh shout echoed from the Sparrowhawk. She could not make out the words, but she knew who called to them.
Darant had clearly survived, but how many of his crew?
Graylin waved an arm, letting the brigand know they were safe for the moment.
As the townspeople gathered at the fringes of the plaza, Nyx made a silent promise to them.
We will protect you for as long as we can.
Still, she pictured her group’s ultimate goal—to set the Urth to spinning and melting this world—and added a harsher truth.
But in the end, we may destroy you.
34
BACK IN DAAL’S home, Nyx sat at the family’s stone table. A blanket draped her shoulders, but it failed to truly warm her.
