***
Tathan knelt beside his cousin, filled with dread. He checked her pulse and found it strong. A breath of relief escaped his lips. Every time he thought he had seen the most impressive thing ever, something new would happen making everything else seem trivial. The magic Liselle had cast should have killed her or anyone else who tried it, yet somehow she was alive.
“Liselle.” Tathan gently shook her shoulder. “Liselle.” She remained unconscious. “We need to get her to safety as soon as possible.” He stood, looking toward the gate. “I think she killed them all and we can make it back to the caverns. I’ll carry her.”
“I don’t mind carrying Lady Liselle,” Sir Danth said. “It will be no effort at all.”
“No! I get to carry her!” Vevin shouted. “I told her that I would keep her safe and protect her and I didn’t do a good job and now she’s hurt!”
“All right, all right.” Tathan motioned for everyone to be calm. He turned to the knight. “Sir Danth, you and I will keep the creatures from attacking the group while Vevin carries Liselle.” It was hard for him to trust his cousin to anyone else, but something told him that Vevin would protect her with his life.
Sir Danth nodded reluctantly. “Of course, Master Tathan. That is a wise decision. I do believe Lady Liselle killed them all though. And here I thought I was the most dangerous person in this group.” He let out a tinny chuckle while shaking his head.
“Are all humans like you?!” Marrraa asked in high-pitched tones. She had finally come out of her shock and stood there gaping at the lot of them.
“Like us?” Tathan asked with a wry grin. “No. There aren’t any humans out there like us.” He didn’t bother to mention that he was the only one in the group who could be considered fully human. “You know enough about magic to understand that my cousin’s health is in danger, yes?”
She looked at Liselle’s body lying on the cloak and slowly nodded. “Of course I realize that. Human bodies can’t handle magic as well as Rojuun bodies and the spell she cast would have burned out even the most powerful Rojuun.” She looked at each one of them. “I do not know who you are, but . . .” she trailed off, shaking her head. “Bring her with. It should be safe to go back to the gate. We accomplished more than I expected today.” She paused to look at the small flames dancing upon the few bodies of sstejj left in the cavern. “There shouldn’t have been that many of the vile creatures. We should have died out here today.” She looked at each of them again with suspicion and awe before motioning for them to follow her.
Vevin deftly picked up Liselle and wrapped her in the cloak before anyone else could grab her. He followed Marrraa with Tathan and Sir Danth behind. It didn’t take them long to get to the gate. There were no further attacks or even the sounds of sstejj in the cavern.
None of them saw the red eyes watching them from a distant tunnel, nor the sharp teeth bared in hatred for the creatures who had slaughtered his pets. Vevin might have seen with his supernatural eyesight, but he was concentrated on getting Liselle to safety.
Rojuun Page 42