The Commander nodded politely and turned away, his younger officers in tow.
By the time the black spikes were clearly visible to the naked eye, Issa’s heart was pounding, and all her doubts raged in her mind. Trust in the power of the orb, the Wykiry had asked her. That was a hell of a lot of trust. The lives of thousands now depended on her.
‘Half an hour to Devil’s Horns,’ cried the lookout. The captain repeated the call. Issa could feel the captain’s eyes boring into her back. She side-glanced Velonorian who smiled at her.
‘I trust in you,’ he said.
It was a nice thing to say but it didn’t help much. The devoted elf would follow her to the ends of the cosmos and die with her willingly. She glanced up at the ugly sky for the hundredth time but there was still no golden dragon in it. At least there were no Dread Dragons either.
‘The shield is holding,’ Naksu reassured.
Issa looked up again and noted the subtle shimmer of the wizard’s cloaking magic.
‘And don’t forget, the Trinity will be assisting from afar,’ the seer added. ‘See how my staff glows? They are with us even now.’
‘That is comforting,’ said Issa, wishing they were physically beside her.
She turned back to the black spikes speeding towards them and pulled out the Orb of Water. It glowed luminous in the dim red light. She stroked its surface. ‘The Wykiry had better be right, you’d better know what to do. I’m just a vessel for your power.’ Images and understanding passed between them. Issa frowned, seeing a vague solution in its blue surface. Impossible, it seemed, but there nonetheless. Did she dare to trust?
‘Do not slow the ship,’ she shouted to the captain, who retained his scowl.
The waves thrashed harder against the bow, pounding the sides and shuddering the hull. The sails snapped taut, filled with a gusting wind. She turned her mind fully into the Flow and the fast approaching spikes of death.
The orb responded readily to her command, drawing on the element of water, speaking to the living thing that was the ocean beneath them. Her breath came too fast and she felt light-headed. She tried to control it by taking long slow breaths, focussing on the Flow that filled her. Her world of magic became filled with blues and greens, from the darkest to the lightest, and above it the dark-light of something that was not of Maioria. In the Flow the sky above boiled and raged, hating her presence. She tried not to look at it, tried not to imagine it forming into the giant shapes of Light Eaters.
‘Focus on the Flow. Focus on the orb,’ she whispered over and again.
Dimly, she was aware of shouting and the violent rocking of the ship. In the Flow, she could see the blue waves beneath them.
‘The sea is angry, but not with us,’ she spoke in the Flow, more via thought forms than words. Those in the Flow would have heard her. ‘It’s angry with the dark magic placed upon it, and it’s fighting.’
‘Rope us to the rails. We cannot leave this place,’ Naksu’s voice came from far away. Issa felt something being tied firmly around her waist, giving her stability.
The seer was right, she could not do anything but hold the Orb of Water before her and pool the Flow around her. If she broke her concentration now it would be dangerous to her mind and take hours to regain the control she currently had.
I need more. More magic flowed into her, coming both from the orb in her grip and the ocean below. It filled her being. As in her vision with the Wykiry, she felt herself melding with the element that was water.
The sea found her, a way for it to fight back, a channel for its rage. Its power burst up into her, pounding her head and beating her heart with its own life until she was more in tune with the ocean than her own body. She struggled to maintain control of both her mind and the Flow as she melded with the angry elemental. Wind plastered her hair to her sweaty face.
She let go of the rails, leaned back against the ropes that secured her to the boat, and gripped the orb with both hands. Greater power exploded through her palms and the orb became a blazing blue sun in the Flow. A glimpse into the material world showed the orb flaring bright turquoise, red lightning flashing above and black spikes looming impossibly high only yards away.
‘Our cover is gone,’ a voice said. Was it her own or Naksu’s?
They were exposed. Any magic wielder in the vicinity would feel the power of the orbs. Baelthrom would know where they were for certain.
‘Let them know!’ Issa growled. ‘We have cowered defending for too long.’
The sea surged at her words, hungry for revenge against that which was unholy. Her mind was no longer her own. She had become the element of water.
‘Rise up.’ Her voice was calm, soothing almost, but it boomed within and without.
