could call enough magic to level the city walls in no time at all.”
“It won’t need to be that strong.” Aaric spoke confidently. “Just enough to get you airborne.”
“Sounds good to me.” I stood and glanced at the sky. Still a few hours before dusk, but I didn’t want to risk any more time. “Let’s get in position so we can be off the moment darkness falls.”
Fyrsil and the others stood as well. He glanced toward the city. “Strange, that they built their city over a volcano.”
“A what now?” I hadn’t heard of that name before.
Aaric chimed in excitedly. “That would make sense. All this rock is dried lava and their city . . .” He trailed off, his brow furrowed in confusion. He looked at Fyrsil. “Why would they build their city in the crater?”
The outlaw spread his hands. “Your guess is as good as mine.” He tilted his head in thought for a moment, then laughed. “I can see that being a deterrent for would-be invaders. Who would want a city that could become immersed in lava in a matter of seconds? Perhaps the Twyli magic keeps it at bay.”
He gestured to me. “Let’s get going, sand cat.”
18
Adaryn
N ight had fallen. We stood on the edge of the depression, looking down at the twinkling lights of the dark city. Fyrsil and I each held a glider. Aaric and Zero stood a ways back. Aaric and I had said our goodbyes, promising that we’d see each other again. Aaric had been especially worried about the baby, but we both knew that the only other alternative was to allow Dahlia to die, and we couldn’t accept that.
“Here,” I’d said, handing him my good luck charm he’d bought for me in Bleaksdale. “You might need this.”
“It’s just a necklace, Adaryn,” Aaric had said, but he took it when he saw my expression. “I’m going to be fine, love.”
I hoped he would.
“Are you ready?” Fyrsil asked quietly, seeing me look back at my husband. I nodded, gripping the handle of the glider tightly, my knuckles whitening.
“On the count of three, we’re going to run a few paces and jump,” he said. “Rather than running downhill, you jump. Got it?”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. I already missed Aaric.
“One.”
I shifted my feet, tensing.
“Two . . . three!”
I sprinted forward and leapt into the air. It was just as frightening and exhilarating as I remembered. The wind whipped my hair around my face, and my eyes stung from the cold, winter wind.
I felt enchantment swell as Fyrsil seized the magic, and within moments a strong wind buffeted me. I almost lost my hold on the glider as the air slammed into the wings, causing it to dart upward. I swallowed the startled scream that nearly escaped my lips.
The ground fell away and I flew. Fyrsil was beside me, his black hair streaming behind him. His eyes were wide but he grinned at me. “A little different from walking, isn’t it?” He had to shout to be heard over the wind.
I would have rolled my eyes at his ridiculous comment if I hadn’t been too tense to do much of anything except hang onto the glider for dear life. I might feel better if there had been some kind of restraining rope to keep me from shaking like a leaf in the fall breeze. I made a mental note to tell Aaric he’d need to make improvements. I’d used the glider twice before, but I hadn’t grown used to it.
The city was a couple of miles away from where we had stood, but flying was faster than walking and before long, the length of Twyarinoth took up my view, stretching to either side as far as I could see.
Our gliders started to dip before we reached the wall, so Fyrsil used his magic to call the wind once more and our gliders wafted up, a little less harshly this time. The closer we drew to the walls, the more nervous I got. What if they had guards patrolling the stretch of wall we landed on? What if they sensed our magic? What if Dahlia was already—no. I pushed the thought away.
I tipped the glider downward,
“It won’t need to be that strong.” Aaric spoke confidently. “Just enough to get you airborne.”
“Sounds good to me.” I stood and glanced at the sky. Still a few hours before dusk, but I didn’t want to risk any more time. “Let’s get in position so we can be off the moment darkness falls.”
Fyrsil and the others stood as well. He glanced toward the city. “Strange, that they built their city over a volcano.”
“A what now?” I hadn’t heard of that name before.
Aaric chimed in excitedly. “That would make sense. All this rock is dried lava and their city . . .” He trailed off, his brow furrowed in confusion. He looked at Fyrsil. “Why would they build their city in the crater?”
The outlaw spread his hands. “Your guess is as good as mine.” He tilted his head in thought for a moment, then laughed. “I can see that being a deterrent for would-be invaders. Who would want a city that could become immersed in lava in a matter of seconds? Perhaps the Twyli magic keeps it at bay.”
He gestured to me. “Let’s get going, sand cat.”
18
Adaryn
N ight had fallen. We stood on the edge of the depression, looking down at the twinkling lights of the dark city. Fyrsil and I each held a glider. Aaric and Zero stood a ways back. Aaric and I had said our goodbyes, promising that we’d see each other again. Aaric had been especially worried about the baby, but we both knew that the only other alternative was to allow Dahlia to die, and we couldn’t accept that.
“Here,” I’d said, handing him my good luck charm he’d bought for me in Bleaksdale. “You might need this.”
“It’s just a necklace, Adaryn,” Aaric had said, but he took it when he saw my expression. “I’m going to be fine, love.”
I hoped he would.
“Are you ready?” Fyrsil asked quietly, seeing me look back at my husband. I nodded, gripping the handle of the glider tightly, my knuckles whitening.
“On the count of three, we’re going to run a few paces and jump,” he said. “Rather than running downhill, you jump. Got it?”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. I already missed Aaric.
“One.”
I shifted my feet, tensing.
“Two . . . three!”
I sprinted forward and leapt into the air. It was just as frightening and exhilarating as I remembered. The wind whipped my hair around my face, and my eyes stung from the cold, winter wind.
I felt enchantment swell as Fyrsil seized the magic, and within moments a strong wind buffeted me. I almost lost my hold on the glider as the air slammed into the wings, causing it to dart upward. I swallowed the startled scream that nearly escaped my lips.
The ground fell away and I flew. Fyrsil was beside me, his black hair streaming behind him. His eyes were wide but he grinned at me. “A little different from walking, isn’t it?” He had to shout to be heard over the wind.
I would have rolled my eyes at his ridiculous comment if I hadn’t been too tense to do much of anything except hang onto the glider for dear life. I might feel better if there had been some kind of restraining rope to keep me from shaking like a leaf in the fall breeze. I made a mental note to tell Aaric he’d need to make improvements. I’d used the glider twice before, but I hadn’t grown used to it.
The city was a couple of miles away from where we had stood, but flying was faster than walking and before long, the length of Twyarinoth took up my view, stretching to either side as far as I could see.
Our gliders started to dip before we reached the wall, so Fyrsil used his magic to call the wind once more and our gliders wafted up, a little less harshly this time. The closer we drew to the walls, the more nervous I got. What if they had guards patrolling the stretch of wall we landed on? What if they sensed our magic? What if Dahlia was already—no. I pushed the thought away.
I tipped the glider downward,
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