“Zita?” Varg called.
Zita turned, and after seeing the look on her face, Varg said, “She'll be fine, Zita. Remember, she has your power.”
“It does no good if she receives a fatal wound, does it?” Zita asked.
“You mustn't think that way,” Varg said. “Believe in your daughter, Zita. She will make it.”
Zita smiled, and for the first time since Varg met her, this one was genuine.
“Varg,” Milea called.
Varg turned to see her and Shara a few yards ahead, waiting for them.
Varg turned back to Zita and said, “Come along, let's not keep them waiting.”
Zita nodded, and pretty soon she and Varg caught up to Milea and Shara. In the meantime, alarm horns were blaring and alerting all the citizens of the city, and causing them to come out of their homes to investigate. Elf soldiers were going from home to home evacuating the citizens on the queen's orders. Every elf man, woman, and child left their homes to take shelter in the castle.
The group continued past the evacuating elves and made their way to the Tree. As they ran, Shara moved closer to Milea and said, “Milea, tell me exactly what I need to know about this 'Jin' character.”
Milea nodded, then said, “He's very fast and deadly, and he uses some sort of shadow magic when fighting. He can also peer into your memories and use them against you as some kind of mind manipulation, so be careful.”
“That's good to know,” Shara said. “I've already had the displeasure of meeting Alastor. I'll have to make an effort to settle that score.”
“Get in line,” Zita remarked.
They finally reached the stairs that led up to the Temple of Laelith and they darted up two steps at a time towards the entrance. Shara entered first, and she had barely set foot inside when they heard someone say, “What is this? What is all that racket outside?”
High Priestess Morvyn had gathered with a group of other priestesses in the main area of worhsip. She pointed a bony finger at Shara and said, “Princess, what is the meaning of this intrusion?”
“I come on urgent news, High Priestess,” Shara answered, “so I expect you to address me with more respect.”
Morvyn flushed and stammered, “Of course, Princess. My apologies. What is your urgent news?”
The rest of the group filed into the room and Varg closed the door behind them. Then Shara edged towards the priestesses and began to speak.
“Priestesses of Laelith, I come with dire news,” Shara said. “The enemy that threatens the Crystal Wood, a man named Jin, has obtained an object known as the key to the Crystal Wood-”
“Not this again,” Morvyn suddenly said. “The key to the Crystal Wood does not exist. It contradicts the very purpose of the barrier.”
Shara stared at the High Priestess and in her most commanding voice, she said, “How dare you interrupt me, High Priestess. Have you any idea who you are speaking to?”
“High Priestess,” Zita said, “I used to be a follower of Jin, and I can assure you that not only does the key exist, but Jin has it and is planning on using it to drain the power from the Tree of Laelith.”
“Impossible,” Morvyn said, “the Tree is impermeable to such attacks.”
“According to the texts that Jin has discovered, it isn't,” Zita said.
“I will not tolerate such blasphemy,” Morvyn spat.
Varg marched forward and came within inches of Morvyn's face and said, “This is enough. What part of 'the Tree is in danger' do you not understand? Whether you want to believe it or not, the key is real and someone wants to use it for the wrong reasons. I don't care why, or how, I only care about stopping him before he succeeds. Now, are you going to help, or are you going to allow your pride to put the very thing you protect at risk?”
Morvyn edged closer. Though she was still almost a hand shorter than Varg, she still stared into his eyes as though she were ten feet tall and growled, “Leave.” She then looked to the rest of them and said, “All of you.”
“High Priestess, I am your princess and I command-”
“Do you honestly think your title gives you any real power, Shara?” Morvyn said as she marched to the princess. “Even the lowest elf knows that the true power behind the throne is the Temple. Your mother learned that long ago; I suggest you learn it before you make any foolish mistakes.”
Morvyn didn't even try to hide the look she gave Milea after she finished speaking, and the latter retaliated with a look that could have melted steel.
