Heir of Pendel (A Pandoran Novel, #4) (59 page)

I glanced down. An arrow stuck out of the snow, black fletching still vibrating from impact. I glanced back up. A cloud of black arrows rose into the sky, headed for us.

I yelled at the men to take cover, but there was no cover to be had out here. I could use magic to make a light shield, but making a shield that size would require all my energy, and I'd need that energy for a battle that would inevitably follow. The volley of arrows arced in the air toward us, black specks against the sheet of grey.

"Del Can't!" Thaddeus conjured a light shield just big enough for him, Vera, and me. He was saving his energy, too.

A few of the Nords had made small shields, but not all of them had the magical capacity to make them. The arrows fell lower and lower as the men scrambled to find cover that wasn't there. I needed to cover them all, and I needed to hold that cover while we ran to meet the enemy head on. I could do it, but it would leave me with little strength. This was why I'd needed Lord Tosca.

I was out of time. The arrows rained down and with a grunt of strain, I unleashed the swell of energy inside of me. Heat scorched the ends of my fingertips as the magic left my body. An iridescent veil of light stretched over our company right as the first of the arrows hit. The moment the arrows touched the light, they vanished, the veil flickering with each impact. None of the arrows reappeared on the other side. The Nords cheered, and we all sprinted toward the source. My breath labored as we ran. A line of grey armor appeared along the rise, and more arrows rose into the sky. Those were not shadowguard, then, but men using shadowguard arrows. So who were they?

"Del Can't! Do that light thing again!" Thaddeus yelled.

"Your turn," I panted.

"You serious, Del Can't? You know I'm all talk when it comes to this stuff."

"Vera?" I asked.

"I could maybe shield the three of us, but that's it!" she yelled.

The next batch of arrows arced down as our company of Nords tore across the fields. The swell of energy burned through me again, and I grit my teeth. This time that energy burned much hotter, like a dying sun, and I knew I was about to burn out. The veil stretched over us again as the arrows descended, and I yelled, straining to hold on to my magic. Fighting to keep the veil alive, but the heat inside of me was dying too quick and too soon. I stumbled as we ran, my arms trembling from fatigue, and fuzzy dots marked my vision. My whole body tingled, my magic ran dry, and Thaddeus jerked me upright to keep me from collapsing as I sucked down ice-cold air. The veil vanished, and the arrows kept falling.

A burst of powerful magic surged from behind me.

A new veil appeared, bright and blue like liquid oozing over an invisible glass dome. A few of the arrows slipped through, but the rest hit this new wall of light and ignited, showering the ground with a miniature meteor storm. I glanced back to see Danton slowing, face set with determination and eyes locked on the wall of light up above. He was doing this. He was keeping his word. A yell from up ahead drew my attention forward again, just in time to see the wall of men now running toward us.

I recognized the blues and golds of Campagna. These were Lord Vega's men, who'd been shooting at us with shadowguard bolts. So Lord Vega had sided with Eris. But what were they doing so close to Rex Cross? Unless…

Unless they'd intercepted Sir Torren and defeated him. Which would also explain why I hadn't heard from Sir Torren. Mistress Astaire Dothrai had not been lying about Campagna waiting to overtake Sir Torren and his men. They had waited, and they had succeeded.

We crashed into Campagna in an explosion of metal.

I moved swiftly—mechanically—despite my weariness, powered once again by adrenaline. Vera and Thaddeus fought ahead of me, taking the brunt of the hits. No doubt giving me more time to catch my breath, which I appreciated. I scanned the grounds for Lord Vega as I fought, and just as I thought I spotted him, a horrible keening filled the skies.

Hellfire.

Another bloody gargon. Hopefully, Lord Cethin wasn't still alive and riding this one, because I didn't have it in me to face him again. The gargon released a plume of fire not far from where I stood. Liquid flames curled and twisted, melting snow to slush while burning everyone it touched. Men screamed and ran as the gargon released another plume of fire, this time near where Thaddeus and Vera stood. They shoved aside just in time, the fire melting the snow where they'd stood, but they were fast on their feet and back to the battle at hand. I looked back to where I'd seen Lord Vega earlier, but I didn't see him anymore. Danton was back there, though, fighting on our side, and his brother wasn't far behind him. Danton was impressive to watch, despite his fatigue from using so much magic. You wouldn't know he was tired unless you were well acquainted with his fighting style, which I was. He downed one of Vega's men, caught my gaze and gave me a curt nod, and then the both of us went back to our individual battles.

