by Lisa Cassidy
“You really like him.” Alyx hadn’t intended to sound as surprised as she did, but it caused Dawn’s face to redden further.
“It’s just a silly crush.”
“There’s nothing silly about it,” Alyx said firmly.
“I do like him,” came the soft response. “He’s really funny, and charming, but all that’s only a cover for this really sensitive man.”
Alyx smiled into the darkness. “I have to admit, Dashan has surprised me recently. I can see why you’d like him.” She paused. “Do you want me to talk to him for you?”
“Absolutely not.” Dawn laughed. “It’s sweet of you to offer, but I’ll talk to him myself.”
“All right.”
“You must miss Cayr terribly. Both times you’ve gotten letters from him you’ve smiled for days after, but it’s different this year. You don’t talk about him as much.”
“They were good letters.” Alyx gazed dreamily out the window. “Cayr’s been in my life as long as I can remember. We know each other inside out. Until a year ago, we experienced every moment of life together. And then, of course, there is the fact that we’ll probably end up marrying. So, the answer to your question is yes, I do miss him, very much.”
“I sense a ‘but’ in there.”
“I never knew who I was apart from him.” Alyx shifted slightly. “I think I’m starting to finally learn who I am, just me, Alyx Egalion. I miss Cayr, because having him around was always familiar, comforting, like a safety blanket. But for once, I’m also enjoying being me.”
Dawn paused, but it was obvious she was thinking hard, so Alyx spoke again. “What is it? You know you can ask me anything.”
“You said you know each other better than anyone. Do you think that will still be the case after everything that’s happened?”
Alyx glanced down at Finn’s notes in her lap, troubled by the question even though she didn’t want to be. “Things were already different after my first time here. And by the time I get back... well, two years of mostly being apart is a long time. But it hasn’t changed the fact that I love him. And when I finish my training, we won’t be apart any longer. We’ll have plenty of time to re-learn each other.”
“It’s nice that some things never change, isn’t it?” Dawn mused. “Even after DarkSkull, and what happened with Jenna, you and Cayr still love each other enough to want a future together.”
“That’s a nice way of putting it.” Alyx smiled slightly. “Not that we’re technically together right now. I left him without any promises. Both of us are free until I return.”
Dawn turned to face her. “I think that was a good idea. Better to be absolutely sure of each other and what you want.” Her expression lightened. “Has anyone asked you to the dance yet?”
Alyx chuckled. “I think it’s a little early for that.”
“You never know, I bet you get heaps of offers.”
“I don’t think…” Alyx started, then stopped and straightened as she spotted an orange glow out the window. “Dawn, I can see the signal fire at the south-western tower!”
“You’re kidding?” Shock flared on her face and she dropped her book to the floor with a loud clatter.
“No I’m not.” Alyx scrambled off the window ledge and ran straight to where her staff leaned against the wall. Her next words tumbled out even louder than she’d intended, a mix of excitement and fear. “Wake up, we have to move!”
“What?” Finn asked sleepily.
Dawn reached down and literally hauled her brother half off the floor. “Signal fire at the other southern tower,” she shouted in his ear.
Cario’s tousled head appeared as he sat up and stretched. “Do I really have to…?”
“Yes you do. Get up and light the signal fire then meet us down in the stables. We’ll saddle up your mare!” Tarrick snapped, already halfway to the door. “Come on, hurry up!”
Alyx stared at them vanishing out the doorway, slow to process what was happening. Then reality snapped back into focus and she was running after them, adrenalin warring with fear inside her. One thing she knew for certain.
If DarkSkull was truly under attack, she was going to have to kill again.
Chapter 23
The four of them hurtled down the tower stairs at a run, pausing only briefly at the front door to grab their cloaks. The horses snorted and danced restlessly in their stalls, picking up the suppressed urgency in their riders. Alyx was first out the barn door with Tingo. Bright orange light flared above as the signal fire roared to life from the watchtower roof.
