Page 73 of Kingdom of Spirits

Everyone mounted—Fara with Marius, Tahlia with Titus—and they were off in moments.

“How do we set things right?” Titus called out in his Mistgold voice.

The wind tore at Marius’s knotted hair and blew Fara’s scent across his face. She was seated in front of him, murmuring ridiculous phrases to Ragewing.

“And if you don’t eat me, I’ll steal anything you want from the kitchens. You look like a guy who enjoys chocolate.”

Ragewing grunted loudly and increased speed to fly beside Titus and his Spikeback, Ptol.

“We trap Katk with fire and bring him to Ophelia,” Marius said to Titus, using his Mistgold voice.

It felt so wrong to address another rider as simply their name. Especially one who had been deemed their commander. But he shoved that urge to be the disciplined knight away. Ophelia didn’t deserve a title. She deserved death.

“If the monster touches you, you will eventually be drained of all your life energy,” Marius called out. “Keep your distance and only use flame, short spear, and arrow to fight.”

Ewan’s Spikeback, Angus, flew just behind Titus and Ptol. Ewan had a short spear and three more tucked under his leg for easy reach. Atticus, Enora, and Ewan would have their bows at the ready.

“To your units!” Marius called.

The knights and their dragons joined their units and flew in the standard pointed formation for a long flight when speed was paramount.

If you see anything you believe is a sign of Katk, please tell me. Nothing is too small,Marius said silently to Ragewing.

How about we check that valley to the south? If I were a lumbering giant, I’d choose the lowlands over these spiking mountains.

Let’s give it a go.Marius held up a hand and directed the order toward said valley.

Ragewing led the three units over a pale limestone outcropping. Farms ripe with spring plantings of onions, cabbages, and the first shoots of root vegetables spread below like a painting of a peaceful life Marius would never know. Not that he longed to be a farmer, but the idea of working alongside others without the interruption of dark magic was certainly a draw.

“She’ll be all right,” Fara said, twisting to speak to him over her shoulder.

“I don’t know. I…”

“Ah. You still can’t speak of the curse and what you know.”

“No.”

Fara’s hair fluttered in the wind as she looked toward Titus. Tahlia was lashed to him and Ptol’s saddle. It would be difficult for Titus to fire arrows in his position. Once Ptol was out of fire, Titus would need to fall back. Perhaps serving as a distraction, out of reach of Katk, but still helpful. Marius tucked that strategy away for later use.

As if looking her way had shaken her awake, Tahlia opened her eyes.

Marius took a deep breath.

“If you scowl at her like that, she’s going to pass out again,” Fara said.

“If my glares affected her in any way, she’d have given up on me the first day we met.”

Fara laughed. “Still. Smile at your lady, High Captain. She probably needs some reassurance. It can’t be fun shaking hands with Death every hour or so.”

A shudder raked through Marius. “I’d rather you not joke about her condition.”

“It’s that or scream and cry. You pick.”

“Fine. Jokes, it is.”

There!Ragewing veered in a southwest direction, taking the units with him.

Katk stormed through a boggy area, dark water splashing up around his knees and gnarled trees breaking like tall grass around him.

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