The Nords fought hard, but we'd been totally taken by surprise and we were exhausted. I could see it in their faces, the desperate way they attacked. If the circumstances were different, if we'd been ready and had all our strength, a victory here might be easy. Our numbers were fairly even, but we were tired and struggling and running out of steam fast, and they had a gargon that was cooking my men. I had to get rid of that bloody gargon.

I rammed my elbow back into a guard's nose just as someone punched me between my shoulder blades. Gasping, I stumbled forward, catching my footing at the last second. I brought Flamebearer around, barely deflecting my new attacker's sword. He feinted right and I slammed my fist down on his outstretched arm. He cried out as he staggered, cradling that arm, and then his eyes widened in fear and he suddenly shoved off into the chaos. My confusion surged right as I felt a whip of air at my back.

Slowly, I turned around, fear slithering down my spine. A second gargon had landed behind me. I held Flamebearer between us, the runes and white fire sparking to life. There was no rider on this gargon. It stood upon all fours, a deep throttle rumbling through its throat as it stared at me with those burning red eyes, its tail snaking back and forth behind it. I took an involuntary step back, my heart pumping hard and fast.

Thaddeus yelled something, but I didn't hear what. The gargon snapped its jaws and I jumped aside, narrowly missing teeth but tripping over the clumped snow. I landed hard on my shoulder. Pain shot through my collarbone, and I winced as I rolled onto my back. One of the gargon's taloned feet landed on my arm that held Flamebearer, pinning it down. My arm burned, its talons carving through leather and skin. Its demonic, reptilian head loomed over me, rearing back like a viper about to strike. I couldn't move. No one was close enough to help me, either. Flamebearer's reflection burned in the gargon's red eyes—eyes that were getting closer and closer. Its jaws opened, I smelled ash and rotted flesh…

An explosive gust of air whipped over me, followed by an agonizing wail, and the pressure on my arm lifted. The gargon rose into the air, but not because it flew. Something lifted it.

The gargon thrashed wildly, screaming as it was carried off, higher and higher, its neck caught in the jaws of a…dragon. I watched in equal parts amazement and horror, unable to move from my spot on the ground. It was the dragon from Karth. It shook the gargon like a cat would a mouse, and then flung it aside to where it landed on a group of screaming Campagnan soldiers.

Vega's men yelled and screamed, scrambling to get away from this new threat. The great black dragon rose into the air again, mighty wings beating percussively against the wind as it blared a sound like a hundred trumpets. It dove and banked, unleashing a flood of liquid fire upon a retreating band of Vega's men. The air smelled strongly of fire and ash and burnt hair. Fire hosed the land, engulfing them in flames while the Nords ran in the opposite directions, putting as much space as possible between Vega's men and themselves. The dragon made the sky seem small. I staggered to my feet, watching as the dragon chased down the last of Vega's men. Instead of hosing them with fire, it snatched them up in its talons. I heard the men screaming from where I stood, and they were still screaming as the dragon changed course and headed back in our direction.

The dragon could end us all right here and right now, and there wasn't a thing we'd be able to do to stop it. Though I didn't really believe it would do that after saving us from being massacred by Vega's men. After saving
me
. It dipped low, wings spread like a massive glider about to land. Men cleared out of the way and the dragon sailed straight at me.

I stood frozen to the spot as the dragon glided toward me. It landed a dozen yards away, dropping the guards on the ground seconds before doing so. The guards moaned as Nords seized them, but my attention fastened on the dragon, who slowly lowered its head to the ground to let a person slide down from its neck. A young woman. My heart almost punched through my ribcage. It was Daria.

40

DARIA

B
y the end of the second week, I was getting angry. Nexus wouldn't say another word about our conversation or all he hadn't said, and I still couldn't make sense of what he
had
said. Myez and I had been in the Shadowvale for a total of a month, while who knew what was happening to the world. Nexus assured us we didn't need to worry, that we would join the young prince
soon
, but I was still furious. Furious, because I didn't understand. Furious I still had to make some choice. Furious I couldn't see another way out of this mess, and furious I'd already lost my father and brother and grandfather in the process. So I took it out on Myez every night.

