The forest they landed in was perfectly still except for the crunch of snow under their feet. Haru had identified an opening big enough for the dragons to land about half a mile from their target. They touched down, unloaded their passengers, and shifted before disappearing into the surrounding woods. Only Rayne had held up his trio with wanting to worship the unmoving ground.
Dawn was less than an hour away, but the sky was still a dark slate gray. The white snow seemed to glow with its own light, making it easier to navigate the woods and to find the small gathering of the rest of his party.
Despite needing only three dragons to carry them, Nori had sent six with them. The old dragon had argued that the other three would be flying a protection detail since those carrying passengers would be limited in what they could do in the air.
“Okay?” Caelan asked when they reached him.
“I’ll live,” Rayne muttered.
His king flashed him a crooked grin and turned his attention to Haru. All the Omari dragons had swapped out their typical white robes for a charcoal gray that allowed them to blend with the predawn darkness. Haru’s long black hair spilled over his shoulder, sucking in what little light could be found in the woods.
“We’re less than half a mile from the Hayashi compound, but there were signs of foot patrols at least half a dozen yards out from the walls surrounding the property. The eastern wall has crumbled in one place, allowing you to pass through if going in the main entrance doesn’t work. Then, of course, there’s also the option of simply going over the wall.”
Caelan grunted. “Thanks for the info. We’ve got it from here. Return to the Omari compound.”
Haru made a face where his nose and brow sort of wrinkled in a wince. “Yeah, we can’t do that.”
“What are you talking about?” Caelan demanded in a near hiss.
“We have to stick around to make sure this is the right spot. What if this isn’t where the godstone is located? You’re in the middle of nowhere with no idea where our clan is or where any friendly clan might be found.”
“You could freeze,” Mika added.
Haru nodded and tossed in, “Or starve. We really have to stay.”
Rayne bit down on both his lips to hold in his laugh. Caelan looked like he wanted to strangle all of them.
“No—” Caelan snapped, but Drayce cut him off.
“They do have a point. Aside from the Takahashi being here, do we even know if this is where the godstone is located?”
“Yes,” Caelan hissed. He jerked off a glove and held out his hand. There was a soft crackle in the air and there was a hint of orange wrapping through the green energy swirling in the palm of Caelan’s hand. “The goddess is here. Nyx is loudly losing his shit in my head. Kaes and Tula are laughing like lunatics. We need to find her quickly so I can have some peace and quiet. I can’t even hear myself think right now.”
“All the more reason for us to bring the dragons along when it comes to dealing with the Takahashi,” Adrian argued. “They could make a huge difference in speeding this along.”
“I agree,” Rayne murmured. “They know what they’re up against with the Takahashi. They volunteered to be here. And they have their own score to settle since it was their home that was attacked.”
A soft sigh escaped Caelan and he nodded. Rayne’s heart went out to the man. His every instinct was to protect, but there were limitations on who could be protected when it came to war.
“Adrian and Haru, take the lead but stay close. I want this done as quickly and quietly as possible. The entrance to the godstone chamber is nearby, but I’m not entirely sure where.”
The former thief smirked at him. “I’m guessing we’re not looking for a big sign that says, ‘Here Lies the Sleeping Goddess of Fire.’ ”
“Very unlikely. Both the God of Storms and the God of Time were hidden away,” Rayne replied. He ran his hands over the various knives stashed about his body, then pulled out his retractable spear. It would be handy when it came to navigating this slick, snow-covered ground.
“Let’s head out,” Caelan ordered, and their party of eleven moved at a steady trot through the woods. The dragons formed a loose circle of protection around them. Of the volunteers, Nori had selected three men and three women, though the only names Rayne had caught so far were Mika, and of course, Haru. But from their appearance alone, each was a skilled fighter. They moved with a quiet confidence that spoke of years of experience.
While Haru and Adrian ran ahead as scouts, Eno and Drayce moved in to flank Caelan. Rayne was more than happy to bring up the rear as support. He was good in a fight, but it wasn’t his strength, not like Drayce and Eno.