The ocean rose.
In her mind she glimpsed purple lights in the swirling blue that was now her body. Wykiry.
‘Higher,’ she commanded.
The ocean swelled and lifted higher. The black spikes that speared her ocean body slid beneath her.
‘Higher!’
The black spikes were swallowed by her mass. On her back, hundreds of ships floated. These she had to protect.
Over the top of the Devil’s Horns the entire ocean swelled and flowed. Ahead, a dark land loomed. She wanted to thrash against it and lash it in ways the black spikes had prevented her from doing. But to wreak vengeance against it would destroy the precious ships she carried.
‘Down.’
Issa filled her giant body with power, feeling herself extend back and forth for miles. She eased herself down, feeling the spikes on her belly.
‘Crush.’
The orb pulsed in her hands. Shock waves shuddered through both her human body and that which was melded to the ocean. Beneath her, the spikes snapped and disintegrated as she collapsed upon them. Black rocks shattered and crumbled, sinking into the ocean depths. Joy shuddered through her mighty body.
‘Slow.’
The raging ocean calmed dutifully at her command, satisfied that its rage had been somewhat appeased. Issa tried to move her focus to the orb but found herself struggling to extract herself from the elemental. The ocean did not want her to leave.
Wykiry magic moved, faintly purple in its hue, and she felt herself separating from the water. Gentle hands laid her down on hard wood and she saw Naksu, her aura glowing fiercely white in the Flow.
‘Release,’ said the seer, and Issa knew she meant the power she held.
Slowly, unwillingly, she let go. Calm as she hung between states, then the rocking of the ship, the rushing of waves and the cheering of soldiers filled her ears.
With Velonorian’s help, Issa sat up.
His violet eyes shone as he came into focus and she could see Naksu was just behind him, smiling.
‘You did it, we made it!’ he said. ‘I’ve never seen anything like it! The sea lifted into the sky over the Devil’s Horns and smashed down upon them. A great path has been carved through them for the ships that follow.’
Issa smiled. ‘Thank the goddess. Thank the Wykiry. I didn’t know the sea was so angry. I never saw it as a being before. The orb knew what to do.’
The joyful face of Commander Septarn loomed beyond Velonorian and Naksu. He composed himself and took on his serious, commanding role. ‘The shore fast approaches. We think we have been spotted. Lights flare in the cove ahead.’
Issa struggled to her feet, wishing she didn’t feel so weak.
Naksu handed her a small glass vial. ‘Here. The weakness will pass faster if you smell this but come on stronger later.’
Issa pulled out the cork and sniffed. A sharp odour assaulted her and made her eyes smart. Instantly the fog in her brain vanished and her sight regained its sharp focus.
‘The essence of a certain rare Elven flower we have been able to cultivate on Myrn,’ the seer explained in response to Issa’s questioning look. ‘Come now, the real battle has begun.’
Issa slipped the now dull orb back into its pouch, grippe
d the rails and stared at the dark land fast approaching. Lights were indeed flaring into life in the cove, and all along the coast and cliffs on either side. The ship was moving fast as the sea surged beneath them. She felt its rage at the edge of her awareness.
‘For once, my Queen, we have mostly retained the element of surprise,’ said Velonorian.
Issa looked at the elf and grinned.
The ships became an ordered chaos of activity. Sailors scaled masts and rigging, reefing sails to slow their approach. Tenders were readied, and the shouts of captains and commanders rang over the din. For a blessed few moments there was nothing for Issa to do but watch and rest, but she couldn’t relax. Adrenaline coursed through her veins and she frequently searched the skies for Asaph.
‘Lady Issa, we must go. Your horse is ready.’ Velonorian took her arm and led her to the rope ladder where soldiers clambered down into tenders. Further down the ship, horses in slings were being lowered via a winch over the decks. Thoughts of Duskar filled her mind as she took her seat in the boat rammed between soldiers and Velonorian. Ehka landed next to her.
Oars lifted and splashed into the sea, and the foreboding cove neared. It was similar to the one she had scouted almost a week ago. The strange, low, square buildings of the enemy stretched up the hill. Beneath them, how many dark dwarven tunnels were there?
