12
Angst instinctively lifted his sword arm to protect his face as a ball of heat and light rocketed past. Dallow had unleashed whatever he’d been preparing earlier, and it seemed he’d chosen well. The ball of fire had grown to engulf two of the creatures, leaving behind small green puddles as it continued across the sinkhole. As if sentient, the puddles merged and slowly oozed toward the nearest gargoyle.
“Was that a spell?” Angst snapped, daring a glance over his shoulder. “You could share this stuff with the rest of us once in a while!”
“I didn’t know it would work!” Dallow said in disbelief, his green eyes wide with surprise.
“Oh, that’s a comfort,” Angst muttered to himself.
Scar was once again the giant beast. Two additional legs had sprouted from his sides, and his four eyes shone red as he sought the nearest prey. The bony protrusions that covered him like fur formed hackles as he pounced and chomped into the gargoyle in front of him. The monster dog tore and gnawed at the top half of his green adversary until it came free. The bottom half of the gargoyle liquefied, falling from his mouth like gooey rain. A second gargoyle attempted to grab Scar’s three tails, but its hands fell to pieces on contact. Scar spun around and barked so loudly the gargoyle’s skin rippled just before he removed a chunk of it with a ferocious bite.
Hector swung his longsword across the chest of his challenger. The blade slipped through it as if slicing curtains. Bits of watery gargoyle flew from the tip of his sword to land on another monster and the second creature absorbed them, as if the gargoyles were giant sponges.
“We’ve got a problem!” Hector yelled, wielding a pair of very broad short swords. He struck the gargoyle with the flat of both blades, gouging out sloppy chunks of the creature.
“What are these things made of?” Tarness yelled. Having given up on his sword, Tarness was now grappling with the giant beast. It was twice his size, yet Tarness forced it toward the cliff edge.
“That one I knocked over hasn’t returned,” Angst said loudly.
“I don’t think they actually fly. They must just glide,” Dallow said in exhaustion. A much smaller ball of fire flew from his palms, only disintegrating half its target. The gargoyle shrank to man size. It roared in frustration and stormed toward Dallow when Scar came up from behind and gobbled it in one bite.
“Yearrgh!” Rook screamed as a gargoyle ripped off the metal legging of his armor, taking layers of skin and muscle with it. The burly man collapsed in pain.
In a tantrum of annoyance and anger, Tarness pulled his hands free from grappling and grabbed his gargoyle by its wrists. With a yell, he spun around, lifting the giant gargoyle from its clawed feet. As though he were twirling a child at a picnic, Tarness whirled about several times. He let go, tossing the gargoyle into the one hovering over Rook. Both fell over the ledge, lost into the sinkhole.
Jaden stepped forward, completely focused on the remaining monsters. He held one hand before him, palm up and fingers tight together as though preparing to spin a ball on them. With his other hand, he drew quick circles in the air around his fingers. Faster and faster, one hand circled the other. His hair lifted, soon followed by dirt and puddles of slush at his feet, until a thin vortex rose from his fingers, no wider than his hand though it reached high into the sky.
He had everyone’s attention, and the remaining gargoyles thundered toward him. His face was filled with fierce determination. With the hand holding the vortex, he reached back then thrust forward, as though throwing a ball at the gargoyles. The thin tornado flew at the approaching onslaught. It struck the first gargoyle, which immediately disintegrated, pieces flying into the other gargoyles, which quickly grew as they absorbed the first. This happened again and again, until there was one final, gigantic gargoyle. Four times their size, it rippled with watery power. The vortex pushed up against the giant, but the gargoyle resisted. Only small bits and pieces were reluctantly pulled away.
“Scar!” Angst yelled as he willed air to lift the gargoyle off the ground. “Fetch!”
Scar wagged his tail as he leaped to the falling monster. He took a large bite out of its center then spun around on landing to return to Angst. The dog’s three tails splattered even more of the creature. The gargoyle shrank with each strike until it was too small to defend against the waiting tornado. Bits of gel and watery goo shot everywhere, drenching them all.
