Summoned

by Lisa E Parry

  He leaned over and whispered, “Hello pretty sorceress. If you need any help then yell, ‘hands off, arse wipe’ okay?” I gawked at him. He had an American accent. He then leaned back to look very interested in his drink as though he’d said nothing to me at all. Someone noticed though…

  “Oi, she ain’t all yours!” a disgustingly old man said beside him.

  The American held his hands up. “Hey, I’m into sharing but when I do, for some reason, I crave a bucket of fried chicken wings and fries afterwards. Now where the hell am I supposed to get that here? Or even a nice cheeseburger, eh?” I tried not to laugh.

  “What are you talkin about?” the old man slurred.

  “Nothing my friend. You’re drunk and hearing things wrong, aren’t you?”

  “I suppose I am.” I laughed at them then quickly took my exit. I made a beeline for target number one. Gritting my teeth, I buried the unease I was feeling. I brushed by my target’s friend, which made my damned skirt open up, and said, “Sorry,” with a smile and turned to move away. Someone grabbed my wrist.

  “Three ales,” I turned to see a bald man with two front teeth missing, ugh. He also had that brand on his neck. I plastered the best smile I could on my face and placed three ales on the table from my tray. The low neck in my dress drew every eye from the table.

  “You’re new ain’t yer? I haven’t seen yer before.” He pulled me forwards and smacked my arse. I giggled, trying not to grimace.

  “Yeah, me an’ that girl over there. Dunno er name, don’t remember it.” I tried to sound like I was from around here after picking up the accent from the men at the bar. It worked and he pulled me down to his lap. I squealed in surprise and laughed it off. I caught Dorian’s dark look. He didn’t look happy, but I noticed he let himself admire my clothing at the same time.

  “Hey!” The bald man protested. “Don’t be lookin at the pretty boys, girl. Sometimes the uglier ones are far better at satisfyin’.”

  “Den, we don’t have time for this,” one of his companions barked with annoyance. My target, Den, raked his eyes over me one last time but pushed me off. I couldn’t let this chance fly by so I leaned down to his ear.

  “Meet me in the room behind the bar; I’ll tell the girls to let you in.” I gave his shoulder a squeeze and after a smouldering look I set off for the room in which I would be dealing out death. When I got there, shock washed over me when I saw a dead man at Viola’s feet. One of the straps on her dress was torn and she looked more than a little flustered. Aidan looked like he was comforting her with quiet words, sword still in hand and bloody.

  “Shit, are you okay?” I strode straight over to her and checked her over.

  “I’m fine,” she murmured shakily.

  “Balls, my guy will be here any second.” I turned to Aidan. “We need to get rid of the body.” Aidan and I grabbed a leg each of the quite beefy man and dragged him into a corner. At first, Viola watched in stunned silence, but then she snapped out of it and quickly left for her second target. Anticipation grew when I heard Viola tell someone to go on through and I squirmed inside. I began to draw power in and stood with my back against the wall so I could jump on him. My breath came and went in quick pants. The last time I had done this I was a little out of my mind and was prepared to do anything to reach my goal. Was I that same maniacal person? Or was she just another face of the black diamond that now made up my multifaceted personality?

  I didn’t like killing anyone, even if they deserved it.

  Aidan hid behind another door after I assured him I would squeal if I needed help. Finally, Den entered the room. “Where are yer, pretty?” he drawled, I tried not to vomit. I padded carefully up to his back and raised my hands either side of his head when he spun, quicker than I could follow, and smacked me in the face. I grunted and fell to the floor. My mind was a blur and spots danced in my vision. He picked my limp body up off the floor and slammed me against the wall.

  “Yer think I’m that stupid, eh?” I attempted to squeal, but he covered my mouth with a dirty hand. My ears rang as I tried to collect my thoughts. He gave me a victorious, wicked grin. His other hand grasped my neck in a vice like grip and breathing became difficult. “Well what do we ‘ave here then? Looks to me like someone has already tried to slit yer throat. Get off on pissin’ other folk off do yer?”

