Page 86 of Fate Unchained

“It makes sense Morana is there because it will be magically guarded.” Hazel’s voice was weak. “You need a magicwielder.”

Hans glanced at Blazh. “Blazh can handle it.”

“A vulk with magic?” Brooke asked.

Finn growled. “Don’t say anything in front of her. She wants to write about the vulk in the human newspaper.”

Kyril ignored them all and focused on Hazel. “How difficult will it be to get in?”

“Herskala didn’t have anything too tricky built into his Hall, probably because he never imagined anyone would dare attack him. It will have the normal magicwarding stuff, but most of that will bounce off you because you’re vulk. What you do need to worry about,” Hazel turned toward Blazh, “is her enchantments. I’ve seen what she can do. It’s not run of the mill stuff. She’s powerful, but it will be easier after it gets dark, and the magic loses the sun’s light to replenish. Morana will specifically have looked for things that will work against the vulk. I’m sure she knew she’d face off against you at some point.”

Kyril nodded. “You think she has silver?” Boris had blasted them with a silver-infused explosive, and he’d found the silver somewhere.

“It’s not easy to find, but she’s consort to a king, so …”

He growled. “Most likely.”

Seeming to muster all her strength, Hazel staggered a few steps toward Zann. She raised her hand as if to touch him, then simply placed it on the arm of the couch near his head.

“The last time we faced off against Morana, she had a leshak feeding her power,” Kyril said. “What will she be like now?”

“Morana will do whatever she can to kill the vulk, but her power won’t be like when you faced her in battle. She can’t fight head-on anymore, she doesn’t have the firepower. She’ll be devious instead. And she’s an enchanter, so every word is as barbed as a snare. Be careful.”

Great. And she was using those words to trap Lilah.

“If Lilah truly has a connection to you,” Hazel glanced down at Zann, and her face softened for a fleeting second, “it will help her resist. Maybe it’s the vulk immunity to magic. I don’t know. But if Lilah has become enchanted, touch her.” She turned and stared directly at Kyril. “Zann helped me once by doing that.”

Hans pointed at Zann. “Ayren, stay here and wait for Zann to wake up. Then both of you stay here and keep guard. The rest of us,” he jerked his head to the door, “it’s time to fight.”

Kyril charged forward. “Let’s go.”

34

The four vulk raced through the streets of Coromesto up to Herskala Hall. Humans and magicwielders screamed as they raced past, a few tripping and falling as they tried to run away.

A wind kicked up, bringing with it the sharp odor of rain. Heavy rain.

The ocean, with its white-capped waves, stretched out to the west. The suns sank toward the water, and a smudge of dark clouds blotted out the sky, bringing the darkness early. They rounded a bend, and there it was. Herskala Hall.

A mix of dark stone and dark wood, it looked more like a fortress, with high curving arches tipped into spires and flying buttresses at the sides supporting its towers.

“Such a discreet, modest place,” Blazh said.

A loud crack split the air as the vulk raced up the long stone entry path. Two massive stone figures flew down from the top of the two towers. The earth shook as they landed and slowly stood, a swirl of green magic whipping around them. “We’ve got gargoyles coming to life,” shouted Finn.

Hans pointed. “And bauk.” A door on the side of the Hall opened, and a swarm of at least twenty bauk emerged. A head taller than goblins and twice as wide, with tusks jutting from their lower jaws, bauk could be tough to kill unless a blow landed either under an armpit or an ear.

“You two take the gargoyles. Kyril and I will handle the rest,” Hans said.

The skies opened, and rain poured down. Fat, pelting drops, instantly soaking him.

He and Hans lunged forward. It was the first time he’d fought alongside Hans in ages. They’d both battled against Morana, then again against Hoyt, but not in the same part of the battlefield. As if no time had passed, they fell into position in the old way, standing shoulder to shoulder to meet their opponents.

Kyril snarled at Hans. “I still want to smash your face in every time I see you.” Bauk crashed into both of them, and Kyril let his claws fly. Finally, finally, he could let all the fury at Lilah’s disappearance fly free.

A bauk hit Hans on the shoulder. “You want to have this talk now?” Hans twisted, and his claws sank deep into the side of its neck, spraying hot blood.

Kyril kicked his bauk in the stomach, sending it reeling backward. He slashed his rear claws and hit it under the arm. The bauk crumpled. “I guess so.”

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