Page 62 of Wind and Water
Wellon asks, “Do you think your people will be offended by our arrival?”
Wren and Birdie both turn and look at me, waiting for my answer. Wren cocks her head, her curious and stunning eyes fixed on mine.
Pallon and Jadar don’t turn, but I’m sure they, too, are curious. Honestly, I’m not certain what will happen, but I have faith.
“It will be something new for them, just as it was new for me the day we met. I want to believe the elves will embrace the changing world and accept both the centaurs’ differences as well as our similarities.” I know my mother will listen, and once she does, she’ll be happy for the alliance. Father is always slower to change, but he’ll get there in time.
“What similarities?” Pallon keeps his gaze focused on the land ahead of us.
I think about the young ones whom Birdie sacrificed and suffered to save. She still hasn’t shared her experience, but it must have been terrible. “We have much in common, Pallon. We love our children. We want to protect our people. We live in the embrace of light magic and despise the use of dark. I’m sure there will be more commonalities discovered as our people mingle and learn about each other.
A smile tugs at Wren’s lips. “Good people always have some common ground to unite them.”
Jadar chuckles. “The elves will think we’ve come to attack them. It will take time to build trust.” He pauses. “Still, I am curious to see the city and meet your people. I have never seen anyplace with more people than Clandunna, and that wasn’t much bigger than our village.”
Birdie says. “Once they see how handsome you are, you’ll have all the lady elves fawning over you.”
All three laugh.
Wren’s smile could keep the sun from setting. “At least you’re not arriving with the expectation of you saving the world. Imagine how I feel.”
Before I can open my mouth, Jadar says, “If anyone can defeat the witch, it is you, Wren Martin.”
I couldn’t agree with him more, yet I wish I could steal her away and keep her safe.
Adhar screeches a high-pitched warning from above.
A dark mass flies toward us.
“Is that more demons? Lord above, this bitch of a witch queen has got to be shown the door.” Birdie squints at whatever’s coming.
My gut tightens. “Crows. Venora controls them. Get down and try to find cover. They will dive when they get close enough.”
Wren and I jump to the ground as well. There’s no water for Wren to use as a weapon here on higher ground. It’s dry, short grass with some trees and shrubbery.
The centaurs pull out their bows and quivers.
Birdie takes cover behind a tree.
I wish Wren would stay with her mother, but she stands by my side and pulls the sword we found in Clandunna from her sheath.
The first crow dives for Jadar. He lets an arrow fly, and the bird crashes to the ground with the arrow’s red feathers pointing up like a declaration of war.
More dive at the centaurs who fight with short swords for close combat. Several more crows fall, but one pecks Pallon’s head.
Adhar dives like a missile and hits a crow heading for Wren. The raven kills with one strike and lands on her prey with a loud croak before flying to the tree limb above Birdie and standing guard like a sentinel.
Slicing the air, I time my strokes to take out as many birds as I can without using magic. We’ve used so much since arriving in Domhan, even with the help of the leighis berry, I feel drained from overusing my gifts.
Wren swings her sword at several attackers. The sudden onslaught forces her back.
The sky is black with crows, and hundreds dive and retreat, dive and retreat. Many litter the ground in pieces as their bloodsoaks the short grass. It feels like they will never stop coming, and we will run out of weapons and energy before this is over.
Jadar’s hindquarters are gashed and bleeding, and hundreds more come in a never-ending river of cawing and clawing menace.
I’m struck, but keep swinging my sword, ignoring the blood running into my eyes.
Wren screams.