Dallow and Jaden dropped to the ground in a sprawl of exhausted arms and legs.
“Bring Rook here. I’ll do what I can,” Jaden said between heavy breaths.
Hector and Tarness picked up Rook and laid him next to Jaden, who sat up wearily. He winced at the piece of meat that used to be Rook’s leg then reached over with a glowing hand and gripped the exposed muscle. Rook promptly and mercifully passed out.
Scar, still in monster form, cried loudly. He circled the area, sniffing the ground in a desperate search for the right spot.
“Is Scar okay?” asked Dallow. “He looks like he...overate.”
“Or overdrank. What’s he going to do with all the...” Tarness stopped and squinted as he watched.
With a loud sigh, Scar arrived at the edge of the sinkhole and lifted a leg. After several very long moments and a few whimpers, the last of the gargoyle dribbled away. The emergency over, he became a lab pup once again and pranced to Angst.
“Yeah. That’s a good dog!” Angst said with enthusiasm, rubbing Scar behind the ears. “You peed so good!”
“That’s just...gross,” Jaden said from his seated position.
“Dogs.” Angst shrugged. “Is Rook going to be all right?”
“Mostly,” Jaden shrugged. “I’m not a healer. He’ll be able to walk, and he won’t be in much pain, but it looks a little messy. He’ll need to take it easy for the next several days. It’s the best I can do.”
“You did fine... Better than fine,” Hector acknowledged.
“I agree, but I’ve had enough of this nonsense,” Angst said in disgust, tearing his gaze from Rook’s mangled leg. He returned to the edge and held out his hands.
“What do you think you are doing?” Dallow yelled.
“I’m going to fill this sinkhole,” Angst replied with determination. “And when I’m done, I’ll fill the next until everything’s back to normal.”
“Angst, that’s a terrible idea! You don’t have that kind of power!” Jaden warned.
“I don’t? I still channel power from Chryslaenor,” Angst said.
“That sounds like an easy way to die,” Tarness shook his head. “Didn’t Dallow say—”
“I don’t have time to argue with any of you,” Angst snapped. He pointed at Rook. “This can’t happen to anyone else. I need to stop this now so we can get him to safety.”
Angst closed his eyes and took a deep breath, seeking for calm inside himself before reaching deep into the earth. He searched for the bottom of the sinkhole and then deeper. It was strange to go so far into cold and unfamiliar ground. His mind felt as though surrounded by cold wet stone, and thick hard clay. Angst pushed, and the water filling the sinkhole bubbled and roiled. After several incredibly long minutes of struggling, the sinkhole floor finally budged. His lip and chin quivered, and a bubble popped in his ear that felt warm and wet as it trickled down his cheek.
His friends gasped, and his eyes snapped open. Cold, unyielding hands grabbed Angst’s wrists and wrenched them to his sides. The giant statue, the element of earth, stood before him.
“That’s enough, young human,” she said. “If I cannot do this thing, you will do nothing more than die trying.”
Rose sighed as quietly as she could, hoping she wouldn’t be heard over the brushing of hair, the filing of nails, or any other bit of nighttime primping Her Royal Highness deemed necessary. The Princess Victoria spent more time readying herself for bed than most people did for a night out. Rose watched Victoria’s long black locks fall from her brush to land gloriously on her perfect pale shoulders. Her shoulders curved
into her perfect collarbone, and her delicate pink camisole top barely hid Victoria’s perfect breasts, which were younger, perkier, and twice the size of Rose’s. Not that she’d noticed.
Not that she was jealous either. She was far more attractive than the princess. But Rose was often frustrated that so much of what others thought of as “perfection” was wasted on Victoria. The package didn’t meet up to expectations. “Tori” seemed ditzy, distracted, way too interested in court gossip...and then there was the talking. The non-stop chipmunk chatter that ate away at Rose’s senses until she snapped, often forcing her into an argument with Victoria. She fought the urge to reach up and press her eye, which was beginning to itch.
“...I couldn’t believe she said that about her sister. What is it with some people?” Victoria gossiped. She took a vial of lotion from her vanity and handed it back to Rose before staring into the mirror again.
