Page 71 of The War is Coming

Maletayah laughed. “I will do. By the way, did you know everyone thinks gargoyles are the best sword fighters?”

Wynter gave a fake gasp. “Say it isn’t so.”

“I know. I’m going to ask who their best sword fighter is and we can show them how wrong they are.”

“Let us know when that happens, and we’ll come and watch,” Saxon said.

“I think everyone will be wanting to see that battle,” Tatum said.

Maletayah nodded. “You might be right. I should go. I’ll catch up with you all later.”

“Have fun,” Wynter said.

Maletayah grinned. “I will.”

Frederick walked into the cells. Sergeant Cowell, Major Delinga and Jaxton were with him.

He led the way to the shaman’s cell.

The man was sitting on his bed, cross-legged, his back resting on the wall and his eyes closed. He opened them quickly. “What do you want?”

“We want to know everything you know,” Frederick told him.

“I’ve told you everything,” he replied, his eyes flicking away.

“Lying won’t help you,” Sargent Cowell stated.

“Prove I’m lying,” he spat out.

Frederick laughed. “We can still smell your lies, but lucky for you, these three gentlemen are here to make you tell us everything you know.”

Frederick unlocked the cell door and led the way inside.

The shaman quickly got off the bed and moved to the corner of the room. “Stay away from me, I mean it.”

“Please, what can you even do?” Major Delinga said. “This cell is magic proof.”

The shaman laughed. “Then you can’t use your dragon magic on me.”

The Major laughed, then sobered, staring at the shaman. “I don’t need to.”

Frederick looked at the Major, suddenly glad he was on their side. He moved out of the way and leant against the wall, pulling his phone out so he could record everything the shaman told them.

Maletayah had made it to the training ground with time to spare. He looked at those gathered and nodded. They would all make a good team.

Now they were currently jogging around a track Ares had created. It had obstacles along the way. Walls to jump over and through, others that needed people working together to get up and over, a low net rope over mud trenches and tunnels dug into the ground. Along with random flames that could appear anywhere and any other surprises Ares had added.

Maletayah was jogging alongside Battle.

“Are rogues really going to go to this much effort?” Battle wondered out loud.

“You never know what rogues will do, but this is just Ares having fun.”

Suddenly, out of nowhere, Maletayah saw a barrage of arrows heading straight for them. “Arrows,” he called.

Quick as anything, Maletayah grabbed Battle, he called on his wings, turned them to steel and wrapped them around both himself and Battle.

They heard the arrows hit Maletayah's wings and bounce off.