Chapter Fifteen

Silver streaked the eastern sky as they reached the top of a high ridge. Alloweth had been late in coming to their quarters, but he managed to lead them safely beyond the boundaries of the valley before dawn.

Valla had her weapons back, and her armor returned in much better shape. Vadin’s clothes were also mended and clean. Their eldrin allies had provided a map, travel rations, and two dark cloaks.

A thin mist trailed over the ground, pooling between the trees. In the dim pre-dawn light, the forest looked like nothing but shades of gray. A cool dampness hung in the air, water droplets suspended from the tips of every branch and leaf.

“Do you think Alloweth will be punished?” she asked, as they started downhill, into the next valley.

“Hard to say,” Vadin answered. “Huranthir certainly won’t be happy, but I don’t know much about their internal politics. Alloweth seems to have support.”

“Hopefully their spying globe will function properly and make all the risk worthwhile.”

She’d just finished her sentence, when a familiar buzzing clicking sound reached her ears. She grabbed Vadin and pulled him under the cover of a low-growing tree.

“A swarm.” She pointed at the mass of creatures coming into view beyond the tree boughs. Their insect-like shapes made stark silhouettes against the brightening sky.

“Thankfully they’re flying high up,” Vadin whispered. “I don’t think they’ll spot us.”

“I wonder where they’re going.”

As if in answer to her question, the swarm made a beeline for the valley, dropping in altitude as they passed over the intervening ridge.

“They shouldn’t be able to see the settlement through the protective warding.” Vadin’s brow furrowed. “I don’t understand what they’re doing.”

“Sssh.” Valla strained to hear. She could just detect the distant clang of weapons and tromp of heavy feet. “I think there’s trouble.”

Keeping to the thickest cover, she hurried back up the slope, Vadin close behind. As they neared the top, the first scent of smoke reached them. Screams joined the clamor of battle noise rising from the valley.

“Stay low,” she warned, peering over the crest of the ridge.

From this vantage point, it was difficult to see much, but she could make out a few areas of the settlement burning. Somehow the magic shield had been destroyed.

She raced along the ridge, looking for a better view of what was happening, at last finding a break in the foliage. Keeping hidden behind a stout tree trunk, she surveyed the chaos below.

What must have been the empress’ forces ran rampant through the valley, dragging eldrin from their homes, and setting buildings on fire. There were packs, of the same kind that attacked through the portal, along with the swarm of flying bugs.

In addition to these, oversized fur-clad barbarians joined the fray. Something about their lumbering movements and massive shoulders made her think of trolkin. They fought mostly with axes and clubs, plowing through the valley like wild boars let loose in a rose garden.

“We have to help the eldrin!” Valla plunged down the slope, reaching for her sword.

Vadin leapt alongside, grabbing her around the waist in a desperate tackle, knocking them both to the ground. They rolled a few feet, before thumping into a boulder.

“What are you doing?” she growled, pushing him away.

“Trying to keep you from getting killed. There are too many of them. You won’t stand a chance.”

“But we have to do something!”

“Agreed.”

“Then move out of my way.”

“No. I won’t see you hurt.”

“Then what do you suggest?” She glared at him. “People are dying down there.”

“I’ll cast a spell, to deal with the empress’ troops.”

“Can you really do that?” There were hundreds of them, possibly thousands, counting each insect in the swarm.

“I can try. It’ll require a lot of energy, but—”

“Here. I’ll help” She scooted next to him and rested her hands on his shoulders. Closing her eyes, she began building the energy in her center, breathing it up through her chest and down her arms into him like she’d done before.

“I’ll try not to use too much,” he said, concern tightening his voice.

“Don’t worry about that. Just do what needs to be done. I’m strong.”

“I know you are.”

“Then hush. Concentrate on casting the spell.”

He fell silent, and the draw on her energy increased. The process came more naturally than the first time she’d tried. She could feel her vital essence and his mingling, swirling together into a brilliant vortex of power.

The connection was unlike anything else she’d experienced, heady and intoxicating, yet also personal, unique to her and Vadin. It was much more intense than the previous time, perhaps because the emotional channels between them had opened.

The magic built higher and higher, till Vadin shone like the white sun, rising behind the hills. He cried aloud an incantation, flinging his arms out, toward the eldrin settlement. A whip-crack sound marked the spell’s release, followed by a moment of eerie silence.

The fighting stopped. No more clashing weapons, no more battle cries. The empress’ ground forces crumpled, on the spot, and her swarm dropped from the sky.

“You did it,” Valla murmured, hardly believing her eyes.

Vadin slumped against her, his face slack, eyes rolled back, and skin cold. He’d pushed himself over the edge, protecting her from giving too much energy.

Fear lanced through her belly. What if he died? She couldn’t bear the thought. Not now, after they’d come so far together.

She had to get him help. The eldrin knew about magic. If she could just carry him down to the valley, they might be able to restore him. If only her limbs weren’t so wobbly.

Gritting her teeth, she grabbed him under the arms and tried to stand. Black spots danced in her vision, and the world spun. She sank back to the ground, barely clutching at consciousness.

Somehow, she had to move him, at least far enough to be concealed. What if the empress sent more monsters? How could she fight them, in this state?

With her last bit of strength, she crawled toward a more sheltered spot, hauling Vadin with her. As she finally struggled into a dense thicket, she passed out, his body sprawled loosely across hers.

****

Valla gradually came awake. Sunlight sifted down through red boughs, warming her skin. Next to where she lay, a blue wildflower bobbed in the breeze, tapping her cheek with an irregular rhythm. A hint of smoke tainted the air, but all was quiet.

