Page 219 of Of Masks and Fury

He gave me a boost up onto Lakast and settled in behind me, his arm going around my waist. A nudge of his heels urged the dragon toward the opening along the far side.

One leap, and we were in the air, Trew guiding Lakast over to join the other dragons.

Our dragons flew across the darkening sky, their wings catching the sunlight as we climbed above Syllavar’s towers. The wind whipped my hair back as we gained altitude, the familiar sensation of flight settling into my bones.

Below us, the lake shrank to a glittering jewel, then disappeared as we flew north toward Caldrith. Toward the place I used to call home. Toward the people I’d failed to protect for so many years.

We flew in formation over the wasteland, the corrupted landscape stretching endlessly beneath us. Even in the gathering dusk, I could make out the sickly gray of the earth, the twisted remains of what had once been fertile farmland and villages.

By full dark, we’d reached the border between the wasteland and southern Caldrith. The land below gradually shifted from dead gray to the deep greens and browns of healthy forest. We adjusted our flight path to avoid populated areas, following river valleys and empty land where our shadows wouldn’t be seen.

The rhythm of Kyreth’s wingbeats created a hypnotic lull. The steady rise and fall, the whisper of air over scales, and the vast star-scattered sky above us made me feel drowsy. We flew for hours inrelative silence, speaking only when necessary to adjust our course or confirm landmarks.

Pherin dozed against my neck, her small form warm and comforting. Occasionally she’d stir to relay a message from one of the other companions, but mostly we traveled in the peaceful quiet of dragons who were confident in their riders.

As the eastern horizon began to pale with dawn’s approach, Trew guided us toward a narrow valley marked on our map. Steep cliffs rose on all sides, creating a natural shelter where we could rest without being seen from above.

“Perfect,” Malcolm called as we descended. “No one can spot us here unless they fly directly overhead, and the odds of that are nicely slim.”

The dragons landed, their claws finding purchase on the rocky ground. I slid down Lakast’s side, my legs trembling from the long flight. Twelve or so hours in the saddle, even with the rare stretch, made every one of my muscles protest.

Coralee dismounted from her dragon and started gathering the supply packs from the other dragons. The rest of us laid out bedrolls in a rough circle beneath a thick cluster of trees, our companions taking watch duty around the perimeter.

“Food first,” Naveah said. “Then sleep.”

We’d fly all night again and after a short rest in the secure location we’d identified east of Caldrith Castle, we’d go through our plan one last time before putting it into action one day before the Day of Mercy.

“Will you tell me where we’re going now?” Maddox asked softly. “You’re trusting me enough to take me on this mission. We entered Caldrith territory hours ago. Maybe it’s time to trust me enough to share why I’m risking my life.”

Trew and I shared a heavy glance before I spoke. “Caldrith is holding a Day of Mercy in two days.”

“Fuck that,” he said.

I snorted, though I agreed. “We’re going to steal the magic-wielders before they’re put to death.”

His mouth widened in awe. “Excellent. A worthy cause.”

“This is your last chance to back out,” Trew said. “We can leave you here and stop for you when we return.”

“Not happening.” Maddox saluted Trew before striding over to straighten his bed.

I was gathering some sticks and branches for a small fire when Naveah’s sharp intake of breath made everyone freeze.

“No.” The word came out strangled. “This can’t be right.”

She stood beside the food packs, her hands trembling as she dumped them out one at a time.

We rushed over to her.

“What are you doing?” Trew reached her side in quick strides, Gavelle launching from his shoulder to circle overhead.

“The food is rotten.” Naveah’s voice barely qualified as a whisper.

“What do you mean?” Maddox asked. He stooped down and lifted a wrapped loaf of bread, quickly undoing the cloth secured around it. With a grimace, he dropped the bread and rose. “What the fuck?”

“Someone…” Coralee’s lips pinched together. “Magical sabotage,” she hissed, peering around at us all. “Someone got to our food between collecting it and loading it on our dragons.”

“Who?” Trew growled, but if any one of us knew, they wouldn’t be sharing.