They had been flying for three days now, barely stopping even for sleep, crossing plains of grass, misty forests, and hills that rolled for many marks. They fed upon herds of deer, flocks of geese, and fish that filled the rivers that snaked below. And always the hint of stench wafted on the breeze, and once a distant shriek—perhaps just the wind—sounded in the distance. Sometimes Laira heard or smelled nothing, but she always felt the presence of pursuit. It was a chill along her spine, an iciness in her belly, a prickling on her nape. Whenever she shut her eyes, she saw it again—the demonic octopus constricting her, speaking her name, and its spawn devouring the body of her brother.

Riding on her roc, she drew her sword and caressed the bronze blade.

"I slew Zerra with this sword." She spoke softly for only her roc to hear. "But now I must face a greater enemy. Now this blade must pierce the heart of the man who hunts me, who unleashed these creatures, who drove my brother to death. Now I must kill my father."

She could not remember King Raem. She had fled him too many years ago. In her nightmares, he was only a shadow, faceless, reaching out arms thrice the usual length, trying to grab her, to tug her into darkness. She took a shuddering breath and clutched her sword. She would not let that figure haunt her. She was done hiding and here, among her people, she made her stand, no longer a frightened girl but a leader of men and beasts.

A mountaintop appeared upon the horizon, a mere bulge from here. Was there the end of their journey? Laira was squinting, struggling to bring the distant crest into focus, when the shriek rose behind her.

Rocs cawed and dragons growled. Laira tugged the reins, spinning her roc around, and her heart sank. It was flying from the south, a single creature.

She cursed. "A demon scout."

The creature buzzed closer, wings moving as fast as a bumblebee's. It looked like a severed human hand the size of an oak. Upon each finger blinked an eye, and a mouth gaped open upon the palm. The creature flew higher, faster than any roc or dragon, then spun to dart away.

"After it!" Laira shouted. "It'll bring news back to Raem!"

She kneed Neiva and the roc beat her wings madly, flying in pursuit. Other rocs flew around her, and the dragons flew at her side. Yet the creature flew twice as fast, shrinking into the distance.

"Shoot it!" Laira shouted. She grabbed her bow and fired. Other hunters fired from their own rocs, and the dragons blew fire. One arrow seemed to pierce the creature. It yowled, dipped in the sky, but kept flying. Within moments, it had disappeared over the southern horizon.

"Stars damn it!" Jeid flew up beside Laira. "We won't catch the bastard."