Issa could see the enemy. The black armour of Maphraxies shining like beetles’ backs as they scurried along the coast. She glanced back, wishing the other wizards were beside her. There were hundreds of tenders now in the sea. For a moment it seemed hopeless to spot Haelgon, Drumblodd or Domenon, but then she saw a glowing staff. Her eyes rested on Haelgon some ten boats behind and she sighed with relief.
‘We should do as the commander says and stay behind the front line, Lady Issa,’ said Velonorian. ‘Your magic will be more useful here than your sword. Don’t worry, I shall be by your side.’ He lifted a hand to brush a strand of her hair back.
She nodded and smiled, suddenly feeling out of her depth. ‘I’d hoped Asaph would be here. I can’t bring myself to think that something might have gone wrong.’
‘There’s still time,’ Velonorian said, just as the commanders yelled, ‘Archers, take aim!’
The archers ahead of them readied their arrows, balancing carefully in their boats.
‘Fire!’
A dark cloud of arrows slammed into the Maphraxies. Many fell, but their attack was answered swiftly with a hail of blazing arrows. Late to respond, Issa jumped into the Flow.
‘Shield!’ She threw up her palms, recognising Domenon’s unmistakable magic signature as magic flared moments before hers. The Master Wizard had already created a shield, so she added her power to his. Haelgon did the same and then Drumblodd. The fire arrows bounced harmlessly off it in a shower of sparks.
Her ship ground onto the sand amidst the yells of commanders and officers. Then Velonorian was gripping her arm and guiding her out whilst she maintained her focus on the shield.
The shouting of soldiers was answered by the bellows of the enemy. Frayon and dwarven steel crashed against dark dwarven black iron, and the vicious battle began. Issa breathed fast, sweating, her hand gripping the hilt of her short sword as she ran for a safe spot to cast her magic. Velonorian led her left along the shoreline, dodging past soldiers just touching down. He was aiming for the safety of the rocks ahead where Domenon stood, his unmistakable fiery aura powerful in the Flow.
A Maphraxie broke through the line of soldiers to her right and lunged at her. She ducked his axe but not his boot that sent her sprawling into the sea. Winded, she staggered upright. Velonorian shouted. The Maphraxie dropped to its knees, a surprised expression on its face as black blood oozed from its slit throat and dripped off Velonorian’s Elven blade. The elf’s eyes were wild.
‘I’m all right,’ she said, wiping sand from her face. A neigh caught her attention. She whirled to see soldiers falling back from a galloping horse made of midnight.
‘Duskar!’
The horse slowed until it pranced in agitation before her.
‘You can’t ride him until all knights are mounted,’ said Velonorian. ‘The added height will make you a target. Wait until the knights are in formation.’
Issa nodded even though she wanted nothing more than to ride Duskar straight at the enemy, using swords and magic to slay the undead bastards. ‘Once we hold the beach, we’ll be able to form ordered units,’ she said.
They reached the rocks beside Domenon. The wizard said nothing, but his eyes were vivid turquoise as he looked into, and commanded, the Flow.
To their right, she saw Haelgon running towards them, his staff glowing. A hail of flaming arrows bore down upon him. Had he stepped beyond Domenon’s shield? She realised the Master Wizard was focussing his protection on a particular section of soldiers. Elven soldiers. She thought she saw Orphinius’ tall stature and pale face. It stood to reason that he would protect a non-wizard Orb Keeper.
Issa held up her hand. Maphraxie arrows flared harmlessly against her shield. The Atalanphian wizard paused, caught her gaze and nodded his thanks to her. He reached them panting, blue eyes sparkling.
‘Drumblodd follows. Is Freydel with you? I’ve not seen him,’ he said.
‘No. I don’t know where he is,’ she said.
‘One wonders if he has betrayed us in some manner,’ said Domenon. He didn’t drop his concentration from the Flow. ‘We have successfully retained the element of surprise, Raven Queen.’ Issa considered that a rare compliment from the wizard. ‘And your mastery of that orb you carry is quite impressive. You must tell me how you did that back there.
