I looked to Alvina and Geena as we retreated from the Harpy Child’s mind and my thoughts were already racing. I had expected Church Knights or a mass of soldiers. If they had a Paladin, or worse Multiple Paladins, then things were significantly more dangerous. The Men that she had pictured all looked to be Paladins but for that many to be gathered in one location…. Well outside of Tesvin it was nigh unheard of. Argan had been the sole Paladin of Calanai since he had completed his trials years ago and only on rare occasions had we seen others come through the Kingdom.

  I was pacing as I thought to myself, trying to figure out how we could counter that much power. I imagined Xaranta could handle the might of them all on his own but trying to reach him before Geena’s child was slain would be impossible. So we had to make do with a Harpy, A Weaver, A Dragon and a Human…

  Geena was giving orders to the Harpies but the Silver Feathered Child stood dutifully by her side. I watched as the entire cavern became a flurry of movement only to be stopped as Geena called out and a handful came down to be in front of her. Alvina was watching me intently.

  ‘What do you think?’

  “I think we need to find Sky and get her back as quickly as possible. If they have multiple Paladins then we need to be careful. One would be dangerous, three or four would be deadly.” I explained.

  ‘I can handle myself well. I have not spent centuries honing my magic to be bested by some small minded humans.’ Alvina scoffed.

  “I know that but they are trained to fight creatures of magic and those that wield it. Together they may be able to overwhelm you.” I hissed, already picturing how they might ground a flying dragon.

  Geena approached us, the other Harpies scattering to the edges of the cavern behind her aside from the Sliver Feathered Child. Geena’s face was a mask of Icy Fury.

  “I have instructed them to gather up the eggs and flee to the Black Mountain. They will be far safer there and Xaranta will tolerate them until the situation is resolved. And Luna here is refusing to go with them until we find her Mother. So she is coming with us to find Sky.” Geena explained, gesturing to the Child.

  “It will be incredibly dangerous. If those are Paladins…. Bringing a child may not be a wise course of action.” I warned.

  “I can handle myself, Human. I am not quite the dullard most of my kin are and Mother taught me how to defend myself. I have no intention of fighting the armored Humans, only retrieving Mother and fleeing.” Luna said, puffing out her feathers with indignation.

  “Very well. It is my opinion that none of us should attempt to fight the armored Humans. They are exceedingly dangerous. I worry it may be too late to save Sky.” I explained.

  “I have faith in her, she is far too clever to be caught by them even with a bad wing. She is likely as clever as I was before I left for the Black Mountain, I have hope for my Grand Daughter.” Geena said.

  “I thought she was your child?” Odessa asked.

  “Her Mother and Father passed before she hatched. I took care of raising her and I taught her as best I could. She is as my own. Now let us go!” Geena said as she launched herself towards one of the exits.

  Luna followed her and Alvina shifted and allowed Odessa and I to climb upon her back. Geena was flying much faster than she had on our way here and her flight was far more direct. She was focused on this mission. Luna helped to guide us to the correct spot and it took only an hour for us to reach the red forest she had mentioned. In any other circumstance I would have stopped to marvel at them, their leaves were bright Crimson Red and they grew off the coast into the sea water. There was roughly a mile wide patch of red trees that stretched up the coast as far as I could see and we all began scanning the ground below for signs of the missing Harpy.

  Odessa was the first to spot her, only a brief flash of movement leaping between the trees. Geena and Luna beelined towards her and as Alvina began to circle over to the spot, she lurched to the side, sending Odessa and I tumbling from her back. As we fell I saw a massive Steel Spike protruding from her side, easily as long as I was tall.

  Odessa and I fell into the red-leaved branches and I was thankful they cushioned the impact at least slightly as I managed to land without anything being broken, just bruises and a few small cuts. I summoned my armor, shield and sword as Alvina impacted the ground not far from us. I had no time to check on her as I scanned the trees for any sign of our attacker. I only had a brief flash of movement before another massive spike was hurtling towards me. I managed to bring up my shield quick enough for it to slide past, gouging the metal but leaving me unharmed, and impact into a tree trunk behind us. If one of those hit me directly, I was a dead man.

  I looked to where the shot had come from and found a woman approaching, she carried a bow that was taller than she was and was adorned with armor bearing seals of the church. It was a mix of Plate Mail and leather padding and she wore a red cloth cloak with a seal of a Dragon’s Skull fastening it around her neck.

