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N ix lifted her head to speak to the elves who had emerged from the cave on the hill. “Who is there? We’re friends, not foe. Don’t be afraid.”

She remembered two of the three elves, ones Vahly and Arc had introduced.

The first was Haldus, short for an elf, with brown hair and a steady gaze.

He’d been a warrior and a steward of sorts for the royal family.

Behind Haldus was Rigel with his flinty head of thick hair and gaze like a hawk.

The last elf seemed slightly familiar, but Nix didn’t remember meeting her.

The elves, eyes sunken with grief and hunger, bowed politely to Nix and Kyril.

Rigel spoke first, his tone flat. Nix recognized his suppressed emotion and her heart went out to him.

“Greetings, Mistress of the Dragon’s Back.” Rigel turned to Kyril. “May I ask where you met this fine gryphon? We’ve not seen one in an age.”

“Forgive my bluntness,” Nix said. “But shouldn’t we be searching for survivors?”

Haldus swallowed. “There are no more. It is only us.”

Nix pressed a fist against her stomach, feeling overwhelmed. “Forgive me once again, but if you have no immediate need, we do. One of the sea folk captured the Earth Queen.”

Rigel and Haldus exchanged a panicked glance. The female stepped forward. Her grass-green gown had been ripped at the hem and along one sleeve. Her golden hair hung lank over her thin shoulders. Nix could’ve blown her away with one breath.

“Please allow me to help.” The elf’s gaze darted from Nix to Kyril.

Rigel shook his head. “This is Ursae. She supported Mattin fully and fought against us during that terrible time. You cannot trust her.”

Fury drew a sword inside Nix’s chest, longing to strike out at this elf, this creature who might well have assisted in murdering Dramour, Ibai, and Kemen. Smoke curled from Nix’s nostrils and mouth.

Ursae’s cheeks reddened “I want to make amends.”

Haldus ignored her. “Where is Arcturus?”

Kyril keened and spread his wings, though he remained on the ground. He showed Nix an image of Arc diving into the sea. The scene pushed Nix’s anger to the back of her mind.

“What is it?” Rigel asked, Kyril’s beating wings shuffling his silver hair.

“There is no time to explain,” Nix said. “Arcturus went into the sea after Vahly.”

The elves’ eyes widened, and Haldus put a hand on Rigel’s shoulder, fingers gripping tightly.

Rigel tugged his salt-crusted tunic straight. “Well, we will join him. To Tidehame, I suspect?”

Nix nodded. “So you have the magic to accomplish a sea journey?”

Ursae began walking quickly. “Because we are the first people, our magic is not as hindered by salt water and the ocean’s power like yours and the human’s. Come. The sea is this way. Do you believe the Earth Queen still lives?”

“I hope.” Nix’s pulse tripped. “I don’t know why he chose to take her instead of killing her when he had the chance. It almost seemed as though he warred with the idea himself.”

“The sea kynd wasn’t sure whether to kill her or not?” Rigel asked as they crawled over a broken oak the size of the entire cider house.

“That’s what it seemed like to me. I’m a pretty good judge of character, of behavior,” Nix said. “But I don’t know how they could even keep her alive, human as she is.”

Rigel stumbled upon a corpse, and they all paused, wincing and shutting their eyes for a moment against the bloated and torn body. He took a breath and led them onward, outpacing Ursae. “They have magic enough to do as they see fit under the waves.”

“Well, don’t waste a moment walking with us. We’re worthless under the water. Do your elven magic and get there to him as quickly as you are able. I am so sorry for your loss here and what the Sea Queen has done to your kynd. Please know we hate to interrupt your grieving.”

Rigel halted the group. “Thank you for your kind words. We will use our magic to find Arcturus before the sun has set on this day. I swear it,” he said, facing Kyril and bowing deeply. “I will inform Queen Vahly that her familiar lives on and is ready for the fight.”

Kyril raised himself onto his back legs, lion claws digging into the muddy debris. He squawked, the sound deafening. It was an agreement of sorts, or at least that was how Nix saw it.

Nix touched Rigel’s arm. “Thank you for doing what I cannot for my friend. She is dear to me beyond her fated duty.” Her words broke, and she stifled a sob.

Vahly’s body might already be floating dead in the sea.

Or the sea folk might be torturing her, flooding her lungs with salt water.

Nix could almost see Vahly’s light eyes going wide with pain. Nix swallowed, feeling sick.

Rigel put his hand over Nix’s, his flesh pale against her blue scales. “I understand.”

Swallowing, Nix thought of what she and Kyril might be able to accomplish here on land.

“Vahly told us that her magic was drawing her to the Lost Valley, to the place of her birth. When you rescue her, help her reach that place. She has something to do there with Kyril, we believe. I will travel to see the Lapis on our way to the Lost Valley, and I will inform Matriarch Amona about what has happened to this place and to our Earth Queen. Perhaps she will have more help to offer.”

Rigel pressed his lips together and nodded. He stepped back and began to disappear.

“Grief must wait,” Haldus said, his voice tinged with sadness and his body shimmering out of view along with Rigel’s and Ursae’s.

As soon as they were gone, Nix longed to leave this place, its horror and stench. “Come on, Kyril. We have some bad news to break to a very angry dragon queen. It’s best to get these things over with as quickly as possible.”

Her wry tone covered her increasing fear for Vahly. If she lost her girl, she wasn’t sure she could keep on fighting. Without Vahly, she was pretty certain her heart would refuse to beat.