“How dare you speak to me that way!” Shara yelled. “When the queen hears about this, she will-”
Milea grabbed Shara's arm and said, “Let's go. She would let the Crystal Wood burn before she would admit she was wrong.”
Shara huffed, then pointed a finger at Morvyn and said, “This isn't over.”
As they left the Temple, Morvyn smiled and said, “Oh yes, I believe it is.”
“That stubborn, dung-eating bitch,” Varg growled as they stepped out into the night air, not caring if Morvyn heard him or not.
“For once, I agree with you completely,” Shara said. “I never imagined that she would address me or anyone else that way, especially when we are trying to protect the Crystal Wood from danger.”
“The priestesses don't care about the Crystal Wood, only their own agenda,” Milea remarked.
“What should we do now?” Zita asked. “If the priestesses won't listen to reason, how can we protect the Tree from harm before it's too late?”
Everyone stopped to think for a moment, and Shara then said, “I need to report to my mother about High Priestess Morvyn. I have a sneaking suspicion that she won't have the power she thinks she does after I tell the queen that she turned me away when I came to warn her.”
“We'll stay here in case Jin decides to sneak past the defenses somehow,” Milea said. “The priestesses can't make us leave the courtyard, can they?”
“If they try, you have my permission to resist,” Shara said. “I'll return as soon as I've spoken to my mother. Good luck, and be careful.”
“You too,” Milea said as Shara turned towards the castle and headed in that direction.
Milea turned back to Varg and Zita and said, “I suppose all we can do now is wait.”
“Are you sure you don't want to go and help your friends in their battle?” Zita asked. “I can stay here in case Jin or Alastor shows up.”
“No, we won't make you face them alone,” Milea said. “We'll have a better chance if all three of us stay.”
“Agreed,” Varg said. “Our friends will be fine. I promise they can handle themselves.”
“If you insist,” Zita said.
They stood in silence for some time, the only sound coming from the booming and roaring of battle north of them. Varg could see flying arrows in the distance coming from both sides, and then a glint of light from Shara's metal armor caught his eye as she made her way through the city.
CHAPTER 24
Alastor’s blade tasted the blood of every elf in his path. Despite their numbers, the combined forces of Eastwold, Ironbarrow, Whitspire, and the Shadow Hand were able to easily push them back towards the gate.
However, Alastor had no intention of keeping them there.
“Push on, men!” Alastor yelled. “We take the city, now!”
As his own men carried out his orders, several of the Shadow Hand members nearest him said, “Lord Alastor, the Serpent made it quite clear that-”
“The Serpent is not here,” Alastor barked. “I lead the charge. I decide when we enter the city.”
“We won’t go along with this,” another cultist said. “Our Lord needs us to keep the enemy distracted-”
“Your Lord only wants us to keep busy while he takes the power of the Crystal Wood for himself, and I have no intention to serve as a mere distraction. I will take this city and I will claim whatever power waits within.”
The Shadow Hand cultists exchanged glances, at which point Alastor added, “Go ahead and warn yo
ur master if you wish. I’ll reach the Tree before he has a chance to fight back.”
The cultists glared at him with the fury of a beast chasing its prey and parted with him. His men pushed the elves back to the gates. Uniforms of green, violet, and blue poured into the gates. Some were felled by the archers along the wall, but most enough were untouched.
The Shadow Hand pulled back, but it didn’t matter. Alastor had almost the entire armada of Fellen at his disposal, so the elves would be no match.
Alastor rode through the gates. His horse bucked. He dismounted and sliced through three elves, four, five, a dozen, until he made it into the city. He found an alley nearby and fought his way through it. Another elf, then three, then six, until…
He was alone at last.
Alastor wasted no time. He barreled towards the Tree with nothing and no one to stand in his way.
“They're in the city!” one of the elf soldiers shouted as Conley made his way to the wall.
All soldiers from Whitspire, Eastwold, and Ironbarrow poured into the city—but no Shadow Hand, as Conley noted—as the elves held them back from advancing further. That was when Conley enacted his plan.
