The Fiuri Realms (Shioni of Sheba Book 5)
Page 16
Total war!
Aside, Shioni said,
The Storm Fiuri rubbed her eyes, trying to make head or tail of the scene. Burn mightily? Jinnzi’s strange form of leave-taking might prove all too accurate. There were Fiuri of every conceivable colour locked in one gigantic, sprawling battle around the spires and spars of Green Central. Huge flotillas of Vermilion Dragonflies crewed by heavily armed Yellow Fiuri faced up to battalions of Blue Fiuri, who rode much smaller, faster-looking Dragonflies. Brown Fiuri dashed about on Scarab Beetles, which appeared to be equally able to run or fly. The beetles had huge, underslung mandibles which could crush a dragonfly in seconds. Shioni pitied any Fiuri caught by a Scarab Beetle!
“Greens and Yellows against Browns, Blues and Reds. No Oranges,” Viri rattled off, clarifying what to Shioni was one mad brawl.
“Do you think we started something?” Shioni asked, in a small voice.
“No, but we need to.” Viri snapped urgently, “Follow me. Quick!”
A flight of magic-spurting Blue Fiuri swept toward them along the cavern wall. Darting around the curvature of a cave-spanning column which appeared to be home to a cloth-weaving industry, their little group had to turn tail immediately as a battle group of Yellow Fiuri soldiers led by none other than Ashkuriel stormed across their path. Shioni saw Ashkuriel’s head snap about. What rotten luck! The Yellow Fiuri bellowed his orders.
“Here.” Grabbing Shioni’s arm, Iri led her in a dizzying spin to avoid a couple of spears which hurtled past their wings.
“Thanks, Iri.”
“No time for that–yee!” Viridelle screeched as she avoided a marauding, riderless Scarab Beetle. “Let’s find Tazaka. Oh, unholy slug spit!”
This was as they whizzed around a knot of battling Blues and Yellows, only to run headlong into Tazaka’s personal battle-group. Suddenly, they were ducking between Vermilion Dragonflies, dodging irate kicks and buzzing arrows, following Viridelle as they shot out of the reach of the Green leader’s densely-packed troops and back toward the Blues.
A deep, resonating horn-blast cut across the hubbub of battle.
“There’s the horn!” shouted Char.
“What is it?” gasped Shioni. Her wounded shoulder was not enjoying all of this jinking about.
“A truce while the warring sides rest,” called Viri, visibly relaxing in the air, only to shout in anger as a net slapped around her twin. “The horn!” She waved furiously at the Blues, who hauled Iridelle in regardless.
Shioni stuck beside Iri, reasoning that a brush with the Blues was probably better than being attacked by Ashkuriel’s troops. But the different pursuing groups–perhaps homing in on a certain white Storm Fiuri–were suddenly winging in from all directions. A giant Blue Fiuri, all of six inches tall or so in Human terms, Shioni thought with a grim grin, had reeled Iridelle in and was trying valiantly to tie her up.
“Ho!” boomed the giant, applying a stranglehold that would have twisted Shioni’s head right off her neck. “How gratifying that they make Greens in my size, now.”
Iri punched him in the nose. “Hands off, you pathetic little larva.”
Shioni called, “Hold on, we’re friendly.”
Nobody listened. Iri and the giant wrestled furiously, making the Blue Fiuri’s Dragonfly crash into his fellows. Shioni saw a princely-looking Blue pointing at her and mouthing, ‘Seize her!’ At least, she could not hear him above the din, but his intent was clearly malicious. Somewhere, Char’s yell indicated he had thrown a shield around her; Shioni wobbled violently in the air as Blue Fiuri magic detonated nearby. Crazy lightning played around a gleaming shield just a little wider than her wingtips, before a Tazaka-style, livid green bombardment struck her sideways. The shield disintegrated under the powerful assault. Shioni dimly heard Char’s cut-off cry as she tumbled helplessly through the air, seeing Vermilion Dragonflies in a blur and Green Fiuri closing in and now the side of the tunnel and smack!
A strong arm clutched her waist.
Shioni struggled furiously, but her Fiuri captor maintained his grip, hissing, “Shionelle. Be still.”
Ashkuriel! On the point of desperation, of pouring out her magic, Shioni groaned as her wriggling twisted her shoulder. “Let me go!”
“No, wait. We must bait Tazaka, bring him close.”
