by John Grover
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The Amazon Shamaness Juni went to Edon’s side between the attacks. “Something far worse is coming for us.”
“Let them come,” Edon growled, a newfound rage burned inside him. He wiped the sweat from his brow defiantly and glared at the dark blood on his sword.
“A host of new nightmares journey over the horizon.” Juni muttered another spell to herself as a rumble resounded in the distance.
Edon clanked his sword against his shield. His face was soiled with the scourge of war. His body was peppered with bruises. Scratches and bites were crusted with dried blood. He turned to discover the amazon warrior still by his side, so he smiled. “I am called Edon.”
“I am Cyan,” she said. “It is an honor to fight with you. I have not met a warrior that could keep pace with me.”
“It is I who is honored.” He winked at her.
Their attention was drawn to the advancing horde. A cloud of dust choked the land as the spitters made their appearance, leading the way for the rest of the dark armies. Pitch-black bodies speckled with white blotches. These poisonous spiders attacked, spitting their venom in searing streams.
Elf and amazon alike burned as soon as the acid hit their flesh. Limbs melted, hair dissolved, skin seared as they died emitting gargling screams. The acid ate through armor, ate through bodies, and devoured bones and organs beneath.
A wave of venom shot directly at Edon and Cyan. The two braced for death, until Juni stepped before them. She held up both of her hands and an energy shield encircled all three of them. The venom splashed against the shield, but was unable to penetrate the magic.
“Push them back!” Edon cried, breaking through the shield and slashing the stunned spiders. His blade cut the first dog-sized spitter in half. Both pieces smoldered as it collapsed. A second spitter rose up behind him.
Cyan launched herself into the air and landed on the creature’s back. She drove her sword right through its head with such force she pinned it to the ground. Edon looked up at her bright face and blazing eyes. They made him feel alive. He bowed to her briefly then helped her off the dying beast.
Edon and Cyan stood side by side, facing the newest onslaught together. More Ebon warriors marched in formation behind the spitters, and the lizard men lurked behind them in a chaotic frenzy.
A volley of missiles screeched through the air. Tridents, spears, hatchets assaulted the amazons and their elfin comrades. Spitters sprayed the wounded, sending them into agonizing death.
The land smoked and burned. The air grew thick and hot, ripe with the smell of decay. Black-winged scavengers circled the skies. Screams, screeches, and desperate pleas fashioned a cacophony that cluttered the senses. But Edon clung to their only hope. Nix and his group. He wondered how close they were to Sinnia. He wondered how long he and his army could hold off the darkness.
Edon swung hard and split the lizard man before him in half. Behind him Cyan dodged the battleaxe of an Ebon warrior, then rolled to the ground to slice both of its legs. It fell to its knees as she climbed to her feet. She drove her sword through its chest without mercy.
“Still with me?” Edon asked.
“No other place I would rather be.”
“I could think of a few,” Edon called above the din. “I do not know how long we can hold here. Without food and rest, I fear we will all grow weary.”
“Hope. Do you feel it, Edon? It is alive in each of us.”
Edon went to speak, but his eyes widened and a chill shot down his spine. He leapt onto Cyan and forced her to the ground. A spear soared over their heads. A scream caught their attention.
They looked up to see Juni tumble to the ground, the spear protruding from her left side. Edon jumped up and raced to Juni’s aid. He dragged her off the battlefield and behind a great tree.
“How bad are you?”
“It is not fatal,” Juni said.
“Can you heal yourself?”
“No. I am barred from using magic on myself. I must let nature heal my wounds.”
Cyan knelt at Juni’s side. She called a few amazon warriors to encircle them. “She is to be protected outside the battle. Let nothing touch her.”
Edon looked into Cyan’s eyes. “Hope. Is it alive in you?”