Feel the Burn (36 page)

Crap!
came Kassie’s thought.
I guess scents aren’t shielded that well.

Sito’s large brown eyes, whites showing, rolled down to stare anxiously at Sian. Both animals snarled now, crests expanded and their angry cries grew louder.

Loi’s heart hammered and everyone stared in horror; those bloody things will give us away!

A Halenine fae leaped into action, diving at the one furthest from Sito and bit it. The animal slumped dead to the ground. The second creature uttered a high pitched shriek and vanished. Sito solved the problem, dropping his open mouth over the now invisible animal. The muffled shriek from within the dragon’s massive jaw cut off with a loud crunch, making more than one soldier wince.

All eyes turned to Kassie while she focused on the shield, and Loi called out to the plants.

Any more?

Not in your immediate vicinity.

We’ll let you know if more approach.

Rest, earth one.

Loi thanked them then let Kassie know. At her sign everyone relaxed and moved freely around. Ignatius, Belsesus, the other Lieutenants, and Gredel, and Daron, all stood further down the hill, looking off a rise that offered a better view of the valley they perched on the side of. Sabyn stood a few meters down from Loi and beckoned her over.

The humor had vanished and the lust too, thankfully. Having someone point it out as a chemical reaction made it easier to put in perspective. The sudden lack of either made me feel empty at first, an odd sensation after so many days of intense emotions. Ignatius appeared at my side while I stood with Kassie, still holding her hand as I coaxed her energy back up to strength. The strain of constantly holding a shield over us all began to eat at her, not that she couldn’t handle it, but with such stakes it created a higher level of pressure.

Hey, Cat,
Loi’s voice popped into my mind.
Iggy’s looking grouchy; maybe you should do your bow-chic-a-wow-wow and cheer him up.

I shot a pointed look at Kassie who silently laughed, shoulders shaking.

Is nothing sacred?

Nope! Not between us.

‘Princess!’

‘Ignatius,’ I interrupted dryly before he could continue. It stopped him short for a moment and he frowned, head slightly cocked like a bewildered dog. At that point every trace of lust vanished; what the hell had I been thinking?

Chemical reaction, my rational voice reassured me, dumb chemical reaction. Yeuch, shuddered my silly voice.

Studying me, Ignatius’ eyes narrowed and he seized my upper arm, dragging me off. I flipped my fingers in farewell at Kassie then rolled my eyes when she danced her awful attempt at sexy dance moves. Rumal’s eyebrows shot high enough that they looked to touch his hair line.

‘You don’t need to drag me. I’m quite capable of walking.’

I didn’t think my comment required the heated glare he shot me and I stared steadily back while a frown developed.

‘What?’

The tone and look all felt wrong and Ignatius stared at her, baffled, before releasing her arm.

‘My apologies.’

Cat’s eyes seemed somehow veiled and she nodded.

‘Did you wish to show me something?’

Where was the desire she’d expressed earlier? He knew damn well he hadn’t imagined it. It took him a moment to respond while he regained his composure.

‘Uhh…I thought to show you the castle, and the enemy already gathered.’

The mask slipped from her eyes and she nodded, face tense with apprehension.

‘Of course.’

I booted myself mentally while following Ignatius. Curse my glass face! It seemed he might have picked up on my earlier…err…intentions.

Just keep it appropriately friendly, I thought, you’ll be fine.

I edged my way down the steep slope while he strode ahead, knowing if I tried to copy his walk I’d fall on my face. He reached the outlook where the other Lieutenants stood and they all turned to look while I scooted down the hillside, not quite on my backside but close enough. The men developed that patronizing expression of humoring a simpleton. Gredel offered a hand when I got within reach and winked when I twisted my mouth to stop a smile, knowing how silly I looked.

‘Well you don’t want me cart-wheeling off down the hillside now,’ I muttered and straightened up, brushing my hands off.

Belsesus nodded with a stern set mouth but eyes that laughed at me.

‘Very true, Princess.’

The trees grew taller down here, with just enough undergrowth to provide concealment from those on the valley floor. My stomach made an unpleasant flip-flop when my eyes adjusted to the slowly dimming light and I registered the mass of moving bodies. I felt my face pale and unintentionally began to count, not realizing my lips moved until Larvaste spoke.

‘At least twenty thousand, Princess,’ the centaur said quietly, with a hint of underlying sympathy.

‘Not counting their mounts,’ added Rashid.

That’s it, I realized, having wondered at the odd shapes I stared at.

‘Are they goblins?’ I asked, squinting.

‘Yes, on their jehyns. Just as nasty as their riders and armed with teeth and a mean set of tusks,’ Gredel said, his tone sounded casual but a flicker of distaste moved over his face.

Some of the shapes I stared at looked familiar and I felt silly asking it but did so anyway.

