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Lancelet had just opened her mouth to reply when we heard the flapping of wings.
Harpies were all very well to read about in the pages of books. When Vesper had described being attacked by them, I had vaguely recalled illustrations depicting them as female-looking creatures with wings.
But as I looked up to see the shadows of dark wings overhead, my mouth went dry.
The intelligent eyes of women peered down at me, faces twisted into grotesque snarls. Instead of faces, they had sharp, pointed beaks which opened to reveal red mouths and long curved tongues. Their bodies extended down past exposed breasts and naked torsos, melding into monstrous avian features. Razorsharp talons glinted in the fading sun from. Only their feathers were lovely–gleaming iridescent colors that covered massive wings that each looked broader than a horse.
The harpies were circling overhead, descending lower and lower as they carefully avoided hitting the rocky cliff walls that surrounded us.
Suddenly one let out a blood-curdling cry and dove, straight down towards where Draven stood by his horse.
Instantly, he dove into action, yanking the little girl from the saddle and tossing her over his shoulder, as he pulled a dagger from his belt.
The harpy's sharp beak skidded across the horse's saddle. The creature let out a shriek of frustration and spun upwards, just as Draven's knife flew through the air. I watched as it slid through one of the harpy's wings, splitting it open. The harpy screeched with rage, but her torn wing brought her slowly spiraling down.
As he boosted Odelna higher up on his shoulder, Draven’s eyes met mine. “Get inside. Now!” he bellowed, leaning forward to slap a hand to the piebald’s hindquarters. The horse bolted forward into the cavernous entrance.
An instant later I understood his concern. A dark swarm had formed overhead, thousands of wings beating in unison as they circled overhead.
We clearly weren't going to win this fight, especially with a small child. I glanced at Vesper and saw him staring at Draven and the little girl, his face inscrutable.
We raced through the entrance, into the blackness, leaving the harpies behind.
As all light disappeared and Haya stumbled, I suddenly was terrified the earth was about to disappear from beneath our feet.
Then my eyes became accustomed to the dimness.
We were in a large chamber carved from stone. Behind us, the harpies were swooping and wheeling, their wings beating furiously as they lunged towards the entrance, cawing loudly.
I glanced at Odelna in Draven's arms. Her head was pressed to his shoulder but she seemed less afraid than simply long-suffering.
“They won’t usually enter a building. They hate being closed in. But we should still move further inside. A few might be bold enough to try to come inside,” Draven announced. He glanced at Vesper. “Is this where you were attacked?”
Vesper nodded. “We had the wagons with us. The harpies have shredded everything to pieces by now, but I saw the remains outside. When the harpies attacked us, the merchants didn't want to leave their belongings behind unguarded. Laverna and I urged them to get inside. Their hesitation cost them their lives.”
“Did you take down any of the harpies?” I asked curiously, unable to imagine Vesper simply standing idle with his bow.
“We took down ten between us,” he said modestly. “Three flew in after us. There.” He pointed across the chamber at a pile of gray rubble. In front of it I could see the white bones of the harpies he had slain.
“Impressive,” Lancelet murmured. “Those things... I can hardly believe they're real.”
“When there are only a few, they’re mostly harmless. But in greater numbers, they can be dangerous.” Draven gently lowered the little girl to the ground where she tilted precariously a moment before getting her footing. “We might have picked them off, but with this little one, I didn’t want to risk being swarmed.”
“I tell you they completely devastated a caravan of merchants and you say they're harmless?” Vesper complained sourly. He met my eyes. “At least we’re all safe. That’s all that matters.” He touched a hand to my cheek briefly and I smiled.
“None of the merchants survived? None ran inside with you when you urged them to?” Draven's eyes were hard.
I saw Vesper swallow quickly. “One,” he conceded. “One made it inside in time. He was already wounded. We tried to staunch the bleeding but he died. We buried him under a pile of rubble over there.” He frowned at the other man. “Do you want to see that body, too?”
“No need. I believe you.” Draven turned away.
“Ten harpies,” Lancelet marveled. She patted the bow on her back. “I was too startled to even get a shot in. I feel like a fool now.” She eyed the entrance way then grinned in Draven’s direction. “Maybe I should go back.”
“Don't even think of it,” Draven warned. “We're heading in now. Once we’re deeper into the ruins, there’ll be no chance the harpies will follow.”
He took the reins of his horse in one hand and Odelna’s hand in his other and started walking ahead.
“It's awfully dark up there,” I muttered as I tugged on Haya's reins and followed.
