Page 64 of Songs of Retribution

"Ishir." I stopped walking.

He paused as well. A horse tossed its head around. "Yes?"

"Can I give you advice you haven't asked for?"

"Of course."

"I think you should tell Dhriti how you feel." He leaned back, and I continued. "Who knows how much longer any of us have? You know I support whatever you choose to do, I just felt the need to speak up."

He nodded, and we carried on. I wouldn't bring it up again, but Ishir deserved the world. He was the kindest soul, and I suspected Dhriti returned his feelings.

We handed over the creatures, and the party mounted up. A few hours later, we made our way up a steep trail that the horses struggled to climb more than the kelpies. Lennox spoke soothingly to his creature, shifting into Seelie and letting the language roll like a lullaby.

When we reached the top, we got off next to Lira and Sai and peered out over the valley. The sun set in the distance, lavender flooding the sky. In my mind I could imagine how I'd sketch the scene—a wash of pale watercolor first then charcoal for the mountain’s shadowed sides. Below, hundreds of fires burned; thousands of soldiers milled about. I could use flecks of mineral paint to capture that, flicking the brush to splatter flames flaring.

"Eldrick was right," Sai said. “This is their actual army, the other must be a decoy.”

Lira looked over the valley’s length like she imagined how to use her magic to flush the soldiers out of the protected space. Then she froze and gasped.

"What is it?" Sai asked.

She pointed. "Do you see that?"

We all followed the line of her finger. My eyes focused on the pine trees’ tall forms, a soldier adding wood to a fire, then I looked out farther. Dread washed down me, prickling my neck and making my stomach twist.

In the valley’s far side, curled into the shadows and difficult to make out, half a dozen massive creatures lay, glimmering shackles on their scaly ankles and over their massive, beak-like mouths. They were larger than a hundred fairies combined with wings tucked on their backs like leathery blankets. Their eyes glinted orange.

"Dragons," Lennox murmured, and I slid my fingers into his. Earlier I'd imagined any of our touches might soon be our last. That had never seemed more true. The Seelie had done a damned good job of unearthing rare, impossible magic.

What did we have to fight them with but standard fairy magic and the four of us? Yes, we were formidable, but not enough. If I could end the creatures—as much of a crime as it might be—it would spare us. But, much like the kelpies, I could sense their spirits, but they had no pull. I couldn't end them even if I wished to.

Lira, as if she'd read my thoughts, looked at me. "They feel different, don't they?"

"Yes," I answered simply, not wanting to share the dark twist of my thoughts.

"They feel like Lennox to me."

Sai turned towards her. "What do you mean?”

"Can't you feel it too?" Lira asked.

Sai frowned, his eyes darkening with magic. I tried to understand what she meant, but the dragons with their ethereal majesty felt nothing like the soothing hum of Lennox to me. Then again, we had the Atalla connection that changed everything.

"Yes," Lennox said, "I know what you mean. Their presences feel like elemental magic."

We all grew quiet before Sai spoke to Ishir. "Would you send a thrush to the Maharani and update her?"

Ishir bowed, pressing his hands together before handing the kelpie’s reins over to another soldier. "Of course."

Sai wouldn't send the note because he didn't need to risk his magic trace giving us away. If someone picked up on the trace of an unknown, Prasanna fae it wouldn’t raise the alarm the way Sai’s would.

"Dragons aren't real," Lira said as she stared at them.

"I'd agree." Lennox traced his thumb over the rise and fall of my knuckles. "However, evidence would suggest otherwise."

We all exchanged worried, uncertain glances, but Sai slipped leather gloves out of his pockets and slid them over his hands. "We'll try to pilfer the Amentium from the end farthest from the dragons. Our goal is to stay discreet. The soldiers don't know we've suspected their location. We'll stay in the shadows and out of the way, then you two"—he gestured between Lira and Lennox—“push them out of this cove. Let's go. Ishir, you'll stay with Lira?”

She whipped her head towards my brother. “I’m coming with you.”

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