He lowered me onto an overhang on the mountainside overlooking the waters of Draynua. I felt as if I were in a realm between my world and his. I could see where the pillowy clouds brushed against the mountainside so close, I could almost touch them, while the nightoaks swayed gently down below. Theclouds, sky, and ocean stretched out before me, blending into one as far as I could see. It was beautiful. I couldn’t imagine what the view was like on top of Heavensreach. This was only a taste.
The gentle flap of Ace’s wings pulled me from my trance as he landed next to me, draping them comfortably on his back before turning to me, scribbling something on the notepad and handing it to me.
Let’s beginwas written on the paper, and we both sat down and let our feet dangle off the cliffside as he taught me the language of his people.
We ran out of paper hours ago. Ace resorted to using a stick and spelled everything out in the dirt under our feet. My head hurt from the amount of information he had given me, from the alphabet to the number of signs that he felt were important to know for the time being with the uncertainty of war. I understood we needed to be able to communicate since he didn’t speak or if we needed to be silent in the face of an enemy. Knowing the language of the Sky Elves could benefit us if we could communicate without them knowing.But what about if we were separated?I thought to myself before voicing my question with my hands.
“What if we get separated? How will I communicate with you then?”
“We need a call.” He glanced out to the blanket of stars lining the great expanse in front of us before turning to me again. “I know, just scream my name.” He winked at me and I snorted out a laugh, nudging him off the cliff with my arm. He fell a beat before I saw his wings and crossed arms with a scowl.
“I could’ve died.”
I rolled my eyes, and he joined in on the cackle. “No, something discreet. Try again.”
He sat back down and peered over at me before bringing his hands up to his face, blowing out a birdsong whistle. It was loud as it echoed through the treetops. I mimicked him. My first whistle was pitiful compared to his. After he showed me a few more times, I eventually got it down. I still had a lot to learn with my signing, but I knew enough to carry on a conversation, and I had the whistle down for us to call each other if we were in the face of danger.
I yawned, feeling the weight of the day as Ace stood, offering me a flight back home.
Chapter Five
Ijolted awake to the sound of the front door creaking on its hinges before it blew off them. Turning over, I watched my father leap down from his loft wearing only his trousers with a sword in hand, landing gracefully on steady feet, his knees bent to absorb the impact.
He raised his sword, ready to strike, until he heard the figure in the shadows release a shuddering breath. My father paused. He lowered his sword as he scrambled to find a lantern, lighting it. We were all met with Hallan’s soot-covered face. His eyes leaked with tears as he tried to catch his breath.
“Damn,” my father cursed as Hallan fell forward. My father lunged, catching his body before he collapsed on the ground. I leapt down from my loft as my father hauled his limp body onto the wooden table. My mother rushed over, her hands illuminating with a faint glow. A thin sheen of water coated her hands as she wielded it to heal his injuries.
“Hallan, what happened?” My mother’s voice was soft and soothing as Hallan choked on a sob.
I walked over to him, peering down. His body was covered in minor burns, and they had singed his wings. Some of his feathers drifted onto the floor. The smell of burnt feathers wafted through our home. It reminded me of the smell of burnt hair.
“She killed them,” Hallan whispered. “She killed all of them,” he cried out as he rolled his head back, squeezing his eyes shut as if trying to forget the memory of what he saw.
“Hallan.” My father grabbed his shoulders. “Talk to me. What happened?”
“Valla, the Princess of Ember…” He paused, lifting his glossy eyes to my father’s. “She killed the women and children in the cave.” He choked on his words as tears streamed down his face again. “Kali—” His voice broke on the name of his beloved mate. My mother gasped, knowing her dear friend met her end. Her eyes welled with tears as her shoulders sagged forward.
“She fought so hard…”
I could feel his pain. It was palpable. The grief of losing his love and so many others radiated through his words. “The men posted along her side tried to fight them off but they didn’t make it either. The Princess is leading her father’s armies. No one saw them until it was too late…” He wailed as he told us about losing the women and children of Heavensreach, his mate, wife, and mother to his child perishing along with them, leaving nothing but stained ashes against the stone walls in the shapes of wings of those lost to the flames and smoke while trying to flee. “I was too late…” A few moments passed as he tried to compose himself again.
“They knew…They knew where they were as if they had been watching us the entire time.” He trembled as my mother continued healing the worst of his wounds. Her shouldersquaked as she listened to him confess the tragedy. She and my father had known so many that were lost. My father’s face was grave. The planes of it were hard in the faint lantern light of our cottage. His jaw ticked as his anger spiked.
He grabbed for his leathers and weapons. He gripped Hallan by his forearm and pulled him up from the table. My mother had healed him up nicely, but he would need more sessions if he wanted to get rid of the scars left behind.
“Mai lao kahi.” My father placed his forehead against Hallan’s in a comforting embrace. “We will fight for those we’ve lost, brother.”
Hallan ran a hand down his stained face.
“Wait.” I finally spoke. “Where is Ace?” My eyes searched Hallan’s, and I pleaded with my stare to find that Ace had not met the same fate.
“He’s gathering the rest of the men on the mountain. They’ll be down here any minute.”
“Where is Valla?” my father asked.
“She retreated after the battle. Both sides suffered losses.”
“She had to have had someone watching us, gathering intel on our movements as we made decisions.” My father ran a hand through his hair. “Damn the Mother, damn it all!” he shouted. Turning, he rushed to the counter and swiped his hand down it; the food canisters flew and clanked loudly as their contents leaked onto the floor.
