by Toni Cox
Scouts kept coming back with new information as well. The Vampyres had set up a defensive ring around the Gate, about a mile in circumference, but the Scouts had not been able to break through it. From a distance, they had watched the activity around Greystone and estimated there to be another large force gathering. It pained Jagaer not to be able to stop them. The longer he waited, the more would be able to come through, but without rest, his people would not be able to fight for much longer and then all would be lost.
Jagaer rested little and Jaik conferred with him many times during the night. A group of fifty or so men were sent back to Shadow Hall, their injuries too grave to carry on. With them went ten horses and men to guide the stretchers. Jagaer was concerned about their diminished numbers, but at least the men had gotten some rest.
An hour before dawn, he roused his men. They had waited long enough. If what the Scouts had reported was correct, then a force almost as large as the first had made it through the Gate during the night. Most of these were the Generals, as they had come to call these stronger, more experienced Vampyre warriors.
As the first rays of sunlight broke over the horizon, Jagaer urged his charger, Cloud, forward and his men followed. It was a good day to go into battle. The air smelled fresh, with a bit of rain on the breeze. Birds were singing and darting in and out of the long grass as they made their way through it.
Midnight descended and they now flew just above the tree tops. Alongside was Evan, as well as seventeen others who had survived the confrontation in the forest. The other dragons were flying riderless, often voicing their sorrow in a plaintive bugle.
“We are almost there,” Evan shouted across to them. “Do you know what is happening ahead?”
“Many are fallen, and the rest are faltering even as we speak,” Blaid said before Maia could reply.
She shivered in his warm embrace.
“How do you know?” she asked.
He looked down at her with his violet eyes and she almost forgot what she had asked. “I can feel it. We must hurry if we are to help them in time.”
Adrenaline surged through her body then and her tiredness was instantly forgotten. She struggled into a more upright position on the saddle in front of Blade. The position presented itself with another problem that made her blush, but, although she was aware of it at the back of her mind, she now thought of the battle ahead.
“Evan, follow us as fast as you can.”
He nodded his understanding and then Midnight was away. Maia did not need to tell him to hurry. He flew as fast as he could and only moments later, they were over the battle field. Tears filled Maia’s eyes as she beheld the carnage. Horses and Werewolves, Vampyres and Elves, all lying together. Bleeding, torn open, beheaded and stabbed.
Every now and then, she saw a downed dragon. Some had broken wings, but most had long spears sticking out of their bodies like they were some grotesque pin cushion. In places, Vampyres were feeding on the fallen.
She shook with fury at the senseless killing and felt something deep inside of her ignite. Blaid gasped at the same time that she caught her breath. Energy surged through both of them in such quantities, the sheer force of it brought Midnight to the ground. He landed heavily and stumbled, grunting as he landed on his knees.
As one, Blaid and Maia jumped to the ground and drew their weapons even as they ran. Up ahead, she could see her father. A little to her left, was her brother. Within moments, she had memorised the locations of all her people and counted the number of Vampyres and Werewolves on the battle field. Her brain briefly registered that they were hopelessly outnumbered and that it was a miracle her father’s army had lasted this long.
Then she was upon them and, without thinking, she laid into the enemy force, killing without mercy, swinging and twirling her blades faster than should be possible. Next to her, Blaid laid waste to everything that opposed him. This time, Maia could see that he too fought with two blades, but his movements were still almost too fast for her to follow.
Together, they whirled through the enemy force like a tornado, hacking and slicing. Quick, clean kills. The men rallied around them and rejoined the fight with newfound purpose. Evan and his Regiment joined them and the Battle Dragons that had lost their riders sought vengeance for their losses.
At one point, Blaid got attacked by a horde of Werewolves and Maia lost sight of him. She faltered for a moment, panic rising within her, but then he emerged from amongst the shaggy beast in his wolf form. She was surprised to see that he was taller than the Werewolves and he now laid into them, ripping out their throats and slicing open their bellies.
Maia felt another surge of energy course through her at the sight of him, and she attacked fearlessly, relentlessly and killed without remorse, until no Vampyre and no Werewolf still stood.
“Maia,” the voice called again, but she did not hear it. “Maia.” This time louder. Someone shook her shoulders.
“Huh?”
“It is over,” Silas said and laid his hands on her arms still holding the Twin Blades, dripping with blood.
She dropped them.
Horrified, she looked at the battlefield around her. What had she done? Panic began to rise within her and she trembled. Silas put his arm around her shoulders and led her away.
“It is done now. You have done well. The enemy is defeated.”
She nodded.
“But I am afraid your work is not done yet.”
Maia looked up at Silas questioningly.
“We need to see to the wounded. I cannot help them all. I need your help.”
This was something she could do. This would make her feel better.
She poured herself into the gruesome work of extracting the injured from the dead. Everyone still able to stand, helped.