  “Strange days when a Dragon allows a human to ride them. Who are you?” She called, drawing another massive spike from a quiver on her back.

  I did not respond. I backed up behind one of the nearby trees and did my best to keep my eye on her. Alvina was writhing in pain beyond me and I could not risk the Paladin targeting her again.

  “Strange for a woman to bear the seals of a Paladin.” I called from my hiding place.

  “Indeed.” She responded, amusement in her voice.

  “I was under the impression that Women were forbidden from the Orders of the Church.”

  “I am a special case. You seem remarkably well versed in the ways of our faith for one of the savages of these lands. So you must be from further west.”

  I cursed under my breath.

  “Your Dragon friend is doomed to die I’m afraid. A killing shot directly to the chest, tipped with Basilisk Venom. A shame, I was hoping for a more sporting kill this time.”

  “This time? A bold boast to claim you have killed a Dragon.” I called as I zipped between trees trying to get closer to Alvina.

  “I have.” She called back.

  I froze and glanced back to where she stood.

  “I am Paladin Syves Naskar of the Order of the Dragon Slayers. I joined this expedition in the hopes of adding a few more trophies to my collection.”

  That made my blood freeze. I had heard of that Order, especially in the recent months given my Sister’s new body. They were a small order, less than twenty in total, who were Paladins and Priestesses. And membership of the Order was only given to those who had successfully killed a Dragon. They were also some of the most dangerous Paladins the Church had, they were the Church’s answer to Dragons and their counter to the Royal Family of Harendel.

  Such as the Prince Naravie had fought at the Basin fortress.

  Fuck.

  I reach Alvina to find her shrinking down to her Human body and ducking behind a tree. The spike was lying on the ground, covered in her blood and a sickly yellow liquid, likely the venom the Paladin had mentioned. I could see the wound on her, a hole several inches wide just below her right breast. She was fighting to stay awake as she brought a hand up to the wound and I saw magic flow from her hand. Good, she was healing herself, which meant I needed to distract a Paladin who could kill me with a single strike.

  ‘Use… your… mind… Disorient…’ Alvina’s voice said weakly in my mind.

  I nodded and she slumped down, focusing on her spell.

  I maneuvered through the trees, keeping an eye on my opponent as she lazily made her way in Alvina’s direction. When I felt like she wasn’t looking my way I lashed out with my telepathy. I had expected some mental barriers but there was nothing. I forced my way into her mind and looked about.

  It was a lavish suite overlooking the City of Tesvin, painting danced on the walls and I saw her inner self manifest, looking very confused.

  “What is this?” She growled.

  “An even playing field.” I responded as I rushed towards her and swung my blade.

  I wasn’t sure what good harming her in here would do, but it was liable to do something and I just needed to buy time. She used her bow to block my sword and I delivered a kick to her knee, pushing it backwards. Good to know she was as fragile as a normal human in here. She fell to the ground, glaring up in pain as she tried to right herself.

  I scanned the paintings, looking for anything I could use to distract her in them. I saw a younger version of her standing in a scorched village. Another standing victorious over a Dragon’s corpse, bathed in its blood as she held its head aloft. Another being knighted. Another in a woman’s embrace, their clothes discarded to the side as they kissed. I was dumbstruck.

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  “You love a woman? And you fight for the Church?” I asked as she climbed to her feet.

  Pure panic entered her face as all of the paintings shifted to the same woman’s visage, dozens of different scenes played out. Some were private moments, others were traveling, fighting side by side. I sneered.

  “You fight for people who would see you executed for that!” I roared.

  “You know nothing!” She cried as she discarded the bow and drew a pair of curved swords.

  I caught them on my shield and glared at her.

  “Why? Why would you fight for them still when this is who you are?!” I demanded.

  “Because it's better to be on the winning side.” She hissed.

  I delivered a kick to her gut and she gasped for breath as she staggered back.

  I looked back to the paintings and saw other memories flash through them. A Sea bound voyage. An island of aquatic people. The same island razed to the ground. The Paladin and a royal dressed man in a bedchamber. A child in her arms as she stood next to the woman from before. And then another, a massive camp, and at its heart one of the aquatic people, a woman with a ruined crown bound in chains in the center.

