Coil of Worlds

My Lord, what does your magic tell you?

Skye cursed. In the chaos, he’d forgotten his magic. He focused inward, then settled the second sight around him, expanding the magic to its max. Information swarmed to him. He grunted and fine-tuned the flow of information, allowing him the time to process it all.

He’d focused his magic in time to prepare Eiren for an attack. Two more Malirrans approach on our right. The first one is mine. Watch my back. He skirted the two bodies lying on the ground. Trying to catch them unaware, he turned his head the opposite direction, though his magic pinpointed their exact location, what weapons they brandished, and their weight and build. Skye rolled onto the balls of his feet, finding his balance.

Skye, Eiren warned.

I see them. He dodged the first Malirran’s sword by twisting around. Using the momentum of his turn to add power to his swing, he swiped at the man, carving a deep slash across his chest. Not pausing to admire his handiwork, Skye changed direction and cut the man across the stomach. The second man attacked before Skye could turn, slicing his left arm. It hurt, but Skye disregarded it, trying to gain the upper hand.

He needn’t have worried.

Eiren moved in low, swiping the man’s right calf, shredding the lower leg by the howl it generated. Sliding around Eiren, he parried the Malirran’s counterattack and swept the man off his feet at the same time. Eiren pounced, digging her sharp claws into the man’s soft stomach. Skye smiled in satisfaction at the gurgling scream that erupted from the Malirran’s mouth. Skye stepped onto the man’s sword arm and watched as his eyes widened in fear when Eiren snarled in his face before he died.

He turned, searching with his magic for Lara. Seeing movement within the tree line, he yelled for her, hoping she still lived. The woman didn’t respond, but Chion’s roar resounded through the night.

Before Skye could go find her, he was thrown back against the wall. Pain fired through his left shoulder and down into his arm. He looked down and saw a knife hilt sticking out of his left shoulder.

My Lord, you’re injured.

He groaned despite his attempt to stay silent. He didn’t have time to kill another Malirran; his gut told him Lara was hurt or dying. He watched the man scurry from bush to tree, not giving Skye the opening he needed. A flash of white fury sprang from the shadows, landing on top of the Malirran. The sound of the man’s skull crushing reached them from across the small clearing, and Eiren cringed beside him.

Chion didn’t check to see whether the man still lived. He jumped off the Malirran’s back and rushed through the clearing at breakneck speed.

Go, save Lara. I’ll guard the door.

Skye armed himself again with his sword and ran after Chion. Skye grimaced, each step jarring the blade in his shoulder. In a large tree, two small shapes huddled, watching Chion sniff the ground around the dead man. Skye changed direction, going to stand beneath the limb.

He scolded, “You were told to hide in the hallway.” Two pairs of gold eyes looked down at him. “Willo. Hana. You could have been killed. It isn’t safe out here.”

Willo said in a small voice, The man took Lara.

Skye’s head jerked back up to the child and paka.

Chion growled, Who took My Lady?

The Malirran was hiding behind this tree, waiting to ambush her.

Hana hurried to explain, “He darted her with something, then carried her off.”

“Which way did they go?” Skye demanded. When she pointed toward the ocean, he said, “Don’t move from this tree. You understand?” They both flattened themselves on the branch, nodding.

Willo pleaded, Save her.

Already running toward the ocean, he didn’t bother to reply. Using his magic, Skye followed Chion through the vegetation, disregarding the trail. He ignored the scratches he received from the bushes and saplings. Worried about Eiren, he made certain she was safe.

I believe the Malirrans are retreating, Eiren said. I’ve not seen or heard any others.

Be careful. The others should join you soon.

Sensing a slight movement to his right, he whistled to Chion. Motioning for Chion to circle around the Malirrans, Skye slid the other direction, using the tree cover to hide his presence. Chion’s savage attack sent two Malirrans scurrying his direction. When Skye killed them with relative ease, he realized they were both more injured than him.

Skye’s mind raced, trying to think of where the Malirran ship was moored. The cliff ran far into the distance, though its height diminished to a rocky shore to the east. Calling Chion, he turned right and found a trail. No longer encumbered by branches and deadfall, Skye lengthened his stride. His magic warned him right before they exited a sharp turn on the path, and he signaled Chion. Lifting his weapon, he slashed the last Malirran across his back and sent him crashing to the forest’s floor with a well-aimed kick.

