Queen of Jastain (38 page)

The journey to battle covered much ground. If everything went according to plan, the king’s spies would assume Avant’s troops had taken the northwestern route and wouldn’t suspect they went south until they’d already approached the stronghold. Four nights’ journey would bring them to the castle, and they could attack from the Forest of Aesdil. The king would have fewer warriors guarding the southern gates.

Avant and his men reached the Ianus Aquilo,
the Northern Passage,
an hour after sunset, forming ranks in sets of one hundred troops. Using his Implanting, he gave the silent order, and they attacked.

For barely an hour, the sound of splashing water and clanking swords rang out in the darkness of the cool summer night. The advancing troops swarmed the forces and easily subdued the king’s men before midnight. No casualties were sustained, as the younger, inexperienced soldiers surrendered without a fight and Avant’s men quickly bested those who fought. Sending word back to Petra by messenger, Avant mobilized the men on the south side of the mountains in the Valley of Umbra. He offered the king’s men their freedom in exchange for surrender, which all gladly took.

* * * *

Having received news of Avant’s victory, Abby and Petra crossed the river about one o’clock in the morning and found the southern road by daybreak. On their travels to the Valley of Umbra, the moon hid itself, like her first night in Jastain, but the sky burst with stars. Just before dawn, they stopped to rest under the cover of the trees and dense brush in the southwestern part of the Northern Range of Umbra.

Avant's men trekked forward in small units, defeating smaller bands of the king's soldiers and spies and taking them prisoner to ensure stealth. She'd hoped to see Avant when they stopped to make camp, but he'd gone ahead without her.

For three nights, she, Petra, and the troops traveled by night and slept during the day. Most of the men marched; a few rode warhorses and she drove the X-terra. The determined and somber mood of the men, gave her a sense of confidence. Avant had trained them, just as he'd trained her, and that comforted her. They were ready for battle.

On the last evening of travel they came to the Forest of Aesdil’s western edge and met up with Avant's men to realign the troops for the attack.

Abby got out of the car and searched for him. The plan had Avant attacking the castle with a push of the strongest soldiers first, and Petra following in a second wave with the reinforcements after the outside wall was cleared of the king’s men. As strong and smart as Avant was, he was still just a man. A man who could die. Worry etched some scary-assed pictures in her mind and the thought of never seeing him again was unbearable.

She struggled through the crowds, searching for Avant, but seeking him in the darkest part of night through the outstretched troops proved fruitless. She stopped in the middle of the camp and chewed her nails and she turned in a complete circle. No fires burned and they huddled next to the ground. Making her way back to the X-terra, she found Petra sending orders to his captains.

He stared at her with stern eyes. The authority in his voice surprised her. “Abby, stay out of the action and behind the fighting line. You can help us more if we aren’t constantly worried you're going to storm the gates or try to fight Aesdil yourself.”

She nodded and hugged him. For the first time since she'd returned from Dallas, he put his arms around her. She soaked in the warmth and comfort as she melted against him. She’d never really had a choice to make. After the Implanting, she would forever love Avant, but a piece of her heart would always be reserved for Petra, even if it wasn’t the piece she knew he wanted. A long sigh blew from his lips, ruffling her hair. He mounted Dalitus and rode to the front.

The first wave attack launched with a shout and an answering thunder of hooves racing to the castle. Avant led the way. In her mind’s eye, she imagined his proud frame charging to the castle wall. He was a valiant knight. The thought of him in danger made her stomach lurch.
Oh Avant, please be careful.

“I will, fair one. You do the same.”

The sound of his voice in her mind stopped Abby in mid-step. She hadn’t intended to speak to him.
“Avant, how far are you?”

“We're two miles from the wall. This first battle will be the hardest fought. My Angel, no matter what happens, the kingdom must be restored. Do not quit. Take the Crown and return to the fief with Petra.”

“Avant, I swear to Almighty God if you die, I will come back and blow these punk bastards to hell.”

