Page 76 of Echoes of the Raven
“I would know your magic anywhere, you harpy. Show yourself,” Rífíor shouts. “Fight me like a real warrior.”
“What? Is he crazy?” Esmeralda pulls at her dark hair. “We need to get out of here.”
“And how are you going to do that?” Gaspar asks. “On your flying horse?”
“Ha, you’re so funny. At least the others are safe,” she spits. “I should’ve stayed with them.”
“Fucking traitor!” Calierin’s voice resounds across the forest. “You sold us out.”
“Then come and kill me… if you can,” Rífíor taunts, twirling the sword to the left, the right, the front. The blade goes so fast it seems nothing but a blur.
Bushes rustle across the way, and Calierin strolls out, hands raised and throbbing with espiritu. I clench my teeth and let hatred eat away my fear. I came to dread the sight of her, the gleeful glint in her eyes, but I’ve been fighting to erase her face from my nightmares, and I won’t allow her back in.
Calierin’s not alone. The male named Kadewyn is behind her—Rífíor’s second. His silver hair reflects the morning sunlight that filters through the thick canopy. I met him in the catacombs. Well,met himis a stretch. I laid eyes on him and heard his name. That’s all. He holds a drawn bow in his left hand.
I touch the wound in my arm.Bastardo! He tried to kill me!Or did he? Perhaps I only deviated the shot when I stood up.Perhaps he meant to kill Rífíor instead. From the way Kadewyn glares at his former leader, that seems to be the case.
Calierin and Kadewyn cut an intimidating pair. I don’t blame Esmeralda for wanting to run. The sight of them makes my insides turn to water. My history with the sorceress isn’t helping, but I’m determined to give this female no power over me.
I reach behind my back, and slowly, my hand wraps around La Matadora’s hilt. Taking a deep breath, I step from behind the tree, my weaponzingingas I draw it out of its scabbard.
30
RÍFÍOR
“Calierin is right. Rífíor is a liar and a traitor.”
Kadewyn Zinceran - Veilfallen - 21 DV
“Damn you to Talrocht,” I curse. Has she lost her mind? Valeria is a good fighter. Very good, in fact, but she is no match for the likes of Calierin.
“Retreat,” I order her.
She gives me a sideways glance that tells me exactly what she thinks about me and my order.
“You are going to get yourself killed,” I retort. “But what do I care?
“Exactly,” she shoots back. “So shut your mouth.” I bristle at her tone. She’s infuriating.
Calierin and Kadewyn come to a stop a few feet away from us. They both wear hateful expressions I have often seen on their faces though never directed at me.
“Did you think we wouldn’t find you?” Calierin barks her question.
I only stare at her, my sword in a white-knuckle grip.
“I knew we never should have trusted you,” Calierin says. The magic in her hands pulses with every word she utters. “Do you know how manyof our people died in those catacombs?” A pause. “Walverdin, Preesah, Janeer, Stohehk. Do you want me to keep going?”
Every name sends a stab of pain into my chest. I did not mean for any of them to die. We were safe in those catacombs for a long time. I never suspected they would find us. But I say none of these things. I only wait, ready for whatever she throws my way. If only Valeria would get out of the way, I would have one less thing to worry about.
“Why did you do it?” Kadewyn asks.
Leave it to reasonable Kadewyn to ask that question, to try to understand. Would he change his mind about me if I told him the truth? It matters not. I do not owe either of them an explanation. However, for the safety of my travel companions and our quest, I will tell them our goal and hope my reasons convince them to leave us alone.
“I only have one purpose,” I say, “and it is to help our people.”
“Bréagah!” Calierin curses.
“I care not if either of you believes me, but we are on our way to reopen the veil.”