Tonight, I incurred a clean red line along my right cheek and when I spit, there was a tinge of blood. That was all right by me. I'd got him back pretty good when I'd punched him in the jaw with the hilt of Sir Torren's sword.

"Very good," Myez said, stretching his jaw. "I'm glad to see you're finally getting creative."

I charged at him. It was his first lesson to me: Be in constant motion. He stepped aside and grabbed my sword arm, twisting it around me. I stomped on his foot. His grip lessened enough for me to pull free, and then I jabbed my elbow in his stomach. He bent over, coughing and laughing with his palm outstretched and facing me.

"Excellent!" He laughed. "I do believe I'll make a swordswoman out of you yet."

I wiped my brow, heaving. My muscles ached, and I was sure I'd collected another set of bruises. At least the pain in my ankle was just about gone now.

"No pushups tonight." Myez smiled.

"Good, because I'm not—"

Nexus landed beside us, feet crunching on the pebbles. Myez and I both looked up at him. I was surprised by how used to Nexus I'd grown in just a few weeks. He no longer terrified me, even though I knew he was terrifying to look at. He still terrified Myez, though. Probably because he didn't stop with the ingestion threats.

The time has come, my little petulant one. Now if you'll put those toothpicks away, we have a prince to rescue.

I wasn't sure I'd heard him right. "Wait, you're saying we can leave now?"

Nexus snorted, ruffling his wings.
Unless you'd rather stay here wallowing in self-pity all your life…which can be arranged…

I sheathed my sword. I suddenly didn't feel exhausted any more. "Where is he?" I asked Nexus.

South of here, about to engage in battle with Lord Vega's men.

My stomach twisted into knots. Alex was about to fight Lord Vega's men. I'd seen what Lord Vega's men had done to Sir Torren's army. I just hoped Lord Vega didn't have any more gargons at his disposal. "Myez, we're leaving.
Now
."

Myez was still catching his breath. "Alexander?"

"Yes." I jogged over to our cave, where the rest of our weapons lay. Between the items Nexus had let us "borrow" and the small daggers and other hunting items Myez and I had made with rock and wood before Nexus had literally flown into the picture, we had quite an eclectic collection. I strapped a few of our more primitive daggers to my boots, and then covered my body with blades from Nexus's cave. Once I was satisfied I didn't physically have any more places for weapons, I turned around and noticed Myez standing at the edge of the cave.

"Where is Alexander?" he asked.

"Nexus said he's south of here." I handed Myez a few blades, hilt first.

"What's he doing south of here?" Myez asked, taking the blades from my hands.

"Apparently, he's about to be at war with Campagna."

Myez was quiet. I took quick inventory of our cave, making sure I hadn't missed anything important. Oddly enough, I was a little sad we were leaving. We'd been here only a month, according to the little notches I'd etched along the walls, but it had been a month filled with long hours of pain and hard work. The girl who'd first set eyes on this cave was different from the girl leaving it, and those changes went far deeper than short hair and a tattoo. I was going to miss this place.

Myez shoved the blades into his belt, and he grabbed a few more for his boots, too.

"Do you have a plan?" he asked.

"I never have a plan." I gave our cave one last glance, then started for Nexus.

Myez grabbed hold of my arm. Nexus growled, so Myez promptly let go, but he still looked very concerned.

"It's okay," I said to Myez.

"They're going to war," he said as if he were making sure I really understood what that meant.

"I know."

He wasn't convinced. "It'll be dangerous, your highness, and you have no idea what defenses Lord Vega has. You need to consider your entry."

This time, I grabbed Myez by his shoulders and looked straight at him. "I appreciate your concern, I really do, and you're right—I don't know what Lord Vega's defenses are, but I
do
know that the last thing he's expecting is a full-fledged attack from a dragon. You haven't seen what Nexus is capable of. I have, and I'm more than willing to take my chances." I let go of Myez's shoulders and started for Nexus, then paused and glanced over my shoulder. "And I'm not your highness. I might have been once, but that title belongs to someone else now."