Return of the Crown

by Millie Burns

  He forced a smile, “We wait until just before dawn. Let’s eat and rest.”

  Ravyn put her hand in his and allowed him to guide her to a small bush growing nearby. They sheltered under it, hiding from any eyes that might pass by. They nibbled on some honey cakes and sipped water. The horror emanating from the wall rushed over them in waves. Ravyn felt like she was drowning in fear and doubt. She swam against the unnatural dread surrounding her like an endless sea. “The Light’s blessing we seek,” she prayed, searching to anchor to peace and calm. The pulses of fear ebbed, and a gentle glow of Light kept the anxiety at bay. Ravyn nuzzled into Blade’s strong chest, closing her eyes. Sleep found her, but all too soon the sky reddened with impending dawn.

  Blade hesitated a moment and then kissed Ravyn’s ash-stained cheek. “Love, it’s time,” he whispered.

  Ravyn’s eyes fluttered open, “Blessing of the Light upon us,” she prayed again. She leaned back, pulling herself from the warmth and safety of his arms.

  Blade stood, facing the fearful wall. He willed his legs to take him forward despite the revulsion he felt growing as he neared the towering hate-filled barrier. Ravyn followed close behind, hiding behind his strength. He placed his hand into a crack and pulled himself up, feet finding nubs of rock to balance on. He looked down at Ravyn, “Do exactly as I do. Place your hands and feet where mine have been. Remember your legs are stronger than your arms. Use your legs.”

  Blade crept up the rock, searching for the best hand and foot holds. Ravyn scrutinized every move he made, concentrating on keeping her arms long and unflexed. Wedging her finger into a small crack, she flexed the muscles, amazed at how secure it felt.

  Blade came to a problem in the climb. The next handhold was not within arm distance and would be reached by leaping for the out-jutting spine above. The hold looked large and secure as long as his feet locked onto the wall quickly.

  “Ravyn, this next part is tricky. Do as I do, and you’ll be fine.” Ravyn watched Blade push hard with his legs, springing like a frog to grasp the hold above him. She watched him dangle a moment, her heart pounding like racing stallions. His feet dug into a little crack, and he scrambled up higher to stand securely on the hold he’d been hanging from.

  “I can’t do that,” she cried, looking down a hundred feet to the hard ground below. Panic gripped her, choking off her air.

  “No, Rav, don’t look down,” the cry came too late. “We’re almost there, love, look up. The way above me is easy. This is the crux. You can do this. I know you can. Remember what Connor said, ‘Believe in yourself.’”

  White knuckles gripped the little ledge. Looking about in desperation, Ravyn noted a little chink in the stone near her left hand. She swung her left leg up into the depression, her heel catching in the little cleft. Pushing with her leg and her hands, she gave herself leverage, raising her body above the current handhold so she could easily reach the spine above. Blade had already advanced higher, so she scrambled into the secure position he’d left, leaning into the wall to rest, shaking out her arms.

  Chuckling drifted down to her ears. “Ravyn, that was a beautiful move. You’re a natural climber. I’m sorry I didn’t see that myself.”

  The rest of the climb was as easy as Blade had said. A series of stones made thin ledges, and the last fifty feet to the top was similar to scaling a ladder.

  Blade sat at the top hammering a spike into the wall. It had a ring at its top to run rope through. “We’ll rappel down. It’s much easier than down climbing.”

  Perching atop the wall, Ravyn examined the ring of fire waiting for them. Great flames reached hungry arms into the sky. It roared like a caged animal, hurting her ears. Wave after wave of heat rushed them, soaking them in sweat.

  A great cry rose up to them from past the city walls. It drowned out the sounds of the fire. The battle had begun. Blade pounded at the little ring, each strike driving it deeper into the wall. A river of tears flowed down Ravyn’s face as the clashing of weapons and screams of terror rose from the battlefield. “Oh, hurry, Blade,” she urged.

