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I COULD TELL KING REMI didn’t expect their side to push forward, gaining the advantage. All that stood in reserve were the knightlys and the rest of the king’s guard. Before they could close the distance, breaking past the final Ly’verian knights, the wizard yelled, “Barrier!”
I nodded and ignited a wall of fire separating us from the enemy battalion. They paused on the other side of the fire and then I couldn’t believe what happened next. They started trying to extinguish the fire. They tossed buckets of water at it, like they knew it would be there.
“Knightlys... ready to soar.” The wizard ordered. “King’s guard... form a circle around the king.”
That’s it then, we were going over the firewall. I jumped off my horse and lined up beside Aednat. This wasn’t at all what I was expecting that day I read the king’s call asking for volunteers. I wanted to run away from here and back home to Mother. Fighting with wooden swords and sticks was one thing, but this... I wasn’t prepared for all the death. “Send them over!” the king shouted at the wizard.
The wizard pulled back on his reins trying to control his horse. “Knightlys to the ready!”
I took a step with one leg and leaned my body forward.
The wizard gave his final orders. “First wave, over the fire. Second wave, prepare to go further than where they land. Go over them and attack their enemies from the rear.”
I was going to be in the second wave and waited for my command.
“First wave, soar!” the wizard commanded.
The line of knightlys in front of me soared up and over the fire. They cleared the firewall and I could hear their swords and shields colliding with the enemy. I aimed my left hand down at my feet and prepared to summon a sword in my right. No that’s not right. They’ll see us coming this time and attack. It would be better to land with a shield in my left arm and summon or draw my sword after I landed. I summoned my shield.
“What are you doing? Aednat asked. “Draw your sword.”
“Nay, a shield is better.”
The wizard gave the command. “Second wave, soar!”
I focused my mind and launched into the air. I felt the weightlessness of my body leaving the ground and as I went higher into the air, I prepared for my landing. Except, I hadn’t started to descend yet, I was still climbing. All the other knightlys in my wave were falling back to the ground and then it hit me, I had used my right hand. It was much too powerful, I completely forgot. I can do this. Just concentrate. My ascent was beginning to slow and the upward angle changed, sending me downwards with an increase in speed. I wasn’t going to land behind the enemy. The knightlys were able to push them back and I was going to land right on top of them.
It didn’t look good and the wizard wasn’t going to save me this time. I had do it. I opened my hand, spreading my fingers wide, and then brought my arm back. With as much force as possible I threw my arm forward and tried to stop my descent.
I hit the ground, rolled and rushed to my feet. I reached back and drew my sword ready for battle. Scanning the battlefield in front of me, our knights and theirs were struggling to their feet. The whole line had been knocked down by the impact I created trying to stop my fall. “Alora!” someone warned. Turning around to see who called me, I was met by a man from the apprentice’s army.
I raised my arm in time to absorb the force of his blow with my shield. I dropped to one knee and sliced at his leg, severing it at the knee. When he went down I thrust my sword into his chest. Game over. Turning around there were more enemy knights rushing towards me. I decided to try something. I dispersed my shield and sheathed my sword. I aimed one hand at the wizard and one at the enemy knights charging towards us.
The wizard nodded and held his hand out. I pulled both arms close to me and then pushed outwards with as much force as I could summon. The enemy launched into the air in all directions and I stayed put, thanks to the wizard absorbing the pressure created by my other arm. When they hit the ground they were easy pickings. Tessa, Aednat, Thomas, Ryanne and all the others were on top of them before they could rise to their feet.
I summoned my shield and prepared to draw my sword, but before I could relish in that small victory I felt something hit my shield. Lifting my arm to look at what it was, there sticking out of it was a one foot long knife. Unsure of what direction it came from I summoned a second shield. Trying to avoid thinking of what could’ve happened if I hadn’t summoned my shield, I searched for the thrower.
