her eyes.
I gave her a kiss, soft and brief.
“For luck?” she asked. Her bottom lip tucked behind her teeth.
“Because I wanted to kiss you. You’re not a rabbit’s foot.”
She grabbed my collar and pulled me down for another kiss.
And when she moved back, she smiled. “And don’t you forget it.”
I rested my forehead against hers.
“You were really brave,” she said. “You okay?”
“We don’t have time for okay.” I put on a smile. “We have a queen to see.”
We could do this.
Dagney was only at level twenty-one. I was nineteen. I’d have preferred to be at least above level fifty before we went against the queen of the Savak. I’d have preferred to have an army at my side, mechanicals at my flank, weapons buffed.
All I had was Dagney. She grinned at me and my muscles relaxed. They didn’t stand a chance.
“The Island of the Savak is mostly mountain, and if I mistime it, we might end up encased in rock, so I’m going to take small steps. I’m aiming for that ship.” She pointed to the horizon, where a fishing vessel sailed toward the Island of the Savak. “They might not take kindly to stowaways, so whatever happens I’m not going to stop walking. Hopefully there will be another ship beyond it, but if we land in the water, hold your breath, and hold on tight to me.”
I tucked my fingers into the straps of her armor. Electricity drew us closer as she stepped toward a rocking boat. Sailors shouted at our arrival, but she stepped again, to a wrecked boat, covered in ashes. The wreckage dipped under our weight, seawater soaking up to my knees. There was nowhere else to step except the sea. The Savak were beyond the horizon, but I couldn’t see their island. All I could see were waves.
Our eyes met and we took deep breaths. She studied my expression and gave a small nod.
Then she stepped right into the deep water.
The ocean tore at us. There was nowhere to step in the deep swirling sea. Dagney’s eyes widened, her nostrils flaring under water. I threw myself forward and dragged her by her waist, pushing her legs forward. Light shifted around us as the next step landed, still underwater, ankles deep in demanding sand. The dirt swirled around us, sucking me down. Dagney held my armor tight and stepped off my knee. We shot forward again, deeper under the surface, the light of the sky so distant I couldn’t see anything other than swirling black shadows and sharp circling fins.
Bubbles escaped her mouth, and my lungs ached. Her eyes widened in fear and I didn’t pause to look at whatever creature she saw. I pushed her forward again. The drag tore at my grip, the ocean prying her nearly out of my hands. But she didn’t quit. Not until we stood on the pebbled shore, ocean water to our shoulders, the water jostling us forward.
I coughed seawater until I could breathe without the rattle of salt in my lungs.
Dagney exhaled sharply, her soaked hair plastered to her face. “Disengage boots!” she shouted.
Both of us breathed out labored breaths.
We’d made it to the Island of the Savak.
27
GRIGFEN
When the world went back into focus, I kicked my bare feet against the ground and brought my legs into my chest. The agony in my ribs, sharp and stinging, blurred my vision. I could only take shallow breaths.
But I was alive, I hadn’t broken my promise to Bluebird. Not yet.
A shadow loomed over me. I skidded backward, something metal and hard digging into my shoulder blades. A firm hand steadied me and something cold brushed my lips. Bitter drink quenched my dry tongue and slid down my clenched throat. Light followed that tea, awakening nerve endings. My broken ribs were still tender, but crusted over like the tea had grown armor inside me. Hibisi. Someone had brewed those blossoms. My eyes cracked open.
“Needs honey,” I croaked.
A bloke in a horned golden mask knelt in front of me, holding a glass jar. His body was painted in Devani symbols, his bare chest was wrapped in a metal harness, and behind him were skeletal wings—gold and spindly, creaking under a pair of gears. An orange player indicator floated over his head.
At least it wasn’t McKenna. “Thanks for the healing. I’m Grigfen314.”
“ShadowscapeXI,” his voice low rumbled, “but I go by Andrew here.” I dropped my chin to my chest. I’d played Ashcraft with him before. He was quick and sometimes impatient, or short