  Zelera watched her army spill out the city gates. Her Dark warriors charged headlong into the waiting army. Weapons glinted in the morning light screaming for the kill. She watched the silvery dance of steel swords arcing through the air, dancing with death. The song of battle pulsated in her veins, throbbing with intensity. She squealed in delight as blood began pooling on the ground. The sounds of battle brought a crescendo of pleasure she felt wash across her black soul.

  Her beasts of the Dark attacked with urgency, frantic for the kill. But for every kill they made, the rebel army scored twice. The delight she felt moments before withered, and disgust filled her heart. She spied Ravyn atop a hill, her telltale indigo aura pulsing. Zelera called upon the Darkness, screaming out arcane syllables that had no place in this world. She sent forth thick acrid smoke that clouded the battlefield. It coiled and writhed like a living thing, seething over the fighting men. Ravyn’s army began coughing and choking, dropping their guard. Zelera’s creatures raced forward to take advantage as the smoke seemed to cause them no damage.

  An icy blast of wind casually tossed the black ashy mass back toward the castle. Ravyn’s men met Zelera’s army swords and shields raised, fighting with full intensity once more. Raising an eyebrow, Zelera stared at the shape on the hill. With a flick of her wrist, she let the smoke evaporate.

  Zelera glared at the slim figure standing bravely out in the open. She called upon the Darkness once more, where it seethed and roiled inside her. Hate-filled eyes honed in on her target. Bolts of lightning crackled from her fingertips, streaking across the sky at Ravyn and her protectors.

  The bolts bounced back, deflected by some great shield. They slammed into her own army, hitting dozens of her own warriors. They exploded in blackened sulphurous bits. Gooey ichor splattered the battlefield; the stench of burnt flesh filled the air.

  “Damn,” she screeched, slamming a bony fist into the wall bruising her knuckles. “That little wench is lucky. Let her try this.” Casting her arms wide, stinging hornets flew from her fingers covering the field in loud buzzing discord. Cries of agony erupted from the field as the thick cloud of insects injected burning venom into anything that moved.

  Zelera clapped her hands together and giggled.

  Harpies swooped down into the insects snapping them up left and right. The venom had little effect on the harpies. Zelera’s giggle erupted into a scream of fury, and she let the remaining creatures dissipate. The battle continued to rage, wounded and dying littering the ground. The army of Light gave little ground and battered against the army of Darkness that continued pouring from the gates of Veris.

  Blade rappelled down the wall, the morning sun shining on his tawny head. He reached the bottom in a heartbeat it seemed. “All right, Rav, you’ve got this. Just like you did on the cliffs during your daring escape.”

  Ravyn closed her eyes, turning her face to the sun. “Blessings of the Light upon those who fight for the return of the crown,” she whispered. The air about her writhed in turmoil. The aural field crackled with electric jolts as Zelera and Connor battled. The sounds of battle threatened to wash her off the wall. She gripped the rope, wrapping it around her. She stepped backwards in a controlled fall down the wall, the rope burning a line across her hands.

  “Ravyn,” Blade shouted, panic edging his voice. She continued her wild descent down the wall. Urgency filled her, sapping away at rational thought. He leapt forward, snagging her tumbling form before she crashed into the unforgiving ground. He crushed her into his chest, squeezing her tight.

  “Oh, my,” Ravyn cried wild-eyed. “I didn’t realize what I was doing. I only knew I had to hurry.”

  Blade watched her eyes soften. He set her on her feet, “We better get going; it’s too hot to stay here for long.” Heat vapors from the wall of flames licked up the moisture beading on their skin.

  Reaching into her pack Ravyn pulled out Ena’s skin. Standi
ng close together, they entwined one arm behind the others’ back. With their free hands, they pinched the cloak securely together.

  Counting out a cadence, starting with their right feet, they stepped forward into the inferno. “Right, left, right, left,” Blade chanted. Ravyn concentrated on his voice soft beside her ear. They could hear the fire roaring at them, mocking their attempt to pass. The stench of rotten eggs clogged their nostrils making it difficult to breath. On they continued, “Right, left, right, left.”

  They were sweltering inside the skin and felt the angry flames licking at the cape. Connor had woven the Light about their boots. They weren’t burning, but the heat rising to the soles of their feet was agonizing. They grunted, straining not to break the tempo of their stride.