Shioni gasped, “What? Ashkuriel, what’re you doing?”
“Making this play out to our advantage. Just be patient and trust me.”
Trust Ashkuriel? Shioni did not know what to think as the lines of battle drew up. Ashkuriel had hundreds of Yellow Fiuri soldiers mounted on Vermilion Dragonflies, and a decisive grip on his captive. Tazaka emerged from the ranks of his Green Fiuri magicians, hovering on their Vermilion Dragonflies, their massed power truly intimidating. They would not allow her to attack the Green Lord again. And the Greens had captured Viri and Char, Shioni saw. Her plan was not looking very hopeful.
Opposite Tazaka, the Blue Fiuri leader made his appearance on a magnificent aquamarine-coloured dragonfly. Its needle-toothed grin put no-one at ease.
“That’s Prince Chazziki,” Ashkuriel whispered, “a powerful Azure Fiuri magician, and the son of the King.” Chazziki’s troops had captured Iridelle–in a manner of speaking, for she still fought the Blue Fiuri giant, jabbing her fingers into his eye as Shioni glanced that way–and now, Shioni caught sight of Azurelle. Her heart turned over at the smile that lit up her friend’s face. For that reaction, she would have fought off a thousand Crystal Inferno Dragons, or a Tazaka or three. She saw life and brightness in Zi where it had been absent before. Even better, Lord Tazaka seemed disgusted to find his intended Queen quite at home amongst enemy forces.
There was a deep, hostile pause in which the horn blew again, as if to remind them that the time for fighting was over.
Chazziki’s finger stabbed out. “You are the cause of this war? You?”
Shioni wanted to duck and run. Thousands of pairs of eyes–whole armies of Fiuri–fixed on her. There was a subtle jostling of ranks among the Blues and Greens as the magicians and soldiers found a clear line of sight, no doubt sizing her up for any magical ability, or a swift spear in the gut if Tazaka should order it.
Tazaka sneered, “Yes, we unmasked your little spy, Chazziki. It was cunning of you to send a creature of wild magic among us.”
Chazziki’s face turned as black as thunder. “Filthy lies! We Blues had nothing to do with that … that–”
Shioni raised her voice. “Storm Fiuri.”
Lord Tazaka rounded upon her as though a Crystal Inferno Dragon had slapped his jaw. “What did you say?”
“I’m a Storm Fiuri, Tazaka.”
After a brief, shocked silence, Chazziki gritted out, “That makes her the most dangerous creature on Fiuriel right now. Magicians, at the ready!”
Tazaka lifted his own hand. “Greens!”
Hundreds of magicians on both sides gathered their power, making the air thrum with a vibration Shioni felt in her wings and antennae, as well as sucking her lungs dry. If all that magic smashed together in the middle, not only would she be splattered across half the caverns, but she doubted that many of the magicians closest to her would survive, either.
“Now, you need to provoke Lord Tazaka,” Ashkuriel whispered in Shioni’s ear.
“What, I haven’t provoked him enough already?”
Releasing her, the Yellow Fiuri chuckled. “That you surely have, little petal. Call him a traitor.”
At once, she shouted, “Tazaka is a traitor to all Fiuri! By what authority, Tazaka, do you exile Fiuri and steal their magic? The true ruler of all Green Fiuri flies there among the Blues! And controlling your people with mind-bending nectars is pure evil!”
“And you are no Storm Fiuri,” Tazaka shouted back. “Who but a creature of wild magic has the power
to return to Green Central just weeks after being banished up there?”
As he spoke, Azurelle nipped away from the Blue Fiuri forces and came over to Shioni. A low growl rose from the Blues. Zi cried, “This Fiuri is my friend. She saved my life and I will vouch for her. Now, all Greens, your Queen bids you stand down!”
Reluctantly, the Green Fiuri magicians lowered their arms.
“And your people, Chazziki.” Azurelle smiled prettily at him, and whispered to Shioni, “Told you I’d find a handsome boy-Fiuri one day. Isn’t he cute?”
Shioni hissed back, “Mister not-cute Blue is evidently planning to kill me.”
Tazaka kicked his mount, driving the Vermillion Dragonfly a few wing-lengths toward her. Playing to his audience, he drew himself up and made a dramatic gesture toward Shioni. “That creature has insulted my rule and my integrity. She insults all Fiuri by her mere presence, bringing the taint of wild magic into our Fiuri Realms. Left unchecked, she would destroy us all! Therefore I, Lord Tazaka of the Greens, according to my rights under all-Caverns law, challenge the so-called Storm Fiuri to trial by combat!”
