How to Save a Fae (Heir of Dragons Book 2)

a familiar form among them. Walking along with the mass of furry warriors was Alla. She wore a longsword at her side and paced nonchalantly beside the raiding party. Now and then, she spared Minx and Mau a quick glance with her foggy eyes, but never once was there anything like familiarity or good cheer in them.
Not too long ago, Minx had risked her life to save Alla. After a surprise attack in the wilderness, Alla had been critically injured—poisoned—by the tainted arrow of a Zuscha archer. The toxin would have easily killed her if not for Minx's concerted healing efforts over the course of days. With Kaleb and Mau in tow, Minx had administered constant treatment, casting Fae healing spells repeatedly till Alla's body had managed to filter out the poison. The strain had been immense for both patient and caretaker, but when the struggle had ended Minx had been naive enough to believe the two of them friends.
Shortly thereafter, Alla had been taken prisoner by Torrent. She'd gone with him peacefully after both Minx and Kaleb had been savagely routed in battle by incredible feats of spell-craft. Minx knew that Alla had only gone with him in order to protect her new friends, and because she could not hope to overpower the monstrous mage. She'd departed sullenly, horrified at Torrent's ruthless attacks. Kaleb had nearly been killed in the exchange and Minx had been tossed about like a rag doll. Eager to put a stop to the violence, Alla had complied with the enigmatic mage's request and had disappeared with him.
Minx hadn't expected to see Alla ever again, and certainly hadn't expected to quarrel with her considering their history together. To find Alla marching alongside her captors sent Minx into a rage, though at present there was nothing she could do. This is what I get for helping her, huh? If I'd let her die, then perhaps this wouldn't be happening.
Summoning her voice, Minx sought to challenge the half-Fae. “Where are you taking us?” she demanded, speech slurred and head still heavy.
Alla did not so much as turn to look at her, and the nearby Wuffs scowled. “Quiet!” demanded one, giving her a hard shove.
Unarmed, bound and injured, Minx looked her Faelyr companion over and wondered how she was faring. Mau didn't look as though she'd been harmed; probably, she'd gone along with the Wuffs peaceably. The muzzle she was forced to wear looked awfully heavy and uncomfortable, and the warrior in charge of holding her lead was fond of yanking it this way and that, jerking the poor Faelyr around with abandon. Still, she seemed to be holding up all right.
The Fae huntress weighed her options and considered potential routes of escape. As best she could tell, studying the line of marching caravaners, this band of Wuffs ran ten or more deep. Without a bow, a full quiver and some distance, she couldn't hope to put a serious dent in their numbers. Lashing out at them bare-handed would be too risky in her state. Mau, though, appeared in full possession of her senses—was healthy and robust compared to the injured Fae huntress. If I can find some way to get Mau out of that muzzle, she can attack the Wuffs and I can back her up. They won't be able to stand up to us together—especially with so many hiding spots in the woods...
But before she could execute her plan, the situation suddenly shifted.
There was a great rumbling overhead, as if the dim canopy was being ripped away by a blast of wind. The breeze remained calm, however, leading the Wuffs to stop dead in their tracks and consider the cause of this riotous disturbance. Studying the skies, they soon discovered it—and one among them, slack-jawed and quivering, declared, “T-The dragons! The dragons have come!”
Minx stood bolt upright at this, looking to the skies herself. Various shadows fluttered past the tops of the trees, but she couldn't make out anything concrete from where she stood. “D-Dragons?” she muttered. Could it be that they changed their minds? After everything that had transpired, Minx knew better than to get her hopes up. Still, watching the Wuffs tumble into panic proved satisfying, and her earlier hope in Kaleb and his people was momentarily rekindled.
The darkness overhead was pierced by a violent eruption of orangish light. An immense fireball sailed into the earth from high above, splintering a handful of trees ahead of the Wuff horde and igniting them in a terrible flash. Hot wind streaked through the forest and the air was overcome by the scent of burning wood.
The Wuffs, utterly terrified, needed no further warning. They broke ranks at once, each of them striving off in their own direction and abandoning their gear. They abandoned their captives, too, leaving Minx and Mau crouching amidst the trembling trees without supervision. Minx immediately rushed to the Faelyr's side, wrenching the imposing muzzle from her face and casting it aside. Then, with Mau's help, she found the restraints on her arms and legs quickly shattered with the swipe of a powerful paw.
“Maybe Kaleb isn't so bad after all,” offered Minx. “I think the dragons are looking out for us!”
The Faelyr, still unable to communicate telepathically, met her with a quizzical look.
Rifling through the goods that the cowardly Wuffs had left behind, she was reacquainted with her bow and quiver, and hastily set about using both. Nocking a fresh arrow, Minx led the Faelyr through the woods and tried to get a look at the flying beasts overhead. She looked, too, for Alla. “Come on out, Alla. I just want to talk.” She drew her bow and prepared to fire at the first hint of movement. “I didn't expect to see you here, but I figure if anyone can give me some answers about what's going on, it's you.”
There was no reply. She heard the whimpers and mutterings of a few hiding Wuffs, but the half-Fae did not respond. Like the others in