Page 63 of Whispers of Ruin
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean the creatures who issue them were ever near us, as I think we’re finding out. You’ve been here for enough time to know nothing is what it seems.”
More of those sucking, tonguelike appendages hit the barrier with a wet thwack. From the dark, six red eyes burned bright, but not all the creatures were revealing so much of themselves.
When Kaylia started forward, Brokk grasped her arm. “What are you doing?” he demanded.
“I have to feel the barrier.”
He didn’t release her but moved with her until they made it to the edge of the protective bubble. Ryker stayed close to her other side.
Kaylia steadied the tremble in her hand when she stretched out her fingers and rested them against the invisible surface. As soon as she touched it, one of those suckers slapped into the barrier on the other side of her palm.
He doubted anyone else saw it, but she twitched beneath his palm. She didn’t yank her hand away from the barrier as she refused to back down from these things. It took all Brokk had not to rip her hand away and move her back to safety.
Finally, she lowered her fingers and looked at him. “It’s still strong.”
“I’ll send some guards around and have them check to see if there are more out there or if they’re focused here,” Ryker said.
Brokk remained where he was as Ryker went to talk with his men. He watched as the tentacle-like things moved across the barrier in search of a weakness.
He had no idea what Ryker’s men would find, but, like Kaylia, he suspected these things were plotting something.
CHAPTERSIXTY
Over the next few hours,no one got any sleep as a steady stream of guards patrolled the area while Brokk remained where he was with Kaylia and some guards. They never found more of these creatures outside the perimeter, but he suspected they were there, hiding and waiting.
He had no idea how long these things had been following them, but after discussing it with the others, he learned he was the only one who’d ever seen any sign of them. And all he’d seen before this was that brief glimpse last night.
Brokk suspected they hadn’t meant for him to see them then. They’d meant to reveal their presence now, and there was a reason they’d concentrated their efforts on this section of the barrier.
He had no idea what that was as they weren’t progressing on taking it down.
His gaze shifted to the night sky; dawn was coming soon. He didn’t know if the day’s arrival would illuminate the monsters. He had a feeling that, like him, these beings thrived in the shadows and would retreat at dawn, but that didn’t mean it would be safe for them to move on.
These things could have set traps out there or planned to attack as soon as the witches lowered the barrier. And since they had no idea what these creatures were, they could be in for countless surprises.
A footstep from behind alerted him to Ryker’s return. The amsirah general kept going with the others to check the barrier and ensure it remained safe.
“What if you bring a lightning bolt down out there?” Brokk asked. “We might be able to see them better for a second or two. Maybe get a better idea of what we’re dealing with.”
“I have to gather the energy inside the barrier to bring the lightning down; would that disturb the protection spell?” Ryker asked Kaylia.
“I’m not sure.”
“It’s not worth taking the risk,” Allegra said tersely.
Brokk gritted his teeth; the witch was right, but he wished he could get a better look at these beasts. They couldn’t stay here and had to know what they were dealing with. The whispers went away at dawn, but that didn’t mean these things would.
Brokk rubbed the stubble lining his chin as he contemplated his options. “I can cloak myself in shadows and go out there. At least then I can get a better idea of what we’re facing.”
“No,” Kaylia stated. “You’re not going out there alone.”
“I won’t be gone long and have to stay close to the barrier to maintain enough light to keep the shadows around me.”
“If something goes wrong and you’re pushed further out, you’ll be exposed to them.”
Brokk frowned as her voice became higher pitched. “I won’t be in danger.”
“Of course you will. We have no idea what they can do, what they’re plotting out there, or what exactly the appendages are. I’m assuming it’s a tongue, but we have no idea how far they can launch it or what kind of senses they possess.
