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"Keep it going and I'll aim for what keeps you an ayèn next."
I gasped and shut my mouth. I had a feeling she'd do it for real.
Suddenly, Engèli was speaking with a tight voice.
"I don't know how much I enjoy being a hero for a thankless damsel, Cap."
I snorted. Kianga and Corellis were practically the same. For Engèli's sake, I hoped Kianga had only gone for his knees, too.
Ungrateful ayèl.
Our flight brought us into the first of many caves that were buried in the bowels of the Poisoned Peaks. When we crossed into its center, I sighed, looking around in awe. I'd been here only twice. Each time, my breath was taken away. Corellis gasped.
"What in all the seas of Mistwind?" she breathed.
Reflexively, I squeezed her waist, brushing her dress above her stomach with my thumb. She shivered at the touch, pressing into me. I held her tight as I came to a float. I could've let her go now that we were here. Could've released her to fly on her own and look around. I didn't. I saw Engèli didn't release Kianga either. What was more surprising, the Seaveiller wasn't putting up a fight for him to release her, either.
Every inch of the cave was covered in celestial metal. Alluniem was an ancient metal from another cosm, but its origins were unknown. It was one of the strongest metal I'd gotten my hands. I often wondered about the planet it must have come from. Avariens were forced to come here en masse, many often dying, to collect the metal for Avarien labor throughout the kingdom.
I unwound my wings, using a free hand to reach for a large satchel I'd folded and tucked into my onyx cloak. Engèli pulled out the same. We flew to the walls and reached out a hand when?—
"I want to do it," Corellis said. Her melodic voice filled the cavern. Kianga echoed the sentiment. Engèli and I shared a look before I shrugged.
"Swear to no more kicks."
Corellis whipped her head around as far as she could, glaring.
"You're not serious."
"Swear you won't be aiming for my gonzos or you don't get to touch the alluniem."
Her nose scrunched in the cutest fashion. Self control was a feat. Skies. I wanted to kiss her. Bad.
Corellis batted pretty lashes up at me, her face painted with mock innocence.
"I swear it on the name of King Au'Pearl, may he reign until the Ellelights take him, that I will not kick anymore... on purpose."
Corellis flashed a smile that made my chest squeeze. I nodded, gave her the bag, and flew close to the walls. Using my cutlass in my free hand, I chipped away at big chunks of the alluniem, waiting for her to collect them, before chipping away at more.
The cave filled with the sounds of Engèli and me chipping until the satchels were full. Engèli and I both used a pair of our wings to sweep below the sea angels so we could help them carry the satchels.
"Time to go," I said, flying back from the wall.
Engèli grunted in agreement.
"Go where exactly?"
Both ayèls squealed as Engèli and I whipped around. The Konda King perched low to the ground with his massive, serpentine body balanced on four legs, ending in clawed, reptilian feet.
"What in the seas!" Kianga cried.
"Oh my seas," Corellis chorused, flaring my hate for the Konda King. I hated hearing that small, terrified voice from her. "Oh my seas," she cried.
I didn't have to look to know the Ayella-In-Waiting was crying. Primal, protective rage flared through my blood. I snarled at the Konda King, flooding the ethèr into my palms. Engèli and I leaned forward, ready to barrel through this beast to get out. We would have to maneuver past the konda.
I looked at his scales. They gleamed in the light of the beaming metal surrounding us. It was said they were forged in the fires of the Black Hells themselves. Nothing could penetrate those scales.
I shared another look with Engèli. He nodded. We had to be smart about this. Going on offense would get us all killed. To make it out alive, we had to go on defense and find a way past the beast.