  “Right, left, right, left,” Blade continued croaking the mantra. Sweat dripped down their foreheads stinging their eyes. Their fingers cramped from gripping the skin’s edges so tight. The heat waned, soon dissipating all together. The roaring dimmed, and Ravyn heard nothing. Cool sweet nothing. “Blade, we’re clear.”

  Blade eased a finger out past the protection of the shiny red skin, he slipped it back in flesh intact. He sighed, dropping his hold on the protective cloak. They collapsed into a heap, shivering as cool air rushed in to dance across sweaty skin. Behind them the fire raged at the loss of fresh fuel. Before them lay a rotting moat of acrid water burbling an invitation to death.

  Chapter 20

  Dropping out of the sky, Medina settled on a branch near Connor. “They scaled the wall, and I saw them enter the fire moments ago. I will return to the sky to watch for their exit. I just thought you’d like to know their status.” She leaned forward eyeing the wizard that looked like her friend, Ravyn. She could see the stress of battle in the eyes that looked like Ravyn’s. She could see the strain of worry.

  “Thank you, Medina. Can you see to the other side of the fire? Surely you cannot pass through it?”

  “I cannot pass through, for the flames seem to reach the stars, but from far above and away I can see through the vapor to the other side.”

  “Thank you for the report. Could you look again and return with news when you get the chance?”

  She watched the tension uncoil throughout his body. She smiled to herself, glad to be of assistance. “I’d be happy to,” Medina said, flapping gently, lifting off the branch. “I’ll return when I have more news.”

  Someone handed Connor a water skin filled with cool clear water and pressed a beef pasty into his other hand. “Sir, you must eat. Zelera is keeping you busy, and that’s going to wear you out.”

  Connor looked at the young man standing beside him. Only a lad really. He couldn’t remember the name that went with the face. He smiled a thanks and guzzled the water that quenched the burning in his throat.

  The boy was watching Connor and waiting for some response. From around a large bite of pasty Connor mumbled, “Yes, until she realizes I am not who I seem.” As he spoke the sky darkened, and lightning shot from the castle towers. Throwing up a defensive shield just in time, Connor dropped the bolts back into Zelera’s own forces. “Keep the food coming,” he ordered, “this is going to be a long day.” Again, he replenished indigo coloring to his aural thread, retaining Ravyn’s appearance on more than one field.

  Below the hill that Connor stood upon, raging forces clashed into each other, the ground muddied and slick with spilt blood and ichor. The forces of Light were killing three for every one of theirs taken down. But Zelera’s forces continued pouring out of the city gates.

  The unicorn herd charged into the monstrous creatures, driving them into the waiting forces of men, wolves, and elves. The harpies dove down from above, scratching at eyes, tearing at exposed flesh. The elves’ arrows whistled overhead, slamming down into Zelera’s forces with deadly accuracy.

  But the sheer numbers of Zelera’s beasts pouring onto the field overwhelmed the untrained men and women of Aigerach. The forces of the Light were shrinking. Connor shivered trying to chase away the apprehension that slithered across his skin.

  “Hurry, little bird,” Connor whispered to the wind.

  Ravyn and Blade drank deeply from their water skins replenishing fluids sapped by the fire’s heat. “Ravyn, you need to eat. You are wearing yourself out, and you can’t encounter Zelera drained. Our food won’t be good after we swim the moat either. I forgot to make our packs water tight,” he said, wincing.

  “Blade, look at the sun. How much time did we lose?” The sun beat down on them from high above. “It seemed we were in the fire only moments. We can’t stop; we have to keep going.”

  “Rav, you must eat first. You need strength. You look like a wilted flower. I need something to give me energy too. I’m not ready to swim across that,” he pointed to the putrescent moat.

  Without waiting for a response, he dug into his pack, cramming down the rations within. Ravyn didn’t feel like eating; the aura surrounding the moat caused her insides to twist and churn. Reluctantly, she fumbled through her pack, finding dry bread to force down. Bile gurgled in her throat, threatening to erupt with each bite.