Shioni gulped. What now? She did not want to fight Tazaka hand to hand, wounded as she was …
Drawing Shioni to her side, Azurelle said, “Lord Tazaka, this challenge is both unbecoming and dishonourable. A Fiuri warrior would challenge a wounded Fiuri child to combat? What–”
“Queen Azurelle,” he interrupted, bowing from the saddle, “I am merely doing my duty, for protecting my beloved people is my highest calling. Prince Chazziki–we are agreed! This wielder of wild magic is the most dangerous creature on Fiuriel. My fellow Fiuri, if even the powerful leader of the Blue Fiuri knows this truth, then all must bow before his insight.”
Azurelle shot the Prince a venom-laden glare.
No, definitely not cute. Chazziki had the grace to hang his head. Shioni squeezed Azurelle’s hand. “What do I do?”
“Conditions,” Zi whispered back. “If you make conditions, he gets to choose the weapons. Then, you fight in single combat until one combatant surrenders.”
“Or he kills me?”
Azurelle bit her lip. “I think you’d better win, Shioni. He has already laid out the penalty for your return from exile. Dear friend, I’m so sorry … for all this.”
“I grow impatient, white monster,” Tazaka called.
“Zi, it’s hardly your fault. I must do what I promised–someone has to stand against Tazaka, and I’m probably the only person who has the power.”
The Azure Fiuri put her arms around Shioni. “A Human hug for courage.”
Shioni gripped her friend’s arms in response. “Zi, you’re not marrying that beast. Understood?”
“Former slaves being even cheekier troublemakers than free Humans?” she laughed. “No, not for all the nectar in Fiuriel. Let me warn you, though, that Tazaka can fight with either hand. And, he’s tricky. Be careful, my friend.”
Shioni said, “Thanks, Zi.” Moving away from Azurelle, she gazed around her with all the boldness she did not feel in her heart. She stated, “My condition is, Tazaka, no magic which is not your own natural magic. You must give up your magical stone and any other artefacts.”
“Very good,” the Green Fiuri smirked, verbally rubbing his hands with glee. “I agree. For weapons, I choose swords. May the truth flower between us.”
Shioni flipped him a mock-salute, a gesture which she realised probably meant little to the assembled Fiuri. “May you be exposed for the coward and murderer that you are, Tazaka.”
He growled darkly.
While Tazaka handed Ashkuriel a surprising collection of stones, amulets and other trinkets, Shioni was startled to find Chief Arandal at her elbow. With a concerned grimace, he said, “In single combat, surrender is possible.”
Arandal received a pensive yet firm headshake. “Not for me.”
“I thought so–in which case, take this.” Chief Arandal handed her a sword, with a slight bow of his head and a look that speared a sweet ache into her heart. “I sharpened this blade the morning we left for Green Central.” Indicating the mighty, curved sword scabbarded at his belt, he added apologetically, “I didn’t think you’d manage this beast.”
Shioni grinned. “It’s sword-sized for me–Big Chief. Nice work on the nectar, by the way.”
He bobbed his antennae at her. “Mere larva-play for someone who has been described as a nectar artist.”
Chapter 23: Sacrifice
Surrender was out of the question. As Tazaka limbered up with an intimidating display of martial exercises, whizzing about like a demented wasp trapped in a bottle, Shioni reminded herself that aerial combat would be very different to anything she had experienced while training with the Sheban Elites. Part of her was infuriated that the task of confronting Tazaka fell to a Human accidentally transported to Fiuriel. But which former slave of Sheba had dug herself into this pit, anyway? Not for the first time, Shioni wondered how high a price she might pay for doing what she knew to be right. Could she do otherwise? Had she ever?
A tiny vibration of her wings brought her into the central space of an almost perfect arena formed by the massed Fiuri armies. In their eagerness to take in the confrontation between her and Tazaka, the Yellows, Blues and Greens had spread out until they almost rubbed wingtips, with a few Brown and Red Fiuri dotted between them. Shioni smiled. At least the fighting had stopped.
Now it was just her, and a killer.