The dead were burned on the field. The Guard erected a makeshift hospital with spears, robes and blankets. Jaik brought her medicine bag and she worked tirelessly for the rest of that day. She set bones, mended cuts, sealed wounds of lost limbs, reduced swellings, bumps and bruises. She went through her stock of Datura at an alarming rate, but some of the injuries were so severe, she did not dare to operate without it. More often than not, especially for internal injuries, she had to solely rely on her magic. By the time the sun set behind the mountains to the west, she was simply too shattered to carry on.
Warily, she dragged herself to her tent. Someone brought her a bucket of warm water and she took off her blood-stained clothes and then washed the blood and gore from her body. She felt sad for the people that had lost their lives during the last two days, but felt better for the many she had been able to save today. Most of the ones she had seen to would carry on leading normal lives.
The threat was gone. The enemy was defeated against all odds. She wondered at how they had managed it in the end. They had been so outnumbered. Then, as she gratefully climbed beneath her blankets, she remembered Blaid and what he had done for them. Smiling, she felt into an exhausted sleep.
Chapter 18
She woke slowly. It was dark in her tent, but she could hear the soft sounds of the camp around her. Quiet conversations, someone putting another log on the fire. She was not sure how long she had slept. It was either late at night, or very early morning. She felt safe and warm and had no reason to be up. Silas said he would call her, should he need her help with any of the injured.
Maia closed her eyes and reached out with her mind, searching for the soft glow of the Eläm of the men and women around her, to see if they were in any pain or needed her assistance.
Her eyes snapped open instantly. She was not alone in her tent.
The glow of this particular Life-Force was strange, so dark as to be almost imperceptible, and yet utterly familiar. Her body reacted as it always did. Her heart fluttered, an electric tingling ran through her limbs and her breathing sped up.
She sat up and, as the blanket slid down, she realised she was still naked. Hurriedly, she pulled the blanket back up and she heard him chuckl
e. She turned towards the sound at the same time that he leaned towards her. With their faces only inches apart, she could clearly see the deep violet of his eyes through the gloom. Her heart stopped for a moment.
“Where are your clothes?” she whispered huskily.
“Torn off,” he said, his voice ringing like a bell in her head.
An image of him emerging in his wolf form during the fight sprang into her head.
“You have no others?” she whispered, even softer.
“I don’t need any tonight.”
“Oh,” was all she managed to say.
“Maia.”
His voice was thick with emotion when he said her name. It touched something deep inside of her and she felt herself inexplicably drawn to him. Without realising it, she leaned closer. She could feel his breath on her face. Heat radiated from his body and she was acutely aware of that intoxicating masculine smell that set him apart from any other man she had ever known.
Gently, he pushed her unresisting body down onto the bed. He watched her for a moment, then leant down and lightly kissed along her collarbone, then up along her neck. Shivers ran down Maia’s body and she closed her eyes.
“I thought I would lose you today,” he whispered.
She felt him tremble.
“I can never, never lose you!” he said, before he kissed her on her lips.
She tensed only for a moment, unsure of what to do, but his warm lips on hers triggered something like a memory and she felt herself respond to his kiss, slightly parting her lips, tasting his breath. She reached for him, touched his cheek and then wound her fingers through his thick, dark hair. He moaned and kissed her more urgently.
Suddenly, she wanted him more than she had ever wanted anything before. When he slid onto the bed beside her and removed the blanket from her body, she felt a moment of hesitation. Then he looked at her again, his eyes so full of emotion, and there was nothing she wanted to do to stop him.
Gently, he kissed her again. She closed her eyes and felt the shivers down her body as his hands touched her. Softly he stroked along her arm, then on to her flat stomach and then higher until he cupped one of her firm breast in his hand. She felt her nipple harden under his touch and a moan escaped her lips.
“You are so beautiful,” he whispered close to her ear, before he took her earlobe in his mouth and gently bit down on it.
He then kissed along her neck, down to her collarbone, on to her breast and she gasped when he took one of her nipples in his mouth. He sucked softly, all the while caressing her body with his hands.
Her body reacted in ways she had not thought possible. She felt as if she could not contain the feelings within her. She arched her back as he moved over to her other breast and he slid his arm underneath her to pull her close to him.
She was almost disappointed when he let go of her nipple and kissed along her neck, before he found her mouth again. Then he moved down once more, down her neck, along her collarbone, briefly kissed her breast and then all along her stomach. She held her breath as he kissed along the inside of her thigh, gently spreading her legs to allow him access. One hand still cupped her breast, but with the other, he was touching her in places no one had ever touched. She moaned at the pleasure of his touch and, as his mouth traced kisses up along her stomach again, the hand still touching her evoked feelings she had never experienced. Her breath came in short, little gasps, until he covered her mouth with his, kissing her, gently exploring with his tongue.
Just when she thought her feelings could not get any more intense, he shifted his body, aligning it with hers and, still kissing her, eased slowly into her warm fold. He rested there for a moment, giving her time to get used to the feeling of him inside of her. Then, slowly, he started to move. The sensation of him sliding in and out unhurriedly was almost too much for her. She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer to her, urging him on. She gave herself to him completely, moving in rhythm with his movements, which became more urgent with every stroke. Their breath came fast and hot and they moaned together as, with one final stroke, came the exquisite release.