He laughed in her mind. A wave of tenderness flooded her. Not paying attention, she stepped in a hole and fell, dewy grass wetting her behind.

“Angel, we're at the castle gates. Be safe. I'll find you at the end.”

“I'll be looking for you, honey.”

* * * *

Avant closed his mind, overwhelmed by his love for her. He allowed himself a brief moment to visualize her beautiful face before he raised the command.

With a shout, the battle for Jastain began.

Charging forward, Spiritus took the lead, running through the first line of troops stationed outside the tree line, one hundred and fifty yards from the wall. The brave animal took the fiercest man head-on, jumping across the line of encroaching troops as the soldiers dove out of his way. Aesdil must've been concerned about a southern attack, because the forces were double the men he'd anticipated. It would take longer to breech their ranks. Hopefully his men’s strength could prevail against the larger numbers with few enough casualties to finish the task.

Spiritus galloped toward the outer walls. The alarm sounded within the gate, the king now aware of the attack. The south gate opened and a thousand horsemen stampeded onto the battlefield.

Few of them would survive this first battle. Sharp pain pierced Avant at having to give the order. He forced the command from his lips and called to the jousting troops, giving the order, sending them forward.

The Darkness would suffer for the loss of his men. Light would be restored. This is why they had come. His men knew the risks and were willing to take them for the same reason Avant was willing to take them—the good of the land and the people he loved.

As the first wave of jousters clashed, an echo of clanging vamplates rang out over the field. Horses and riders crashed to the ground. Both sides reassembled to take up the gauntlet and run again. After his well-trained troops cleared the way, he sent in more. The king provided answering forces.

Dawn broke over the eastern horizon and lit the bloody field in a golden glow of morning. This was the only time of day the sun shone on the land around the castle. Haze covered the sky and choked out its rays. Avant looked to the Great Heights. They shimmered. The Light was on their side; they would prevail.

Noise from the battle raged, and the field in front of the wall ran with the blood of men. Carcasses of horses littered the land, and the painful cries of the wounded stabbed the air.

“Avant, are you okay?”

“I’m here.”

“Just checking. I can Implant you out of there anytime.”

“Abigail.”

Her voice in his mind, like a magical elixir, infused him with resolve.

His jousters had broken through the king’s ranks and charged the sentries along the outside of the walls.

Avant raised his sword high in the air. The men behind him answered with a shout. He violently swiped the weapon in a command of attack. Spiritus flew through the beleaguered field to engage the advancing sentries.

High over the castle wall, on a landing near the southern tower where Avant had played as a boy, Aesdil stood like a marble carving of a mythical creature. The anger that welled up in Avant’s being caused him to wail. He dismounted Spiritus and rushed the ranks of sentries in his rage. Engaging three soldiers, he ended them all with three blows. Two more moved forward. He wielded his sword with the swiftness of an eagle sweeping over its prey. The soldiers fell lifeless to the ground.

“Avant, are you still there?”

“Busy, Abigail.”

“Just checking.”

His men fought bravely. The hours flew and his arms and legs ached from fatigue, yet he pressed on. Though the troops from the Northern gate stood their ground, the guards at the eastern and southern gates fled or were killed. They were making progress.

It was time to bring in the next wave.

Pacing the same patch of ground, Abby had worn a path in the grass next to the beefed up X-terra. She hadn’t mindspoken with Avant for a few hours. Their brief conversations were the only thing that had kept her from Implanting to him. Her fingernails were bitten to the quick and she hadn’t sat down since the sun rose. When the call came from the front to mobilize, she climbed in the driver’s seat and followed behind the last battalion. A shudder ran through her.

Positioned behind the ranks, she jumped out of the X-terra when they reached the edge of the battlefield. With the fighting in front of them, Abby frantically searched the carnage for Avant. He fought on the far side of the battle, near the wall, commanding troops in a successful campaign against the western gate.

She gazed up at the castle. Aesdil stood high, commanding his troops in battle but not joining.

“
You cannot prevail, Aesdil. Your reign is broken. Avant and I have the Crown.”

