by R A Oakes
Shooting her remaining energy at Eldwyn’s staff, Baelfire changed it from wood into a long, cylindrical, clear-crystal prism. Almost immediately, Eldwyn recoiled from the kick as a long, thin beam of purple, blue, green, yellow, orange and red light exploded outward from the staff slamming into the fire-breathing, black crystal warriors with the force of a hurricane.
The gale-force winds stopped them in their tracks sending Lord Daegal and his warriors flying. It was an incredible lightshow with refracted light from the prism staff shooting into the darkness and launching enemy warriors who now seemed like dozens of bits of flames and smoldering coals tumbling end over end until disappearing from view. A ball of flame larger than the others appeared as a comet in the nighttime sky but in reality was the warlord himself getting an unexpected aerial view of Crystal Castle after dark.
That castle is breathtaking, and I want it! Lord Daegal thought as he sailed through the air while trying to calm his terrified horse, which had also taken flight. But feeling angry and frustrated over the turn of events, the warlord gripped the Crystal Medallion and shouted into it.
“Crystal, I’m flying like an eagle across a vast expanse of darkness with the castle quickly receding from view. And, though I have to admit, it’s a rather unique experience, I’d prefer to save it for another day when I have time for it.”
The warlord was being cynical, but Crystal, for whom sarcasm was an art form, wasn’t impressed by his attempt at nonchalance or his effort at being witty.
“My half-sister’s giving you a rough time, is she? But you and 200 of your men are black crystal warriors, what else could you possibly need?” Crystal asked, her voice dripping with scorn.
“A lot more of us would be nice,” Lord Daegal grumbled.
“I’ll work on it,” Crystal said derisively. “However, I don’t think my sister can keep up this pace. You’re wearing her down.”
“From where I’m at, she’s looking pretty powerful,” Lord Daegal said while falling from the sky, crashing onto the ground and rolling to a stop. Feeling battered, shaken and surprised to still be alive, the warlord listened to the black crystal warriors all around him groaning in pain and asked, “What makes you think Baelfire’s losing steam?”
“When the Creative Light appeared earlier today, Baelfire was infused with energy but without a continuous supply of energy running through her, she can wear out just like anyone else.”
“She doesn’t seem worn out, at least not to me,” Lord Daegal said grimacing while massaging a crack in his black crystal right leg, as well as a sore spot on his left shoulder that had been chipped during his rough landing.
“But she is wearing out,” Crystal insisted. “I know her limitations, and Baelfire can’t possibly have enough energy to perform another counterattack. Not without a direct infusion of energy from the Creative Light.”
“So, what’s your advice?”
“Regroup and make a second attack. If you do it before the Creative Light shows up again, Baelfire will break under the strain.”
“Why doesn’t the Creative Light stay with her? Why does it come and go?” the warlord asked.
“When the Light appears, Aerylln has to coordinate rivers of energy flowing through herself, Baelfire and Zorya. It’s not easy. As I recall, it took Aerylln’s grandmother, Lyssa, six attempts before everything clicked.”
“Well, I need more of my men brought from other parts of the realm like I’d originally intended, and I need a lot more black crystal warriors if we’re to succeed.”
“I’ll work on it.”
“Do that,” the warlord growled.
“Quit complaining and get back into the fight. We aren’t done yet! Not by a long shot!”
Chapter 33
Back at the castle entrance, Crystal’s prediction had come true.
Exhausted and struggling to catch her breath, Zorya had collapsed onto the courtyard floor. Aerylln, feeling faint and gasping for air, was draped across her friend’s massive neck resting her cheek against the warhorse’s soft mane. And Baelfire, feeling like she was made of lead, was lying on the courtyard floor savoring its coolness against her blade.
Only Eldwyn was exerting any effort, and he was leaning against a wall to keep from falling down, but it wasn’t just any wall. Standing inside the castle’s unprotected entrance, the wizard was sealing it off with a force field emanating from his staff. However, with his head throbbing, his heart pounding and his legs ready to give out, Eldwyn didn’t know how much longer he could hold on.
Exploiting the situation, General Gornic had posted runners outside the entrance with orders to notify him the moment Eldwyn collapsed. Additionally, keeping constant pressure on the force field, and on the old wizard, mounted warriors were taking turns trying to break through it, charging at the invisible energy shield over and over. Other warriors were on foot beating against it with axes and swords.
Though desperate to remain on his feet, Eldwyn could feel his life energy ebbing away. The wizard now looked far older than when his companions had first arrived at his cottage. Glancing over his shoulder, Eldwyn saw Andrina striding along a walkway on the western wall and was encouraged by her obvious strength and confidence. Filled with admiration, he thought, That woman certainly doesn’t mind a fight.
And Eldwyn was right on the mark. Andrina watched with growing anticipation as hundreds of General Gornic’s warriors approached the western and southern walls of the castle. These were more vulnerable than the eastern wall, which was protected by a steep, downward slope. While Lord Daegal was attacking the castle’s entrance, General Gornic, as part of a two-pronged attack, had been gathering his troops for an assault on the walls.
