by James Wisher
The solders skidded to a stop at his order. Everyone turned to him. “Back up the hill. Set watchmen and everyone else get some rest. I doubt we’re done yet.”
Soldiers jumped to obey and Col trudged up the hill after them. Halfway up the orb in his pocket vibrated. He hoped Tahlia didn’t have bad news.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Col looked at the orb and frowned. Perhaps he’d misunderstood. He willed the message to play again. Tahlia said, “Col, you need to return to the capital at once. Zarrin has made his next move. Hurry, we need you.”
No, no mistake. She wanted him to abandon his men and return to the palace. What could the darkcaster be up to now and more to the point what did Tahlia want him do about it? He was a soldier not a caster. It didn’t matter, if she needed him he had to go.
Col caught Dane’s attention and waved him over. “I’ve been ordered back to the capital. You’ll have to take charge.”
Dane took a step back and swallowed. “I’ve never led men in combat. I’ll get them all killed.”
“Relax, you saw what I did. Hold the line, don’t give chase, use your head and you’ll be fine.”
“Yes, sir. Why do you have to go back?”
Col shook his head. “The queen didn’t specify, but it sounded like an emergency.”
Impossible as it seemed Dane’s eyes grew even wider. “The queen herself summoned you back? Why are you still talking to me?”
Col chuckled. He couldn’t argue with that. He clapped Dane on the shoulder and went to find his lightcasters. Col found them moving amongst the wounded binding the minor injuries and channeling the Light to heal those with serious wounds. He hated to interrupt them, but he needed a portal.
He waved the closest one over. “I need a portal to the palace.”
The lightcaster chewed his lip and Col frowned. They failed to kill the boarman, could they not open a portal for him either? Whoever assigned lightcasters had screwed him over. “One moment, sir, we need to prepare.”
The lightcaster hurried over to his partner and they put their heads together. Col didn’t hear what they said, but after a minute of whispered conversation the man turned to him. “I believe we can manage it, sir.”
“Then let’s get going.”
They moved a few feet from the wounded and joined hands. Their free hands came up and by painful degrees a golden disk grew in the air before them. The instant it grew big enough for him to fit through he sprinted forward and emerged in a field of corn stubble overlooking the capital. It looked like they missed by a mile, literally. Col shook his head and broke into a jog that soon brought him to a dirt cart path.
Ten minutes later he trotted up to the palace. The guards all knew him by sight and waved him through the gates. He crossed the empty courtyard and ran up the short flight of steps to the main doors. He slipped inside and headed toward the throne room, knowing Tahlia would either be there or her casting chamber.
To his immense relief, he found her pacing, alone, in the throne room. She spun around when he entered. “What took you so long?”
“My idiot lightcasters dropped me in some farmer’s cornfield and I had to run a mile to the palace. I suspect it might be the first time the two of them have opened a portal.”
“Forget them, we have more pressing problems. Zarrin has attacked the Darkness’s prison and with only two swords remaining I fear he may destroy it. We need to go stop him.”
“When you say ‘we’ you mean all the lightcasters in Celestia, right?”
“No,” Tahlia said. “I mean you and me. Everyone else still has a war to fight, that’s why he’s chosen this moment to strike. He thinks we won’t be in any position to stop him.”
“Are we in any position to stop him? You looked half dead a few days ago, and I can’t even get close enough to hit him with getting blasted to bits.”
Tahlia stopped pacing, walked over, and put her hands on his shoulders. “Don’t mistake this slender, feminine form; I’m a good deal tougher than I look. Between the two of us I’m confident we can defeat Zarrin.”
Col took a long look at the slender, feminine form and sighed. If he had to die there was no one he’d rather be with. “What the hell, I haven’t done anything really suicidal in days. Let’s do it.”
