Page 71 of Forsaken Secrets

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Kaiya

"Kaiya! We need to get going," Eli's voice called from across the room.

I looked between him and the creatures still being freed. There were at least a dozen vrytra of different colors, a few fleirals — their horse-like bodies with purple feathers and outstretched wings shimmered in the lyphos light, and a fiery red revyn let out a loud call and swooped to Eli's shoulder.

Perhaps we could split up? The water creatures could go through the pool, and the land creatures could go back through the ruins?

No. That wouldn't work. The ruins ended in a cliff with a hundred foot drop …

Our only option was through the water.

"You will be caught if you don't get moving,"Solyn said. "Let Renhira assist you." She tilted her head towards a red-scaled vrytra that emerged from the tall cage beside her. This one seemed to be almost full grown and stared at me with swirling golden eyes. "She will take you underground through the caves humans cannot traverse."

"I'll keep you safe, Weaver,"the younger vrytra said, her voice soft and melodic.

I looked between the two of them. "What about Solyn? Surely we can't just leave her … especially not with the mages coming right now. They're going to be furious …"

"I'm old, little Weaver … too old for this world,"Solyn scoffed. "Besides, we both know there's no way for me out of here."

"I could heal you!"I said, glaring at her.

She tilted her head to the side, that single white eye looking me up and down. "You're still too weak for that, and we both know it. Just — promise me you'll make them pay. Make those mages regret ever hurting my children."

I nodded. What else could I do? Regardless of my intentions, I couldn't save someone who didn't want to save themselves. Hot tears coursed down my cheeks as I turned away.

"Be careful, Solyn."

The cage rattled behind me, and I wiped away the wetness on my cheeks.

Lunei slipped into the water first, then the other vrytra and finally Renhira.

I climbed onto her thick red scales, and Lynk slipped on a large green vrytra beside us. Eli clutched that red revyn atop one of the fleirals treading water.

"Hang on!"Renhira shouted as we rushed for the far wall. Before we went under, I turned for one last look at Solyn, tapping her tail against her cage in a slow rhythm.

I'd figure out some way to save her and come back … it was the only way I could even consider leaving her behind.

Then the stone blocking the door shattered, sending a cascade that blocked the hall we'd entered through. People streamed into the room, their dark robed forms crowding the beach. Two had changed into giants, and another few were mist, like the mage in the cave.

Gods. How many of those twisted mages were there?

"Hold your breath!"Renhira said.

I sucked in a deep breath, careful to hold the air in my belly.

My throat ached at the thought of Solyn back there, dealing with those angry mages. We would be back to help her …

And then we dove and were flying through the water. I wasn't able to think any longer.

The surroundings passed quickly, and then everything was dark. A tunnel? So this wasn't right against the ocean?

My lungs burned as we sped through tunnel after tunnel. Oh gods. Would we get out in time?

Finally, we emerged into the light.

Bright blue water surrounded us as Renhira swam between fallen columns and small wrecked boats.

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