Andrina observed the way the enemy was positioning its warriors and also took note of their swords, armor, helmets and siege ladders. Making a quick count, the warrior woman calculated the odds against them at maybe ten to one.
“What do you think? Good odds, huh?” Andrina asked Balder who was next to her.
Shrugging his shoulders, Balder thought, Corson was bad enough, and now we have Andrina. For without a doubt, he knew that either woman would provoke a fight just to have one.
However, not beyond some grim humor, he said, “I don’t know, Andrina. Unless Lord Daegal gets reinforcements, the battle won’t last over a day or two. It’s hardly worth fighting.”
“Well, it’s better than nothing,” Andrina said taking his comment seriously. She didn’t want her first battle in years to be viewed as easy, although it was far from that.
“Oh, I’m sure there’s a good chance we’ll all be dead by morning,” he reassured her.
“That could be,” Andrina said feeling a little better, an optimistic tone creeping into her voice. Balder shook his head and walked away from the warrior woman.
Going over to his men, he told Kirtak, his second-in- command, “If I’m going to die tonight, I’d rather be around people who are at least sane.”
“I’d rather have her with us than against us,” Kirtak said.
“Oh, hell yes! I just don’t enjoy fighting as much as
Andrina does.”
“You like a good fight.”
“True, but it’s a little spooky being around someone who loves it more than I do. The only other person I know like that is Corson.”
“Speak of the devil,” Kirtak said pointing at the warrior woman walking towards them.
Aroused by the threat of violence, Corson began purring as she approached Balder, and then shoved him against a battlement pressing her body against his. When the warrior woman began biting his throat and clawing at his shoulders, Balder knew what was coming next. That people were milling about meant nothing to Corson.
“I was just talking with Andrina,” Balder said trying to change the topic, “and she seems like a woman after your own heart.”
“I don’t know, she’s so self-involved,” Corson complained.
Balder looked over at Kirtak and rolled his eyes.
Had he lived long enough, what would have further surprised him was how angry Corson got over her foreplay with Balder being interrupted. Clenching her fists, Corson’s eyes hardened, her face became flushed, her body tensed, and she completely lost her temper.
When most people lose control, they make mistakes that could get them killed. However, Balder knew it was different with Corson. Fascinated, he watched as the warrior woman leapt onto a battlement proceeding to kill warrior after warrior as she climbed down the ladder.
“They shouldn’t have made her mad,” Kirtak observed.
Seeing Corson besting so many of the enemy, Andrina was envious. But soon another opportunity presented itself when two siege ladders fell against the wall only a few paces away.
Leaping up on the battlement and standing between the ladders, Andrina was excited as she took out her sword and waited for the men to reach the top. However, always willing to improvise, Andrina got an idea when 20 of Chen’s warrior women walked past carrying spears.
“Gwendylln!” Andrina called out as she saw Chen’s second-in-command. “I could use two of the spears your women are carrying.”
Intrigued by the request and wondering what devilment this famous warrior was up to, Gwendylln quickly got Andrina what she needed.
The older warrior woman continued watching both ladders until it was obvious the first warrior on the left was going to beat the first warrior on the right by a wide margin. At that point, Andrina gave him her undivided attention.
When the faster warrior got a few rungs from the top, Andrina took one of the spears and, without hesitation, jammed the weapon into the man’s neck right above his metal breastplate. Leaning forward, she used her weight to drive the spear down through the warrior’s body and out the other side. The man was still alive when the tip of the spear exited his lower back right below his armor.
Stepping onto the top rung of the ladder and changing her stance to get more leverage, Andrina leaned even harder on her end of the spear. When she finally stopped pushing, four feet of the spear protruded out of the warrior’s lower back and four feet was still sticking out of his neck.
After a few moments, the light went out of the warrior’s eyes, and his legs dropped into the space between two rungs of the ladder. But he didn’t fall far, the spear catching on the rungs above and below the hole.
Bent at the waist, the man was face down against the ladder with his legs dangling in midair making it almost impossible for those behind him to reach the top. Any warrior trying to climb over the dead man would be turning himself into an easy target.
Thus having finished securing the ladder to her left, she took her second spear and repeated the process with the warrior nearing the top of the ladder to her right. By killing just two warriors, Andrina had blocked dozens of others and effectively put two siege ladders out of commission.
Gwendylln waved for Chen to join them and both stood there marveling at Andrina’s handiwork.
“A little trick I learned some years back,” Andrina explained.
Chen quickly focused on the male warriors trapped on the ladder closest to her. Instinctively, the black leather panther put an arrow into a bow she was carrying and began pulling back on the bowstring. But then, she caught herself and, turning to Andrina, asked permission to launch the arrow.
“Do you mind?” Chen asked.
“No, of course not,” the older warrior woman said feeling like a mother contributing to the advancement of her daughter’s career. This is very satisfying, she said to herself.
Feeling a little apprehensive, Gwendylln put an arrow in her bow but worried that Andrina wouldn’t give her permission to address the other ladder.
“It’s okay, go ahead,” Andrina said knowing that Chen and Gwendylln were close friends.