Vadin’s weight rested across her torso and thighs, where he’d been when she lost consciousness. With care, she eased him off to the side, rolling him to lie on his back. He stirred, murmuring something she couldn’t understand.

“Vadin?” She touched his brow, brushing long pale hair away from his face.

His features reminded her of Alloweth’s, with his sharp cheekbones, chiseled jawline, and narrow nose. But his face had a masculine strength the eldrin lacked. Alloweth was fair and pretty, but Vadin was magnetic.

The attraction that began as a wary fascination had deepened into something more. Exactly what, she couldn’t say. Last night they’d acknowledged friendship, but that label didn’t begin to describe the complexity of her feelings.

Now that she knew his story, understanding softened her view of his past actions. He’d admitted his mistakes and was trying to make amends. There was unquestionable goodness in him. The fact he’d risked his life, to save the eldrin settlement, offered ample proof.

She placed her hand over his heart, reassured by the steady beat and the slow rise and fall of his breathing. At least he’d survived casting the spell. Sorcery of that magnitude would kill a lesser man.

Perhaps his dragon soul made him strong. He’d told her how it slowed his aging. What other effects might it have?

That aspect of his tale intrigued her. He was part dragon, born of human parents. How was that possible? Yet she’d felt the truth of it, when their energy blended in working magic. They shared a kinship, soul to soul, more alike than she ever would have guessed.

“Please wake up.” She traced his cheek and jaw line with her finger. “I need to know you’re going to be all right.”

If she fed him energy, would it speed his healing? Though she didn’t feel completely back to normal, she was in better shape than Vadin. It would be worth a little sacrifice to help his recovery.

She knelt by his side, spreading her hands over his chest, and breathing energy down her arms. It felt warm and tingly, pulsing through her palms and fingers. She began to see its flow, like a shimmering gold stream, similar to Orwenna’s healing powers.

Were the same dormant abilities awakening in herself? How strange, to think someone who’d spent their life training in the arts of battle might also be a healer. She rather liked the idea.

As the intensity of the energy current increased, she slipped into a trance. Time slowed then lost all meaning, as she drifted in a dreamlike bubble, nothing existing but the connection between her and Vadin.

Uninhibited, her feelings for him swelled, expanding her heart. In this state, she knew no caution, no doubt. Without a second thought, she leaned forward, kissing the proud curve of his mouth.

His scent, taste, and texture filled her awareness, as he woke and responded, kissing her back. Their breath mingled, lips caressing, sending shivers of pleasure through her body. Energy poured from her, into him, a flood of warmth and vitality.

Without warning he pulled away, breaking the contact and pushing her hands from his chest.

“Conserve your energy,” he told her, his voice stern. “You can’t afford to waste it on me.”

“I didn’t waste anything. I healed you.”

She meant to speak more forcefully, but her mind turned to mush, and her vision blurred. Perhaps it wasn’t just the kiss affecting her. She might have drained her energy too low, without realizing it.

“You don’t know when to stop,” he spoke more gently now, worry evident in his eyes. “I won’t let you harm yourself.”

“But it worked. You woke up.”

“Yes.” His serious expression softened. “And a very pleasant awakening it was. Thank you.”

She wanted to say something fitting, but the trees spun, and she eased back into the grass, closing her eyes.

“Just a little dizzy,” she mumbled.

“See. You gave me too much.”

Moving closer, he stroked her hair, his touch light as feathers. He spoke a quiet incantation, and comfort spread from the top of her head, all the way to her toes. The nausea and shakes vanished, and when she opened her eyes, the world no longer spun.

“Now you’ll be weak and woozy, from using magic too soon,” she scolded, sitting up. “I would have been fine, with a little rest.”

He grinned. “We could go back and forth like this all day. But thankfully, we’re both conscious and mostly functional. Let’s call things even.”

“All right.”

He handed her the water flask, and opened their travel rations. “We should both eat plenty and take it easy for a while. Magic can be hard on a body.”

“It felt quite good, while it was happening.”

“We do have an uncommonly strong connection. I would never have expected it to come so naturally.” He studied her, his eyes thoughtful. “Without your help, I don’t think I’d have survived that spell. It seems I owe you my life, yet again.”

She didn’t know what to say, caught in his silver gaze, the memory of their kiss still fresh in her mind.

He looked away first, glancing down at the settlement, where wisps of smoke still rose from the smoldering ruins. They appeared utterly deserted, no signs of life or movement anywhere. The eldrin had probably all fled, fearing more of the empress’ soldiers might be on their way.

“Do you think it’s our fault this happened?” The words caught in her throat as she spoke them. The valley had been a wonderful place. It hurt to see such beauty destroyed.

He shook his head. “No. If the empress knew where we were, she’d have tried to capture us before now. I’m guessing she learned the settlement’s location from the missing scout party. She also knew how to break the protective warding.”

“I just wish we could have done more.”

“We saved many lives. That counts for something.” He spoke gently, offering her food.

Sadness dampened her appetite, but sustenance was needed for a full recovery. She forced herself to eat, tearing her gaze away from the battle-ravaged valley.

“I’m starting to really hate this empress person,” she said, between bites. “The eldrin here weren’t doing her any harm.”

“I can’t be sure of her motives, but if she’s anything like the dragon lords, she wants total rule—without exception.”

“The sooner we get Hathos and Oliana away from her, the better.” Valla pushed to her feet, stretching to work the tightness out of her body. “I’m ready to leave.”

“Remember we need to pace ourselves. Give our strength time to rebuild.”

“So that means no more magic.” She pointed a finger at him. “If we run into trouble, let me handle it.”

“As you wish.”