Counting Shadows (Duplicity)

the field. It’s not the most dainty of actions, and I know Father wouldn’t approve. But then, Father just betrayed his entire country, so I don’t think it really matters what he thinks.
    My feet strike stone, and I look down to find a cobbled road. I let out a deep breath, knowing we’re nearing the castle. The breath is cut off as I’m forced to gasp in air. I glance over to Lor, whose chest is heaving just as hard as mine.
    I blink a few times, and Lor’s answer finally filters into my panicked brain. “No, I mean what
species
is he?”
    “Cyrus is a hybrid. Half Faery, half Dragon.” I frown at the thought of the mix, but Lor continues, “He got the shape-shifting abilities from his Dragon part, and his Fae part gave him the affinity for manipulating animal souls.”
    “And he uses his abilities to turn into a
sparrow
?”
    “Like I said, he’s insane.”
    We stop the conversation there. My heart pounds wildly, trying to break through my ribcage. Lor’s heavy pants mingle with mine, creating an unmeasured song of exhaustion. I ball my fists and suddenly remember I’m holding Lor’s hand. He looks a little surprised, but squeezes my hand back.
    The castle looms above us, and it’s not long before we’re at its base. What we find is a disaster. Soldiers scramble out of the barracks and past us, bows on their shoulders and sheathed swords at their sides. Their eyes are wide, and they shield their eyes from the sun’s glare as they stare up at the gryphon riders. I follow their gaze and find that the gryphons have descended, although they keep out of the reach of arrows. Their cries fill the air, and I hear faint whoops of excitement from their riders.
    A horse comes barreling toward us, its hooves beating out a heavy rhythm on the cobbled stones. It’s huge and pure white—an Iris Guard mount. On its back, I recognize Jolik.
    He reins in the horse, his eyes growing wide as he takes in our injuries. “Miss princess,” he gasps, his voice throaty as he struggles to breathe. Sweat covers his forehead, as if he’s been riding for awhile. “What happened to you?”
    I shake my head. “I’ll explain later. We’re fine for now, it doesn’t matter.” I glance up to the sky, to what
really
matters. “How many of them are there? And how do you plan on fighting them?”
    Jolik’s face darkens. “I’m not sure. I was just called in from the city. The king was overlooking a trial at the courts, and I was with him. I rode back here as fast as possible, but…” He shakes his head and curses. “There’s a lot of them, Miss Princess. And we’re not sure how to fight this kind of creature.”
    I blink, shocked he’s telling me this much. I’m supposed to be a helpless little girl, not a tactician. Then my stomach churns with anger. Of course Father is in the city, safe from the invasion of the castle. Of course he’d keep his own skin safe as he just hands over his country.
    “Their necks are the weak points,” Lor declares, barging into my fuming thoughts. He points to his own collarbone and says, “Tell your archers to aim for the point where the feathers meet fur.”
    Jolik narrows his eyes at Lor. “And why should I trust you, Angel?”
    Lor grits his teeth, but is surprisingly calm as he says, “My father spent his entire life trying to dissuade this kind of invasion. I’ll do anything to stop it.”
    Jolik scoffs. “You’re going to have to be more convincing than that.”
    Lor curses and turns his back to Jolik, then looks over his shoulder at him. “You see those scars?” he asks, his voice a low growl. “Those are there because of the man leading this invasion. Now, do you really think I’d support him?”
    Jolik clenches his teeth, his jaw working back and forth. Then he gives a short nod. “Very well. I’ll inform the archers.” The wheels his horse so he directly faces me. “Miss Princess, you need to run. Now. Get as far away from the castle as you can. There might be more of these creatures out there—” He gestures to the fields surrounding the castle, the ones we just ran through. “—but there have to be less of them than there are here.”
    I glance over my shoulder and take a couple steps back. Then I freeze. “No,” I say. “I’m not leaving until Farren leaves. He’s still in the castle?”
    Jolik’s face darkens. “Yes. He’s in his chambers.”
    I frown, wondering why he’s hiding out in his chambers when a battle is about a start. It