Lord Tazaka wasted no time with niceties. With a snarl, he launched into the offensive. Shioni twirled in place, meeting his blade with a parry that rang as clearly as a crystal chime in her ears. He smashed into her again, feinting, ducking and twisting beneath her blade in a blur of wings and sharp metal. A stinging pain ran down her calf muscle. Golden Fiuri blood welled up.
Shioni gasped. Tazaka was on her again before she could catch her breath! She defended robustly, taking advantage of her reaction speed, but a cunning puff of wind threw her off balance and next she knew, her upper left wing sported a sizeable gash.
Leaping hyenas, he was fast!
Tazaka circled, his yellow eyes gleaming. Strike! Shioni flung him off, only to see him turn in a wing-length and hack upside-down at her. She felt and heard his blade hiss past her ear. She focussed narrowly, trying to learn his style, to work out how he counterbalanced his sword-strokes with the action of his wings. That was the secret. Where a Human would pivot on their feet and use the lower body as a base upon which to build power, in the air, the technique was different. Her arm alone generated no power; if she swung the sword one way, the rest of her body wanted to compensate for that action by spinning in the opposite direction. She defended grimly, but sensed the experienced Green Fiuri was only toying with her. Sliding past her off-balance guard, Tazaka kicked her wounded shoulder in passing.
Pain thundered through her body. Many of the watching Fiuri groaned.
Lord Tazaka sneered, “Enough, you freak?”
Shioni barely heard him through the roaring in her ears, the pain-driven weakness that threatened to overwhelm her. Chardal’s neat cast cracked away from her shoulder, baring the half-healed burn. She bounced off the leg of a heavily armed Brown Fiuri flying one of the massively armoured Scarab Beetles. He motioned to her to fight. Raising her sword, Shioni fluttered out into the open.
“Come on, little petal,” Tazaka sneered. “Show us your vile powers.”
When she made no reply, the Green Fiuri stormed back again. His blade darted at her from unexpected angles as he kept up his waspish flitting about, but Shioni kept her movements compact, minimising any damage. It did not protect her from being bullied around in circles.
“Use your speed!” Viridelle yelled as she passed by.
“Slap him with my notebook!” Chardal screamed, not to be outdone.
Somersaulting in the air, Shioni abruptly reversed direction and cracked Tazaka in the chin with her knee. Nice! Unplanned, but effective. For a second the Green Fiuri appeared dazed. S
hioni managed to slice a hand-sized chunk out of his wing before Tazaka darted away.
Shioni pressed her attack at once, but the wily Green swatted her with his magic before suddenly switching the blade from his right hand to the left, catching her unawares. The sharp point stabbed deeply into her thigh. As she crumpled over the blow, Tazaka punched her wounded shoulder again.
The watching faces swam before her. Groaning, panting, Shioni did not even see Tazaka’s next attack. The white magic made a dull thump! Had he tried to ambush her with the green light which had crushed her before? The Green leader’s face was a mask of fury as he attacked the Storm Fiuri with his sword ablaze … the pain of her shoulder driving through her side and neck as if someone had hammered nails through her … and suddenly, the world seemed to slow. Shioni heard the faint sound of crystal chimes. At the very edge of her awareness, she knew the Crystal Inferno Dragon watched their battle.
A sound like the rushing of flood-swollen rivers filled her mind, sweeping away the pain. Shioni howled in surprise as the white fire of wild magic erupted out of her wound, blazing in Tazaka’s face. He jerked back, shielding himself instinctively, but she still heard the sizzling of hair and smelled an acrid odour.
“Burned your beard, Tazaka?” she taunted him.
He snarled back, “You think you know something about magic? I’ll teach you a lesson!”
Tazaka circled, pounding her with blade and magic until she grew dizzy, but the glorious white burned in her veins and sang in her mind, holding him at bay. Shioni knew she blazed like a whiter, brighter sun.
His evil could not stand it.
With an animal-like shriek the Green Fiuri unleashed his great power. They resembled a whirlwind of wings and blades, clashing and swirling through the air. Shioni and Tazaka traded terrible blows, making the onlookers shudder at the violence of their conflict. Faster! Higher! Shioni’s blade whistled through the air. Finally the actions of her body, wings and magic had begun to meld, working together with an eagle’s joy in flight and the devastating power of the blows of a lion’s mighty right paw. It was Tazaka who defended now, crying out in fear, meeting her thrusts and blows with less and less conviction.