Wings of Arian (47 page)

No, that is what he is hoping you will do. Let Drustan deal with it, he knows his job.

No sooner had he said it than trees begun snapping all around the village as Rockmen and Dragons seemed to, with Shifter magic, appear out of nowhere. Emane had instructed them that they were to match Dralazar’s forces tit for tat. Shifters in the form of dragons and Guardians flew out from the forest, while three Shifter-Rockmen strode in long slow steps to stop the three real Rockmen that were smashing their clubs into the village.

Another motion from Dralazar, and dragons fell from the sky, opening their jaws in terrific roars. Most collided mid air with the dragon-Shifters that had already taken to the skies. One slipped through the lines, spewing fire as he flew over the housetops. The roofs ignited immediately.

“Arturo, Please!” she screamed.

He will come Kiora. He is playing your weakness like a fiddle.

“Is caring for others a weakness!?’

Right now it is. They have chosen Kiora,
he reminded her.
You cannot protect them without losing those who have chosen properly.

Layla and Ciera’s horses reared, screaming in fear of the flames and dropped both girls unceremoniously on the ground. Kiora couldn’t see their faces, but they turned running, following the people into the forest.

“Yes, run,” Kiora pleaded to the people, high above them. “Run!” All around her, the battle raged in the glow of morning, dragons dipping and roaring, magic flying from Fallen Ones. The Shifters were doing a fine job of keeping the shots clear of her and Arturo. Emane flew by, riding Drustan on a saddle Kiora had provided. Her attention moved to him, making sure he was still safe when Arturo warned.

Kiora!

Dralazar and Raynor had left the ground and were heading straight for her. Kiora’s heart began hammering. She hadn’t fully decided what she was going to do next— all she had been focused on was getting Dralazar out of the village.

You really don’t have a plan?
Arturo demanded.

“No! I am making this up as I go.” She looked over her shoulder to see a bolt of red magic leaving Dralazar’s outstretched hand. “BANK LEFT!” she yelled.

Arturo banked as the magic slid past his right wing, barely missing it.

Hold on,
Arturo directed.

Kiora turned her head to the front, realizing that their evasive maneuver had placed them directly into a dragon’s line of fire, its flame spewing in their direction.

Shield, shield, shield!
Arturo yelled into her head.

Kiora threw up a shield and the dragon fire sheeted off of it, but not before one of Arturo’s wingtips was singed.

A little faster next time!

Arturo swooped underneath the dragon with Raynor closing in fast. The sky was a mess of dragons, fire and red magic bolting across it.

“He’s gaining on us Arturo!”

Of course he is, he’s faster.

“What!?”

Yes, something you might should have asked!

“Arturo!”

Don’t panic, I maneuver better.

Kiora turned to see another shot coming towards them. “Right!” She threw up a shield as well to protect Arturo’s left flank during the turn. The magic missed them cleanly, but dragon fire from another one of Dralazar’s horde slammed into the shield. They flew over Emane, who was trying to maneuver a shot with his bow and arrow.

“Take us higher,” Kiora said spinning her body around, trying to see all sides at once. “I can’t watch Dralazar and the dragons at the same time.”

Arturo flew straight up almost pulling Kiora off his back.

You need to return fire, Kiora, or he will destroy us both,
Arturo ordered.

Kiora had been so busy thinking defensively that offense had escaped her entirely. She turned and fired a shot back. It was weak, and Raynor barely flinched as it connected.

You better commit yourself to this, or surrender, Kiora
, Arturo chided.

Arturo had taken over steering, maneuvering neatly through the skies. He was right, Raynor was faster, but he couldn’t turn as well. Every time Raynor had to follow one of Arturo’s evasive maneuvers, he lost valuable time.

Kiora opened up, letting the magic flow within her. The power, the euphoria of being one with the magic bore down on her, which she probably would have enjoyed had Dralazar not tried to use those feelings against her. Stretching out her hand, a bolt of white lightning, reminiscent of the one she had used to escape Dralazar, cracked across the sky. Raynor was forced to roll hard to one side, almost unseating Dralazar. Kiora was shaking.

That’s better. Now, focus it on them and keep it out of me.

