Alone, shivering, and soaked—they couldn’t leave it.
Tharen groaned out, "Vale will kill me for this." And then he shifted the hold on the tapestry to one hand, using the end of his cloak to carefully reach for the cat and wrap it up in hiscloak, bundling it close to his chest. It gave a soft mewl, tiny head peeking out from within Tharen’s collar.
The mage winced as the sharp claws cut into his shirt, seeking purchase.
"Let’s go," Tharen urged, "before I get us into any more trouble."
From that point on, it was a swift escape.
Nyx was quiet on Az’s head, and Tharen led the way through the waterlogged halls, and finally, blessedly, he saw their exit.
Tharen held a hand to his chest, keeping the cat nestled against him, as he jammed his foot against the door. It gave way easily, and the water inside the castle spilled outwards onto the muddy grass.
They were free.
But not free from Lu’s storm.
The sky was dark, thick clouds converging overhead in ominous spirals. Their ends tipped down, reaching with clouded points toward the earth.
Rain fell hard and fast, soaking them through. Nyx squealed, and Az opened his collar, allowing her to hide against his nape, protected by the ends of his hair and shirt.
"We have to go!" Az roared.
Tharen started for the small trail that led to the gardens—and further, the stables. "To the stables!"
They ran, mud squelching under them. Az held a hand over his head to ward off the icy shards of rain. As they cut through the gardens, the treetops offered brief shelter, and Az wiped the back of his arm over his face. They broke free from the orchards, passing drooping rosebushes and rain-slicked apple trees. Water streamed in divots in the earth, puddles rising.
Would the whole kingdom drown?
No. She wouldn’t. Lu wasgood.
She didn’t mean to do this, never meant to do any of it, Az knew.
She would stop this. She had to.
He would help her.
Rain hammered the stable roof as they all but tumbled inside. The doors slammed shut behind them. Graves caught Az’s eye and nodded once as he saw Nyx, her fingers curling around the neckline of Az’s shirt as she poked her head up.
"You can come out," Az told her.
She did with a shivering, violent shake, splattering water and leaves everywhere as she sighed, "I’m not an Aqua sprite! I wasn’t made for water."
She hovered in midair, verdant eyes surveying the room.
Bastian finished wrapping a blanket around Ori’s shoulders. His sister sat beside him, holding his hand tightly. Ina was stroking a hand through Lya’s white coat, Akira at her feet, growling lowly, watching the new female with wary interest. Dyara paced about the bales of hay in the corners, drool hanging from her jowls as the horses snorted and whinnied.
"What of the castle? Any survivors?" Graves asked, voice mumbled through his cowl. Damp black hair poked through his hood, plastered to his temples.
Az swallowed thickly.
"None. The castle… it won’t stand much longer. We have to leave. Now." Tharen started for one of the stable doors, kicking it open with his foot. The horse was already saddled; the mage grabbed the reins and led the horse from the stall.
Graves jumped into action, going for the next stall—home to a black-as-night steed, muscled and strong. "Miria rides swift." The male jerked his head to the white steed. "Snow rides sure. Pair up."
"Wait." Osa stood, Ori quickly doing the same. "You mean you will not journey with us?"
"No." Tharen shook his head. "You four will go alone. Miria and Snow are not commonplace horses. They will deliver you to a village further inland. Ride north, and do not stop until the storm no longer follows. If you have to, go to Medius—you’ll be safe there."