* * *
Tahlia opened a portal with a wave of her hand and motioned Col through. He steeled himself for instant disintegration and stepped through. He emerged in a forested glen, streams of fog filtered through the clearing and a short ways away a gleaming white tower thrust up from the ground. It was a pretty spot and if they lived Col thought it would be a nice place to come for a picnic. An explosion shook the ground and rattled some needles off the pines, ruining his pleasant thoughts. He had to keep his mind focused, kill the lunatic darkcaster first, and plan his date later.
Tahlia joined him in the clearing and the portal vanished. Another blast shook the clearing; Zarrin wasn’t playing around by the sounds of it. “We need to hurry,” Tahlia said. “The bindings grow more frayed by the second.”
“What’s the plan?”
“I’ll handle defense and you focus on attacking. Remember, Zarrin’s a spirit inhabiting a dead body. Stabbing him in the heart won’t stop him; you need to hack his body to pieces. Severing the head is especially important. Hold out your sword.”
Col drew the royal blade and held it out. Tahlia’s hands glowed as she made several mystic passes over it. The energy transferred between her and the blade. When she finished she said, “I’ve strengthened the blade’s inherent powers. Try to keep it between you and any attack Zarrin may launch. Are you ready?”
Col nodded, not ready in the least. “Sure, kill a thousand-year-old undead darkcaster, no sweat.”
“Don’t worry; in the Great War we killed creatures far more powerful than Zarrin.”
He took a breath, nodded once, and stalked toward the tower. A thick layer of dead leaves crunched under his feet as he walked through the short patch of hardwood separating the glen from the tower. Another explosion rattled the trees and sent a some leaves drifting down. Perhaps Zarrin would tire himself out before Col got there and he wouldn’t have enough power left to attack. Right, and maybe Col could sprout wings and fly somewhere they didn’t have monsters and darkcasters.
He emerged from the trees seventy-five yards from the base of the tower. Up close it became clear how huge the structure was. It had to be a hundred yards square and twice that tall. Black cracks ran through the white stone and when the next explosion shook the ground several more snaked up the wall. He needed to find Zarrin, fast. He found no sign of the darkcaster on this side of the tower so he retreated back to the edge of the trees and snuck around to the opposite side. Col didn’t know if he could sneak up on Zarrin, but resolved to try anyway.
Zarrin stood twenty feet from the tower, arms raised, a huge ball of Dark energy swirled between his hands. A blackened circle thirty feet up attested to Zarrin’s efforts. Col’s grip tightened on his sword. Wherever Tahlia had hidden herself he hoped she was ready.
The darkcaster hurled the ball of energy toward the tower. The instant it left his hands Col charged. If he got to Zarrin before he gathered more energy maybe he could end the fight quickly. Zarrin spotted him the instant he broke cover and with a flick of his wrist sent a stream of Dark fire towards Col. Please let Tahlia know what she’s doing. He moved his sword between him and the stream of fire. The moment the Dark power struck the edge of his blade it guttered and died, vanishing before it harmed him.
Col remembered to breathe an instant after the attack failed. He covered the remaining distance and swung his sword at Zarrin’s neck. Sever his head, Tahlia said, that was the key to beating him. An instant before his blade would have hit Zarrin’s dead flesh Dark energy flashed and his blade bounced off an unseen barrier. Col staggered back, his whole body thrown away from Zarrin.
He recovered just in time to cut through another blast. Col grinned and twirled his sword. H
e had a chance if he could continue to block his opponent’s attacks. Over Zarrin’s shoulder the tower glowed with a pure white light and the cracks sealed. Tahlia was using this opportunity to repair the damage.
Zarrin must have felt it. He spun around and when he saw the glow snarled. “No!”
Col charged again, eager to take any advantage of his opponent’s moment of distraction. He barely managed three steps before a wall of black flames sprang up between him and the darkcaster. He slid to a halt before he burned his face off. “Damn it!”
A quick glance revealed the wall ran as far as he could see in either direction. How the hell was he supposed to get through that? He slashed his blade through it and cut a gash in the flames which closed an instant later. Half a dozen swings, all with the same result, made it clear he needed a new strategy. He’d have better luck cutting water.