  I tried to concentrate so I could call on magic, but my heart raced when he drew a dagger from his belt. I writhed under his suffocating grip. Dorian help! I mentally screamed into Dorian’s head just as Den brought his knife to my stomach. I tried to push it away, but pain lanced through my arm. I heard a commotion behind us when Dorian burst into the room, shocking Den out of his attack on me. Aidan came out of the other door at the disturbance. Dorian, however, had already engaged my assailant in close combat. I slumped to the floor and bent over, taking in deep gulps of air.

  “Don’t pass out.” Oliver crouched next to me. I glanced up just as Dorian ran a dagger through Den’s heart and he slumped. Dorian hurled the body on top of the other that Aidan had dispatched of earlier, and both men took up positions either side of the entrance to the room.

  My head sank. “Wake up!” Someone yelled at me and I momentarily jerked out of a sleepy haze. I moaned and finally succumbed to the darkness drawing me in. Not the usual darkness. It was the dark part of me trying to subdue the lighter part. I felt her grappling with my consciousness. It was the newly corrupt part of my brain rising to the surface. Let me take over…

  My body became cold; I was freezing. I jerked out of that haze with a gasp and my breath came out in puffs of cloud. Then Cheri was hovering over me, grasping my shoulder. She drew her hand back and my body began to return to its normal temperature. She did a double take when I looked up at her. “We need to hurry; can you get up?” I nodded my head groggily, then strong arms hurled me to my feet. Dorian loomed above me and I tugged at his sleeves for stability. What’s wrong with me?

  “Are we leaving?” My words came out slowly, my head feeling stuffed with cotton wool. I blinked heavy lids.

  “Yes. We have a brief window to escape without notice. Warwick has taken out most of Etheldreda’s men outside so the stables are free from spying eyes.” I finally took in my surroundings to see bodies piled up in the corner. They hurried me to the stables.

  The others caught up to us and thankfully the cold night air jolted me awake. I sucked in a lungful to help sharpen my senses again. We hurried on in silence while the others brought our bags down and I helped light a few torches so we could ready the horses. “Ouch,” I felt a stinging on my arm and I saw blood soaking into the sleeve of my skimpy dress.

  We had no time for someone to heal it and I still couldn’t think straight with terror running through me like a thick vein of marble, so I tore at the hem of my dress and wrapped it around my forearm. After mounting our horses, we quietly trotted out of the stables and into the wet street. It was raining heavily and the thick cloak I had hurriedly donned would soak it up rather quickly.

  Hurried footsteps heralded pursuit. Dorian roared, “Run!” We all kicked our horses into action and I prayed for Daisy not to slip and break a leg. Our horses thundered to the town gates, splashing grotty mud over us all, but as we neared them I observed they were closed. From the front of the group, Adhelm raised his staff and the wooden gates splintered into a million pieces. I shielded my face as the deathly sharp fragments hurtled past me on their way to our pursuers. Screams behind us meant they had found their mark.

  Feeling weak and frightened, we flew through the new opening into darkness that engulfed us. Everything was happening so fast that I wasn’t aware who was around me. I was focused on one thought and that was to ride like the wind. My hands froze on the reins and my body wracked with shivers. I was now soaked through and the heavy rain pelted against my face. Breathing raggedly, I tried desperately to keep my cool.

  We rounded a corner and Adhelm called us to a halt. The orb mounted on his staff gave off a bright
white light as he inspected a cliffside we had skirted. He disappeared behind a bush and we all waited in desolate silence as the rain continued its relentless downpour. The quiet after the thundering of our horse’s hooves was eerie. The pitter-patter of water droplets in puddles was actually quite relaxing and I felt my nerves ease - the tension in my shoulders released a little.

  “This way!” We followed Adhelm’s voice to find a yawning mouth of a cave entrance. It was black inside and I hesitated. Daisy cantered in without my consent. Thankfully we all fitted inside the shallow space and dismounted. I was shivering uncontrollably now, so much so that my muscles were cramping up. I stifled a moan when my calf muscle bunched up.

  Everyone was looking around for something to light. Cheri and Dayna were steaming so I guessed they were slowly drying themselves off. I did the same and felt warmth radiate through me. The bodyguards were having a rough time of it though.