Hoofbeats sounded in the near distance, and by the time Tarrick and the twins were exiting the stables with Cario’s horse, a unit of Tregayan militia had arrived, galloping out of the trees. Rodin was amongst the lead riders and Alyx waved him over as she swung up into the saddle.
“Apprentice Egalion!” he hailed her. “We saw the signal fire and came immediately.”
As Rodin reined in before Alyx, Tarrick and the twins joined them. All five pairs of eyes turned as the watchtower door slammed closed—it was Cario, approaching them at a run.
“You’re in charge of the unit?” Tarrick asked, attention shifting back to Rodin.
“That’s right,” Rodin said. “But we’ve been given instructions by Lieutenant Caverlock and Commander Helson. You have command of the situation, Apprentices.”
Alyx cast an eye over the militia; the constant shifting in their saddles and excited faces betrayed their eagerness for action, but at the same time they held their horses capably and were sitting in disciplined formation, hands lightly on the hilts of their swords.
“Didn’t think we’d be testing Dash’s new idea so quickly,” Tarrick muttered as they all looked to him.
“They’re fine, Tarrick. And it’s not like we have any more experience than they do.”
He grinned at her. “Then let’s go get some. First thing is to get to the southwestern tower as quickly as possible. Everyone fall in behind me. Once we arrive, you wait for my word before doing anything. Clear?”
Glad that Tarrick had taken charge, Alyx nodded along with the others. Within moments they were galloping as fast as they dared in the darkness along the narrow track leading to the southwestern tower. The distance between the two towers seemed to take forever to travel, though she knew it was probably only a few minutes. The militia streamed along behind the mages.
They came upon the scene of attack suddenly, rounding a corner in the path just as an enormous bang sounded and a large section of the southern boundary wall blew inwards.
“What the hell!” Tarrick shouted as debris rained down around them despite their distance from the wall.
“They’ve got mages with them,” Finn said calmly.
Alyx heard his words while her gaze took in the situation. The wall was not far below them, down a slight incline with the watchtower rearing above them to their left. The Shiven had chosen a place to attack that was wide open and bare of trees. The hole they’d blown in the wall was large enough for several warriors to stream through at once.
“Right. We’ll need to—”
Tarrick’s words were cut off as another blast sounded. Rock, stone and debris exploded across the ground towards them. Alyx swung hard to the left to avoid a piece of stone flying at her head, and almost fell from the saddle. By the time she’d righted herself, more Shiven warriors were pouring through the even-larger gap in the wall.
“Hold tight,” Tarrick called. “Can anyone see where the apprentices stationed here are?”
Dawn pointed after a moment’s concentration. “Down at the breach.”
Alyx looked where she was pointing. It was hard to discern in the darkness and chaos, but she managed to pick out the grey robes of the five apprentices close to the breach in the wall. Even as she watched, they vanished from sight, swallowed up by the Shiven pouring through the breach. A moment later, a clear shield sprung up around them.
“Good news. Jayn’s down there, and that means
Rickin is too,” Finn spoke the words before Alyx could. “They’ll keep their heads.”
“They’re also in serious danger.” Urgency flooded Alyx and she turned to Dawn. “Where are the mages from the other towers?”
Her eyes closed briefly, then opened. “On their way. Close, but still some distance out.”
“Your orders?” Rodin pulled his horse up between them, voice tight with urgency. The militia’s patience for sitting still was wearing thin.
“Take two thirds of your unit, swing up to the left, and circle through the forest behind the watchtower. Take cover there and wait for my call,” Tarrick said. “We mages will attack the Shiven coming through the wall where the apprentices are pinned down. Hopefully we can scatter them into smaller groups and force some in your direction to trap them between us. That should ease the pressure on those down at the wall and allow them to get back into the fight.”
“And the rest of my unit?”
“Hold them here in reserve. We might need a fourth angle of attack.”
“Aye. Flanking manoeuvre coming right up.” Rodin efficiently divided his unit with a series of succinct orders, and soon most them were galloping up into the trees behind the tower.