And found him. I locked eyes with him and he charged. As I maneuvered into a throwing position I dispersed one shield and replaced it with a knife of my own. Twisting the shield to protect my back, I launched the knife and pierced his throat.
Three blows of the horn sounded and I turned to see why. The drawbridge was down and a mob was making a run for the king. The king had the wizard and his immediate guard to protect him so I thought he should be fine.
“What are you doing?” Aednat yelled, running towards me. She raised her shield and hit me hard. I lost my balance and fell to the ground. When I turned to see why she had attacked me, her shield was hit by a battle axe. I jumped to my feet and summoned a bow. I released the arrow and impaled her attacker through his heart. His lifeless body went limp and dropped in one fluid movement. “Thanks,” I said.
“Don’t mention it.” Her eyes bulged out of her head. “Look out!”
I summoned my shield and sword and turned. My shield blocked my front and my sword was already thrusting forward, like we had been trained to do if someone tried to sneak up on us. He wasn’t expecting me to react so quickly and his weight pulled my sword down with him. I pulled it out of his chest and looked for more attackers. The knightlys had the enemy under control. Tessa was easily handling three at a time. Silas and the others were doing the same. This army was no match for us.
When I gazed past them to the wizard, he was busy fighting off the mob. The king needed us now. I sent another firewall up and prevented the rest of the mob from getting closer. Then I ignited another firewall behind me, this one higher than the first and pushed both firewalls back simultaneously. Anyone not a Ly’verian knight ran screaming and some didn’t run fast enough. I would have nightmares featuring their screams, I was sure of it. The firewall pushed the mob back towards the river and one by one they fell in.
Only the mob that had engaged the king, the wizard and his guard were a threat now.
Playing with fire was becoming an addiction by now and so I figured why not. I ignited a circle of fire around the remaining mob that was engaged with the king, the wizard and his guard. They were all fighting trying to hold them off. The wizard stood back to back with the king. There were at least thirty, no forty, men trying to slay them, when I saw Silas sprinting his way towards the circle of fire, I sighed in relief. I bolted to the circle, the firewall parted and allowed me entry.
The king had separated from the wizard and was busy fighting two knights while the wizard was busy trying to stave off five. One of the enemy’s men tried to slice me, but I deflected his sword and sliced his stomach. Another tried to chop me in half, like I was a tree. I dodged to the side and removed his arm in one swing. My shield vanished and I drew my sword from its sheath. Wielding two swords I cut my way towards the king, cutting through the enemy as if they were overgrown bushes.
In the corner of my eye I saw someone soaring higher than necessary to clear the fire. When I looked directly at him, I was glad to see Silas was making his way into the ring of fire. He was going to land by the king. That would be helpful until I could make it to him. Thomas landed by me and helped. Tessa was next. She was dodging and slithering past the enemy, trying to make her way to the wizard and his fight, but before she could make it to him, the wizard yelled, “Shoot him Alora. Silas... shoot him.” I was confused for a moment. All I heard was shoot. I summoned my bow, sure that Thomas would protect me if need be. I twisted around looking for my target. I only saw Silas descending towards the king. “Shoot Alora... shoot Silas!”
Silas’ sword was aimed down ready to slay the king. I aimed, but couldn’t release. I couldn’t be seeing what I was seeing. Silas was one of us. I released the arrow and missed. I pulled another arrow and released. I missed again. The wizard summoned his staff, sprinted towards the king and dug his staff into the ground. He launched sideways, gliding a mere inch off the ground towards the king. He pushed the king out of the way with such force that the king stumbled to the ground and then Silas landed and his sword pierced the wizard. I yelled out to the knightlys, “Protect the king,” and they ran to surround him and held their positions while I ran to help the wizard.
“I’m sorry teacher. I didn’t mean to harm you,” Silas told the wizard.
I couldn’t believe what was happening. “Silas, what have you done?” I dispersed my bow and kneeled by the wizard. He focused on me and pulled me close. His lips were next to my ear when he spoke. “Find the dragon wizard. You met him that night in the square.”
