Chapter 21 - Part 4

Orphan came to a stop about twenty feet in front of the great whirling wall of dagger-like glass and contemplated the riders catching up with him. Delegado’s face was grim, and he rode poorly as he kept putting a hand back on his father’s body. Feather cawed and launched himself from his master’s back, flying to Orphan over the horses, and Delegado didn’t seem to notice. This was worrisome. Every ounce of Delegado’s concentration would be needed to find that slim passage of safety through the storm.

In contrast, Thomas rode angrily, savagely jerking the reins. The daelkyr half-blood seemed to have something against changelings, from what he said. At the very least he was so angry over Flamebearer’s deception. Orphan wondered just how reliable Thomas would be. It seemed that Thomas had placed great hope in redemption with the Silver Flame and that the half-daelkyr now saw those hopes as having been illusory.

How that would affect Thomas’ ability to manipulate the weather remained to be seen.

Both horses arrived at the same time, and with a cawing sound, Feather settled back down on Delegado. The hawk looked angry when Delegado took him and began wrapping him in the reed cocoon, but did not protest.

“I’m not carrying the liar on my horse!” snarled Thomas. “I won’t!”

“She wasn’t trying to fool you,” Delegado said.

“So she was trying to fool you instead,” Thomas snapped at him. “That makes it all better!”

“Thomas, get the staff out, and get the storm calmed down, or we are all dead,” Orphan said flatly. “Delegado killed a second rakshasa lord while we were in the city, and they are all hot on our heels. You can look back and see them coming over the wall.”

Thomas looked impressed, despite his ire. “You did?” he asked.

“Yeah,” Delegado said, touching the body tied down behind him. “They were torturing my father. We’re getting Orphan and Ois past the storm, Thomas, then you can go with them, go your own way, or go with me.”

“Where are you going?” Orphan asked. Delegado did not answer. “You going to hunt down every demon in the Wastes? You going to go join the orcs in the Labyrinth? Or are you going to keep Ois from dying out here, keep your word to fulfill the Prophecy, and get your father’s body back to the Shadow Marches?”

Ois came riding up behind them. “Thomas,” she began. “I can explain –”

“Shut her up, I have to concentrate,” Thomas snapped, pulling the staff out and holding it in both hands. “Orphan, you need to mount up, Delegado you need to tie the horses together.” He closed his eyes and furrowed his brow. His stormstalk danced as it looked at Ois, seeming to mock her.

Delegado quickly joined the three horses, though Ois’ celestial mount seemed to not want to let him touch it at first. Once Ois patted the horse, Delegado was able to tie its bridle and saddle to his and then Thomas’ while Orphan pulled himself up behind Ois.

“Put your arms around my waist,” the changeling told him. Orphan did so, marveling at the smooth strength of her mithril armor.

“So firm but so light,” the warforged mused.

“Keep your hands where they are, Orphan,” Delegado snapped. “Not higher and not lower.” Orphan thought that Delegado was joking, but he wasn’t sure what the half-orc meant.

“Now,” Thomas said. The staff glowed, and wind rose around them, buffeting the sand and grit. Back at the horizon, where fiends were swarming over the city wall and spilling out onto the plain of black gravel to come after them, the sudden winds knocked them back, holding them in check temporarily. The half-daelkyr opened his eyes. “I’m holding down the storm as best as I can, Delegado. Find our way.” The half-daelkyr turned his head back to look at Ois. “Unless you think the Silver Flame will do it.”

Orphan felt Ois stiffen, but the changeling said nothing.