I stretched my wings, marveling at the feel of the cool, night air lifting me heavenward. Now that we were away from the Great Forest of Suel, the sounds of nocturnal creatures, great and small, going about their business filled the air. I flew with the wind, soaring and diving—frolicking—in the currents of crisp fall air. The ground raced past beneath me, foothills becoming flats, flats becoming marsh, marsh emptying into the bay shaped like a three-leaf clover. The bay containing thousands of dragon ships.
On the beach, most of the host of men, Svartalfar, trolls, and demons had departed, leaving only the drunkest, the sickest, or the soundest sleepers. The instinct to shriek my rumbling cry was strong, but I remembered the black-clad Svartalf who pointed at me—Ivalti—and though I knew he was dead, I didn’t want to risk being seen by another of the twisted runeskowlds of the Svartalfar.
I banked east, peering ahead along the shoreline. The moonlight glinted off mother-of-pearl embedded into the coquina beach—and in the water trapped in thousands upon thousands of footprints embedded in the loose sand.
I gained altitude, not wanting anyone to take a potshot at me with a bow or crossbow. A loud, screeching crrruck sounded from the rear. I glanced behind me, and a snow-white bird swooped down from above to fly by my side. The white bird looked like a raven—except for the color, of course. The bird rolled its eyes and made a noise that sounded distinctly like laughter.
On the beach at the edge of my vision stood a vast horde arrayed in formation—trolls in the front, then demons, then men, and a horde of Svartalfar in the rear. The white bird at my side screeched and veered off to the south, making a rumbling call as it went. I followed and, when the bird dipped into the trees edging the beach, I landed beside it on the sand.
With a pop and a flash of smoke, the white bird transformed into Kuhntul, arrayed in white armor, long white hair unbound. “Greetings, Tyeldnir,” she crooned.
I responded with a crrruck of my own.
“I don’t suppose you can transform?”
“No,” I croaked, surprised I could form the word.
“Why ever not?” she mused. “You Isir are so funny.”
I shifted from foot to foot, impatient at this interruption of my flight.
“Relax, Tyeldnir. I won’t take much of your time.” Kuhntul smiled down at me. “You’re even cute as a bird. Jane had better keep a tight grip on you.”
“What…do…you…want?”
“To business, as ever,” she sighed. “Such a shame. We could have such fun… You’ve seen the Dark Queen’s forces on the beach ahead. They are making ready to march on your position, hoping to pin you between the mountains, the Great Forest of Suel, and the sea. They mean you harm, Tyeldnir.”
I bobbed my head, hoping she’d get the reference to a nod.
“So cute…” she murmured. “This may be the last time I can come to you with a warning. Mother Skult is furious with me over the changes you carved into Iktrasitl. But, I’ll try to slip away when possible, and give you what additional help I can. Now, you must hurry. Rouse your companions and set out at once. If you travel quickly, you may squeeze past them in the darkness. Now, awake!”