  I ventured further into the cave, away from the wind that eddied near the entrance, and I created a wall of fire. Feeling more at ease, I could reach my magic again. Blue flames burst into life and licked the wall of the cavern. Dorian, Owen, Neil, Ethan and King Aidan hurried over to it. It was giving off a great deal of warmth.

  Warwick slowly followed, obviously keeping up the appearance that he needed the warmth. Dorian sauntered by me with his hair plastered to his face, water dripping off his nose and his clothes stuck to his body. It was really hard not to openly gape at him. He cast me a sidelong glance just as I finished memorising his appearance. I cleared my throat and joined the women who were also trying not to stare too hard at the men.

  I retreated from the fire and meandered to Dayna’s side. “Do we suggest they take their wet clothes off?” I asked with a hint of amusement.

  “I was thinking the very same thing,” she agreed. I was now only slightly damp, but I craved the warmth of the fire and the reassurance of the light pushing away the oppressive darkness. Eventually we all gathered around the enchanted fire and sat in silence.

  “Mel, you’re still bleeding,” Warwick noted quietly. Dorian came over and shifted the dry cloak off me to have a proper look. To my embarrassment, my dress had parted, and it was even shorter after I had torn at it, revealing an ample view of my leg and thigh. Dorian tensed but made a point of not noticing. I looked around quickly whilst trying to cover up when I caught a grin on Warwick’s damn cheeky face.

  I stood. “Cheri, do you have any bandages or something to put on this please?” My heart began to race but it was because of the look on Dorian’s face.

  “Sure, but I can heal it for you if you’d like?”

  “No, it’s fine. Everyone is tired already, I don’t want to be a burden.” Cheri took me over to her saddlebags, applied a salve and lightly bandaged the shallow cut. She also held up a blanket whilst I changed into a thick woollen dress.

  “Have you noticed anything unusual about Stephanie?” she asked carefully.

  “Yeah, why was she making plans with Aidan? Why weren’t you in on that conversation? And who the hell put her in charge of cooking? She may be slowly poisoning us for all we know!”

  “She pulled rank on me.” It was a simple statement, but it had such an impact that it rooted me to the spot. For some reason, I thought there was no one above Cheri, other than the Council members. Cheri caught my confusion. “In this world she has more authority. I am the same ranking as Dayna here.”

  “Not in my eyes.” It was out of my mouth before I thought about it. Cheri stared at me but then eventually smiled. “What can I say?” I added. “You made a hell of an impression on me.”

  Cheri laughed good-naturedly, and it felt strange getting along with the woman who usually drove me up the wall. “I suggest you watch her while she cooks. In fact, keep a close eye on her all the time.”

  I nodded. “She didn’t want to leave until morning. She had kept us there and look what happened.”

  “It may have been coincidence.”

  I gave Cheri a wry look then turned and sat down next to Viola feeling comfier and warmer in my woollen clothing. Viola was watching Ethan with curiosity. “Mikey Look-a-like, right?” I said unhappily as we watched Ethan sharpening a dagger. He tended to sit alone whilst keeping an eye on everything going on around him.

  Viola sighed. “Yeah.”

  Warwick frowned then followed our line of sight. He must have heard us. I saw his face change from confusion to recognition. He looked down, then to both of us in acknowledgement. I shrugged my shoulders and he just shook his head. I saw him tracing the line of that same scar we all shared.

  We slept the remainder of the night in that cave. The temperature had plummeted, and damp had started to soak into our clothes. I was too weak to keep the fire alight. I was nudged awake with a foot and I looked up to see Warwick looking down at me.

  “Rise and shine,” he said then woke someone else up in the same uncouth manner.

  “It’s not pleasant being woken by a kick in the arse, Warwick. Can’t you be…oh I don’t know, a little more polite?” I stretched out my aching back.

  “Nope,” came his short reply. Dayna gave him a filthy look for the same reason.

  “Melissa, we have time to train before breakfast.” Dorian approached me.

  “Ugh. Just for the record, I’m not a morning person; so I may kill you,” I mumbled.

