Raelene gasped as she looked behind her at the frozen group. “This is something of Abaddon’s dark magick. I’m certain we would have all stood still while someone came to slit our throats. We’ve seen scenes of slaughter like this, but never suspected the cause.” Her face reflected her horror. “I don’t believe it’s anything in the air, but we can tell easily enough. I’ll simply attempt to wake them up, and if I go still like the rest of them, transport me out of there.” Without waiting for agreement, Raelene ran into the midst of the statue-like warriors, shaking them and yelling, with no response.
When Raelene didn’t return to her trance condition, Alora and Charles went to help her, but their efforts were also in vain. So Alora transported each of them a few feet away, two by two, holding their hands. The transport seemed to break the spell. As the warriors came out of their dream state, they hurried to retrieve their weapons and return to the battle.
Alora moved with Charles and Raelene back to her observation site, near Wesley. She saw the first of the formerly frozen warriors returning to the fight, and she hoped they were not too late.
“Look, Alora!” Raelene pointed shaky fingers toward a rocky rise where Nordamen was in a standoff with the shaman he called Abaddon. Both their hands were raised toward each other, smoke and fire flying from their fingertips.
“What should I do Grandmother?”
“Can you move Abaddon a short distance away? It might break his concentration and give Nordamen the advantage he needs.
I can do better than that. With all the strength of her emotions, she grabbed Abaddon and wished him to the same high canyon wall where she’d sent Graely’s attacker. She felt jubilant when he disappeared.
Nordamen slumped to the ground, obviously exhausted. Should I transport him to me? No, he might lose an important tool or weapon if he has something made of metal.
“Grandmother, should I transport him over here?”
“It’s too late!” Raelene cried, her hands over her mouth.
“What? What happened?” She turned back to find Vindrake pulling Nordamen to his feet with a knife to his neck. Vindrake shouted for attention and Morvaen whistled to stop the Stone Clan warriors.
Alora felt tears stinging her eyes. Why hadn’t she brought Nordamen to safety while she had the opportunity? She thought of sending Vindrake to the cliff face, as she had Abaddon, but his contact with Nordamen ensured they would go together. What could she do? Even if he let go of Nordamen, he probably still had on protective iron as he had earlier in the day, so she couldn’t transport him, anyway.
Alora thought she noticed Arista edging forward, but then she disappeared next to Morvaen. Perhaps Nordamen was shielding her so she could slip behind Vindrake.
“I think the trees are hiding us from Vindrake’s view,” whispered Raelene. “But I hope he cannot sense your presence. If he does, he will demand a trade. And you must not take that chance even if Nordamen’s life is forfeit. If Vindrake notices you are here, you must take Kaevin and flee. Then bring your uncle and Beth and Wesley to you as well.”
Alora nodded her head, but her mind was racing. Surely there was something she could do besides running away to safety.
“I’m afraid we’re at an impasse,” announced Vindrake. “I intend to return to my kingdom for now, and I will take my remaining men with me. Nordamen has kindly agreed to accompany me.” He pressed the tip of the knife against Nordamen’s throat until he drew a drop of blood. “I will return him to you when you return my daughter to me.” A merciless smile bloomed on his face. “Unless, Morvaen, you wish to return her to me now?”
“She left,” Morvaen called out, speaking the truth. “And she knows not to come back.”
“Pity,” said Vindrake. “I’ll simply continue with my original plan. But Lena can come to me when I’m back in my kingdom. He suddenly flinched and reached behind him to grab a squirming Arista by the arm and pull her to the front, still holding the knife securely against Nordamen’s throat. “This impudent little mouse has removed my irons.” He kicked at the belt that lay at his feet and laughed. “But you see, that doesn’t matter any more. Lena is not here to transport me, so I do not need the protection. In fact, I am stronger without its limitations.”
Arista clamped her teeth down on his finger, and he screamed, jerking his hand away. But somehow he kept his hold on her arm. He rammed her mouth with his fist, splitting her lip. Suddenly, an arrow appeared in his shoulder, and he dropped her to the ground, shrieking with fury. She disappeared, but Vindrake somehow managed to keep his hold on Nordamen, who appeared to be losing strength, sagging toward the ground.
Alora tried to peer into the dark forest to see who had shot the arrow. Was it Wesley?
“You’ll pay for this! You’ll pay for this with your shaman’s life!” Vindrake threw Nordamen to the ground, fisting his hand toward him. Nordamen thrashed from side to side, holding his throat, his eyes bulging and his feet kicking as he gasping for air.
Alora concentrated, using all her will to send Vindrake crashing high into the canyon wall with Abaddon.
Vindrake disappeared.
Most of the Water Clan warriors seemed confused, dropping their weapons and surrendering. A few were more belligerent, but were quickly subdued. But before Alora could feel a sense of relief, a sharp stab of pain swept through her. She cried out, nearly fainting from the intensity.
“Kaevin’s in pain. I need to go to him.” Her eyes watered from the agony. “He’s with Beth in the clearing near the horses.”
Raelene nodded. “We’ll meet you there.”
Alora transported to the clearing. She found Kaevin, but not as she expected. He was on his knees, with his broken hand firmly in the grasp of another’s—a man in a dark cloak and hood, with his back to Alora.
“Kaevin!”
The hooded man pivoted to face Alora, his hand still gripping Kaevin’s. Kaevin exclaimed again at the twisting pressure on his broken fingers, and she flinched at the flash of pain. The man’s hood fell back, and her breath caught in her throat.
“Lena! We meet again,” said Abaddon. “I see you have not mastered your t