“That's exactly where we want them, soldier,” Conley said. “Close them in!”
The elves waiting on the top of the wall dropped a second gate. The soldiers in the back row realize what had happened, but by then it was too late.
Conley leaped onto the platform that overlooked the merged armies and shouted, “Now men, let's show what happens to those who mess with Ironbarrow!”
In a flash, the men in Ironbarrow uniform halted their siege and instead, turned on the other soldiers. Before Whitspire and Eastwold even knew what had happened, scores of them had already fallen to Ironbarrow. Those that avoided the mutiny were swiftly flanked by the elves. Some enemy soldiers managed to spill out into the city, but they were met with more of Conley's soldiers as well as Tain and Oliva.
Oliva raised her staff and rained thunder on a group of soldiers that attempted to surround her. Tain emerged from the shadows and created a whip out of nearby water that he used to trip several soldiers from Eastwold and used his speed and dagger to get the rest. Conley joined the defense and barreled towards any survivors he could find.
A group of Whitspire soldiers charged Conley. He spun around and raised his shield. He deflected the first attack and caught the offender with a swing of his blade. He caught a hit on the shoulder, but his armor took the brunt of the damage. He soon caught a flash of green as someone lunged at another soldier and disposed of him before he could harm Conley.
Princess Shara whipped around and said, “Your plan worked, I take it?”
“Like a charm,” Conley said with a grin. He shoved past her and sliced through an Eastwold soldier that attempted to flank her, then turned back and said, “My soldiers are loyal only to Ironbarrow, not...”
Conley froze. He searched the battlefield, but so no sign of the one person who should have made himself known.
“Where is Alastor?” Conley said. “He always leads the front lines in battle, but he's no where to be seen.”
Shara blocked another attack, then spun around to face him again. “If he isn't here, he's probably gone after the Tree.”
“What about Varg and the others? I thought you were supposed to talk to the priestesses?”
“High Priestess Morvyn wouldn't listen to reason,” Shara explained. “I came to tell Mother, but I was swarmed by soldiers.”
“Get back to the Tree to help them,” Conley said. “I will join you as soon as we have the threat neutralized here.”
“That may be difficult,” Shara said as she narrowly avoided an arrow, “but I will try. Just have someone warn my mother about the priestesses.”
“Will do,” Conley said as he deflected another blade. “Now go!”
Shara nodded, whipped around, and dashed towards the temple.
Varg, Milea, and Zita waited in front of the Temple of Laelith for several minutes, though it seemed like hours. The seconds ticked by agonizingly slow. Now one dared to speak, as they feared any distraction might prove to be fatal. They knew that Jin could be lurking anywhere, waiting for his opportunity to strike.
“What are you still doing here?”
The three turned to see High Priestess Morvyn lurking outside of the Temple door and staring daggers at them.
“I thought I made it quite clear that you needed to leave,” Morvyn barked.
Milea pointed to the north. “Do you not hear the battle looming outside? Those are the enemies we told you about who are trying to get into the city and take not only it, but the power of the Tree as well. Would you just put your stubborn pride aside and see that your people and your way of life is in danger?”
Morvyn stared at her, and Varg started to wonder if she were testing her ability to melt Milea with her mind with the angry glare she gave, but finally, she said, “I will alert the other priestesses of the battle. In the mean time, if you are so bent on protecting the Crystal Wood as you've said, then I suggest you get to the battle instead of waiting around here.”
With that, the High Priestess turned around and headed back inside.
“Well,” Zita said, “She's a charming one, isn't she?”
“A wonderful example of a gracious hostess,” Varg chimed in.
“Enough, you two,” Milea said. “We know that we can't leave, because we know that Jin won't just wait his turn in the battle.”
“You're right,” Zita said. “If I know him well enough, and I do, he's probably already found a way into the city and he's on his way here as we speak.”
“How do we know he won't try to sneak past us?” Milea asked.
“And miss the chance of announcing his presence and making a grand entrance?” Varg asked.
