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“We can send two of the ships back to Myntra,” I said, my voice low. “They’ll see Taina home.”
We wouldn’t be needing all of the ships for the return voyage, that much was clear. And once we reached Pendrath, our casualties would likely extend.
A strong hand clapped down on my shoulder.
“Let us worry about Taina. It’s time for you to go.” Gawain’s voice was gentle but firm.
“Go?”
“Crescent, Hawl, and I have things in hand here. It’s time you were on your way to Camelot.”
I looked at the soldiers dragging bodies from the beach. “I can’t leave you now. Not after this.”
“I told you he’d say that,” Hawl growled loudly.
A soldier passing by carrying a pile of driftwood nearly dropped it as Hawl’s voice echoed over the cliffs, and I grimaced.
“This will take time,” Crescent said softly. “Time to see to the wounded. Time to bury the dead. We’ll lose half the day.”
“You were never going to travel through the mountains with us,” Gawain pointed out. “Morgan is waiting for you. It’s time you got to her, as quickly as you can.”
I looked between their three solemn faces and then had to clear my throat.
A little ways behind us down the beach, Sunstrike and Nightclaw splashed in the waves, catching leaping fish between their paws. They had fought bravely and well. But I could sense Nightclaw’s growing impatience. He longed to be by Morgan’s side almost as much as I did.
“You can alternate between the two of them,” Gawain suggested. “We have no idea how fast they can truly go over long distances, but if they’re anything like birds or bats, they should be able to cover more than a hundred miles an hour at their best.”
“You might be in Pendrath by morning,” Crescent agreed. “From the maps we have, it’s less than a thousand miles, give or take, from here. You’ll save days flying over the mountains. Even weeks.”
Hawl cleared their throat. “Sunstrike is younger. Her wings are not as fully developed. Be careful with her.”
I nodded. “I will. Of course. But—”
“Nightclaw is eager to get to her,” Hawl added. “I can see it in his eyes. Their bond is strong, but he’s loyal to you, too. He knows you are her mate.”
“Two mated pairs,” Crescent said with pride. “Our empress, our prince, and their exmoors.”
I shook my head. “I appreciate the sentiment. But this is madness. We’ve just been ambushed. We don’t even know who our enemy truly is or where they’re coming from. I can’t leave you like this. What if you’re attacked while going through the mountain pass?”
Gawain, Crescent, and Hawl exchanged a glance.
“We fully expect to be,” Gawain said bluntly. “But so what? We never expected this to be easy. That doesn’t mean you should stay.”
“Is she your mate or not? Is she our empress or not?” Crescent demanded, surprising me with his forcefulness.
“She is both. Of course, she is.”
“Then your duty is not to us but to her. Go and get our empress back. Or at the very least, simply keep her safe. And tell her... Tell her we’re coming to her as quickly as we can,” Crescent said.
The lump in my throat was back. “I’ll tell her.”
And then I finally did as they’d insisted.
I left.
Mounted Nightclaw with a pack on my back and a small one strapped to Sunstrike and not much else.
This was it. I was going home to her. I was flying home to my mate.
