“We can do this,” she said, walking toward him.
Scales came crawling through the room behind her, croaking as loud as ever. He bumped his head against her thigh.
Migo went to her and embraced her, feeling the burning in his chest start to rise. “With haste,” he said, squeezing her shoulders.
Together they rushed back outside. “Jehubal is under attack,” Migo said to the guards outside. “We need everyone assembled.”
They wouldn’t be too late this time. They would not. Be. Late.
“You get to Adrina—I’ll get Jafir,” Migo said.
Katsi nodded and took off through the air, heading to the nearest balcony.
“Jafir,” Migo shouted as he turned the corner. People dodged out of his way as he charged. “It’s time,” he said, bursting into Jafir’s workshop.
Jafir wordlessly snatched a cutlass from off his table and strapped it on, running behind Migo. “I’ll meet you at the portaj,” Jafir said, also jumping out over a balcony.
Sands. Migo was the slow one. Too bad he couldn’t sprout just his wings without the full transformation. By the time he reached the bottom of the plateau, everyone was ready for him, including Captain Gen Kara with all the trained shaman hunters.
Jafir held out two stones. “These are the portaj’s we have for Jehubal. We can take two separate groups at first, then I’ll need to take a slab back and enchant a larger portion.”
“I understand the logistics, Jafir,” Migo said. “Right now we need to go.”
Jafir nodded and handed one of the stones to Adrina.
Migo pointed to various soldiers, calling them to join in the portaj. “Everybody huddle in. Grab the stone with two fingers so we have more room.” Soldiers crowded in, including most of the Rhian shaman hunters. A couple people even crawled underneath all the extended arms, grabbing the stone from the bottom.
Katsi came and stood beside Migo. Once both stones were full, Migo nodded to Jafir. He said the words. A second later they were standing on very familiar ground, just south of Jehubal, near the Scorched Waste. It was an area he had infrequently patrolled as suspicious stomping ground for shaman activity. More so than he’d thought apparently. It was a secluded area relatively close to the city.
The other group appeared as well, bashing into Migo’s group. The stones must have come from the same spot, so people were suddenly forced out of the way to make room for the new arrivals.
Migo stumbled back, almost losing his footing.
“Everyone, head north to the city,” he shouted. The soldiers started rushing off, Captain Gen taking the lead. “Adrina, Jafir, you two know what to do from here?”
“Of course,” Adrina said, already working on cutting out a massive slab.
“Katsi.” Migo nodded to her. “Fly me in. I can change when we get there.”
Katsi wordlessly summoned two rocks for Migo to hold and turned her back to him.
“Three,” he said, skipping one and two as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
Katsi burst into the air, testing Migo’s grip. They launched just high enough to get above the treeline, flying straight over the running soldiers toward Jehubal. There were no towers of smoke, so perhaps they were still early enough. Katsi steered them toward the palace, but also raised their elevation to try and get a better look at things.
“See anything?” Katsi asked.
Migo squinted across the city. The whole place was a flurry of activity, and bells rang out as they zipped over the buildings. He couldn’t see anything in particular, but there seemed to be more movement toward the Frozen Waste. “Perhaps toward the northeast area.”
They reached the palace in seconds, and Katsi slowed, lowering them down over the walls.
It was good to be back somewhere familiar and to see several faces he recognized.
People gawked as he and Katsi dropped from the sky, Hatan among them.
“Hatan!” Migo shouted, jumping down from Katsi’s back.
His cousin recovered from the shock and ran over to clap Migo in a quick hug. “Sleet and sand, Migo, you weren’t lying.”
Hatan slapped Migo on the shoulder one more time before turning his attention to Katsi, shaking his head with the biggest grin, holding his arms out to hug her.
Katsi made a face and stepped back.
“Ah, right,” Hatan said. “I’m just excited, that’s all. Congratulations on the wedding. We’re family now.”
“Hatan, we can discuss this later. We received word that the city was under attack,” Migo said.
“Yes.” Hatan rubbed the back of his neck with one hand.
To Migo’s surprise, there was a large collection of Jehubalins and shamanfolk in the courtyard, many bustling about, some still gawking.
“Report said they saw a sea of monsters to the northeast.”
“A sea of monsters,” Katsi repeated, sharing a worried look with Migo.
“Yes, but you have a way to fight them, right?” Hatan said. “Silver weapons?”
Migo’s thoughts took a dark turn. This could very well be the end. “Yes, those will help,” he said, still keeping his words as optimistic as he could. “Hopefully Katsi can deal with the majority of them.”