Rose shrugged and reluctantly rubbed lotion into Victoria’s shoulders and the back of her neck. Rose was supposed to spend another hour with the princess before bedtime but the very thought of it made her head throb in pain. She was half-tempted to draw the tiniest bit of health from Victoria. Push her headache onto the princess, who would then need to go to bed immediately. The thought passed quickly as Victoria jerked her shoulder from Rose’s hand.
She spun around in her seat to face Rose. “Thanks for the lotion. That should be enough,” Victoria said shortly.
“But I didn’t get everywhere,” Rose replied in surprise.
“Would you grab my shawl?” Victoria asked, pointing to a hook only steps away.
The shawl was so lacy it seemed pointless to Rose, but she walked over to grab it, sighing with every step.
“So, why didn’t Angst want you to come with this time?” the princess asked, in an effort to keep Rose at a distance, out of touching proximity.
The words stung enough that Rose’s back arched and her shoulders pinched together. She stared at the shawl without reaching for it. “This time I chose to stay behind, Your Majesty,” Rose replied, fighting every inclination to lash out at the implied snark.
“Why on Ehrde would you wish to do that?” Victoria asked. “Are you sure you aren’t just saying that?” Victoria’s voice teased, but hit close to home all the same.
The pain in Rose’s head continued throbbing until it met the itch behind her eye. She lifted a hand and pressed her palm against it, only mildly relieving the pressure. “Yes, I’m sure he just wanted me to keep you from sneaking out and getting pregnant,” she said quietly, still facing away.
“What did you say?” the princess asked in shock.
She should have stopped. Rose knew deep inside that she should hold back everything. Something felt different, though. There was a sense of urgency, a great need to leave, to push the princess away. There was an urging, a nudge from somewhere, which placed her past that safe crossroads of something she shouldn’t have said and deep apology.
“Someone’s got to keep you from tramping around the city when Angst isn’t here to watch your backside. Or your front side,” Rose snapped flippantly, finally turning to face Victoria.
Rose waited for tears, or sobs, or even shocked stutters, and was quite surprised that Victoria turned slowly to look at her with very, very cold eyes.
“Or maybe you were left behind because they are sick of you and your nasty attitude,” the princess said, looking Rose up and down with contempt. “It goes well beyond your stormy nature, Rose. You’re thoughtless. You never say thank you. Not to me, and especially not to Angst.” Her eyes narrowed accusingly. “I’m very grateful for Angst’s friendship. Are you?”
“Gratitude isn’t sharing your bed,” Rose judged.
“We didn’t—” Victoria bit off her words with a deep breath. She attempted to steer the subject away from rumors. “I am grateful for Angst, and I trust him to always do right.”
“You’re using him because he’s vulnerable, and it makes me ill,” Rose admonished. “His broken relationship with Heather, losing Chryslaenor...his life is a mess and all he has left is saving the ‘attractive young princess.’ You may think you know him to always do right, but it’s not like you can read his mind. He would bed you in a heartbeat if he could get away with it.”
“You know nothing, and you are dismissed.” Victoria waved her off and turned to face her mirror.
Rose began to stomp out of the room, but stopped before reaching the door. Her eye was now on fire, and she knew she had to say one more thing. She had to get in the last word. “You’re right. Angst won’t do anything with you because there’s someone else now,” Rose said. “Being a tramp is the only way you can keep his attention.”
“What?” Victoria crossed her arms in front of her chest as though taken by a sudden chill.
“It’s true, isn’t it?” Rose said triumphantly, stalking back toward the princess. “You’re so afraid of losing him to your cousin, who’s younger and more attractive than you, that you’d do just about anything to keep him under thumb.”
“He doesn’t feel that way about her. It’s not true,” Victoria said, but her tone was worried.
“You’ve been replaced, Victoria,” Rose said, standing directly behind her. “The only way you think you can keep him as your friend is to dress like a tramp, and put yourself in danger right under his nose.”
“He’s my best friend, not hers and—”
“Is that why he doesn’t stop talking about Alloria?” Rose put her hand on Victoria’s bare shoulder. She let the young princess’s health trickle through her hand like warm running water.
