Page 119 of Swift Wings Shadowed Heart
But the sight that truly snatches my breath away is entirely different.
I finally spot him. Vaylen!
In the distance, I see Fragor’s silver shape. He’s being pursued by the Matron, her massive form a terrifying shadow against the setting sun. A cluster of harpies swarms around them, their screeches audible even from this distance.
My heart leaps into my throat. He’s in danger.
Fragor flies at breathtaking speed, while Vaylen releases Wind Spears, volley after volley of them, while he and Fragor glow with power. The Matron, swift and powerful, easily avoids the attacks, her attention doggedly set on Vaylen while her soldiers fall to Vaylen’s attacks behind her.
I spur Zephyros on. Silas roars in agreement, and we fly toward Vaylen, a blast of wind and fire cutting through the few remaining harpies in our path. I push Zephyros to his limits, my eyes fixed on Vaylen and Fragor. They are too far, but we’re moving fast. Determination fuels my speed.
The Matron, sensing our approach, lets out a blood-curdling screech. She dives, a blur of black feathers and talons, aiming straight for Vaylen. Fragor roars in alarm. The Matron strikes, her talons raking across the dragon’s back as she sails into Vaylen. Slamming into him, she wraps her arms around him, the force of the impact severing his Tethers. I cry out as he plummets towards the ground, the harpy clinging to him like a monstrous parasite.
They fall, a tangled mass of limbs and feathers, and disappear into the deepening twilight. My heart twists. I can only watch in horror as wind whistles in my ears in my desperate dive to reach them.
* * *
I kickZephyros into an even steeper dive. The wind howls past my ears. My heart hammers, a frantic drumbeat against the screams of impotence inside my head. I have to reach him. I have to save him.
But deep down, a cold dread settles in my stomach. They are falling too fast. Past the clouds, the ground is rushing up to meet them. I know, with a sickening certainty, that I won’t make it in time.
Zephyros strains, his powerful wings beating with desperate urgency, but it’s not enough. Vaylen and the Matron are still falling, a chaotic swirl of struggling limbs and snapping jaws.
The clouds whip past in a dizzying blur, and as we break through, a flicker of relief ignites within me. The lake! Its surface, reflecting the fading light, is directly below us. There might still be a chance.
Vaylen’s and the Matron’s forms tangle as a dagger flashes and teeth snap. They plunge into the water, disappearing beneath the surface with a resounding splash that echoes across the mountains. The lake’s surface ripples, then stills, leaving no trace of their struggle.
Zephyros and I hover above the water. My heart is in my throat. The silence is deafening, broken only by the distant cries of the remaining harpies.
Vaylen, come on! Where are you?
Is he…? No! I can’t bear to finish the thought.
My decision is instantaneous. I can’t wait. I have to go after him. I kick off my boots, shed my heavy leathers, and without a moment’s hesitation, I leap from Zephyros’s head, plunging into the icy depths of the lake.
The shock of the icy water steals my breath. I fight against the current, kicks and strokes hard, my eyes straining to pierce the murky depths. I’m thankful for my goggles, which allow me to keep my eyes open. Still, only the fading light filters through the water, casting long, distorted shadows. I search frantically, my lungs burning, my vision blurring, until I remember something.
I’m afraid it won’t work, but the air bubble I conjure forms around my head. I gulp in air and keep swimming. Then, I see him. A dark shape, sinking slowly towards the bottom. Vaylen!
I swim towards him, my arms and legs aching. As I reach him, my arms wrap around his waist, and I extend the air bubble to encompass him. His eyes are closed, his body limp. He’s unconscious. The Matron is nowhere to be seen. I kick with all my remaining strength, trying to pull him up towards the surface.
My vision swims, but I can see the faint glimmer of the surface above. With a few final, desperate kicks, I break through, Vaylen still limp in my arms.
Zephyros stands by the shore, his massive form a welcome sight. He lowers his long, powerful tail, the silver scales glistening in the fading light. I manage to grab hold of it, my fingers clinging to the rough surface. With a powerful tug, he pulls us through the water, dragging us toward him.
He gently deposits us onto the rocky bank. I roll Vaylen onto his side, thumping on his back to expel the water from his lungs. It pours out of his mouth in bursts. I hold my breath, waiting, praying. Blood seeps through his torn leathers, quickly soaking the ground.
“Come on. Come on, Vaylen!” I beg, holding his face in my hands.
He coughs, sputtering, gasping, eyes wide and frightened. But alive. He’s alive!
I press my forehead to his. “Thank the Goddess.”
We stay like that for a long moment. His breaths even out, and he slowly sits up.
“What… what happened?” he asks.
“The Matron took you out,” I say. “You fell in the lake.”
