Page 81 of A Thread of Breath and Bone

Anxiety coils in my stomach as Ryker lowers the pod off the palace island, letting it descend toward the forest floor below. I sip my tea to give my hands something to do.

Ryker is silent beside me, jaw tight—but before we left, he told me this was the right call.

We need answers.

Soon, the familiar rip in the landscape comes into view. Instead of landing at the tree line like last time, Ryker tilts the pod’s nose downward, aiming straight for the thick blanket of clouds that swallows the Drift whole.

The Drift looks exactly as we left it.

“Ready?” he asks.

I blow out a long breath, link my fingers with his, and nod.

We sink further into the thick blanket of mist and clouds until the whole pod is swallowed whole.

Something brushes the glass. Then another.

“Ry,” I whisper, my grip tightening.

“Breathe, love.”

Strange, winged beasts appear in the clouds, gliding alongside the transport—slow enough now that their webbed wings drag across the glass like a gentle caress. I press my fingers to the surface, watching the pearlescent white creature stare back at me with massive purple eyes. On Ryker’s side, a dove-gray beast mirrors our speed, its scales darkening as it blends into the surrounding rock.

The creatures are larger than the transport, with beautiful scales shimmering and changing color as we descend through the cloud bank. Large, spiked tails keep their balance, but never come close enough to pierce the glass.

They don’t look hostile. They look curious.

When I lift my hand, the blue one blinks—like it understands. Electricity crackles softly across its hide before it dives into the mist below.

“Does that mean we’re supposed to follow?” I ask.

Ryker mutters something about lightning-charged monsters and poor life choices, but he follows anyway.

The clouds stretch on for what feels like forever. When we finally break through, I gasp.

The valley beneath us is impossibly deep, ancient trees stretching upward like pillars holding up the sky. Winged creatures of every size soar through the mist, some no bigger than my torso. Below, a thick layer of emerald forest surrounds a silver river that cuts through the land like liquid light.

It’s breathtaking. Terrifying. Alive.

The blue beast leads us forward, glancing back like it’s checking to make sure we’re still there. Its long body glides effortlessly—four thick legs tucked beneath it, webbed wings spread wide, tail trailing behind like a living ribbon of storm light.

Below, strange creatures that look like they could be related to a horse, gallop through the tall grass, silhouettes I’ve only seen in forbidden sketches. Their long, black hair flows out behind them.

Then the landscape shifts. A waterfall emerges at the valley’s end—massive, roaring, defying every law of Kyrr’s gravity.

“How is this possible?” I mutter.

No river in our system should sustain this kind of force.

The beast dives, skimming the water’s surface before landing near the churning pool at the base.

We follow.

We both sit for a moment to take it all in. The silence that follows is heavy, broken only by the thunder of the falls.

“Think it’s safe?” I ask.

Ryker exhales in disbelief before opening the door. “Guess we’ll find out.”