He kissed her again, on the mouth and then along her neck. Then he moved and turned her so she lay within his arms. The last thing she remembered before she fell asleep was him whispering in her ear, “We are one.”
She woke with a start and realised it was morning. It took her a moment before she remembered where she was. Once she did, the events of the last three days came crashing down on her. They had won the war, but at what cost? So many dead, so many injured. She shuddered and realised how sore she was. Every muscle ached. When she looked down, she saw bruising all along her ribs, her arms and on her right thigh.
She got up, splashed water on her face and then dug in her bag for something clean to wear. She had just buckled on her knife belt, when her hands froze in mid-motion and she started to shake. Another memory had drifted to the surface and she had to take a few steadying breaths, before she could continue dressing herself.
What have I done? she thought.
It was not only a complete violation of their law to be with someone out of wedlock, but he was also an Opposite and it was written in the ancient texts that Prime Opposites should never become familiar. It was seen as morally incorrect and was despised by the people.
Still shaking, she packed her few belongings into her bag, and then made her way out of the tent and into brilliant sunshine. There was a cool breeze blowing and she drew her jacket a little tighter around her body.
Bright-Shining-Silver-Star! Midnight’s thought immediately touched her as she stepped away from the tent.
She looked up and was surprised to find him resting on the ground only a few paces away. The area around him was cleared in all directions for about a hundred paces - they had moved the camp to make space for him. She dropped her bag and went to him, leaning her forehead against his muzzle. She did not have to explain her feelings to him and did not need to ask him why he was here, but based on his feelings of disapproval, she was surprised he had let Blaid get away.
Blaid! She wondered where he was now, but she knew he could not stay.
Wearily, she made her way to the makeshift hospital and checked on the injured. Most were doing better this morning and all were looking forward to going home.
Silas eventually joined her and brought her a cup of tea.
“Your father would like to see you,” he said to her, then gave her a strange look before he turned to his patient.
She rapped the canvas of her father’s tent and stepped through the opening. Jaik was immediately beside her and took her in his arms.
“I didn’t get a chance to do this last night. You were so busy with the injured. I am just glad you’re all right. I was so worried about you,” he said.
He held her fast for a moment longer and she leant into his embrace, drawing strength from his presence.
“Father,” she said as she stepped away from Jaik.
He rose and embraced her too for a moment. Then, he indicated for her to sit. Her father’s tent was much larger than hers. Besides his cot, it also contained a large, foldable table, which they used to plan their strategies; as well as chairs for his Commanders to sit.
“Birds have been sent to the cities to spread the news of our victory, but I am afraid we cannot celebrate yet. Our Scouts have reported that many of the Vampyres have managed to escape. We have sent riders and hope to run them down before they can cause more deaths. We are unsure of their numbers, or even if they are armed. Some of the Werewolves got away too. I am leaving a contingent of warriors here at Greystone, not only to prevent more from coming through, but also to prevent those that have escaped from going home. The rest of our army needs to return to their homes. Everyone is exhausted and most are injured. Are they well enough to travel?”
“Yes, Father. Some might need stretchers, but most should be able to walk or ride.”
“Good. We will be leaving within the hour then.” He paused a
nd looked up at her.
There was a strange look on his face and she felt the blood rising to her ears. Guilt made her nervous and her hands started to shake again.
“Maia, I …” He cleared his throat. He was clearly fighting some kind of emotion. Maia suspected it was disgust, but she was not sure. “I wanted to thank you for what you have done. I have spoken to Silas and he has told me what it must have meant for you and … him … to work together.”
It took them longer to get home than expected. They stopped and rested often, making sure the injured were comfortable. Maia used much of her strength to heal all minor injuries completely, but she simply did not have enough energy for the hundreds that were hurt.
Midnight stayed close, travelling on foot, only a few hundred paces to the east. At first, it made the people nervous, but after the first day, they became used to him.
“Is something bothering you, Maia?” Silas asked one evening.
“What makes you say that?” she asked in return.
He glanced in the direction of Midnight, then back to her. “You forget that I have known you since your birth. I know something is troubling you. But even if that was not the case, that,” he pointed towards her dragon, “would be reason enough for me to be asking.”
Maia blushed. She had not been able to convince Midnight that there was nothing to worry about. Somehow, he felt it was his duty to make sure that she was not caught in a moment of weakness again and nothing she could say would change his mind.
“He is worried about me,” she finally said.
“Yes, so am I,” Silas replied. “The question, though, is why.”
“Silas,” she smiled bravely at him, “you have always been there for me and you probably know more about me than I know myself, but …” she faltered for a moment, “I don’t think I am ready to talk about it.”
They walked on in silence for a while and Maia started to believe that Silas had dropped the subject.