“The dragon wizard?”
“Aye. Tell him I sent you. He will teach you how to use your powers. Protect the king. You swore. His whole body started to glow and my body felt as though it was on fire. “I’ve given you my powers.”
“Where do I find him. Wizard? Where do I find him?” But it was too late, the life had left his body.
Silas reached out to shake the wizard, but I pushed his arm away. “Get away from him!” I half cried, half yelled.
I swept the area quickly as I knelt by the wizard, trying to see through the blurriness of my tears. The king was safe, surrounded by the knightlys and his guard had dispatched the remainder of the mob. It was over or so I thought.
King Remi was whispering in Tessa’s ear. She nodded, dipped low and walking foot over foot, crept up on Silas. She had dispersed her armor so that he wouldn’t hear her sneaking up on him. I looked over his shoulder waiting for the right moment. I tried to signal, no, with a light twist of my head. Silas noticed my wavering glance. When his eyes turned into slits, I reached out and tried to grab his arm. He summoned a sword, turned and thrust it through Tessa’s heart. His sword vanished and his armor disappeared. “NO! What have you done?” I yelled. I climbed to my feet and ran to Tessa.
Kneeling by her side, I scooped her up and cradled her in my arms. Blood flowed out of her wound and pooled underneath us. I rocked her gently. When I looked down upon Tessa’s face again, her eyes were open and didn’t move.
“Tessa?” I whispered. “Tessa?” I whispered once more.
Tessa lay lifeless. The anger within me rose to the surface. I jumped to my feet and my eyes began to glow. The bluish light shown so vividly that it reflected off the armor of the knights around me. They had never been so bright up until now. I yelled, “Silas!” He was on his knees holding his head low. “For all that you have done. For the lives you have taken here. I will make you pay!”
I drew my sword, summoned another and crossed them. I rested the blades on Silas’ shoulders. The anger bubbled inside of me, the anger... the love... the anger.... “How could you do this?” I mumbled. “Why?”
“I’m the apprentice,” he muttered.
“Alora! No!” someone shouted. “Clear a path!”
The knightlys broke their formation around the king. He emerged and raced to my side. “He will pay for his treason, but if you sever his head, you will no longer be capable of performing magic.”
King Remi placed his hand on my wrist and motioned that it was alright. One sword disappeared and I sheathed the other. The blue light dimmed around me. The king called to the knightlys. “Take him into custody. He will return with us to the castle. When we arrive, see him to the dungeon.”
“Aye, Your Majesty,” Thomas said angrily. He placed one hand under Silas’ arm and Aednat with her large size, latched onto Silas’ other one and lifted him to his feet. He broke free, reached for Aednat’s sword and rushed for the king. The king’s back was turned and when he spun to face the commotion, Silas was charging with his sword at the ready. I had but a moment to decide. I summoned a bow and arrow, pulled the cord back, took aim and released.
Silas... the apprentice... groaned as the arrow traveled through his shoulder and the force of its impact knocked him forward into Davina. The king, grateful for my quick thinking, gazed upon me. I was still standing in the archers pose, another arrow at the ready, my eyes shining blue and tears running down the sides of my face. In that moment, that second when the apprentice had made his move, I decided to protect the king as the wizard had instructed me. I released the tension and lowered my bow.
“Thank you, Alora. The wizard was wise in choosing you as his apprentice and now you stand before me as my first knight,” King Remi said.
“What happens now?” I asked him.
“The apprentice has been defeated, what remains of his army is retreating. We have won. We shall return to our castle and rest. We must increase our numbers in order to retake the other kingdoms from his rule. We depart for home immediately.”
“Aye, Your Majesty.”
I watched the knightlys load Tessa and the wizard’s body onto a supply carriage and then form up ahead of the king. The horn blew signaling for all knights to return to the castle.