  “A promise of a valiant attempt then,” he added with amusement. I hated morning people. I need coffee…

  We practised outside so the others could prepare breakfast. “Man, I would do anything right now for a sausage and Egg McMuffin,” I groaned whilst trying to catch my breath.

  “Sorry but the nearest McDonalds is another reality away,” Dorian smiled. He was actually enjoying this. The machine hadn’t even broken a sweat. It was insulting. He turned his back on me to pick up a dagger from the mossy floor when I darted at him. I ran, leapt on him and had planned on having a dagger at his throat when he threw me over his shoulder and I landed on my back. I coughed having the wind taken out of me and lay on the floor dazed. That’s it, no more. I give up. I didn’t even try to school defeat from my expression.

  Dorian came over and knelt down beside me. “Just by walking you sound like a baby elephant. Try to control your slapping feet and you might have just had me.” He had a broad smile and his eyes were alight from our sparring. God, he looks gorgeous.

  “Err…” Coherent thought escaped me.

  “Breakfast!” Cheri yelled.

  “Damn it.”

  Soon we were back in the saddle and on high alert. Staying in the same place for so long, and so close to Velkin, was foolish. The goal for today was to reach the Elven empire at The Gorge of Spirits. At the moment we were travelling through a vast open space of grassy fields. With mountains surrounding us, it looked like a glacier had carved this valley through the fells eons ago smoothing out what became the meadow that lay ahead. It was noticeably cooler than when we had left Esentia, but with the sun thankfully beating down on us I felt warmed. Long grass bent over to yield under a light breeze and it rippled out like waves on a tide of green and yellow. Birdsong hung in the air and a hint of perfume from wild flowers traced the wind. I smiled to myself.

  I trotted up to Viola. “Are you nervous?” I asked.

  “Yeah,” she turned to me. “The only other elves I’ve known were my parents. The rest of the family came back here, way back when, so up until now it’s just been us.” She began twirling her hair and I noticed Aidan, on her other side, looked over curiously.

  “Don’t worry, they are very accommodating. You are perhaps a little modern so I think it’s highly likely they’ll be more inquisitive where you’re concerned.”

  I looked past Viola to the Warrior King. “Not helping, Aidan.” Viola’s face paled - if that was even possible with her complexion.

  We were going to stay with the elves for the night. The King needed to speak with them. I was excited about that, but wary at the same time. The oth
erworldly creatures I had seen so far had not been easy on the eyes, so it would be nice to meet an ethereal society of people.

  Something touched my mind and I automatically sought out Dorian and waited for an image to pop into my head. No, it’s not Dorian. My heart rate picked up and I twisted in my saddle to scan the area. Nothing. I fell behind, Daisy slowing down hesitantly with my uncertainty. The wind howled in distance through the jagged peaks…

  “What’s got your heart doing the fandango?” Warwick asked beside me. I hadn’t even noticed him creep up on me.

  I swallowed. “Nothing, it’s nothing.” Except it wasn’t nothing. It was magic, and someone’s impressively huge mind was pressing in on mine. I sagged under the weight of it and my eyelids drooped feeling like lead weights.

  It is time we meet again…

  ***

  “Melissa!” Warwick’s voice echoed around us. Birds burst into flight from their sheltered spots in the long grass.

  “Stop her!” Aidan yelled.

  I spun in my saddle to find Melissa’s horse bolting across the windy, grassy plain. Dorian and Warwick thundered after her, Warwick finally in the saddle. What is she doing? I turned my horse but Aidan bit off a command.

  “Everyone, stay where you are! We will not split up further!”

  Something huge swooped up from behind the snow-capped mountaintops and then plunged down the valley to eat up distance at a speed I had thought impossible. Realisation struck, fear stirred in the pit of my stomach. My horse pranced nervously as he too recognised the beast and picked up on my anxiety. That was it. Anxieties aside, I had to help. I kicked my horse into action.

  “Cheri!” I heard the King behind me.

  The red dragon gracefully soared across the valley heading straight for Melissa. Its slender body glistened in the sun as its scales reflected the light in a rainbow of colours. Closer still and I could hear the whoosh of wind through its mighty webbed wings. It roared as it glided closer.