“But you do not have the Stone of Light, Chosen One. I do.”

So he had the earring from Seppitent.

“You're deceived. Seppitent didn't steal the Stone. The Crown is restored. Aesdil, give up the fight. It’s not too late. There doesn’t need to be any further bloodshed.”

“I'll not be defeated. Avant cannot take my kingdom from me.”

Her heart twisted in pain that anyone else needed to be harmed. Battle was ugly. Soldiers from both sides already lay dead and injured on the ground. Body parts, strewn like litter in a city park, lay discarded across the meadow. Bright red painted the sweet summer grass and the rusty tinge of blood permeated the air. Abby fought the urge to rush and help them. There was still too much fighting, and if she was caught or hurt, her mission would be thwarted.

Her mission. She didn’t even really know what that was, but she did know that when it presented itself, she needed to be ready. Following the Light was not always about seeing what was coming, but trusting that when she did, she would be victorious.

“Avant.”

“Still here.”

Her gaze searched for Petra, who commanded the troops around him, directing them to advance on the gate and push the king’s dwindling forces back as far as they could. She said a quick prayer for him and returned to scanning the field, letting her gaze linger on the formidable wall.

The gate made of heavy wood and metal loomed in the distance. When she’d escaped a few weeks ago, it had been too dark and she’d been in too much of a hurry to get the crap out of Dodge. But now the massive keep towered over the field like one of the Great High Places. The menacing gray stone blended with the cloud-covered sky. She focused on the figure near the front lines on a proud silver horse.

Avant’s head turned when Petra’s new battle cry sounded. Disposing of the sentry he fought, he dashed back to Spiritus and mounted the horse. In one fluid motion, he galloped toward her.

He flew straight for her and dismounted the proud stallion. He dashed to her and swept her off the ground into his arms. Covered in the blood and sweat of battle, he brushed her lips in the most romantic kiss of her life. Just as quickly, he dropped her on her feet and climbed into the X-terra, which sat two football fields from the gate. The path filled with soldiers. She tried to yell at them but only those closest could hear. Avant could not gain enough speed unless the way was cleared.

“I’ll try to force the men out of the way with my Implanting. Can you do the same?”

He nodded at her.

Joining their minds, they pushed the fighting to the sides with an invisible river of force. The pressure of their combined energy parted the troops like the Red Sea, leaving the path open.

Avant released her energy and revved the engine of the car. He threw the X-terra in drive.

“Please be careful. You can’t be in that car upon impact, Avant.”

He smiled and slammed down the accelerator. She shook her head. Even in the midst of a violent battle, the speed thrilled him to the core.

The X-terra sped through the crowd, racing toward the castle gates. Abby gathered her energy to hold Avant off the ground when he jumped from the moving vehicle.

“Abigail, my feet are locked, and my hands frozen to the steering wheel. I cannot stop. I'm pushing against Aesdil but he has more power here.”

Shit!
Aesdil had bound him inside the car using his Implanting. Abby pushed against the king's force also, but her Gift wouldn’t loosen Avant from its grip. He would die in the impact. Her heart seized.
Think, Abby.
She searched for a way to save him. He would never swerve into the soldiers.

The gates! With all of her Implanting, she unbarred the gates and pushed them open with the force of her mind. The car sped through the opening and inside the castle grounds. Several surrounding horsemen followed after their commander.

Aesdil, realizing the wall had been breached, released Avant and slammed the gates closed again. He now had Avant trapped on the other side with only six or seven reinforcements.

She had to get inside those gates.
“Avant! Can you hear me? Are you ok?”

* * * *

“I'm unharmed for now but surrounded by a garrison of soldiers.”

Avant slammed on the brakes. The X-terra screeched to a halt in front of the palace’s southern entrance. A group of sentries surrounded the vehicle. Six of his men on horseback had already engaged the king’s troops behind him in a vicious battle. They would hold out a while but were severely outnumbered. If he could only reach the palace…