‘I worry, however, that you may have drained yourself for battle. Whilst we have surprised our enemy, there is a whole legion under those barracks. From what I can sense in the Flow there are at least two thousand in this cove alone. But don’t worry, I am well rested. I will protect you.’
‘Two thousand?’ she echoed, ignoring his manner. She’d only reckoned on a thousand at the absolute worst. Whilst they outnumbered their enemy, what of the other bases she had seen? There could be tens of thousands just waiting for them. Dark dwarven tunnels probably connected each and every one of the bases together. They could travel between them fast and undetected.
Despite the bad news, she found herself saying, ‘Then we’ll have to fight and take them one by one.’
‘I hope you have the stamina for a long and bloody battle,’ he murmured.
Furious cries captured her attention. Karalanths covered in war paint galloped up the beach to join the fray, weapons held high and their painted faces masks of rage. They even made her mouth go dry. The warriors had stepped foot on the lands that had once been theirs and now they were furious to take them back.
Was that Rhul’ynth amongst them? A warrior woman, antlers painted blue, lunged her thick knife at a Maphraxie and then was lost behind a cluster of male warriors. They were all here though, Grast’anth—her trainer, whose sword she held—Diarc’ynth, Cusap’anth their leader, and many others. She longed to fight alongside them like she had before. But her place was here with the wizards, for now.
Feeling it would conserve her energy, she sat cross-legged on the sand and closed her eyes, focussing her attention in the Flow. The black mass of Maphraxies were being pushed back fast, but pouring from the barracks came an ever steady flow of more. If they could destroy the barracks, it would also block any tunnels beneath them.
Emboldened by her success with the element of water, Issa spread her hands and dug them into the sand, willing the element of earth to respond to her commands. Earth magic moved. It was not as responsive as the water elemental, perhaps because she didn’t have the orb, but also because the land was sick. She could feel the poison in it, put there by the enemy. Nothing could grow in poison.
Earth, work with me, she put forth her intention. She gathered the energy, losing herself in it and trusting Velonorian to protect her.
Under the g
round, her vision moved. There was earth and darkness, and there, cutting through the dirt, was a network of dark caverns and tunnels. She moved her mind through the density and paused under the largest building.
‘Pressure,’ she commanded.
Everything became heavy. The stone walls of the tunnels groaned and cracks appeared. She clenched her hands in the sand and the caverns bulged inwards. She spread her hands wide and released the Flow. In her mind she saw the main barracks explode. Rocks, dark dwarves and debris flew into the air smashing into other Maphraxies. She opened her eyes. There was no fire or even a whiff of smoke to accompany the destruction.
Domenon glanced down at her and raised one eyebrow, ‘Impressive.’
Haelgon guffawed. Issa grinned.
‘Nice one, Gal,’ said Drumblodd, his eyes sparkling. She smiled at the breathless dwarf leaning on his axe.
‘Only another ten to go,’ she sighed and dug her hands into the ground again. The fatigue grew. It would be her worst enemy this battle.
Haelgon followed her in the Flow, learning what she did as she did it. Together, they destroyed another barrack and then two more, blocking the tunnels and stemming the flow of Maphraxies.
The enemy frontline was quickly overcome, and their armies now pushed the enemy back beyond their own barracks. The battle turned to skirmishes as soldiers and Karalanths harried an enemy in chaos. They could not let any escape who might warn others. Sensing victory, cheering began amongst the soldiers until the air hummed with it. Issa and the wizards joined them. With relief she released her hold on the Flow and got to her feet.
‘Our first success on enemy-held lands, Raven Queen,’ said Drumblodd, his voice gruff. ‘See how easy it is when surprise is in our favour? But the fighting will be harder from now on. A part of Karalanthia—this cove—may have been retaken, but the Land of the Light Dwarfs will not be freed easily from the hands of the Dark Dwarves.’
‘We will take them all back, Drumblodd,’ said Issa, as she gripped his shoulder.
‘Aye, if I do anything, I would rather die doing that,’ the dwarf nodded. His eyes suddenly glistened and he turned away.
War of the Raven Queen: The Goddess Prophecies Fantasy Series Book 6 Page 6