Kiora and Dralazar fought and rolled through the sky. Red and white flashed between the two of them. Kiora connected with Dralazar’s shoulder leaving blood flowing down his arm. She watched as he reached over, placing his hand on his shoulder. A few seconds later he had grabbed back a hold of Raynor’s mane.

“He can heal!” she screeched, whipping her head back around as Arturo maneuvered hard to the side.

Yes.

“Why doesn’t anybody tell me these things?” she shouted.

Focus!
He told her as Raynor tried to come up underneath them.
Try another approach. Less surface damage, more force.

Kiora threw another bolt of magic at Dralazar. This one was not visible, but hit Dralazar mid chest with full force. He tumbled backwards off Raynor and went hurtling towards the ground.

Good girl.

Raynor turned and shot downwards after his master. She watched in disappointment as Raynor came up underneath Dralazar, catching him neatly.

Smoke was clogging the air, providing dark plumes and one more thing to maneuver around. The two combating pairs rolled though the sky throwing magic, blocking with shields, all while dodging dragon fire and attacks from Fallen Ones. The sky was, as Kiora had hoped, the battlefield.

Dralazar yelled up to her, “If you want to play, we can play Kiora!” He reached out his hand, not towards her, but towards the nearest Shifter-dragon— the one Emane was riding.

“NOOOO!” Kiora screamed.

Dralazar shrugged his shoulders in obvious amusement. A flick of his wrist and Emane was flying off the dragon.

Thankfully Emane had a hold of the rope slung around Drustan’s neck, it snapped taut as he fell, jerking him to a stop. Emane yelled in pain, dangling by one arm that was twisted at an awkward angle.

By the expression on Dralazar’s face, that was not what he had intended. No doubt he had hoped to make Kiora watch Emane fall screaming to his death. Raynor turned, coming around for Dralazar to make another shot.

“We have to help him!” Kiora yelled, putting up a shield to protect herself and Arturo while the white pegasus maneuvered himself underneath Emane. “Let go!” she yelled up to Emane, watching Dralazar bear down on them.

Emane dropped onto the back of Arturo, groaning in pain, cradling his arm. Kiora braced herself for the next hit. Red magic slammed into them with ferocity, rippling across her shield. Her hands were on fire fighting to keep it stable.

“Arturo! I can’t hold it much longer!”

Without explanation, Arturo turned and flew straight at Raynor. Dralazar’s attack was blistering Kiora’s hands and draining what magic she had left very quickly.

“Arturo!” she screamed.

He flew on, aiming a head on strike. She was giving it everything she had, but Dralazar wasn’t holding back either. He aimed to kill. At the last moment, Raynor finally yielded, going into a deep dive to break the connection.

Bubble!
Arturo demanded, also dropping into a dive.

Kiora threw up a bubble as Arturo ingeniously hid the three of them underneath Raynor. Dralazar screamed in rage, firing shot after shot at random into the sky hoping to hit them.

“We have to get him to the ground,” she pleaded, looking over her shoulder at Emane. He looked sick, his eyes dulled with pain. “Now!” She heard him moan out behind her as Arturo dove steeply down.

When they landed Kiora jumped down first, carefully helping Emane off Arturo’s back. “Is it just dislocated?” She asked, trying to be as ginger as possible.

“No.” His face was ashen. “Something tore, I think.”

She glanced up through the trees warily, as a dragon roared. “Hurry Emane, heal it.”

He shook his head, sweat dripping down his face,” I tried already,” he said breathing every few words, “I used too much magic fighting the dragons... there isn’t enough left.”

Kiora’s mind was racing, she couldn’t leave him injured. There had to be a way to get him his magic faster so he could... she looked at Emane’s armband.

This is not a good idea,
Arturo intruded on her thoughts.

Setting her mind to it she thought back,
I don’t have a choice
. Ignoring Arturo’s concern, she walked over to Emane. Carefully, Kiora removed his shoulder armor. He grunted, gritting his teeth as she pulled it off. His shirt was wet with sweat and blood.

“What are you doing” he asked, eyeing her warily

“Shhh,” she said, placing her hands over the top of where Emane’s armband wrapped underneath, she imagined her magic flowing out of her and into Emane. She felt it flowing, cooling... She didn’t know how much he would need, so she gave him as much as she thought she could spare. After she let go, she could feel only a faint glimmer of magic left within her.