  “You loved a man.” I growled.

  “Out of necessity. To end rumors.” She growled as she found her footing and delivered a cut into me.

  “Rumors of you bedding a Priestess?” I growled as I smashed my shield into her face.

  She said nothing.

  “Your child is part of those you slaughtered. If she shows any signs of magic they will kill her. Do you not care for your own flesh and blood?” I hissed.

  “Do not speak of her!” She roared as she charged me.

  “There is a better way! Stop fighting for them! Join us!” I cried.

  She stopped, blinking.

  “You? And your Dragon? I have butchered a dozen of its kind! I have bathed in their blood. It would never work with me.”

  “She is far more reasonable than you give her credit for.”

  “I…” She hesitated and I had hope for a moment before I was ripped from her mind.

  I came back to my body to find myself slumped against a tree as a human leveled a blade to my throat. It was the Priestess from the paintings. She held a dagger against my neck and glared at me with such hatred.

  “What did you do to her!?” The Priestess cried.

  I blinked and saw two Paladins flanking the priestess as she demanded an answer.

  ‘Hold Still.’ I heard in my head before I could muster a response to the woman.

  ‘Don’t kill her.’ I whispered back across our telepathic link.

  Alvina’s tail whipped through the trees and one of the Paladins fell to the ground as his head rolled off into the bushes. The other was plucked from where he stood upon the ground and pulled into the branches by a massive pair of spider legs and nearly invisible threads. His body came crashing to the ground with its throat ripped open.

  “I did nothing to her. I simply spoke.” I growled at the Priestess.

  “Nurel!” Syves called as she ran up to us, her blades at the ready but not raised to harm as she grabbed the Priestess.

  “Syv, but this-” The Priestess stopped as she saw Odessa hanging from the branches and Alvina emerged from behind the trees in her human form.

  I had never seen Alvina channel her magic in such a way before and it was awe inspiring. The wind whipped through the trees and her hair, normally well kept and tidy, framed her head like a halo as clouds gathered above us. She glared at the Priestess and Paladin and only a quick touch from me stopped her from unleashing the spell she had gathered. Syves looked at me as she broke her embrace of the Priestess, keeping a wary eye on Alvina.

  “Did you mean what you had said? She asked.

  “I did, and I do.” I replied.

  She glanced down at the two dead paladins, the element of surprise did favor us it seemed, and then back to Alvina and I.

  “I could not do so without my daughter.” Syves responded.

  “Understandable. And here I thought all Paladins were awful parents.” I grimaced.

  “Unfortunatley not all. There are many others being held prisoner in the camp. It has become a staging ground before the return to Tesvin. Many will be sold as slaves… and others will be executed.” Syves said, her Priestess looking at her like she was mad.

  “Can you not free them?” I asked.

  “There are nearly three dozen paladins and over two thousand soldiers in that camp. I could not make off with more than a hundred into the desert heat. And even then why would they trust me? I have burned their lands and slain hundreds of their kin…” She replied, a dark look upon her face.

  “To protect yourself from your masters.”

  “It matters not the reason. Their people are still dead. If you wish to free the prisoners, you will have to do so on your own.” She said.

  “I think we could handle a few paladins.” Alvina growled as she kicked the body of one of the fallen men.

  “You would not keep the advantage of surprise unfortunately. And these two were Novices under our tutelage. They had proven capable in recent months and we had been ordered to train them.” Syves said, a sad look at her students.

  “What are you talking about? Syves they-” The Priestess stopped as Alvina glared at her.

  “I’ll explain later Nuri.” The Paladin said as she held the Priestess close.

  There was a rustling in the branches behind us as Geena descended and tossed a helm at our feet. It was adorned with the seal of another order of Paladins.

  “I did tell you I could handle myself. With some help from Luna and Sky.” Geena said, turning her gaze to Syves and the Priestess.

  “Sir Trelth. A pity I couldn’t see him fall.” Syves hissed as she kicked the helm off into the trees.

  “I assume you spoke to her when you were in her mind?’ Alvina asked.

  ‘I did. I may have won her over.’

  “She is a Dragon Slayer.’

  ‘Who could change her ways.’ I countered.

  Alvina gave me a skeptical look but said nothing.

