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Riven’s nostrils flared but he nodded.
I let that new power swell under my skin, it churned and lapped inside my belly, thrashing for me to let it out but I didn’t. I needed to release as much of it as I could at once.
Riven squeezed my hand, sensing the building attack through our bond. “On the count of three,diizra.”
I nodded, unable to speak.
“One.”
Riven dropped my hand. The thrashing in my stomach raged wildly.
“Two.”
I screamed and pulled my hands toward the sky. It felt like I was lifting a thousand men under the weight of so much power.
“Three!”
Riven’s shadows along the beach vanished to reveal the towering wall of water barreling toward the sellswords. The archers screamed, jumping from their boats in a futile attempt to escape. The wave crashed down to the sea once more, cresting over the ships and flooding the beach. Splintered wood was thrown into the sky in all directions as the sea settled from its meal.
I fell to my knees, exhausted.
Riven grabbed my arm and pulled me to my feet. We didn’t wait to watch the devastation. We ran.
Our breaths were ragged by the time we reached Syrra and Gerarda at the cliff edge. Riven’s legs shook and he leaned against the rock to steady himself.
Syrra frowned as she threw a rope around his shoulders.
“I can climb down on my own.” Riven wheezed between each word.
Syrra tightened the loop across his chest. “You can barely stand, Riventh.”
Gerarda and I helped lower Riven to the shore below. While the rope spun through my hands, I saw that the canoes and paddleboats Gerarda had made us bring were floating along the hull of the ship. Shades were already climbing to the deck and pulling others aboard.
Disbelief and worry pierced my heart. If we managed to get them out alive, I would never be able to thank Gerarda enough for her relentless stubbornness. She had saved them all.
With Riven secure, I did a final scan of the island. The beacon still burned along the Order, backlighting the stone castle in orange flames. Torches all over the city had been lit to witness the devastation along the beach and I knew somewhere in the distance Damien was quaking in anger.
I smirked and grabbed my guideline. My feet landed softly on the sand and we moved in silence to load Riven into the sole canoe that was left behind.
Gerarda picked up one of the paddles but I shook my head. I focused on the rippling sea beneath us. I used everything Feron had taught me to find the flow of magic within the sea itself. It spun and swerved with the freedom of a child playing in a field.
I set our boat upon it and the current let me control its movements as it carried us toward the ship more quickly than any amount of paddles could manage.
Syrra cracked a rare smile as she pointed to the sea. Swirls of turquoise and gold fluttered through the waves like schools of fish. “I have not seen such magic in a long time.”
I laughed as a school of swirls leaped from the sea like dolphins. “Miinidiivra,” Syrra muttered under her breath.
Gerarda stared wide-eyed as a turquoise orb broke through the surface and arched through the air like a seal. “A miracle indeed.”
I glanced at her. I had never heard Gerarda speak Elvish but she was obviously learning quickly in Myrelinth.
I slowed as we approached the ship. Syrra and Gerarda grabbed the ladder of Elvish rope and held us steady as Riven and I made the first climb. I pulled myself over the edge of the ship and then pulled Riven too. His breathing was heavily labored despite the help.
“Do you need more?” I asked as he winced, holding up my hand.
Riven shook his head. “You need to get us away as quick as you can.” He held his ribs as he spoke. “I will manage.”
I shook my head. “Their beaches and port are flooded. Damien can’t follow us now.”