“What did you do?” Emane asked, his eyes wide.

“I can’t heal you,” she said pushing her hair out of her face, “but I can at least help you heal yourself.”

Emane reached his hand over to his shoulder and sighed with relief. “Thank you,” he murmured.

“This is so very touching,” Dralazar mocked, appearing a few feet above them on Raynor.

Turning with a yelp, Kiora raised her hand as Emane reached for his sword, but with one swift movement Dralazar picked them both up and threw them in different directions. Kiora was pinned against one tree, Emane against another. Kiora grunted as she hit, the force knocking the wind out of her. She gasped for air.

“Stupid,” he continued, “but touching.” Arturo stepped forward, to which Dralazar snarled, “Arturo, one twitch out of you and I will kill them both.” Relaxing, Dralazar looked back to Kiora with a smile. “You do realize of course that you have just condemned yourself.”

Kiora struggled against her bonds, her heart sinking. Arturo was right, it had not been a good idea. She was nearly helpless.

Raynor landed and Dralazar dismounted walking towards Kiora as Raynor headed for Arturo. “That was very foolish, Kiora, pouring magic into Emane. Why would you do such a silly thing, it is not as if he is
magical
.” He mocked her, crossing his arms in front of himself. She turned her head away, she would not cry. Not in front of him

“At least that is what I thought. But,” he paraded in front of Kiora, crossing around until he was standing beside her, looking across the clearing to Emane, who was struggling against his invisible bonds, “unless my eyes deceived me, it looked as if he healed himself. And I am left asking myself how is that possible?”

“Leave him alone!” Kiora screamed.

“Hmmmm, very interesting,” Placing his fingers on his chin, Dralazar spun to look at her. Kiora’s heart constricted, his eyes were dangerous. “Emane’s thread has changed. That is
very
interesting.” Dralazar took slow, deliberate steps towards Emane, examining him as if he were a piece a meat. He walked around the tree, scanning him as Emane struggled helplessly, eventually focusing in on his shoulder. Reaching up he ripped Emane’s shirt open exposing the armband. The brilliant green sparkled in the sunlight. “What is this?” he murmured running his finger over the metal. Dralazar looked Emane in the eye. “Where did you get this?”

Emane set his jaw, looking straight forward.

“I assure you, I can make you talk Emane,” he said flickering red magic from the tips of his fingers.

“Stop it!” Kiora screamed, struggling against the magic that was still holding her in place. “Leave him alone, it’s me you want.”

Dralazar rolled his eyes in feigned exasperation. “Kiora, you are so narrow minded. I want whatever I can get.” He grinned. “Now,” he said rubbing his hands delightedly in front of him, “back to the problem at hand.” Turning his head to the side, Dralazar gently stroked the snake, whispering magical enchantments under his breath. Once or twice, the snake seemed to move, but then became still again. Dralazar studied the piece thoughtfully. “This is a very nice piece of work you have here. I am sure I must credit Eleana.” He stroked the snake’s head, whispering more enchantments, coaxing it to unlock.

Kiora’s breath caught in her throat as the snake unexpectedly responded. It opened its mouth releasing his tail. The glittering green head pulled its head back, stretching its jaw.

No
, she thought. Only Eleana was suppose to be able to remove it.

“That’s right,” Dralazar coaxed.

He began more incantations and reached his hand up to stroke it again. The snake turned its head to look at him with glittering eyes. Then its eyes narrowed and the creature struck, clamping its jaws down on Dralazar’s hand, sinking its fangs deep within his flesh. Dralazar swore in pain, ripping his hand back. The snake promptly bit back down on its own tail and went still once more. Emane was looking down at the band as if he had never seen it before.

Dralazar was infuriated. “That’s enough!” he roared. “I should have disposed of you already!” He opened up his hands and red fire exploded from within him bolting straight at Kiora.

“Kiora!” Emane screamed from across the clearing. She tried to raise her hands but it was no use she was pinned and helpless. Closing her eyes she thought of death, but none came.

A second later the magic that had held her to the tree released her, dropping her to the ground. Breathing heavily, she looked around to see her salvation. Dralazar’s magic popped and sizzled in front of her, trying to burn its way through a shield thicker than one she had ever been able to produce. Kiora looked down at her hands, and back to the shield, it wasn’t coming from her.