  After eating all she could, more than she’d thought possible, she shouldered her pack, standing. She felt power anew, felt the Light welling within her, filling her with a sense of hope. She unlatched the chain mail dropping it to the ground along with a load of worries. Pulling the pearl and crystal amulet from under her blouse, she removed it from her neck. She wrapped the chain around her wrist, the crystal emerging from her right hand. Blade took her left hand in his, and they stepped toward the murky water. The reek of the festering water choked them, and Ravyn nearly lost the contents of her meager meal. Shoulders back and head high, they took several courageous steps forward until they stood on the edge of the moat.

  “We dive in together on the count of three letting the amulet touch the water first,” Ravyn calmly stated.

  “Ravyn, I love you,” his green eyes bore his message deep into her heart, embedding the words on her soul.

  “And I you,” she said smiling. “One, two, three,” she cried. They dove together, Ravyn’s right hand reaching out before them. Deep beneath the oily black water they plunged and surfaced gasping. The water directly around them was pure, clear, and calm. Inches away the acrid black surface seethed and roiled. Blade used his free arm to stroke, and they both kicked. The far shore looked miles away, though they knew it was only a hundred yards or so. They kicked and kicked, but the far bank remained out of reach. They struggled for what seemed an eternity, never nearing their goal. Ravyn faltered, crying out as her calves cramped into knots.

  “Rav, look at me,” Blade cried. Ravyn turned her head to face him, taking her eyes off the distant bank. “We can do this, but don’t look to the shore, look to me. Now kick, Ravyn, kick as if the hounds of Darkness were on our tails.” Ravyn’s legs battled with the water. She wanted to scream as her legs spasmed with each kick. She kept her eyes to Blade, the comfort of her soul. Moments later, they bumped into the muddy bank.

  “You out first, Blade,” Ravyn gasped, “then I’ll follow. The amulet must stay in the water.” Blade crawled up onto the muddy bank, Ravyn scrambling out after, leaving her right hand in the water. As she pulled the amulet free, the water churned and fumed, splattering the banks with its acidic scum.

  Ravyn felt like a drowned rat. On hands and knees, hair clinging to her face in straggling masses, she wheezed, “How did you know not look to the shore?” Her arms trembled trying to hold her weight. She gave in collapsing on the ground.

  “I looked behind…and saw that shore seemed distant...as well. I figured we were trapped…in a spell. Looking away…was the only thing…I could think to try.” He sat back, rubbing a stitch in his side, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

  Rayvn pushed herself into a sitting position, smiling weakly, “I’m so glad you’re with me. I couldn’t think of anything except for reaching that far shore. I never would’ve taken my eyes off it. Imagine me trea
ding water in that moat for eternity.” She giggled hysterically and then sobered. “Blade, I don’t know what I’m doing. How can I save anyone? You have to keep saving me.”

  “Ravyn, you’ve saved me as well, and Giallag, and Medina. The Light is with you; it’s helping us.” He reached for her hand, entwining his fingers with hers and giving her a gentle squeeze. “You have to stop worrying. We have Medina’s feather, a free ticket through the vortex. Then we’ll have Zelera as well.”

  Ravyn looked to the sky. It was mid-afternoon. “Blade,” she cried, “the sun, we have to hurry. Time keeps running away with us. I thought we’d be in the castle already. The army has been fighting nigh on a full day.”

  Blade pulled her into his arms, staring hard into her face. “They will fight till their last breath, as I would. You can’t save them all, and yes, too many lives will be lost today. That’s what Zelera will have to pay for. They fight freely, not for you, but for a return to the Light. They rail against the Darkness that has a stranglehold upon our land. Believe in the Light Rav. Believe in yourself.”

  Ravyn cringed at the mild rebuke, knowing Blade was right. She grasped the Light within her, seeking solace in its steady warmth. She reached into her pocket and caressed Medina’s feather. She straightened herself up finding a half-hearted smile to paste over the wounds etched into her heart. “Let’s go, and Blade, thank you.”