2411 Strilaxis 10, Jyda

Asopus was even more depressing than Gulstead and this was the one with busier streets and larger population. Reeca wrinkled her nose, keeping her eyes on her brother's back. Unlike their usual stakeouts in tailing Cardovia agents, today, they have to follow closely on foot. They couldn't observe through the trees anymore. Something big was happening today, if their intel was accurate and trustworthy. They did pay a hefty sum of versallis for that. Reeca's going to personally hunt those half-bloods if this proved to be a dud.

Rhys's boots made squelching noises against the mud stirred by the rain the previous night. Grass, twigs, and fallen dried leaves crunched underneath every step. Through the line of the clearing flanking the trade route, the fog carpeted the silhouettes of trees beyond, making them darker and more...menacing. From the distance, bleats thundered in the air, sending chills up Reeca's spine. Why did she even accept coming here?

After their investigations on The Gathering yielded no useful information, Rhys had torn his hair in frustration and switched his attention to another thing that's bugging him: another shady organization called Cardovia. The intel they've gathered so far about this was meager. Cardovia was a recruitment agency, a lending corporation, and even an arms dealer depending on who one asked.

Today, Rhys got a hold of the trail of one of the agents known to frequent Cardovia for businesses unknown. That's what got them out into Asopus after a whole week of flying from almost the other side of the island. Reeca massaged her sore shoulder, the muscles in her wings stiff and in need of a good, hot bath. She hadn't got one since forever. The hot springs in Komery were to die for.

This particular agent, however, seemed to have only visited Lanteglos and Helinfirth for most of the year. What's got him to suddenly drop by Carleon, and in Asopus, out of all places? Reeca had her fair share of hands-on geography lessons and by the looks of it Asopus wasn't known for anything except maybe forests, mountains, and a type of pest called graspel. Whatever that was.

The man in question shuffled past a few caravans ahead. Rhys clicked his tongue as he stuffed his shaking arms into the newly-added pockets of his cloak. Reeca had hers inside an hour ago. She blew a breath, watching it crystallize in front of her nose. This was just how cold it was in Carleon, especially after the major storm that was last night.

She ignored the mud beginning to cake in front of her boots. It succeeded in reminding her of the dark caverns lit only by flickering torches. She could almost smell the chemicals wafting in the air used to dissolve the rock and maintain the ores inside them. She shook her head. Now's not the time to think about that. They've got a case to investigate, questions to find answers to.

The man suddenly veered off the seemingly endless trade route and dashed off to the forest. Rhys looked behind him, brushing his gaze past Reeca and, with a nod, trailed after their target. Reeca did the same after a few seconds. Her brother's cloaked back shone beige against the carpet of dark green and white of the forest. Caws and other animal calls rang in the distance and in Reeca's immediate surroundings. Where was the man headed to?

After a few minutes of walking, the man disappeared through the fog. Rhys paused so abruptly Reeca almost ran into him. What in Umazure?

"Where did he go?" Rhys said through gritted teeth. His eyes darted around the forest, taking note of everything and nothing at once.

Reeca craned her neck at the sky, checking the canopies, the undergrowth, and even the protruding branches thick enough to support a weight. There was no trace of a man with russet hair and tanned skin. Where could he have gone?

Then, the canopies exploded into a chorus of whirring and hisses. "Look out!" Rhys's voice rang in Reeca's head. Something slammed into her stomach, pushing her to the ground. Air was knocked out of her lungs. She wheezed, pulling herself on her elbows as Rhys edged off her. What in Rudik's jaw was going on?

All it took was a glance up. Reeca was greeted with swirls of magic hovering above their heads, controlled by the one and only Reyhana Katar. She gritted her teeth but didn't move from her position. One wrong move and she and her brother could very well meet Pidmena at the next second.

There were no changes in the Advisor's stern face. Her dark green eyes were still as sharp as ever. Her violet hair was braided around her head like a crown, as if she wasn't vain enough. A sword glinted against the afternoon sunlight flitting through the pierced canopies.

"You've done enough running, Rikavien," Reyhana said. From beside her, Rhys inhaled a sharp breath but didn't move. He's wise enough not to. "Come with us peacefully and you may get a lighter sentence on top of the one already piled on your head."

Reeca glanced at Rhys's hands to find them clenched so hard against the grass that they started shaking. A vein pulsed at her brother's temples. She had to do something before Rhys snapped again and caused more damage to their people and their family, if it could ever be called that.

All around them, at least a dozen soldiers flanked the Advisor. With helmets made of bark covering their faces, it was impossible to tell who was who. Reeca narrowed her eyes at the meager space between the Advisor and the first two guards on both sides. Should she just ram them through?

"I'll stand up," Reeca raised her arms in a surrendering gesture. The sheet of swirling magic above her head hovered higher, gauging her height. "You too, Rhys."

Thankfully, her brother followed without any question. Reeca leveled her gaze at the Adviser floating a few inches off the ground, her patterned black and white wings flapping idly behind her. "How are things in Arcole?" she asked. What a lame way to buy time for her brother to think of something.

At the question, Reyhana's eyes narrowed. Reeca seemed to have cornered her into a topic she didn't want to talk about. "Good," the Advisor said, despite her clenched jaw. Ah, things must have not been good. "I don't have a lot of time."

"You don't have your crimson robes on you," Reeca noted. True enough, the Advisor only wore a plain, knee-length tunic belted at the waist by a braided twine Reeca had never seen before. "Some problems in the Court?"

Reyhana sucked in a breath, clicking her tongue in the process. "Have you lost your nose in my business?" she hissed. "Shut your mouth and step forward. No tricks."

Reeca ducked her head and stepped forward. Then, the sheet of magic over her head sparked, shook, then died in an explosion of weaving energy. Pandemonium broke out. Spears of magic whizzed towards Reeca but Rhys deflected them.