Though the retreating Malirrans outnumbered Chion and him, they were no match for the paka’s ferocity. Chion killed two in a move too quick to follow, while Skye severed the hand of one man. They soon fell in tandem, fighting back to back, paring their enemy down from five to two. Panting for air, a brief interlude emerged, and he concentrated his magic on reading every hairsbreadth of movement.

The man facing him had a slight limp, which placed too much weight on the other leg. A weakness. Sensing Chion’s muscles bunching, Skye slid forward, parrying the man’s shorter sword. The sword knocked against the hilt still housed in his shoulder, and Skye grunted from the force of the pain that ran through him. Working through the momentary daze, he slammed the hilt of his sword into the man’s shadowed face. When it rocked backward, spraying him with blood, Skye sliced his blade across the Malirran’s neck from hilt to tip.

Eiren’s worry bled through their link. My Lord, you are well? I feel your pain.

I’ll live. We are on the Malirrans’ path to their ship.

Chion took off, never saying a word, his intent clear. Exhaustion and pain setting in, Skye inhaled and exhaled and found his second wind. Lara needed him. He sprinted after Chion. If they didn’t recover Lara, they may never find her.

He said a prayer to both the God and Goddess, “Give us wings.”

Chion skidded to a stop in front of him, and Skye had to check his stride to keep from running into the paka. I heard a horn.

They shared a look before turning toward the ocean. A faint horn blew again. The sound took him back to his nights walking along the port. “The horn isn’t on land but on the ship. It’s sounding its location for the men to find their way. We’re close. Let’s cut through to the shore.”

This time Skye led the way. They pushed through the foliage, knowing time was running out for Lara.

I keep calling her, but she will not or cannot answer.

“If they took her captive, they want her alive. There is hope yet.”

Ahead, Skye’s magic informed him of two more Malirrans escaping. He poured on a burst of energy, slamming his uninjured shoulder into the man in front him. Chion roared and raked his claws down the man’s torso. Skye blocked the man’s blade at the same time Chion swiped the man’s legs, receiving a low cry of pain in response. The Malirran’s hesitation cost him his life. Chion stood on his back legs and bit down on the man’s vulnerable neck.

They rushed forward, bursting onto the rocky shore without a word. Skye pointed, “There. Three prams are halfway to the ship.”

Chion roared his helplessness and anger, and the wind picked up the sound, carrying it toward the ship. Voices called out wordlessly, and Skye saw arms waving in their direction. They watched the boats pull alongside the ship. Skye counted three masts on the enormous ship; the first ship he’d seen with its design. In the pale light of both moons, he counted each man climbing up the ladder, holding his breath. It left him in a whoosh when he saw Lara hanging over a Malirran’s shoulder, her hair flying wild in the wind.

Chion growled until both the man and Lara disappeared from sight.

They had failed.

The loss punched him in the chest, and Skye screamed his frustration into the night. The denial of his feelings for the woman crumbled beneath his feet, obliterated by the knowledge of her capture. He feared never seeing her smile again. The Lan’Ai bond be damned. The God and Goddess could dissolve the partial bond for all he cared. He needed her alive, safe.

All at once, the battle caught up with him, and he groaned in pain. Dizziness accosted him, and he sat down hard on the rocky shore. He watched as Chion paced, the ocean water soaking his feet. His tail thrashed from side to side in agitation.

Out of the corner of his eye, the sails unfurled, and the ship made its way out to sea.

Chion’s determined gaze met his. I will follow the ship along the coast until I know where it is heading. You require a healer. Return to the school and gather supplies.

“Will you return?” Skye asked, using his sword to help him stand back up.

Chion turned his head to follow the ship’s progress. I don’t know. If I have not returned in three days’ time, travel to the village on the southeast side of Luthis. I will meet you there.

“Why there?”

I believe the Malirrans are conquering Pyran first. It makes sense the ship holding Lara will travel to Gharra, or at least to Pyran’s border.

Skye nodded, then asked in curiosity, “What will we do if they do not?”

Chion’s golden eyes glinted in the dark. He growled low, his worry and fear bleeding through. We will follow them across the waters.

“We have defeated them here where we are most vulnerable. Having met the young Tal’Ai, I know what the Kurites are fighting for. They are our hope for a better world. But as much as I believe in the cause, I admit my reasons are far more selfish. Eiren, you, and Lara are the family I have lost.” He bowed to Chion. “For my family, I will kill every Malirran who keeps them from me, or die trying. If you don’t return in three days, you have my word Eiren and I will meet you on the other side of Luthis.”

Chion bowed his head in return. For Solara. For My Lady.

“For Solara.”