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J ust when Vahly thought this was it, the end, Death raising his scythe, Kyril lifted his head, torqued his wings, and flew in a vertical parallel to the mountain, his paws and belly brushing the cliff.

A laugh pealed out of Vahly. Her legs gripped the gryphon’s body as he canted up and over the rounded peak. The wind of their flight rattled a congregation of holm oaks. Kyril jettisoned into the sky, and Vahly closed her eyes, feeling like nothing could stop them now.

She inhaled the scent of the earth far below, its metallic tang of rock and mineral.

The musk of animal surrounded Kyril, and her nose could even sense that same hint from the creatures hiding in the clusters of olives and in the caves.

Rejecting the scent of the not-too-distant sea, she focused on the earth and the land animals.

Earth magic drummed in her ears, and she felt that same old tug, the sensation that was quickly becoming familiar. The magic brought her gaze up and forced her to look southeast.

The Lapis territory?

A negative sensation pressed her head.

Where did it want her to look? The city of thieves?

The cider house? She frowned. It should’ve been clear to her.

This journey toward a power that could fight the Sea Queen wasn’t at its end yet.

She had more to learn and far greater things to accomplish.

If not, the dragons, the elves, and Vahly herself would fall beneath the sea folk’s devouring waves.

In her mind, the image of the mosaic in the obsidian cathedral materialized.

The gryphon in the center. The four corners that showed the Blackwater spring, a group of familiars, a swaddled infant, and a massive oak.

She’d washed in the spring and her power had finally opened its eyes. Now, she had her familiar.

The corners might represent the steps she had to take to come fully into her magic.

Vahly’s mouth fell open.

Yes, her magic seemed to whisper. Go.

And she knew. The antlers next to the swaddled baby meant she had to visit her birthplace with her familiar. She and Kyril had to venture into the Lost Valley, where her mother had given birth, where her mother had offered her up to Amona.

A rightness suffused Vahly’s bones.

The sensation lightened the weight on her shoulders and set her heart into perfect rhythm with the earth’s pulsing beat, a sound that never really left her these days. She touched her chest and smiled, the sound and feel of her magic a comfort, strengthening her.

But before they could risk the trip to the Lost Valley, she and Kyril had some Arc-style experimenting to do.

And the earth below was calling, calling, calling.

Summoning every drumming beat of earth magic in her blood, Vahly followed her instincts, didn’t question why, and firmly commanded with a word.

“Fly!”

On the ground, in the speeding shadow of both Nix and Kyril, a bank of thick vines tangled into the dirt. An oval boulder boasting quartz that dazzled Vahly’s eyes tumbled to meet five more smaller boulders. The rocks smashed the dirt where the vines had disappeared.

Sandy ground exploded.

Vahly couldn’t close her gaping mouth at the creature that emerged from the chaos.

A gryphon made of earth magic lifted into the air with a screech that buffeted Vahly’s ears. Wings of vine and dirt pushed the air to lift the new gryphon’s head of quartz-laden rock, body of rolled and molded stone, and claws and beak of the blackest roots.

A shiver ran over Vahly. She gripped Kyril’s scruff.

The earthen gryphon consumed the air and rose to meet them. The magic had used the rock to reproduce a detailed, hooked beak as well as empty and narrowed eye sockets that made Vahly intensely relieved the creation was on her side of things.

With another screech, the earthen gryphon opened its beak. A pointed tongue of braided vines flicked from its mouth.

May I throw air magic at your creation, my queen? Arc’s voice was tight with excitement.

Kyril and his double soared high, then swooped low.

Go for it, but I’ll be honest, I’m a little scared of my own work here.

Nix huffed, a snorting gust in the rushing winds. Did you think defeating Queen Astraea would involve simple hoods and a con? You’re a true Earth Queen, and we have waited so, so long for you, my lovely. Own it.

Vahly’s trembling fingers knotted the thick fur at Kyril’s neck, just under the last of his head’s great feathers. Nix stretched her elegant neck and held her chin at a proud tilt as she flew closer to the earthen gryphon.

Arc blasted the earthen gryphon with a glittering sphere of light and dark.

Vahly clenched her teeth. The air magic could injure Kyril. It might turn the earthen beast into something foul.

The magic splashed the created gryphon. Waves of sparkling light and dancing shadows clung to its wings, then flowed over its body, head, and tail of vines.

And then the entire creation disappeared.

Vahly held her breath. Arcturus. What did you do?

He hissed something in elvish. I think it lives still. Please just keep a watch, my queen.