In her heart, Andrina had secretly adopted Chen, but the young warrior woman hadn’t caught on, at least not yet, which was a good thing. Had Chen known, she probably would have felt uncomfortable. The black leather panther didn’t mind being near people. She just didn’t want to be close to them.
As Chen and Gwendylln let their arrows fly, some of the men near the bottom tried to climb back down. Such was not to be for Corson, having already cleared her ladder, had come over to help with Andrina’s. Corson was now working her way up, killing those who were trying to retreat. In short order, the warrior woman made her way to the top and climbed over the castle wall.
Once Corson had rejoined Chen, Gwendylln and Andrina on the walkway, they looked around and assessed their situation.
There were over a dozen siege ladders up against the southern wall, and General Gornic’s men were pouring over it. The general had attacked that side of the castle with overwhelming numbers and speed.
However, Andrina wasn’t surprised. After observing General Gornic’s initial maneuver where he attacked the western wall using fewer warriors and siege ladders, the warrior woman had suspected he was up to something.
“I’ve seen this done before,” Andrina had told Chen. “As a diversion, one wall is attacked first to bring as many defending warriors as possible to that side of the castle. Then, a second wall is attacked using twice as many men and siege ladders.”
“Well, if General Gornic gains control of one outside wall, it’s all over,” Chen had said, clearly stating their predicament.
However, having anticipated the general’s strategy, Andrina had arranged a welcoming committee. First, she’d allowed the general to think his plan was working by packing the western wall with Dartuke, Thordig, the other 18 nobles, Pensgraft, Balder, his ten men and 75 of Chen’s warrior women.
On the southern wall, General Gornic’s real target, were just 20 of Chen’s women along with Marcheto, his father, Tark, and his brothers Kirnochak, Xandaric and Adexsus.
“Okay, listen carefully,” Andrina had said. “When General Gornic puts his siege ladders against the southern wall, I want those defending it to fall back to the courtyard floor. And I want 50 of Chen’s warriors from the western wall to join them.”
“Andrina, once my women are in the courtyard, do you want them shooting arrows at General Gornic’s men as they come over the southern wall?” Chen had asked.
“Yes,” Andrina had said, pleased that Chen’s mind worked so quickly.
And now, Corson, Chen, Gwendylln and Andrina were watching as hundreds of General Gornic’s men made their way over the castle’s southern wall and headed downstairs to the courtyard below.
At first, Chen’s archers devastated the enemy but became less effective when General Gornic’s men began taking shields from those who’d been killed. Carrying two shields each, the enemy warriors were forming a protective wall down the full length of the stairs. After only a few minutes, a warrior was standing on each step holding two shields, one above the other, protecting his entire body while providing cover for dozens of other warriors heading to the courtyard below.
Soon hundreds of General Gornic’s men were making their way downstairs behind a nearly impenetrable barrier of shields, but the protective wall didn’t stop there. Upon reaching the bottom, the general’s men began forming another wall of double shields at least 40 warriors wide. Then, the wall began advancing towards Chen’s archers while more of the general’s men formed up behind it holding shields over their heads.
General Gornic’s forces now controlled the castle’s southern wall and a portion of the courtyard floor, but his men didn’t stop there and continued pressing forward sensing victory and exuding confidence.
Deeply concerned, though ever unflappable, Corson nudged Chen and pointed at Crystal Castle’s entrance. Bordering on t
otal exhaustion, Eldwyn was sitting on the ground gasping for breath and leaning against Zorya’s massive back.
The wizard was still blocking the entrance with the energy remaining in his staff, but it was obvious he couldn’t hold up much longer.
Peering into the darkness, Gwendylln pointed at hundreds of tiny flames off in the distance that appeared to be closing in on Crystal Castle. Filled with uncontrollable rage, Lord Daegal and his fire-breathing, black crystal warriors were headed this way.
“We have a few minutes until they arrive,” Andrina said.
“What good’s that going to do us?” Corson asked.
After pausing for a moment and taking a deep breath, Andrina said, “Chen, this isn’t the path I would’ve chosen for you. You deserve better.”
“I’m not afraid of death,” Chen declared looking around and seeing the tide of the battle turning against them.
“We may not have to turn our backs on life, at least not yet. There’s still one alternative, but it leads down a path that’s dark and fraught with danger.”
“What do you mean?”
“I want you to know that should you choose this route, you’ll not travel it alone. I’ll walk it with you.”
“What path?”
“When Eldwyn’s unable to protect the entrance, he could also be too weak to keep Crystal a prisoner.”
Chen’s eyes widened.
“And if that happens, you’ll be able to untie Eldwyn’s golden ropes and set the dark sword free,” Andrina said.
“How much longer do you think Eldwyn can last?” Chen asked.
“I don’t know, but we need to be ready. We have to
reach Crystal, and quickly. Let’s head for the great room.”
With that, Chen, Andrina, Corson and Gwendylln ran downstairs to the courtyard and sprinted to the castle’s main tower. After making their way upstairs to the great room and over to Crystal, the warrior women surrounded the dark sword who was lying on the floor covered with black crystal shards from earlier when the surface had shattered.