‘Are there humans down there?’

Gredel looked at me in surprise.

‘Yes, Cat. Jenviet’s army isn’t just made of her creations. Most who bear arms are Arumites, be they human or otherwise.’

‘Why?’ I asked, stunned.

Ignatius, standing beside me, shrugged.

‘The usual reason, Princess. If Jenviet won it would benefit them greatly. There’s always two sides to a battle.’

‘Don’t they want to be rid of her?’ I couldn’t fathom why they’d help the psychotic blond.

‘Most do,’ Gredel said, his voice thick for an instant. ‘Those who fight with her have their own interests at heart, not the realm’s.’

Ignatius squeezed my shoulder and seeing he’d gained my attention, pointed, and I followed the gesture.

‘That’s the castle, Princess, where we need to get you and the others to.’

Situated at the narrow mouth of the valley, it sat perched on a rocky rise, maybe a half a day’s walk if the valley weren’t so full of enemies. My mouth went dry while I stared at that stone structure, eyes no longer seeing, as the memory of Alek on that stone floor with that hellish creature approaching him filled my mind. The knowledge that the castle I stared at was the place where he and Yakov died, infuriated me. I wanted to tear the revolting building apart, brick by brick.

In a voice rough with anger I asked, ‘Couldn’t we just fly, drop in and do it?’

Gredel reached out and squeezed my other shoulder. I turned to meet his eyes. Sympathy and sorrow glimmered in his gaze, then he pointed at the castle too.

‘No, look closer, Cat. See the roofs?’

Squinting while wishing my gift would somehow give me binocular vision, I saw a shimmer of movement.

‘What is that?’

‘Rapthnas. A rage of them.’

‘A rage?’

‘A non family group of males. The clans kick the males out once they reach puberty and they often group together to form a rage,’ explained Daron, standing behind Gredel.

I chewed on the inside of my cheek. Rapthnas—the most vicious of all dragons on Gar’nyse, the same breed that killed Sito’s clan.

‘How are we meant to deal with them?’

Chaieth, standing beside Larvaste who stood next to Ignatius, shifted his feet causing the weapons sheathed to his armor to chime softly, and I turned my head to look at him.

‘We draw them out. The griffons are good but without the skill to leap they are seriously disadvantaged. We continue down the hill here and approach the enemy head on.’

‘But twenty thousand,’ I breathed and fear gripped me. Our twelve hundred soldiers and allies, not counting the Halenine fae, against twenty thousand enemies as well as their mounts?

‘There will be more by morning,’ Rashid said flatly.

I looked at him in shock, ‘What?’

Belsesus regarded me sympathetically.

‘They know we’re here, Princess. Not necessarily our position, but they know we’re in the valley.’

‘How can you tell?’

‘By the way their regiments are positioned and the obvious patrolling. They’re looking for someone and I can’t imagine they’re expecting anyone else,’ the centaur said dryly. ‘After Alek and Yakov been taken we can safely assume we’re walking into a trap.’

I stared down at the organized lines of enemy, fanning out from the castle.

‘Why don’t they attack now?’

‘Again, Princess, they may not know our exact position. And why attack when they know we’ll come to them.’

The men all moved off, sorting various matters and discussing tactics. I sat on the moist leafy ground and stared at the castle. Gredel sat beside me. It wasn’t as impressive as the castle in Elion, much smaller in fact. From our position I counted five round towers of varying sizes that made up the structure. It looked like whoever built it hadn’t known what they wanted, so kept adding what they required. A dark zigzag of a path led the way up the rocky base and when my eyes focused I saw movement along the track. So many enemies, I thought in despair. How are any of us meant to survive? How will I keep my promise to Alek?

‘It’s not as awful as it looks, Cat.’

Gredel’s soft deep voice made me glance at him and he nudged my bent knees with one of his.

‘Really?’

He nodded and I noticed how much his hair had grown since we’d left, the messy strawberry blond tufts curling into soft ringlets.

‘With you four and the Halenine fae, we do have advantages.’

‘What about you guys and the griffs?’

‘Ahh, well the rapthnas will make it tricky, but the griffs know how to utilize Sito’s leap now so that’ll be interesting.’ He smiled kindly at me. ‘Don’t look so upset. It isn’t your fault this is happening, Cat, but you may be able to win this for us. Everyone here knows their chance of returning is slim, nothing will change that. You just focus on your task, and then at the very least there is a chance that those we left behind will be safe.’ He reached out an arm and hugged my shoulders, then stood and climbed back up to the others.

I stayed on the outlook, watching the valley slowly turn amber from the setting sun.

