Page 92 of Shadows and Flames
Frenzied starvation made a Lylithan stronger than in their normal state, and even so, as Francie tried and tried to lunge for Blackwood and the blood pumping through his veins, the guard had no trouble keeping her from escaping.
Just how strong were these immortals?
“Your friend, tiny Raouga. Now, my bracelet?”
As we had planned, Tomás, Fenix, and Tana pushed their chairs back and stood. They approached Francie and the guard, and the former hissed at them, seeing them as another threat. Meline and the Queen entered another staredown, and even the mountains watched. Waited.
My queen slid the bracelet, deftly avoiding the platters between she and Queen Sarya, until it landed right before her. At the same time, the Queen nodded, and the guard holding Francie stepped back, allowing for Fenix, Tomás, and Tana totake each of her arms. She bucked, snapping her jaws, kicking her feet and screaming.
Tana did not have her magic here, something the Folk may have suspected but we did not mention, but her knowledge of the body was more than sufficient for her to stand behind Francie and press harshly against the side of her neck. Where the large vein delivering blood between head and body ran thickly. A few seconds, and she slumped between my brother and the Vyrkos, head lolling back into the cradle of Tana’s palms.
“Well. Pleasure to make your acquaintance, and we appreciate your hospitality. We will be going, now.”
And, really, we had hoped but not trusted our departure would be that simple, which was confirmed by the delighted grin of the Queen of Pyrestan. The satisfaction on her children’s faces. “I did not say you could leave, Raouga Em.”
“Well.” Meline adjusted the cuffs of her blouse, where I knew she had two knives hidden. It was also our signal for this version of our plan. Fleeingthroughthe trees. “There are many who call me a queen where I am from. Certainly, you must understand that queens do not take orders from anyone, especially not lying, cannibalistic hags such as yourself. So, if you’ll excuse us.”
When she stood, the guards inched closer. More entered through the open door. I felt the faint gathering of Death beside me. But if what I had access to was similar to her, it would not be enough.
Before coming to the palace, we’d each snuck off on our own, as best we could, and hidden our packs in the forest beyond the bridge. The guards had watched us, absolutely reporting our movements back to their queen. Perhaps they were still there, in the hiding location I’d chosen as the first to go. Perhaps not.
I assessed the guards again, in a flick of a glance and decided to deviate from our plan. To give us more of a chance of escaping with everyone’s lives.
I rose swiftly, rounded the table, and grabbed the Prince of Pyrestan.
The only change in Sarya’s demeanor belying her confidence was the tightening of lips. But more of my focus was on the Prince in my hold. His hair in my fist and throat against the tip of my dagger. He thrashed, trying to maneuver away, but a trained Shadow, he was not. I sliced through the membrane of one of his wings, shredding it to the sound of his high-pitched wailing.
Without my needing to command them, the others inched toward the window while I had the attention of the room. Meline faced the Queen and her children who were standing, their knives and glowing palms at the ready.
Slowly, I began to walk toward Tom, Fenix, Tana, and Francie. The Prince was digging his heels in while bleeding all over my leathers. Only the Queen’s raised hand kept her children and Captain of the Guard from attacking with their magic and weapons.
Blackwood was still sitting at the table, mouth open and eyes bulging.
“Should we make another deal, Sarya? Our safe passage to our realm for the life of your child? He is the heir apparent, is he not?” He was the one who’d been sitting closest to her in the throne room, so it was an assumption.
One that appeared correct. No one but me and the Prince moved, until we were with the others.
“You understand my new aversion to making deals with Raouga.”
“Are you also opposed to the death of your eldest?” I sliced another length of his wing, but his cry of protest was noticeably fainter.
Leaning against the table, murky stare on all of us, the queen smiled. Slow, slight. “Walter Blackwood, you will stay here,” shecommanded at just the moment he tried to stand. His body threw back into his seat, struggling against an invisible force.
“What is the meaning of this?” He rattled the wood, making it groan.
“You would not survive leaving Tyrgard, anyway. My people have told me how much of our food and drink you’ve enjoyed. I’ll decide what to do with you later.”
Only Meline and I remained in the royal dining room, our companions already having escaped through the window and running across the grounds, toward the bridge.
Sarya’s shut her eyes, becoming a vision of serenity with her silk gown, beads, and jewels. Meline surreptitiously pushed me toward the window first, and I reached the edge, ready to jump to the trees below with the Prince fighting unconsciousness in my arms.
“I suggest you run quickly, Raouga.”
And she whistled.
High, sustained, and echoing across the forest, the valley, and the mountain. Meline and I crashed through the leaves and branches awaiting below, and our feet had barely met the ground before we were running with all the Lylithan speed we possessed. Our paced breaths and the whoosh of the wood around us was not loud enough to drown the piercing, shrill call that seemed to fill the whole realm.
I winced as I ran, carrying the bleeding prince with my queen keeping step beside me. We dodged thick foliage, leapt over anything in our path, and closed the distance between us and our companions.