“I hope they can hold the line,” Tarrick said.
“That’s presuming we can force the Shiven that way,” Cario drawled. “There are only five of us, and you want to openly attack the right flank?”
“There isn’t time for argument,” Alyx said quickly. “Tarrick, tell us what to do.”
“Right now, their attack is concentrated. We need to break them up and force them out of their attack strategy,” he said. “So Alyx, if you wouldn’t mind softening them up for us?”
There was no time for hesitation, no time for doubts. Alyx reached up for her staff, aimed it at the group of Shiven clambering through the breach, and sent a concussion blast shooting straight towards them. Using her staff as a focus point for her magic was a new skill she’d been working on, and despite her nerves and the chaotic situation, it worked perfectly.
A bright green light blinded them all as her magic hit the Shiven with an explosive force strong enough to disintegrate those closest to it. The concussion blast followed a second after, emitting a massive boom and spreading out in a green-edged circle across the clearing. Once the brightness faded there was nothing left, darkness hiding most of the carnage. But Alyx could imagine it anyway, knew exactly what a man disintegrating from her magic looked like. Nausea surged, and she almost lost her dinner before she could bring it under control. There was no time for this. Jayn and Rickin needed her to be functional.
A second silver glow lit up the night as Tarrick followed Alyx’s lead with his own concussive blast. Even at the distance they were sitting, seconds later they were buffeted by both blasts.
Recognizing quickly they were under mage attack, the Shiven mass split smoothly into smaller groups. It was a more coordinated scattering than Tarrick had hoped for, Alyx thought, but even so, smaller groups were more manageable than one large one.
Several Shiven continued to harass the apprentice mages by the wall, who were holding them off with their staffs and magic combined. Another group—identifying the immediate threat—started up the incline towards Alyx and Tarrick.
“Rodin, go!” Tarrick bellowed.
Shouts echoed down through the trees as the militia came galloping down the incline, sweeping in from the left flank and slamming into the Shiven warriors in a chaotic and noisy mess of horses, bellowing and clashing blades.
Turning her attention back to the approaching Shiven, Alyx spun her staff in one hand, lined up the Shiven heading towards them, and felt the ground shudder under Tingo’s feet as she let loose another concussion ball that lit up the night. Again, Tarrick followed suit, and within a few seconds, the warriors were decimated.
Her stomach turned at the sight of open space where only moments ago there had been running warriors. Forcing herself to turn away, Alyx looked for Rodin’s militia. They were temporarily overwhelming the Shiven from the left flank, but were severely outnumbered. More warriors were coming in through the destroyed section of wall.
“How many are there?” Cario shouted the question on all their minds.
“Dawn?” Tarrick turned to the telepath.
“A lot,” she said. “I’m reading too many minds to count; there’s at least one more wave of fighters beyond the wall. Maybe upwards of fifty?”
Alyx tried not to let that panic her. “There have to be at least that many inside the wall already. That is a massive force to be attacking us with.”
“Wait!” Dawn raised a hand. “Jayn and the others are hemmed in, but they’re okay. There is only one mage with the attacking force and Rickin’s gone after him.”
“We’ll have to go in—the left flank will break if we don’t try and ease some of the pressure. They’re too intermixed now for us to be able to indiscriminately loose concussive bursts,” Tarrick said.
“What about us, Apprentice?” one of the remaining militia asked.
“You’re coming with us,” Tarrick said. “Try and stay in formation as best you can. We’ll attempt to hold down the right flank and keep the Shiven sandwiched between us. See if you can fight through to the apprentices down there too, they’ll bolster your force.”
“I think it would be better if I stayed here to protect Dawn,” Cario said. “She’s of more use up here away from the fight where she can use her power to locate and attack the minds of the Shiven commanders.”
“I can do that?” Dawn asked in surprise.
“Yes, and I can tell you how.”
“Do it,” Tarrick said tersely. “Everyone else with me.”