*~*~*

Chapter Twenty Eight

Sian listened while Daron discussed various tactics with Nesha and Sito, as Sabyn and Rumal talked nearby. When the light dimmed the soldiers set their torches about the site unlit, relying on the glow given off by the chemicals. Gredel joined the other men and Cat appeared from further down the track, and helped the cook—providing heat for boiling water and cooking food. After dinner Sian watched Cat sit with Kassie, linking energy to provide some relief. It frustrated her to watch the ease with which Cat could use her energy now.

If only our energy would evolve too, Sian thought, the outcome of this battle would be certain. Cat’s energy sounded so quiet compared to theirs and it had a resonance that even Elena’s energy didn’t have. Daron squeezed her arm and she glanced up with a smile, shrugging away his questioning look with a wry glance at Cat. He drew her close, brown eyes warm and kissed her forehead.

‘Don’t fret about what you can’t change, Pix,’ he murmured in her ear. She wrinkled her nose at him then tiptoed to kiss the bottom of his chin and settled against him. Loi cleared her throat and all heads turned to look at her.

‘I have an idea to possibly reduce the numbers.’

Sabyn gave Loi an encouraging nod and Sian threw a glance to Daron before making her way across to her friend, winding an arm around her waist.

Speak up, we all want to hear.

Loi’s cheekbones jutted out when she looked down at Sian with a tiny smile.

Thanks, hun.

Anytime.

‘Beneath the valley floor is littered with caves, especially to the far side of the valley, an internal canyon runs deep there. I think I could collapse it all.’
 

In the muted light the torches and Cat’s fire gave off, all the soldiers’ eyes looked black, and the Nyjens’ violet eyes glowed as they stared at Loi, bodies tense.

‘How can we get them to move?’ Sabyn said and he looked at Gredel and Daron, the three of them wearing speculative expressions while they discussed ideas.

‘If we could get a group of soldiers to the other side of the valley,’ suggested Oomoth.

Rashid nodded. ‘Or, give the illusion of ranks on that side.’

‘The Griffon Guard?’ asked Ignatius.

‘But the rapthnas!’

The debate got intense while they flung theories and ideas about—until Kassie solved it.

‘I can do it.’

Everyone stopped mid conversation and locked their eyes on her. Kassie explained while gesturing wildly like she did when excited. Sian smiled and felt Loi’s amusement while they watched their friend.

‘I can create the image of an army, from dust or even just air and I think I can create the sound of one. As long as it isn’t full sun it’ll work.’

‘Couldn’t you pull a storm in, Kass?’ Rumal asked.

‘I could, but not at the same time. I’d need to focus on one then the other. Would a storm help?’

‘Perhaps. If we set off just before dawn it’ll solve the issue of the rapthnas too.’

Loi spoke up then, ‘And I could come, it’ll be a better view from there.’

All the men around Sian got animated while they planned possible attacks, but Daron made them pause.

‘Without Kassie, how will we get down the hill undetected?’

All the gazes turned to Sian and Cat who exchanged a glance. Neither of them created an invisible shield the way Kassie could—because of the nature of their elements a hint of shimmer and color tended to remain.

But still, thought Sian, better than no shield at all and she nodded.

‘We’ll need a hint of light, but yes, we can do it.’

‘At first light then,’ declared Larvaste.

It grew darker still and everyone settled around the large low fire Cat created, the strange cries of night creatures echoing through the valley. Kassie sat between Rumal and Cat, her friend’s energy humming through her and it made holding the shield in place easy. She relaxed against Rumal and he settled his arm around her firmly, one large hand tucked around her thigh. The centaurs, griffons, and Sito, sat behind everyone, and quite a few goblins made themselves at home on the dragon and griffons. The halenine fae sat on the ground close to the fire, enjoying the heat and everyone listened while soldiers and allies took turns discussing past battles or suggesting ideas for the next day. Nostalgia and sorrow threaded through the conversations and, when a lull developed, one of the Rodhite centaurs started to sing. It wasn’t an extraordinary voice but pleasant with the hint of richness deepening the tone, and the song—slow, simple and honest with pure notes—sounded hauntingly beautiful against the ominous backdrop. Around the fire, heads started to droop and then disappear while men sought what little sleep could be had. Kassie jolted awake when Cat squeezed her hand before leaving and Rumal chuckled at her, brushing her curly locks back then pressed a kiss to her forehead.

‘C’mon.’ He lifted Kassie to her feet. ‘It’s Loi’s turn to shield and you need some sleep.’

It relieved her to let go of the shield, to not focus on anything but Rumal’s arms around her, and the soothing scent of Kerak’s fur when they settled beside the griffon for the night. The chainmail wasn’t the most comfortable to sleep in but with the stresses of the day catching up, she found it easy to doze off.

Ignatius kept a firm hold of my hand while we walked to where Loushka lay, snuggled with Phroma, and Tomiar. Nesha, Kerak, and Sito slept on the other side of the army. Ignatius settled next to Loushka and the griffon swiveled her head to regard him.