An explosion shook the ground followed in short order by several small blasts. A light in the sky caught his attention. It was Tahlia, her shining wings beating the air, dodging streams of Dark fire. He had to help her.
Col glared at the wall of fire as though sheer will would destroy it. When that didn’t work it became clear drastic measures would be necessary. He backed up to get some room, raced forward, and leapt at the wall, sword leading. He cut a gash in the flames and flew through it before it closed. A summersault broke his fall and he sprang to his feet, singed, but with all his parts intact.
He wasted no time turning to run around the tower to help Tahlia. He rounded the corner and found Zarrin on the ground, streams of Dark fire shooting from his fingertips. Tahlia flew above him, dodging or deflecting his blasts, but seeming unable to counterattack. He didn’t know if that was intentional or if she didn’t have the strength to attack. Either way he had no intention of letting her fight alone.
Col charged Zarrin again. The darkcaster must have sensed his approach. He spun and sent a blast of ebony flames his way. Col hacked the burning strands out of his way and pressed on. From above a beam of Light energy hammered Zarrin from behind and drew a snarl of pain. Col hacked at his opponent and again his sword slammed into the unseen barrier. Damn it! There had to be a way through.
He gave Zarrin no chance to recover, hacking at him again and again, never in the same place. Tahlia sent down an occasional blast when she could do so without frying him. A cloak of black flames formed around Zarrin, Col thought to protect him from the blows raining down on his now-battered body. Col drew back to strike again and Zarrin threw his hands out. Flames leapt in all directions, hitting him in the chest and sending him flying into the side of the tower. His breath rushed out and he slumped to the ground gasping.
Tahlia shrieked and sent her most powerful blast yet raining down on Zarrin’s head. The darkcaster staggered and waved his hand. A black disk appeared a few feet away and Zarrin staggered toward it. He managed a step before one of Tahlia’s blasts collapsed his portal. She landed, hands glowing, eyes blazing with Light fire. She looked every bit the angel she was. Col staggered to his feet and limped toward her.
“You may destroy me,” Zarrin said. “But I won’t go alone.”
He lunged toward Tahlia and struck her in the chest with both hands. Dark fire blazed out and sent her sprawling.
Col lunged and slashed. The royal sword bit into the dead flesh and sent Zarrin’s head flying. The darkcaster collapsed, dead for real now. Col hacked off Zarrin’s arms and legs for good measure then staggered toward Tahlia.
He dropped to his knees beside her and took her hands. Her chest rose and fell so she was still alive thank the Light. Her eyes flickered open and she smiled. “He’s dead.”
Col nodded. “You were right; chopping his head off did the trick. Can you portal us out of here? You need a healer.”
She shook her head. “I have little power left and it wouldn’t matter if I did. This body is finished as is my time in this world.”
“What? No! You can’t die now. We just found each other.” Tears streamed down his face, but he didn’t care. He couldn’t lose her now, not after everything that had happened.
Tahlia reached up and brushed the tears from his face. Cracks formed in her body and rays of light shot out. “I can stay a little longer. Help you finish your final task.”
“My final task?” He didn’t know what she was talking about.
“It isn’t over yet. The Black Prince is still controlling the beastmen. As long as he lives he’ll be a threat to the Lake Kingdoms. We’ll stop him together.”
“How? You said you can’t open a portal and Celestia is a long ways from here.”
She smiled, opening more cracks in her face. “How do you feel about flying?”
Col blinked, surprised at the question. “It’s okay if you’re a bird I guess. Why?”
Tahlia’s body shattered, leaving behind an ethereal winged figure floating beside him. He stared, unable to take his eyes off her. This must be her true form. He reached out to touch her face and his hand passed through her. She held out her arms as though to hug him and her whole body enveloped him. Power unlike anything he’d ever experienced flooded him.
“Are you ready?” she asked.