Reeca called her magic to the surface and flexed her fingers, weaving it through the foliage. With a cry, she released her magic. Hundreds of spikes rained down on the soldiers, poking them in uncomfortable places. Reyhana dropped to the ground with a guttural scream. She charged at Reeca.

"Take to the skies!" Rhy's voice floated in the melee. Reeca scanned the crowd, all the while sending lances of her weaving energy at the trees, the grass, heck, even the boots and clothes of the soldiers charging at her. "I'll deal with the ones on the ground. Get to safety!"

Reeca drew her sword and parried a spell whizzing towards her. "I'm not going to leave you," she yelled back. Reyhana growled a meager, "Stop talking!" before lunging at Rhys. Her brother tripped her, sending her crashing forward, her sword clattering elsewhere in the grass.

"I'll meet you somewhere!" Rhys stabbed a soldier in the thigh with a short blade. He rarely ever drew that unless he's forced to. Well, that blade must have been special. The soldier stumbled backward, screaming in pain.

Reeca sliced at a soldier's shins, the thick bark armor scratching against her weapon. "How?!" she demanded. From the corner of her eye, Reyhana closed her hand around her sword. The entire trail dimension went bright with her magic. Oh, dear. The Advisor's pissed.

"I'd find you!" Rhys chased after Reyhana and locked swords with her. Reeca's heart leaped to her throat when a soldier managed to sneak behind Rhys. She brought her hands up and sent a blast of pure weaving energy in his direction. The soldier flew backwards and slammed into a tree.

I'd find you. Reeca gritted her teeth. Yeah, right. Rhys better keep his promise.

She spread her wings and launched off the ground with a jump. She tore through the undergrowth, branches, leaves, and the occasional clueless critter slapped her arms as she brought them forward to protect her face. The sun burned brighter when she burst through the first layer of the canopies. Asopus now lay under her like a vast and endless carpet of green. Fog rolled in thick layers seemingly inches off the trees.

Something hot whizzed past her ear. She ducked and swerved left, barely avoiding it from piercing her wings. A few meters up, soldiers had their own wings spread and their magic burning bright. Reeca let go of her sheathed sword. Weapons have no use in the air.

The best she could do now was fly.

So, she dove, flapping her wings harder to urge herself to go faster. The forest whizzed beneath her in a harsh reel, enough to make her nauseous. More spells rained on her. Her world spun and blurred as she rocked left and right, often in dizzying patterns, just to avoid them. The worst thing that could happen to her mid-flight was to have her wings clipped. It's a long fall to the ground from here.

Reeca twisted her torso, kicking her legs to swivel back so her front was to the sky. At least three soldiers were after her. She could handle that...maybe. Her magic ripped from her fingertips and slammed into one. There were more enemy targets than there were her.

She flapped her wings, arching her back to stay the same height. She continued firing spells. When the next barrage came from the soldiers, Reeca yelped and righted herself. Okay. Fly. Focus on flying for now.

Something exploded behind her. Pain shot from her back to her shoulders. Her eyes widened. Dear gods. Her wings. Then, she began spearing for the ground. Panic gripped her throat. She tried to re-orient herself but the wind fought her, driving her hair away from her forehead and threatening to tear her wings off her back if she dared spread her wings now.

Reeca's scream died in her throat as the canopies neared. The soldiers flew down with her but unlike her, they had the choice to pull up and hover if they wished. She growled and sent her magic to the fog. Thank the gods their trails were tangible enough for her half-assed hold while falling off the sky. With a grunt, she lashed the fog to her magic and sent a huge flurry of it to the soldiers flanking her. It was heavy enough to stall their descent, slapping their faces and hopefully their eyes in pure condensation.

Her smile died on her face when she slammed into the canopy. Her arms flailed, trying to search for a handhold. It's a terrible way to die as a varichria—a being born to grace the skies. Her fingers closed around a protruding branch, stopping her fall and jarring her insides. Her nails strained to hold her weight up but she tightened her hold.

Then, the branch snapped. Her fall continued.

Reeca tried leashing her magic even as branches poked her eyes and scratched her arms. With a cry, she unleashed a torrent of weaving energy from both hands, shooting lances of bright light from either side of her. It cleared her way down. Great.

Next, her wings. She clenched her jaw and primed her muscles. Each flap brought stabbing pain to her gut but she forced her wings to move. She brought her arms forward as the ground sped towards her. Come on. Fly!

Her weight slammed in full against the muddy soil. More pain gripped her muscles as her cheek landed with a wet schlop. Black spots danced in her vision. A groan flitted off her lips. Rudik's breeches. She's alive.

Reeca forced her eyes to open and regarded this new part of the forest in Asopus. Where was Rhys? How were they going to find each other? Where had the other soldiers crash-landed? Her eyes scanned her immediate surroundings. Nothing suspicious. Just trees, trees, grass, eyes, trees, fog, mountain. Wait.

Eyes.

A growling sound caught her attention. Her gaze rested on a creature as big as a house with curved horns, matted fur, and sharp teeth bared at her. Her breath died in her throat as it closed up. Hah. Just her luck. What's up with today? Why was everything trying to kill her?

"Hey, easy," Reeca raised her arms in a placating gesture, stepping backwards so she could run when she needed to. "I'm not going to hurt you."

The creature roared, the sound slamming in Reeca's ears so hard she lost her balance. It seemed offended about her even thinking she could hurt it. Then, it lowered its head, pawed the mud, and charged.

Reeca wasn't one to squeak in fear but today might be one of the rare, if not the only, times she would. She turned and burst through the forest. Suddenly, facing Reyhana Katar didn't seem like a bad choice.