Alyx followed at Tarrick’s left, racing Tingo down the incline at a gallop and ploughing into the Shiven warriors massed at the bottom. Tingo reared and struck out with deadly iron-shod hooves, while Alyx leaned down and laid about with her staff, trying to avoid the swinging swords of the Shiven as she did so.
She glanced back up the hill—Dawn had her eyes closed in concentration; a flash of thought told Alyx the telepath was looking for the commander of the Shiven attack. Cario was murmuring in her ear, eyes focused on the battle below.
Moments later, Alyx, Finn and Tarrick fought their way clear, momentarily stopping the onrush of Shiven up the hill. Tarrick gestured for the militia to take over, then waved Alyx and Finn back from the fight. The three rode up the hill to join Dawn and Cario.
“Cario’s right. We’re of best use clear of the fight where we can use our magic from a distance,” he said tersely when Alyx raised a questioning eyebrow.
It wasn’t going well. Shiven continued to scramble through the breach in the wall, and while the militia were fighting with real energy and skill, they were severely outnumbered. Alyx shuddered to think of what would have happened if Dashan hadn’t implemented his idea and they’d had no backup at all.
They needed mage reinforcements from DarkSkull immediately; it was a wonder they’d held off the attack this long, though she supposed barely ten minutes had passed. It felt like longer.
“Alyx, can you help Dawn?” Tarrick asked tersely.
“I can try, but telepathy is my weakest ability. I think I’d be more of a distraction.”
His reply was cut off by the sound of crisp orders being shouted from the western side of the battle, where the road led from the north-western tower. Seconds later and Dashan’s Bluecoats came galloping into the fray, driving deep into the right flank of the fight. Behind them rode the second unit of militia.
Dashan rode at the head of the new force, standing tall in the stirrups, sword raised. The appearance of reinforcements gave Rodin’s men new heart, and as Dashan called out an order to them, they reformed into a tighter unit.
“Got them,” Dawn’s eyes suddenly snapped open. “Two commanders. Alyx, Tarrick, can you see?”
Two faces flashed clearly into Alyx’s mind, followed quickly by an image of where they w
ere, and she nodded. She used a brief snatch of magic to show Tarrick’s mind an image of the commander she would take, then the two of them urged their horses back towards the battle. Using Dawn’s mental signature and clear image, Alyx quickly found her target. Raising her staff, she aimed carefully and sent a concussion blast straight for him.
Tarrick had loosed his power at the same time and the booms went off simultaneously, rocking the ground at their feet and sending blinding light ripping through the fighting. The Shiven faltered, and Dashan bellowed orders as he saw what was happening, driving his Blue Guard deeper into the battle.
Alyx scanned the surroundings. More Shiven were coming through the breach, despite the fact she and Tarrick had killed their commanders. Then her gaze fell on the debris of rock and stone lying strewn over the ground. An idea occurred to her.
“Dashan!” she shouted the word at the same time she sent it telepathically.
His head came up with a snap, and he turned his horse to meet the onrushing Tingo. She pulled the stallion in with an effort, bringing him alongside Dashan’s mount.
“I have an idea,” she shouted over the noise, relating it as quickly as she could.
“You can do that?” he asked when she was done.
“I think so, yes.”
He nodded, brought his mount around, and started snapping more orders. The Blue Guard began wheeling around, moving away from the wall. The militia fell in behind, following Dashan’s orders without hesitation.
“Damn, he’s good,” Alyx muttered to herself as she saw Dashan’s redeployment of his force was not only distancing his soldiers from the wall, but herding the Shiven right towards it.
“Can you cover me for a minute?” Alyx sent the thought to Dawn as she rode Tingo back up the incline. Reining him in, she waited for Tarrick, Cario and the twins to appear and surround her.
“Tarrick, Cario, I’m going to need your help.” She sent them an image of what she planned to do, then smiled. “Just like in class with Howell.”
“We’ve never succeeded at this in class,” Cario pointed out.