“I hate to admit it, but he's right,” Zita said. “One of Jin's main flaws is that he's too fond of making himself known. One of the only reasons he was so secretive about his identity before was to protect the rest of the Shadow Hand from being discovered. Now that his presence has been made known, Jin doesn't have to hide any more.”
Varg was about to respond when someone else behind him did it instead.
“He will when I'm done with him.”
They all looked to see who had spoken and were shocked to see none other than Alastor Rainald standing before them.
“Alastor!” Zita shouted, whipping her dagger out of her belt. “I'm glad you've arrived. I owe you a hole in the chest.”
“And you owe us your head,” Varg growled.
Alastor laughed. “Considering neither of you were able to kill me before, I don't see how you think you can manage it now.”
“Because there is far more at stake this time,” Varg said.
Alastor drew his sword. “For once, you and I are in agreement, Varg.”
Alastor then lunged at Varg, who barely had enough time to meet the attack. He brought up Frost Fang and blocked the big, black sword. Milea stood aside and launched an arrow his way, but before they could blink he was on the move again.
Alastor charged. Varg matched his pace. They clashed.
Milea loosed an arrow. It missed. Zita approached from the side. Alastor knocked Varg’s weapon aside and swung at her. She ducked and rolled, the blade missing her by a hair. Varg recovered and returned fire. Alastor blocked. Another arrow flew past them. Zita came around. Alastor kicked her away. Varg swung low. Alastor matched him. He countered. Varg blocked.
Another arrow struck Alastor’s cheek. He didn’t even flinch. Varg brought Frost Fang down. Alastor brought his up. Metal clashed. Zita charged. Alastor’s blade flew. She leaped over the swing and tried to flank him. He brought his arm up and blocked her. An arrow struck his pauldron.
He grabbed Zita and launched her several feet away. Varg came up behind him. He spun around. He blocked. He rushed at Varg and knocked him several feet back.
Alastor charged. Varg attempted to meet his blow, but Alastor cha
nged course at the last second. He whipped around and sliced at Varg’s back. His armor took the brunt of the damage, but blood still spattered on the ground in the wake of the attack. Varg grunted, but returned fire. Alastor did the same. Varg blocked. Then again, and again.
Zita threw a dart. It missed. She launched herself at Alastor. He swung. She dodged. He swept his blade. Varg and Zita jumped backwards. The latter lost her balance and the former reached down to help her.
Alastor tried to attack them while they were down, but Milea came up behind him. She sliced for his head. He stooped low and brought up his blade. She leaped out of the way and charged again.
While Alastor was distracted, Varg helped Zita to her feet.
“Draw his attention,” Zita said. “I have an idea.”
“Will do,” Varg said.
Varg roared and bounded towards Alastor. The latter met his stance head on. Metal clashed. Alastor returned fire and forced Varg on the defensive.
Alastor bellowed with laughter. “This is the legendary White Wolf of the Tundra? This is the man who wounded Jin and killed countless other foes? Pathetic.”
Varg whipped around, but he made a mistake. Alastor caught his arm and sliced it open. The only thing that saved him was Milea's arrow sailing past Alastor's head. Varg grasped his arm and nearly screamed, but Alastor delivered a swift kick to his chest, knocking the air out of him and causing him to land on his back with a thud.
Varg inched his way to his feet, but Alastor pressed his boot on his chest and stomped down as hard as he could. Varg gasped for breath as he felt his ribs threatening to crack under the weight of Alastor's foot. He tried to lift the foot off with his hands, but his arm stung from the pain of usage and he couldn't move.
“If you're this easy to defeat, then Jin will be no problem once I take this miserable city,” Alastor said.
Varg swung his leg upward and his knee made contact with the back of Alastor's leg. The latter lost his balance, allowing the former to hop to his feet.
“Alastor, in the next five minutes, I'll have you on the ground breathing your last breath,” Varg muttered.
The Crystal Wood (Half-Breed Book 2) Page 27