“I can’t move you any closer because you’ll lose your arrows. Hey! Maybe I can get Bardamen to do something. If he made the moon go dark, maybe he can make it brighter. Just a second.” Bracing her legs for an uncertain landing, Alora transported to Bardamen.
*****
“Hey Bardamen.”
“Glare!” He almost jumped out of his skin. Alora tugged at his arm frantically.
What’s she doing here? She’s supposed to be safe in the other realm.
“Sorry, Bardamen, but we have an emergency. Can you give us more light? Wesley and his dad can’t see well enough to shoot this wendt.”
“I’ve never tried to magnify the moonlight, but perhaps it can be done. It can’t be as difficult a task as cloaking the light.”
He closed his eyes, muttering the words he thought were appropriate for the task. His eyes popped open when she threw her arms around him.
“Thanks, Bardamen! That’s much better. Can you keep it that way for a little while? Just long enough for us to kill that wendt?”
“Uhmm… certainly. But how long—”
She was gone. He glanced up at the moon, and couldn’t help the pleased grin that rose to his face. He’d done well… The light seemed twice as bright as before. And he was delighted Alora had come to him with her problem instead of seeking out his father.
Another wave of emotion descended on Laegenshire like a wet and heavy woolen blanket… despair. The last attack had been panic. Before that he’d battled exhaustion. He closed his eyes, working to dissipate the draining sensation sent by one of Vindrake’s shamans. Except for his concentrated efforts, all the Stone Clan warriors would be throwing themselves from the high walls to their deaths. Even with his father’s wards, the enemy shamans found ways to attack with their dark magick. I swear they won’t succeed on my watch.
*****
Alora didn’t wait to hear Bardamen’s question, transporting back to Wesley and his dad.
“That’s awesome, Alora. We’ve wounded him. But this one seems bigger than the others. It’ll take a lot to kill him.” Wesley was nocking another arrow while his father took aim to shoot again.
“Got him.” Brian’s voice was triumphant. “But this is kind of like killing a bear with a twenty-two.” The wendt screeched in pain. Though it continued on its path, it was losing altitude with an injured wing.
“I know, right?” Wesley aimed and released another arrow, which flew true to the target. Still the monster only flinched and screamed but didn’t fall from his flight along the wall, which was on a collision course with Kaevin’s battle group. Brian’s next arrow missed the mark.
“It’s getting so low, I’m afraid we’ll hit someone with a stray arrow,” said Wesley. “Alora, can you send him away since we’ve wounded him?” Wesley asked.
“Not from here—I’m going closer.”
Transporting to a spot along the wall in front of the wendt, she bra
ced herself for the onslaught of nausea, swallowing repeatedly against the sudden urge to vomit. She knew the moment it spotted her, its eyes riveting with hers. Ignoring her racing heart, she focused her thoughts. It was headed straight for her, and she couldn’t afford to panic this time. The link fell into place and she sent it to Vindrake only seconds before it reached her.
Her breath rushed in… How long had she been holding it? Battling dizziness, she leaned against the wall and closed her eyes, sliding down to rest on the ground. She needed a moment for her head to stop spinning.
But another queasy assault had her searching for additional wendts. With her neck craned up, she searched the skies in the moonlight, still extra bright from Bardamen’s work. She caught a motion in the shadows from the corner of her eye and turned her attention to ground level. A warrior. Radiating wickedness. But what’s he doing alone, slinking along in the shadows? Why isn’t he fighting like the others?
If only she could send him back to Vindrake as she had the wendt. She attempted the transport, but he continued on his stealthy journey, undoubtedly anchored by an iron belt. His path put him on a collision course with Kaevin’s battle group. Should she follow him or go to warn Kaevin and the other warriors? She chose the latter.
*****
Kaevin’s shield arm grew fatigued. He groaned as he deflected another blow, his muscles screaming at the impact. He’d become soft during his extended stay in Montana. Had he not been gifted in dexterity and enhanced as a soulmate, he’d probably have been killed by now. He was wasting his time in the other realm, neglecting both his duty and his training. He should be practicing his fighting skills, not studying for a history test about a realm that was not his own.
The Water Clan warrior edged past his sharpstop, the sword slicing his shoulder with a searing pain.
“Glare!” shouted Kaevin, forcing himself to concentrate. With a surge of energy born of anger, he parried the next blow, countered with a punch of his sharpstop, and drove his sword into the man’s chest. To his great surprise, the young warrior’s stunned face transformed into a smile as he fell to the ground. Did Vindrake teach his people to enjoy pain and death?
“Kaevin?”
He turned at Alora’s voice, pushing her behind him without thought. “What are you doing here? It’s not safe.”