Vahly wondered if perhaps the magic could be viewed better from the corner of her eye, from indirect focus on the workings, just as it was around Arc’s head and hands. She turned her head and watched the place beside Kyril, where the creature had been a moment ago. But she saw nothing.

Until she did.

Tentacles the colors of midnight and noon clasped the earthen gryphon, winding, shimmering, dazzling. But if Vahly tried too hard to examine the magic, it faded from view.

You camouflaged him! I can see it.

Nice work, alchemist. Nix blew a blast of dragonfire and started to descend. She was probably tiring.

Wait, Nix. Please! Arc shouted. Vahly could see his head bending closer to Nix’s ear. Would you blow more fire toward the earthen gryphon? Just in front of him.

You’ll destroy it, Vahly said. The rogues used their fire to roast the other creatures we made, or did you forget that nightmare? I wish I could.

She will aim in front of it, he said. And I hypothesize my air magic will protect it from destruction. Are you willing to risk it?

Vahly gave him a nod . I’ll take the gamble. Nix? Are you willing?

Nix rushed Kyril and Vahly, and then flew straight up, giving them a wink before pouring dragonfire down, exactly in the place Arc had indicated.

It wasn’t an easy feat, as she had to fly in an odd position, nearly flying backwards.

Vahly remembered Amona utilizing the move in a battle near the sea folk’s capitol of Tidehame.

Nix’s dragonfire broke across the earthen gryphon’s beak.

The weave of air magic buffeted the flames like a wall. But they wouldn’t be going against fire in the coming fights against the sea folk. Dragonfire was on their side. Vahly was about to suggest they all head back down to rest when a strange sound cracked the air.

The earthen gryphon opened its beak, and emerald fire poured from its mouth to lance the quiet, cerulean sky.

Vahly blinked, unbelieving. Her earthen gryphon had breathed fire.

The combined use of fire, air, and earth magic had brought another fire-breathing creature into life, a being that might fight on their side against the sea.

Tipping its wings in a salute to Vahly, the earthen gryphon roared flames again.

Kyril startled and listed to the right.

Nix lifted higher, but not in time. Her talons scored Vahly’s ear, and both pain and blood heated Vahly’s face.

Stones, Vahly! I am sorry!

Kyril keened and dropped. Vahly’s stomach lurched at the rapid descent as the ground raced at them. The earthen gryphon mimicked Kyril’s panic and rushed toward a landing place. But it was traveling too quickly. It would be destroyed on impact.

“It’s all right,” Vahly said to Kyril, trying to calm him. The wind ripped her words from her mouth. Kyril most likely couldn’t even hear her. She tried to speak louder, then repeated the same telepathically. The fire won’t hurt us. It will fight for us. With us.

Head pounding, palms slick with perspiration, Vahly twisted to see the earthen gryphon plummet and smash into the ground.

Exactly the ending she and Kyril would experience if he didn’t shake this panic.

I understand. But I swear on the Source, we’re all right. Feel the wind through your feathers, Kyril. We’re alive. Let’s keep it that way, eh?

Nix and Arc shouted in a jumble of telepathic nonsense. She knew they were right behind her and Kyril.

Kyril flashed images at Vahly. The colors and shapes showed a blurred version of what had just happened.

Vahly took a slow breath and forced herself to smooth a gentle, non-panicked hand over the back of Kyril’s head. Just land us carefully, and I promise you all will be well.

A shudder rippled beneath Kyril’s pelt. He extended his wings and slowed their descent.

Exhaling with relief, Vahly braced herself for the impact, but Kyril’s paws greeted the earth without a bump, and Vahly found herself once again safely on land.

Nix touched down beside them, and Arc leapt to the ground, graceful as always.

He held a hand up to help Vahly down. Normally, she would’ve waved him off with a smile, but Kyril’s little death wish adventure had shaken her.

She accepted Arc’s warm hand, curling her fingers around his.

His other hand went to the small of her back.

He pulled her close as he helped her down, his body caressing hers.

Vahly’s breath hitched, stuck in her throat, as she met his dark gaze.

“My queen.” His lips quirked into a pleased grin. “That was quite a show.”

Green fire! Nix shouted into their heads.

I have never heard of such a thing. Very impressive.

She shook her great head and bared her teeth in a dragon’s version of a smile.

I can’t wait to plot out how we can use this against the sea monsters.

They’ll be so surprised! Arcturus, thank you for pushing us to combine our magic up there. Nicely played, elf.