Page 58 of Sky of Thorns

I wonder…

I break from my moment of panic before following Kela’s lead. I have a better chance of fighting at my full strength as a unicorn. The world seems to move in slow motion as I watch one of the creatures leer at us, slowly scratching its belly with the tip of its spear. I toss my pack besides the others before stripping to my undergarments. The icy wind bites at my skin, but my magic is already humming. My muscles contract and grow as heat replaces the cold; limbs lengthening with sharp hooves replacing my hands and feet. My horn glistens in the sunlight as I toss my head and whiny. Beside me, Nero uses his wings to propel himself up into the branches of the tree, his skin covered in amethyst scales. Aramis crouches to my left, sword poised in his right hand, a shield of shimmering blue air forming on his left. I give him one last look, and he offers a smile I don’t know how to interpret.

One of the vile creatures roar, and my heart hammers in my chest as we all charge. I veer to the right, my hooves pounding into the ground as I pick up speed, throwing snow up behind me. We have to keep the skirmish away from the packs so Lemon doesn’t get trampled.

Nero jumps from tree to tree above me. His powerful muscles flexing under his scales. He lets out a roar that echoes around us and the creatures start rumbling to life, swinging an assortment of swords, axes and spiked clubs. They look unnatural. A mix of limbs and features of different creatures collated together to give form to an abomination. They have short flat snouts like pigs, beady eyes and thin sprouting hair, but stand as tall as ogres. Saliva runs freely from the corner of their mouths as they menacingly stalk towards us. They look greedily at Kela and myself, making my blood boil.

With a growl, Kela launches herself at the smallest one’s feet, biting deep as Aramis slices at its chest. His blade scrapes along the thick leather chest plate, nicking the underside of its armpit. It wails in pain as hot red blood seeps into the snow at its feet, steam rising into the air.

Wind whistles in my ear as a spiked club swings millimeters from my face. In my momentary distraction, one of the creatures snuck into my space. I prance to the side, avoiding a second swing. I can smell the stench of rotting fish breath this close up; its teeth crooked, covered in thick slime. I snort, steam rising from my nostrils as I rear up then strike with my sharp hooves. The creature grunts, the breath knocked out of it as it loses its balance and topples to the ground. Kela pounces on top of the creature, sinking her muzzle over its throat before ripping it out. My nostrils flare as the smell of iron fills the air.

“Sybil!” Aramis yells out as a sting of pain slices along my right flank.

Prancing to the left, my eyes narrow on the creature laughing. The sword held high in the air, its edge glistening with my blood. I buck and knock him slamming back into the tree behind him, knocking the grin off his face. Aramis jumps, slicing his sword gracefully through the air. The creature’s head falls from its shoulders and rolls towards my hooves as its body slumps to the floor.

“Are you okay?” Aramis assesses quickly, and I nod my head in reassurance. “Good.” His face and chest are splattered in dark blood, but his focus is on me, concern etched deeply on his features. I assess his well being quickly and rejoice in seeing he is not hurt. We are both safe. We turn in unison as we hear Nero roar. His ax is embedded in the chest of a creature twitching on the ground. His wings flair above him as he stands on the back of another.

Seven bodies lay on the ground. Where is the eighth?

A howl of pain pierces the air and I turn in time to see the final creature slice its sword into Kela’s abdomen. My vision clouds to red, my muscles move of their own accord as I push myself the distance between us and slam my horn through the creature’s back, right through his heart. His life force immediately drains from his body at the impact. I toss my head, dislodging him.

I transition into my demi form as I drop to my knees, quickly assessing my friend. My hands clutch at her abdomen as red stains across her tunic.

“Kela!” my voice is hoarse as I scream her name. She coughs, blood bubbling from her lips. I will my healing magic to knit her wound closed, but she’s losing blood faster than I can repair and I have used a good dose of my magic during the fight. Behind me, Aramis and Nero slowly approach.

“Sybil.” Kela lays a hand on top of mine, glowing as I pour every drop of healing magic I possess into her. “There is a lot I need to tell you.”

“Hush. Let me heal you.” I interrupt, pleadingly as tears start running down my face. “You can’t leave me,” I whisper but as my magic enters her body, I soon discover that she sustained more than just an abdominal wound.

“Sybil.” Kela lets out a wet cough, as she begs my attention. “I had a vision, long before we met. I knew my fate was to meet you. I knew what was coming.”

“What do you mean?” I beg, trying to make sense of her words.

“We were always meant to be great friends. I knew it, despite the short time we had together.” She coughs, her body spasming. Kela smiles grimly at me as she lifts her free hand to my face, her blood mingling with my tears. “It’s been worth every second, no matter the time, but I need you to listen to me, yes?”

I nod dutifully, unable to speak as tears keep cascading down my face.

“There is to be a great battle between our people and the false queen.” Kela’s gaze is steady, and my heart breaks as I listen to my friend’s final words. “The king is not yet dead but he is in grave danger.” Kela glances at Aramis, her chest quickly rising and falling. “Do you hear me, Princeling?” She demands his attention, and he honors her with his full focus. “She has cursed him with her dark magic. He’s sick, you have to brea–‘ Her breathing becomes more labored as she starts coughing blood. Kela grabs my hand once more, keeping her gaze steady on me.”Break the curse and you’ll free us all, Sybil. The library, the witches, they know how. It has to be you. You are the key.”

“I am no hero,” I exclaim, sobs burst through my body, thoroughly wrecking me. I summon every drop of magic I can muster to save her–praying to the goddess, or anyone to hear me and help save her. “I can’t do this Kela.”

“A hero is not the extent of their training.” Kela grins her last sardonic grin at me. Blood spills through her guts and over my hands as she laughs. “A hero is a hero because even when hope is lost, even when everything you do amounts to nothing and shows no promise, you keep trying. Youfight,“ her voice is a whisper and I brush a strand of hair from her forehead, in an attempt to bring her comfort.

Nero and Aramis are silent. Their eyes, once filled with the vibrancy of camaraderie, are now loaded with grief. Shoulders slumped in shared despair over the scene in front of them. Kela’s weakened frame trembles under my touch, her gaze fixed on mine. Her fingers clutch at the fabric of my dress. “Free us all, Sybil.” Her voice falters, and I can sense the effort it takes to summon the strength needed for this farewell. “Keep him close,” she whispers, “You will need each other.” As her eyes lose their focus, a profound stillness settles over the woods.

“No!” I whisper. “Kela! Get your bloody ass back here.” Her body is limp as her head lolls to the side, supported by the tree behind her.

“No!” I scream. “Fuck! Kela! Come back!” The last of her life force slips out of my fingers like grains of rice. I lower my horn to her wound, tears dripping onto the open flesh. “You aren’t allowed to leave. Do you hear me!?” I cradle her neck into my hands and pull her close, attempting to heal a useless body, unreceptive to my powers.

“You can’t leave me!” Kela’s body doesn’t respond; her flesh refuses to knit back together.

She’s gone. Tears streak my face and fall down my neck as I hold her tight to me. No matter what I will–what I demand of the goddess, she remains limp in my arms. I’m at a loss for words. I’m utterly useless in my sobbing, shaking, weak body.

I failed Kela.

Aramis

NeroandIgatherwood from the clearing whilst Sybil takes her time cleaning Kela’s body in a nearby lake until she looks peacefully asleep. Seeing Sybil and Nero so lost in their grief over the death of the wolf shifter had nearly brought me to run back to the castle and kill Tricella with my bare hands. Until Sybil announced she would not leave until Kela had a place to rest and Nero promised her they’d give her a pyre worthy of a princess which made me realize that my place is here, comforting the people I love.

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