Page 80

SKEDI FLEW BETWEEN STREAKS OF SUNLIGHT AND STORM, rain and gusts of wind into utter chaos. He flew as the gulls flew, wet and ragged, his button and his jade bracelet shining in his eyeline.

He could see the lake overflowing the dam, spilling with floodwater into the valley beyond.

He saw, too, the flat flood at its base, the mud, black and blood of its sides.

The clashing armies, Talician, Restish, Irisian and Middrenite.

No sign of Hseth, just water and lightning, thunder and nothing.

The reds were fleeing the valley. Running for the high ground, chased by riders in the king’s colours.

They’re winning! he cried to Inara, racing far below him on her stolen horse.

The sun was lowering now, sinking long into the evening. Colours arced across the sky, the hues of sunset and the shine of rainbows, turning everything shining bright. Like the shades of human feeling.

Then, white flame. Skedi was blasted upwards by a wave of heat that curled his feathers. He felt Hseth’s power like a pulse of lightning, and saw her drag herself out of the water.

What is it, Skedi?

In the valley, the knights in blue clustered with fear. Skedi could see Craier colours too, green and silver, gathering around a knight on horseback on the valley slopes, charging down to face the great god of fire.

Then, another, golden fire came from the centre of the flooded river, before the knights, deep in the valley. A challenge. For a moment, Skedi had hope, bright as the blaze for a beautiful moment, warm and radiant.

Then it winked out.

Skedi?