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Shanis sprang to her feet, all of her fatigue forgotten. Adrenaline coursing through her, she dashed down the stairs, out onto the street, and toward the city wall. The others kept pace with her, shouting warnings and urging caution, but she scarcely heard them. This was the moment she had been destined for and she would face it head on and without fear.
She clambered up onto the wall and looked out. The Ice King strode forward, radiating blue light and exuding power. No one could stand close to him. It was as if an invisible force pushed everyone away, or perhaps even his own people found his presence repelling. He raised his hand and pointed toward the city. As one, his minions surged forward once again and renewed their attack, weapons and voices raised.
Meanwhile, Shanis’ own forces quailed. Weapons slid from numb fingers. Men fell to their knees. She had to do something. She glanced at Gillen, who seemed to know what she was thinking immediately.
“Stand and fight!” her magically amplified voice boomed. “I am with you, and we will not fail!”
Her words seemed to hearten her forces and once again, missiles flew into the enemy ranks, but the Ice King kept coming. She knew no one else could stop him. It had to be her.
“Can you cushion my fall?” she asked Gillen.
The young bone woman blanched and gave a single nod.
“Tell me when.” Shanis’ heart was in her throat as she heard Gillen whisper a spell.
“Now,” Gillen said.
Shanis leaped off the wall. She felt the brief sensation of falling and then she slowed as if she’d plunged into deep water. Her feet touched the ground and she charged forward. She was aware of Granlor, Heztus, and Gillen leaping down off the wall behind her, and she cursed them for their foolishness.
The attackers parted before her until nothing stood between her and the Ice King. She looked upon him and revulsion welled within her.
He looked almost human. His hooded cloak had fallen back, revealing a hairless head and burning red eyes. Cracks ran through his pale blue skin and he gleamed like moonlight shining on snow. Waves of cold seem to roll off of him and she began to shiver uncontrollably. The Silver Serpent came alive in her hand. It jerked, trying to get to the Ice King. Suddenly aware of the danger she and everyone else was in, Shanis concentrated, trying to gain control of the sword’s power.
Before she could make a move, Granlor cried out in defiance and charged forward to meet the Ice King’s attack.
“Granlor, no!” She cried
It was too late. The Ice King didn’t even raise his sword. With a dismissive swipe of his hand, he sent Granlor flying backward. The young Monaghan warrior smashed into the city wall with a sickening thud and fell to the ground.
Rage coursed through Shanis and with it came the power of the sword. The serpent mark on her chest burned. She sprang down off the wall and hurled all her power at the glowing figure.
The Ice King raised his own sword and sent a burst of power back at her. The sorcerous blasts, if that is what they were, met with an unearthly force. White-hot light met cold blue flame in the air between them. A crackle like lightning filled the air and the forces shattered like glass. The explosion tore through those closest to the Ice King and knocked others off their feet for a distance of twenty paces or more, but neither Shanis nor her enemy even felt it.
In two strides, she closed the gap between them and lashed out with all her might, pouring her will and her power into her sword stroke. The Ice King parried her stroke and the sound of their blades meeting shattered the air like the sound of a thousand panes of glass breaking.
The Silver Serpent was alive in her hands as she slashed, thrust, and parried. But no matter her efforts, the blade never came close to her enemy. As she fought, a powerful sense of hopelessness rose within her, and a voice whispered inside her mind.
You cannot defeat me. Many have tried and all have failed
“You were beaten before. By this weapon.” She struck again with all her might. The Ice King laughed, a cold, hard sound, as he once again parried her stroke.
Is that what you have been told? Your ancestors poured all the powers of the gods into your sword, yet here I am.
He swung his sword again and Shanis scarcely managed to duck beneath the blade. She felt the cool breeze as it whistled inches above her.
“You were defeated!” She grunted, thrusting at him and dancing away.
I was delayed, but you cannot deny that I now stand before you, stronger than ever. Blood sacrifice has given me power beyond measure.
He swung his sword again, this time with such force that Shanis felt the blow all the way down to her ankles when she parried it.
She fell back, uncertain. Could she hope to defeat him? He was not wrong – whatever the legends claimed, he had not been defeated, at least not entirely. Furthermore, she still knew so little about the sword. She wielded it, yes, but she knew neither its limitations nor the full extent of its power. What a fool she had been to think she could stop the Frostmarch. Who was she, after all, but a spoiled, temperamental farm girl?
The Ice King read her thoughts.
You are beginning to understand. Surrender and you may live. You may all serve me. There is no use in fighting. Too many have already died for your folly.
Shanis winced and felt her will to resist waver. Something deep inside her wanted to obey. After all, many would die if she continued to fight, but if she surrendered...
Perhaps you are not as foolish as I had believed. Drop your sword and kneel before the Ice King.
Her resolve crumbling, she lowered her sword.