Into the Skies: A Dystopian Fantasy Romance (Loya Book 1) by Kay Humphreys

Author:Kay Humphreys [Humphreys, Kay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Magnamour
Published: 2023-11-09T16:00:00+00:00

Oh, and he is all right.

He gets us up at dawn, barking orders.

The day’s journey is much more difficult. Kal and I have to put our passengers down to climb up boulders and around large tree sumps. He leads us up much steeper rock faces.

Min is able to hop up now and then using her wings, and Goody insists on walking in bouts, though doing so wipes them both out completely. We wind down slippery paths between the brush and stone. It is also warmer, so all of us slow in the heat, sliding and slipping.

My thoughts wander from my aching limbs, to fear of capture, to Aster and, involuntarily, to Kal. He is a mystery. An aggravating mystery. He says absolutely nothing all day long. Min and I sing and talk, and even Goody chimes in. Our fierce rescuer offers not a word.

On one of the rock faces, I cut open my hand.

He rushes to me and finally speaks. “Let me see it.”

But I ignore him and ask Min to help. If he wants to be my friend, he is going to have to use words. No more glaring, no more huffing.

Words.

That night at our camp, we have another meal of fish and fresh water. This time, Min yammers about her childhood. Even though I told myself I wouldn’t try, I find myself asking Kal for information again. “And you? What about your childhood, your life? We know absolutely nothing about you.”

His wings sag a bit. “It’s not a happy tale.”

“Um, look around, Lord Longface. Our tales are anything but happy.”

He just chews. Not my friend. He doesn’t want to try, he doesn’t care to bond with us, with me.

Then suddenly he perks up. “Min, hum a song. A whole song, start to finish.”

Pardon?

We all stare as if he’d just said, “Min, take that purple monkey and swing it around by its tail like a lasso.”

After a moment, Min processes the request. “Um, all right! Anything for you, brave, strong Kal. How about ‘The Fiery Maiden’?”

Kal turns to me. “Do you have a dance for that?”

I can feel my jaw hanging. Bloody skies, I am stranded in the kingdom of terror with three lunatics.

“W-what?”

“Oh, yes, please, will you dance for us Jaylyn? Please, oh, it would be so marvelous! Oh, please.”

Kal’s eyes are sparkling, but his face is as blank as the tree trunk against which he rests. Min and I rattle through a few songs until I find one we both know. It’s an upbeat crowd pleaser from the Whistler.

“Okay, for you, Min. But I am so sore and tired, my form will be rubbish.” I stand and shake myself out as Min starts humming. She actually has a lovely voice, if a little high-pitched.

Like a reflex, I let myself go. All the strife from the last few days goes into the stomp of my feet, the spin of my hand. I let myself have fun for a moment, and wings above, it feels wonderful. I talk in a few parts, sharing what the other dancers would be doing, or how the crowd would’ve responded.

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