House of Vultures, Maggie Claire [fun to read .txt] 📗

“He has never left thischamber, Iris. He’s in that gentle swirling air you feel even now,brushing your cheek. Watching, listening, and waiting for the rightmoment to reveal himself. But I can deal with that!”

A stream of fire flows against thebreeze, a howl dancing through the cave as the wind rushes andwhirls out into the sunlight above us.

“You…is he…?” I cannotform a complete sentence as the scent of scorched hair assaults mynose. The echoes of Antero’s screams still reverberate around me,shouting their accusations as they fade.

“You did this! It’s allyour fault! Guilty, foolish girl!” I hear the words as clearly asif the boy is standing over me. Covering my years, I attempt invain to block out the horror I feel.

“It is not your fault,Iris,” Siri asserts, but her words do little to remedy myheartache. “You did not send the boy here. You did not tell him tospy on the Pith. You did not even deal the killing blow. Quitbeating yourself up over this!”

“How can you be socallous?” I growl angrily, even as I attempt to detach myself frommy emotions. Parts of my heart are split between satisfaction atthe ending of a threat and sadness at a life’s loss. Despite hisrecent actions, there had been moments when he had been myfriend. Probably just a ruse,I try to reassure myself, forcing my mind awayfrom his memory.

Still, it is long after the lastechoes of Antero’s final words before I can force my mouth toengage in conversation once more. “There are others that need tocome here to find their Ddraigs, aren’t there?” I focus on Siri’sslender white pearl sheen in her scales. Almost fragile in herbeauty, she smiles over me.

“Will you bring them? Willyou help us protect the Carreglas?”

“Explain to me how a stonecan be such a powerful weapon, Siri,” I counter, leaning againsther solid frame for comfort.

“The stone has many powersthat few can understand. If the wielder asks, the stone can findand reveal answers to any questions, locate any object or person,and some have said that the stone can even fulfill your greatestdesires. Can you imagine what such a tool could do? Any enemy couldbe located, any wealth found, any wish of your heart realized. Nowput such a weapon in the hands of Déchets, combine its powers withthose of the Windwalkers, and—”

“They would beunstoppable,” I finish. The images of my House mates fill my sight,and I am helpless as I imagine watching them get torn apart.What about Wolf?Could you bear to see such a fate bestowed uponhim?

Siri drops her sleek, enormous head tonuzzle my side, sensing my distress. “Ddraigs are stronger with ourCadogans. Together, we can meet any attack without fail. Will youhelp us?”

“Will you come with me outof the Pith? If I show up alone, raving about everything you havetold me, they will not let me survive the night.”

With a quick screech Siri lifts me outof the Pith, flying off in the direction of the House of Vultures,an answering roar bellowing out from deeper in thecaves.

***

“She crossed the riverinto the lands of the Pith. Her tracks were at least a few daysold. I did not dare follow her—I hope you can understand,” Foxexplains as he reports to Wolf, hanging his head as he finishes.“On the way back, I found this one on the ground. He looks badlyburned, and I am a little surprised he’s even alive.”

Wolf carefully examines the body ofthe scarred victim, trying not to heave at the sight of hismarbled, bleeding flesh. It is hard to find any place on his skinthat isn’t white and waxy, or oozing blood from darkened, leatherytissue. The boy’s body shakes with agony, the shock still pulsingthrough his brilliant eyes. “If I know your true name, boy, I canlend you some of my strength. Will you trust me?”

“Antero.” He quakes outthe answer without a thought. The effect of the naming bond isimmediate. Blood stops its sluggish exuding, blisters ceasing theirpopping. Most of the skin’s leathery texture flakes off, and thewaxiness fades away. Wolf slumps to the ground, weary, but relievedto see the boy not in shock. “I cannot heal you completely, butthese wounds will not kill you now.”

Antero sits up slowly, wincing as hisaching bones bend. “My thanks to you. You have been kind tome.”

“She’d want that,” Wolfanswers as the boy drinks from the water skin by hiship.

“I’m not so sure, Wolf. Itwas Mynah that attacked me,” Antero lies between gulps.

“Impossible!” Wolf growlsat the ailing boy. “She saved your life! She started the war withmy pack and the House of Vultures, all to save you! Only to turnaround and attempt to kill you? If that is true, she must have hada reason!”

“I made the mistake oftaking her to the Pith. There is evil there, Wolf. I fear that ithas consumed her. Within minutes of our arrival into the Pithcaverns, Mynah was changed. She was so full of hatred and paranoiathat she was a danger to herself. When I tried to calm her down,she attacked me. I am lucky that I got away. If she manages toreturn to this land, she will not be the girl that you remember.”Antero slumps and lays on the ground, exhaustion creeping back intohis bones.

Wolf laces his hands around the backof his head, gripping so tightly that some of the strands caughtbetween his fingers flitter down to the ground through his whitenedknuckles. “I do not believe you. She wouldn’t….” His words die inhis throat.

“You do not know the Pith.That kind of evil is unstoppable. It is infectious, and there is nocure! You cannot let her join your pack or return to her House. Shewould only bring that evil into your lands, until everything herewas like the Pith.” Ever so slightly, the bond in Wolf and Antero’sminds trembles as the Windwalker sends his persuasions into theother’s body, Wolf unable to resist.

“What can be done to saveher?” Wolf asks, his voice slurred slightly with his dreamyreaction to the Antero’s mental influence.

“I am sorry, Wolf. Theonly way to save her is to kill her.” Antero bows his head somberlyas Wolf pours his bitter rage