“For what?”
Col rocketed into the air and before he knew it the island was nothing but a green blob below him. At this height he should have been cold and gasping for air, but he felt nothing but warmth. Tahlia’s essence protected him from exposure. He glanced over his shoulder and found great white wings beating through the air.
“You look a proper angel now.” Tahlia’s voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere.
He shot forward at a speed he wouldn’t have thought possible. They streaked over the lake and soon passed over land again. Col’s eyes widened when he saw two tiny armies facing each other not far from the capital. A dark speck at the front of one of armies drew his attention. The Black Prince stuck out like a rotten tooth. Col plummeted to the ground, eager to cut him out.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
“The bulk of the beastman army has broken through our defensive line and is advancing toward the capital.”
Rain stared at a general whose name escaped her. Did he want her to do something about it? She wished Col was here to help her. She knew nothing about war. Of course he had to go off with his precious Tahlia to fight the darkcaster, leaving her alone to deal with this. She took a breath and tried to think what her father would say. “How long until they arrive?”
“A few hours at most. What should we do, Highness?”
She wanted to scream that she didn’t know what they should do. The only thing that came to mind was running away, but there was nowhere to run to. She’d find nothing but beastmen in every direction. “How many soldiers are left in the capital?”
He shook his head. “Not many, Highness. We sent most of them to the borders to stop the monsters from getting this far. We never thought they’d break through.”
“What about lightcasters?”
“I could probably scrape together ten, but not our best people.”
“Can they open portals? We can bring back the soldiers from the border and make a new line here.”
“I’ll find out and if it’s possible I’ll have them begin at once.” The general bowed and hurried out of the war room.
If it wasn’t possible they were all going to be dead before the day was out. Truth was they might be dead even if they brought in reinforcements. Rain left the war room and headed for the raised garden on the second floor. She needed some air and couldn’t abide staring at the stupid map any longer.
The halls were empty and she walked in silence which suited her mood just fine. The servants worked in the infirmary tending wounded brought in from the front lines and preparing bandages for the inevitable new arrivals. Rain had visited earlier and the stink combined with screams from the wounded had overwhelmed her. She’d fled after a few minutes. She shuddered to think what it must be like for the men fighting on the front lines. Somehow Rain ha
d imagined the battle at the fort had prepared her for war, but that had been little more than a skirmish compared to this.
Rain reached the door to the garden without remembering the walk there. She was losing it. She stepped outside and the cold air slapped her in the face, bringing her back to reality. The low, dark sky seemed to press down on her. Rain walked to the edge of the garden and sat on the frozen bench. Far in the distance a tiny golden disk opened and tiny figures spilled forth. It seemed the lightcasters had done it. Perhaps they’d have another day to contemplate their eventual demise.
Rain stood, shivering, in the late afternoon gloom as hundreds of soldiers poured out of four portals and lined up to face the beastmen charging their way. They had courage, she would never deny that. Rain doubted she could stand up and face down death knowing she had no chance of surviving. She knew she couldn’t. If she had somewhere to run she’d have run.
Time passed and still soldiers poured out of the portals. Something crunched behind her and a moment later a fur-lined cloak was draped over her shoulders. She turned and found King Jarod standing behind her. He leaned heavily on a cane and the claw marks on his face looked red and sore. “Should you be out of bed?”
The king tried to smile and managed a wince. “If my people are to die protecting me it seems the least I can do is bear witness. Isn’t that why you’re here?”
“I just needed to get out of the war room for a while. I’m not certain I’m cut out to be a ruler. I don’t think I have the will.”
“I don’t know. Michael says you’re doing a fine job. You’re still young and you’ve been thrown into a difficult situation. I doubt I’d have handled it any better when I was your age.”
Rain sniffed and shook her head. “You’re very kind, but all I’ve done is parrot what Col told me to say. I never would have managed on my own.”
“Your young champion is remarkable. I can see why Tahlia cares for him.”