Page 14 of Family Found

Can you do that? I don’t actually need the thunderstorm. Lightning. I need lightning.

I got the impression that it rolled its shoulders, which told me that yes, it could do that. You are right, it’s possible. It will take much of your strength, but it is possible. It examined the scene. I suggest you wait until the vile ones go into the building. Your knight’s father, he wants a blood price. Your kind have always granted it in situations similar to this. It would be rude, I think, to deny it now.

Blood price? I don’t even—fine. Whatever. It’ll be a good distraction for when a commotion breaks out in there.

The land seemed to smile. I agree. Your knight’s father appears to be skilled at distractions.

Ominous, but okay. The four Koa Esher who—fuck them—wanted a good time, opened the door and went into the building one by one. Meanwhile, two more bagua climbed out the window. One, wide-eyed and trembling all over, helped the other, whose feet where bandaged. The bandages… I wanted to gag. They were not clean, and they needed to be changed. The wide-eyed one had had his wrists bound to the point where the skin had broken. The wounds were glistening and still wet, his forearms painted with dried blood that looked gray on his dark teal skin.

Inkiri must’ve seen. He drew me closer, wrapped his arms around me, and pulled me against his chest as if he wanted to shield me from that sight. Yup, my mate got me all too well.

One of the yellow beasts howled, not a howl any creature of Earth could make. It was loud. I could hear it both in my floaty state and where I stood in Inkiri’s arms. The oddness of the double sensation was difficult to stomach, so I focused on Inkiri. He was my anchor.

Vergis looked around. “What was that?”

“Beast,” I said.

“Fuck. Where are they coming from, Princess?”

I didn’t know directions, but the yellow creatures’ approach was very clear in my mind.

“Other side of the castle. Headed toward the front.”

Inkiri spoke to Tador, who said something I assumed was a curse. Kinnek hadn’t taught me swearing, but maybe Vergis would if I asked nicely. Gran wouldn’t have anything against me cursing in another language, I was sure. It was all about getting a feel for that language, after all, and learning the right timing for cussing was going to help with that for sure.

Another bagu was being lowered out the window by a protector, and I waited for the noise, any noise, that would finally tip off the cola ash dudes, but none came.

That bagu looked reasonably well, physically, and he didn’t seem as out of it as the first one Kinnek had saved. Still, there was that swelling of his abdomen that made me cringe inwardly. He made his way toward our group by himself, where Lissir was keeping all the survivors together and keeping them quiet, although none of them were noisy. They stood where they were, keeping close to one another, and more than anything else, they looked afraid.

“So much for herding hostages,” Vergis said.

Charles only huffed. “Stay focused, son.”

The yellow beasts howled again. It was as if they were excited about the prospect of killing, of tasting the blood of their prey. Some gnashed their teeth, eager to have something to tear apart.

The two Koa Esher outside the house stopped their conversation to look that way. They didn’t appear very concerned, which made sense if they didn’t know what sounds were normal for Earth. Also, if the human mages had given them a way to control the beasts, maybe they really had nothing at all to worry about.

“We have to hurry,” I said. The beasts were so close. There were a few houses, a road, and an overgrown field between them and the front of the castle now, and the picket fences and neglected gardens wouldn’t do much at all to slow them down.

“Vergis, can you take Rory and the hostages?” Inkiri asked.

Vergis glanced at Inkiri. “No. We’re too close to the Koa Esher. If one of them is good enough to pick up on us hopping off, they’ll sound the alarm.” His lips pressed tight. “We wait for Dad. We slip through the veils together.”

I was with him on that. I didn’t want to leave anyone behind.

I had another idea though. Can the beasts hunt in fog?

The land cocked its imaginary head. Yes. They don’t need much to find prey.

Hide them in fog now, I told it, and the land obeyed without hesitation. Fog shrouded the beasts as their long strides crossed the road and hit the field. We had a handful of minutes, maybe less.

My relief when there was movement at the window again—one of the protectors leaping out and hitting the ground silently—had me letting out a long breath in Inkiri’s arms.

The protector immediately sheathed his short sword and turned back to the window to help people out. More survivors. I counted five, all in similar states to the ones with Lissir. Then Kinnek came out the window finally, followed by the remaining two protectors.

Vergis relaxed. Charles’s eyes darted to the incoming group. Lissir spoke to the waiting survivors, getting them ready to move and telling them it was going to be done through ko.

“Tell them. About the beasts, Lissir,” I said.