Page 279 of The Cradle of Ice

Only hope.

She warmed her lips with her song, humming her need into him, passing forth a plea—not a demand—the same she had shared with Bashaliia.

Come back to me.

She closed her eyes and sang to him, into him. While she never felt his heart begin to beat again, she didn’t have to. She knew the truth as she sank into him, merging with him once again, returning to where she belonged. She allowed his fire to wash back and forth between them, warming them both fully back to their bodies.

Once done, she sighed between his lips, offering him no more magic than her heart.

96

AS RHAIF HEADED over to the others gathered near the dark tunnel, he spotted movement across the dome’s entry. He flinched and ducked, expecting the worst, which considering all that had happened was not unwise. Then he straightened with a smile and hurried to the others.

Ahead of them, Nyx balanced on a leg, leaning on Daal for support. They stood before the giant Mýr bat. Rhaif had heard from Krysh that the beast was Bashaliia in a larger body. Rhaif was not convinced, especially as Perde got too near and the bat lunged at him, snapping fangs at his face.

Nyx scolded both bat and brigand. “Keep back. Both of you. He’s still ruled by madness.”

As Daal held her, she reached her hands up. Bashaliia lowered his bloody crown to meet her palms. Golden tendrils rose from Nyx’s fingertips. The shining strands wafted high, then dove into the open holes where the copper needles had once been.

Rhaif grimaced and held back, not wanting to intrude in what looked like a delicate matter. Nyx bowed her head, and the glow about her bloomed brighter. Rhaif wasn’t sure what she was attempting. Then suddenly golden fire burst out of all the holes in the bat’s skull. One of the remaining copper needles went flying. For a fleeting moment, emerald fire danced about those holes, too, but it was vanquished by the brighter gold.

Bashaliia collapsed for a breath, wingtips skittering wider, but he caught himself and pushed into Nyx’s arms. He keened and fluttered, acting more like his former self.

Daal joined her, and even Perde took a tentative step forward, but then retreated in a clear act of wary cowardice.

Rhaif hurried the last of the way, joining Graylin and Darant. “We’ve got company,” he announced to the two men.

Graylin frowned.

Rhaif pointed up. The broken hull of a ship glided across the opening, slowly circling through the warm mists out in the cold. Though it was fogged by the pall, there was no mistaking the Sparrowhawk. The ship was in rough shape, shot through with cannonballs. But it must have defeated the Hálendiian ships that had chased after it and was able to return.

Darant craned up and gave a nod of approval. “Good girl.”

Rhaif glanced over to the pirate, unsure if he meant the Hawk or his daughter Glace.

Graylin turned to Rhaif. “How is Shiya managing?”

“That’s why I came over. She’s finally tamed the turubya, and she thinks she understands what she’s supposed to do. But there’s two problems.”

“What are they?”

“Though she’s calmed the crystal orb, it remains unstable. If not employed soon, it may become inoperable.”

“How long do we have?”

Rhaif stared up at the dome entrance. “Just be glad the Sparrowhawk is here. We have little to no time. The sooner we act the better.”

“And the second problem?”

Rhaif shrugged. “Best see for yourself.”

* * *

GRAYLIN RUBBED HIS chin and studied the rise of the crystal sphere. It had indeed settled down, resting quietly in its cradle. The golden fluid at its heart had returned to a more regular pulsing, but even to his eye, it looked unsteady and tremulous.

Definitely don’t want to wait too long.

The other challenge was more straightforward. One of the bronze suspension bridges had been damaged, twisted askew by the earlier violent quaking.