Page 36 of Tower of Tempest
I turned back to them, letting the wind die down as I summoned lightning. It crackled over my fingertips, and I launched the sparks at them, but the men easily dodged my attack.
Narrow Eyes slipped a dagger from his boot and pointed it toward me. “We don’t even need magic to finish her. She’s got nowhere to go. Let’s cut off her wings first, then cut her to little pieces.”
The other two smiled in agreement, and a chill skittered down my back. It couldn’t end here. Not like this.
Driscoll had said it was okay to use magic to defend oneself, and Gran had always told me to do whatever was needed to save myself if I were in danger.
An idea formed as the men closed in on me. It would be risky. It would be terrifying. I also didn’t have any other options.
During one of his lessons, the prince had taught me how to manipulate my magic to do what I wanted. How to use hand movements along with intention to bend my magic to my will. The same way Gran had always done with shadows. I’d watched her reach out and twist her handthis way and that and command the shadows to stretch or reach or turn. I could do the same with the wind.
My gaze darted to the thick rock I’d been sitting on before these men happened upon me.
Missing Teeth chuckled. “Aw, look at her. All frightened now that she’s cornered. You’re not going to use your magic again?”
“I say after we cut off her wings, we push her from this cliff just like she did our cart,” Narrow Eyes said.
Stubbled Chin nodded. “I like that. But let’s rough her up first. Just to really teach her a lesson about destroying other people’s things.”
I pushed out my hands, wind railing against them. The three men fought against it, digging their feet in the ground.
“You’re just delaying the inevitable,” Stubbled Chin shouted. “There’s nowhere for you to go now.”
I took a deep breath, then slammed my hands back toward my chest, directing the wind to come right back in the opposite direction. I dove behind the rock, feeling the wind crash against it as the men screamed. All of them stumbling forward and over the cliff’s edge. Their shouts echoed up, the terror in their voices shooting through me.
Tears welled in my eyes at what I’d just done. I’d killed them. I’d taken not just one elemental’s life. But three.
My entire body shook, and I curled my arms around myself as my magic died down and the wind stopped raging.
A whimper sounded from over the cliff, and my head snapped in the direction of the sound. I crawled across the grass, mud spreading over my hands and knees until I came right to the edge and peered over. I gasped.
Stubbled Chin gripped onto the rock, feet kicking wildly, reminding me of how I’d felt hanging from my tower after the prince had yanked me out.
“Help me,” he said, fear flashing in his eyes.
I didn’t even hesitate as I reached for him.
“Take my hand!” I yelled, and right when he grabbed for it, I knew I’d made a mistake.
Instead of pulling himself up, he heaved me down. I flipped over the edge of the cliff, grasping for the slippery rock. I managed to slip my other hand from Stubbled Chin’s grip and clutched to the mountainside, the sharp stone cutting into my palms. Without the use of my hands, I couldn’t summon my magic. The wind swirled and howled, making it nearly impossible to pull myself up, to do anything but just hold on for dear life.
Stubbled Chin looked over at me. “If I’m going to die,” he shouted, “I’m making damn sure you die with me.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. Stubbled Chin kicked at the mountain, his feet clambering to get some kind of foothold. The mountain rumbled, and my heart thundered in my chest.
The rock above us loosened, and I realized what was happening before Stubbled Chin did.
“Quick,” I yelled. “Move your hands over. The rock?—”
But it was too late. The rock shifted under his hands, breaking loose and crumbling. Stubbled Chin let out one blood-curdling scream, and then he was falling down toward the vicious ocean far below.
I tensed as a gust of wind collided with me, and my fingers slipped just a little farther. Soon I’d be joining him down there.
“Poppy!” The prince’s horrified face appeared over me. He stretched out his hand, but I wasn’t within reach. “You have to fly,” he said. “You have to try or you’re going to die.”
“I can’t.” I wasn’t worthy. He didn’t understand, but I did. Spirit Sky didn’t deem me worthy of his magic. Why would he? I couldn’t even use it to defend myself properly.
“Poppy, please,” Prince Lochlan said. “You have to try.” He glanced behind him. “Where are Driscoll and Leoni? We need their magic. We need help.”
