The Clutch of Sharys: Epilogue
Epilogue- Endings and Entrances
Those who had been harmful and displeased the Godbeast were thrown to the Perpetual Hells, to share in the pain that they caused in life. As its work finished, Sharys succumbed to its sorrow and withdrew from the sphere to mourn all that had happened because of its failings.
When they gathered to view the papers of Petra's claim the next day, Cara found Luca in a whirlwind of tidying the study, answering questions that Petra fired at him while the young man worked. His expression was serious, intent on only focusing on the work in front of him, which Cara suspected was the only buffer between him and the loss of his comrade. Fatimi was leaning against the back wall of the study next to the window, looking markedly better after a night of rest.
"-tense at court. I wouldn't recommend going back there at the moment until she calms down." Luca was saying as Cara, and her dragon came in, still slightly sleepy.
"Good afternoon, sleepybones." Cheska remarked from one of the couches, laid out on her back with her bare feet dangling over the arm. Cara noted with relief that the monk's legs seemed to be better now that the rider’s healing factor had time to kick in.
"How are you?" Bree asked, coming over and fussing with Cara's disheveled appearance, pulling the collar of her flight jumper up off her shoulders and attempting to tame some of Cara’s voluminous curls behind her ear. "I'm fine," Cara said, trying to duck under her friend's hands. "Did the papers make it through intact?"
There had been some considerable concern about water damage to the papers that certified Petra's claim, but Luca had assured them they were packed safely enough.
"They're fine. Slightly warped around the edges, but otherwise, pe-"
"Is everyone here?" Cheska asked suddenly, her face intense as she glanced around the room.
Confused, Cara took a quick head count and nodded, glancing over at the monk for an explanation.
"Do none of you hear that?" Cheska looked up the study tower and then out the window at the sky painted blush by the early winter sunset.
"Hear what?" Petra said, walking over to where the dusky Farcan monk stood, her body tense. She gestured for Ahnn to check, and the girl's eyes flashed as her magic rose in compliance with the Princess's gesture.
"The sound of wings in the air." Ahnn gasped, bolting upright from where she had been sitting. "Why are there wings in the air outside if the dragons are asleep in the entrance hall?"
Fear iced its frozen fingers through Cara's veins as she realized what that meant, to have another dragon that close. Somehow, despite the vows from the church and Ahnn's careful maneuvers to keep an ear out, someone had followed them back to Cair Demesis.
Before she could open her mouth to recommend they leave the study tower and look, a body suddenly appeared from somewhere near the ceiling, falling and hitting the floor with a hard, slapping thud. Seconds later, the entire palace shook with the force of something heavy making contact, and stones, dust, and plaster rained around their heads before the world went dark.