Page 21 of Suncatcher

Driz wished she knew how to be better. All of this was new and foreign to her. She’d never carried someone. Never interfered and exposed herself to so many eyes. Never been helpful. But she wanted to be.

When they reached the crest of the hill that overlooked the ambush valley, they had a view of both the caravan trap and the concealed camp. Three of the four men Pearl arrived with had their hands tied, and more of the enemies milled about. Pearl moved forward toward the valley, but Driz stopped her by stepping in front.

“There is a human directly below us, past the small section of cliff.”

Pearl glared at her. Then her eyes shifted away and she nodded.

She crouched low, following the slope and cutting back toward where Driz had said. Driz leaned over the cliff and watched, keeping eyes on the man still posted up here.

He didn’t see it coming. Pearl crept up behind him, covered his mouth with one hand, and simultaneously used the knife she’d stabbed into Driz to cut his throat, quick and unflinching. Driz swallowed, her hand touching her own neck before she dropped down beside Pearl.

Pearl jumped and shot her another glare as she picked up and checked the rifle the man had been holding.

Her eyes widened and she twisted abruptly, doubling over and retching again.

Driz tensed with worry. “You are ill.”

“I’m fine,” Pearl mumbled, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand as she gripped the rock face of the short cliff and forced herself upright. Glowing droplets clung to her damp skin and the scrubby grass. Blight. She had consumed it, and it was making her sick.

Driz shifted in distress. She had always been taught to fear blight. And now it was hurting Pearl.

“You should not do that,” Driz stated.

“Do what?” Pearl asked, breath too quick as she loaded the rifle with practiced movements.

“Use blight. It is dangerous.”

Pearl huffed, brushing past Driz to peer down into the valley. “Oh thanks. Good to know.” She watched the camp for a moment before glancing around, her hunter’s eyes surveying the terrain. “How many more are there?” she whispered.

Driz warmed with pleasure at being asked. “Five left. Four in camp, one in the brush across.”

Pearl nodded. “Should be able to get two of them from here, before the others start up.” She glanced at Driz, face serious and a bit wary. “I can draw them away. Will you…free them?” Pearl jerked her head at the camp, and the men tied up.

Driz didn’t like the idea of Pearl facing three enemies in the dark. Although, Driz had seen her take down four the first time they met. If Driz released Pearl’s friends, they could help her. “I can do that.”

Pearl nodded again, turned back to the valley, and aimed the rifle.

Driz took to the sky. She circled wide, around to the other side of the valley as the first shot rang out. Then a second. A third sounded, but it missed its target, who had already disappeared into the brush. Driz tracked their movements, obvious to her from up here and with her senses.

She swooped down to land next to the three men still tied up in camp, who were trying to free themselves as their guard ran off. They all startled, reeling and wriggling harder away from her.

“Be calm,” she said, but they didn’t listen.

She reached for the nearest one and he flailed. She had to hold him still to tear through the bindings on his wrists, and did the same with the other two, though they didn’t resist as much. One of them was bleeding badly from a wound in his leg.

“What’d you do with her, rock vulture?” the first man snarled, having freed his mouth as well.

“Head up the valley,” Driz said. “She is—”

Sharp pain seared through Driz’s left wing. A loud crack echoed.

The first man had shot her.

Driz stumbled back.

“Tell me, or it’ll be your head next time,” the man spat. The sweet scent of blight filled Driz’s nose as traces of it wafted from the barrel of the gun.

The others reached for weapons as well and spoke more words, but Driz didn’t hear them. Blood rushed through her ears. One put a hand on the first’s arm, distracting him. When he glanced away, Driz fled, stumbling into the bushes. Another shot followed her but got lost in the bramble.