‘Just this once,’
she thought to me.
‘And only as it’s a dire situation.’

‘I promise I’ll never tell,’
I thought teasingly.

‘Good,’
she grunted in an attempt at ill humor though her eyes looked warm.
‘Try to sleep well.’

‘Will do, you too.’

I settled beside Ignatius, the two of us shifting while we tried to get comfortable. The solid ground and chainmail both chilled me, my backside unpleasantly numb and I shivered in the cooling air. With a grumble of impatience Ignatius abruptly shifted me so I sat between his legs.

‘Don’t protest,’ he said gruffly. ‘You’ll keep me up all night with that shivering. How is it the fire Elemental can feel the cold?’

‘Pass,’ I said, shuffling around until comfy. ‘How is it men keep so warm?’

I wasn’t about to protest, the cold crept right into my thigh bones making them ache, and the warmth radiating from his thighs felt lovely. I twisted to the side, head against his chest and relaxed while trying hard to keep all thoughts out of my mind. It’d be nice to get some sleep. He folded his arms around me but the cold still clung, chilling me, and I had to do it. I flowed energy out around us, and even the griffons, keeping it at a pleasant temperature until the hard dirt beneath us warmed.

‘You can stop now,’ whispered Ignatius. ‘Or I’ll get too warm.’

Drowsy from the warmth, I nodded and pulled it back in, dozing off.

Ignatius never usually slept on the eve of battle but the warmth Cat created soothed him into a lull. A firm hand on his shoulder made him jerk awake, body reacting instantly, and he flipped Cat onto the ground behind him.

‘Peace, Ignatius,’ said an amused voice. ‘It’s Cat’s turn to shield.’

The dim light from the lamp Sabyn offered showed the faint smile he wore when he handed the torch over before disappearing in the dark. Behind Ignatius Cat muttered as she staggered to her feet and he reached to steady her before realizing he clutched a dagger. He slid it back in its sheath and caught her arm.

‘Sorry about that, are you good to shield?’

‘Yes,’ she said in a dazed voice before shaking her head. ‘Do we need to move from here?’

‘I suppose not.’

They settled back next to Loushka and Cat worked at her shield. It fascinated Ignatius to watch and see the differences between her shield and Kassie’s. It made him appreciate the varying nuances amongst the different elements. The faint red glow from the shield proved useful in telling when Cat dozed off, head gently slumping against his chest before he shook her awake. Staying awake wasn’t a problem for him now. Already the anticipation of battle thrummed through him with the time approaching. In the darkness he pictured the castle and the gathered enemy from yesterday.

I wonder how many more arrived after dusk, he thought. The sound of distant feet was audible when they’d sat around the fire in the evening, and from those sounds he’d guess just as many again.

Goblins on jehyns, elgrids for sure, urotho and rockvorhn, and the ranks of human Arumites. Shadow creatures; though that’ll be more likely at the castle. The rapthnas and whatever else she can launch at us.

With his mind occupied he didn’t notice the lack of red glow until a slight snore came from Cat.

‘Cat, wake up.’

The hissed command made me jump and I flicked the shield back up.

‘Sorry,’ I said guiltily, rubbing my blurry eyes. I yawned and shuffled, gripping Ignatius’ knees and sat straighter, the darkness not improving my natural lack of balance at all.

‘All right?’ he sounded amused when I swayed again.

‘Yeah. Just waking up. When is it?’

‘We have maybe an hour before Loi and Kassie need to leave.’

That made me sit straight.

‘Oh wow,’ I breathed, feeling like I’d touched a live wire. My heart hammered and energy hummed.

‘Excited?’ Ignatius asked.

I twisted to look at his face, knowing my eyes were as wide as saucers.

‘I guess.’ Excited sounded better than petrified.

In the slight light from the torch at his side I saw his eyes slant and a smile spread.

‘Me too.’

The darkness seemed so very black now and I jolted at every little sound; the slither of something small through the leaves; the rustle of one of the men; the far off mournful cry of a bird or animal, and then something else. I strained my ears at the familiar sound I couldn’t place; a rhythmic beat that echoed up from the valley floor below.

‘What is that?’ I whispered, looking up at Ignatius again. His expression shifted, eyes narrowing, and his lips drew back in a snarl of a smile, making the Lieutenant look feral.

‘Battle formations,’ he said reverently.

Oh shit, this is really happening. I couldn’t fully fathom how I felt.

A portion of me felt terrified and shook like a leaf, while the other portion regarded it with utter disbelief—like this sort of thing ever happens in real life, it sneered. As ridiculous a thought as it was, right now I kind of expected to wake up. In fact, I desperately wanted to wake up.