“No!” Victoria yelled. In a fluid movement, Victoria pulled a hidden dagger from the vanity, spun about and stabbed Rose in the hand.
“Bitch!” Rose yelled, jerking back her hand. Blood shot from the puncture, splattering onto the floor. She stared at Victoria accusingly and looked back down at her hand, which continued to spill blood. It wasn’t healing. She ran toward the door, leaving a trail of blood behind her.
“Rose, wait! I’m sorry,” Victoria called after Rose.
But the angry, scared redhead had already pushed through the door and was gone.
13
The element of earth towered over them, her long arms held out in warning. She shook her head, causing waves of her short stone-carved hair to flip back and forth. Every movement she made was loud, like rocks being crushed in steel gears. Angst stopped what he was doing so, if for no other reason, that she would quiet.
Angst had only seen her briefly in the castle months ago, and now stared at her speechlessly, stunned by her presence. The element of earth was twenty feet of beautiful statue but, as before, she’d appeared quickly, like a seed grown to tree within seconds. In the castle, she’d been white marble, seemingly formed from the floor itself. Now she was made of sand-colored limestone. Hair, fingernails, toenails, irises, eyelashes—all were all accentuated by dark crystalline quartz. She wore thong sandals, and a gown thrown over one shoulder and cinched at the waist.
The blue glow around Angst’s hands faded as he lowered them. She suddenly stared off beyond them, as though her focus was somewhere else entirely. Angst looked at Hector, who shook his head briefly in disbelief. Dallow shrugged, not even attempting to find reference of this in his mind. Tarness seemed concerned by her presence. Jaden winced and squinted his eyes, as though struggling to remember something. Rook completely ignored her and chose instead to stare down at his mangled leg. His complexion was pale and greenish, and he couldn’t seem to decide whether to pass out again or vomit.
Scar’s tail wagged fiercely. He pranced up to the statue and loosed several ferocious yips, and the earth maiden’s focus returned to the group. She bent over low and picked up the pup, which sniffed at her hand. With her every movement, grains of the limestone shifted like sand beneath a footstep.
“Aren’t you an interesting amalgam,” she said to Scar in her light, gravelly voice then gently handed the puppy to Angst. “Please
don’t try this thing again.”
“I don’t understand,” Angst replied. He’d brushed her hand as he took Scar, and it was cold, like touching the side of the castle in winter. “Don’t try what thing?”
“I’ll show you and hopefully you’ll understand.” She lifted her arms out as though preparing to steer a horse and carriage.
There was a grinding sound as the earth around them tore away from the ground, and rose several inches into the air. This platform was like the one Angst had created when battling the Magic-infused Ivan, but much larger. It hastily moved toward the edge of the cliff. The earthly maiden turned away from them to face the direction they were going.
“Angst, I can’t move my legs,” Tarness yelled fretfully.
“I’m ready to go home,” Rook stated, holding his hand to his mouth.
His friends struggled against the earth maiden’s hold, but Angst knew this trick and, with great effort, forced his bones and armor to pull away from the ground, defiantly taking several steps toward the statue.
She shook her head and appeared to sigh before looking at him over her shoulder. “It’s for your own safety.” They could all hear her clearly, despite the rumbling ground beneath them.
The platform of earth crossed the cliff edge and went over the side at the same quick speed, as though they were on a giant dumbwaiter without ropes. It was now an outcropping that would’ve looked natural had it not been descending the face of the limestone cliff.
The roar of crashing waves grew louder, and the air smelled of wet earth and salty seawater. The increasing moisture made the wintery chill even colder, and his cheeks numbed.
“Where are you taking us?” Angst shouted.
“To show you what you’ve started,” she replied.
They stopped ten feet above angry dark waters, low enough for the waves to slap the underside of the stone platform. Angst could now move his feet without effort, making it easier to look about the enormous sinkhole. Dallow gripped Angst’s shoulder and pointed to a hand the size of their platform. It rose from the water and balled into a fist before solidifying into a crystal.
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