  “We will return to the encampment. And then… search for you?” Syves asked.

  I thought for a moment.

  “Perhaps we delay that. As you say it is a heavily defended camp. How long do we have before they will return to Tesvin?”

  “Not until the fall winds arrive. The seas between Tesvin and here writhe during the summer months. So you have a handful of months. Do you wish for us to remain there until you raid them?”

  “Indeed. We have time to muster some allies. And we might be able to rescue more of these people with some extra help. What became of the Harpies your people captured?” I asked.

  “They will be kept in cages until they are loaded onto the ship bound for Tesvin.” She supplied.

  “Are there any other Dragon Slayers within the Encampment?” I asked.

  “None. We are only allowed to travel together because we are more effective when paired with one another. The rest of the order remains in the capital or nearby.” She said.

  “Good… good. We can muster allies and mount a rescue mission for those held prisoner. Could any of those being held help us fight?”

  “Perhaps against the normal soldiers but they are not well cared for. They will be less than effective in a fight.”

  “I expected that. We will give you as much warning as we can, Paladin.”

  “Call me Syves. If I am to betray the Church, then I am no longer a Paladin.” She said softly as the Priestess clung to her arm.

  I gave her a nod and she bowed to Alvina and I before they began their walk back to the north.

  The others all stared at me with varying levels of rage.

  “You just made an agreement with a PALADIN!” Odessa cried.

  ‘Not just a Paladin, a Dragon Slayer.’ Alvina Growled in our minds.

  “What of my flock? Are we just to let them suffer in captivity?!” Geena hissed.

  I turned to each of them in turn as I responded.

  “Yes and she is as strong as my sister, if not more so. If Ereneya’s condition does not return her to her grown body then we will need help defending home.” I responded to Odessa.

  “She is a Dragon Slayer but to protect herself and her lover. I can tell you that I would do just as terrible things in her situation.”

  “They will have to bear it until we can save them. If we attempted to mount a rescue with just the four of us, we would likely only succeed in getting your flock and the other prisoners killed, along with ourselves. If we can get Xaranta’s aid then we can get more people out.” I said, facing Geena.

  ‘And you truly think this Paladin will just switch to our side? What if its a trick? What if this is all some larger plan?’ Alvina demanded.

  “Then we will deal with it. I’m thinking of the long term situation. If I can gather more allies, then I'll take them. Regardless of their origins.” I growled at Alvina.

  She looked a little hurt by that and I felt an immediate pang of regret as she turned and walked into the forest.

  ‘Where is Sky? I assume one or both of her wings are damaged. I will mend them so we can be on our way.’ Alvina called, her voice muted as she asked.

  Geena flew off after her and Odessa descended from the trees to stand next to me.

  “You made a mistake.” She said.

  “I know.”

  “She’s hurt.”

  “I know. I didn’t mean to snap at her.”

  “No, that was just now. She’s hurt because she thought there was more to your relationship.” Odessa said and I spun to look at her.

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “I mean, when Xaranta asked if you two were together she looked so excited but when you clarified she looked crushed. She thought… Irand she is in love with you.” Odessa said, letting out a sigh.

  “I… I know she cares for me. But I made a promise to Ruhn and Raya.”

  “And because of that you are willing to hurt her? Irand, she LOVES you. I know how she feels. You are her first love in four centuries, if anything happens to you she will be devastated. And you denying her feelings for you means she is devastated anyways. If you keep ignoring her feelings then you’ll lose her.”

  “What do you mean you understand? You have Naravie. She said you had other partners in the past.”

  “No, my sisters have had partners. I have only ever been with Naravie. And I understand because she is my first after almost eighty years. My sisters and I grow slowly but that is still no small amount of time to my kind. And I understand her being upset. I wish so much that Naravie could stay and be with me, but I understand that she is helping Ereneya. Alvina understands your dedication to your home but… you are right here. Help her understand why you act the way you do.”

  “But she dives into my mind everyday! She can read my thoughts like an open book.”

  “She can? Well has she?” Odessa asked.

  “I…. don’t know. I assumed she had.”

  “Talk to her. Let her know how you feel. And make your decision on where you stand with her. I would hate to see her heart broken by you.”

  “I…” I stopped in place as Odessa continued on after the others.

  She disappeared into the trees as I reconsidered my thoughts.