“Tell me what to do,” the light said. “How can I help you?”
“Alaric?”
“Lina?”
The voice was faint, but it was definitely him.
Lina jumped high in the air and hovered above Nog. The glimmer of light followed her.
“How are you doing this?” Lina asked.
“I don’t know. I’m just talking into the mirror. Lina, are you alright?”
“No. My attacks aren’t working, and Nog pushed your brothers away. He’s in both realms. I can’t defeat him without a light wielder’s help.”
“So let me help you.”
“Alaric-”
“I have an enchanted weapon. You said yourself that counted.”
“I said it sort of counted. Alaric, your brothers have trained as light wielders, and Nog defeated them without lifting a finger.”
“Lina, I’m going to help you. Whatever this magic is, however I’m wielding it, I will use it to protect you and get rid of that goblin.”
Lina glared at the star.
“Alaric-”
“Don’t argue.”
“I wasn’t going to argue. I was going to tell you this will be dangerous. You might be seriously hurt. You might die.”
“I’m ready. Tell me what I need to do.”
“You can’t travel between the realms, so you’ll attack Nog in the realm of light. He’s pulled the realms together anyway, so it should be possible. You’ll have to get close enough to stab him with the mirror. It won’t be easy. I’ll draw him away from the cave so you can get out. You’ll need my diamond ring to unlock the door. Get ready and wait for my signal.”
Alaric nodded. Lina shuddered as the diamond ring disappeared from her hand. She pushed the pea emerald ring back further on her finger to fill the empty spot. Below her, the goblin continued to dig at the rock.
“Hey, Nog!”
Lina wrapped the green light from the emeralds around her wrists. The gauntlets added power to her blows. She dropped from the sky. Nog tried to swat her away, but she was ready for him this time. She dodged and landed a blow on the goblin’s right eye.
Nog grunted. Lina sent a burst of shadow magic into the blow and jumped back. Nog rubbed his eye and stood to his full height.
“Leave me to my work, goat girl. Go enjoy your last moments of life.”
“You know what I would really enjoy? Punching you in the face again.”
Nog laughed.
“You think you could land another such blow? You are nothing. A sorry excuse for a warrior. Without your gems, you are weaker than a goat.”
Lina grinned at him.
“Is that a challenge? I accept.”
Her heart beat fast as she pulled the magical gauntlets back into the emeralds.
“You and me,” she said. “No fancy light magic. No enchanted gems. One shadow warrior against another.”
Nog turned from the rock. He regarded Lina with his fierce red eyes.
“As if I would fall for that. You will lure me close and use the gems once I am within range. Not that they would hurt me.”
Lina’s heart sank. She had hoped he wouldn’t realize that was a possibility. He definitely was smarter than most goblins. But she needed to keep up the front. If she could lead him just a little further from the cavern, Alaric could escape and join the fight.
Lina pulled the emerald ring off her finger. She put both peas in her palm and waved her hand. The gems disappeared. Nog raised a shaggy eyebrow.
“You really are a fool, goat girl.”
“Well, can I help it if you’re too scared to fight me when I have weapons?”
Nog grunted.
“I’m not scared of you.”
“Prove it.”
Lina raised her hands over her head. Her cape billowed behind her. She felt vulnerable. Exposed. She hadn’t been in the realm of shadows without enchanted gems to protect her since she was a little girl.
Nog grinned. He stepped away from the door. Lina backed up the mountain. She pursed her lips as if she were nervous. As if she was having second thoughts.
Nog roared and rushed towards her. Lina sent a bolt of shadow magic to trip him and jumped further away. The magic brushed harmlessly against Nog’s ankles. He turned and reached for Lina. She risked another blast of magic, and Nog’s fist connected with her side. Something cracked. Her ribs again.
Lina jumped back. The cracked rib made breathing painful. Good thing she didn’t need to breathe in the realm of shadows. She would deal with the consequences in the realm of light later.
Lina ran a few steps away. Please let him think she was retreating. Let him pursue her.
Nog pursued. He was almost far enough away from the door now. His eyes glowed red with the thrill of battle. Lina sent another blast of shadow magic. It blew past his face like a spring breeze. Nog’s laughter filled the air.
“Foolish goat. I am a creature of darkness. I stand in both realms. Your shadow magic has no effect on me.”
Lina made her eyes go wide. As if she hadn’t known that. As if that hadn’t been the problem all along. Nog was strong, but he underestimated her training. She jumped and landed on the next hillside up the mountain. Out of sight of the door. Nog followed. He was far enough away now. Lina turned to the glimmer of light by her side.
“Alaric,” she whispered.
Nog reached the top of the hill. His eyes gleamed with fury.
“Nothing can save you now, shadow warrior. You are alone.”
“Alaric,” Lina whispered. “Go.”
She gathered shadow magic around her fists and lunged at Nog.
43
Alaric searched the stone door for the keyhole. It shook as the goblin pounded from the outside. He watched Lina’s face in the shard of mirror. She taunted the goblin. Tried to draw him away.
Something appeared in Alaric’s hand. He jumped and examined it in the diamond’s soft glow.
The emerald ring and Lina’s gem.
Lina said these gave her power. Made her stronger. Why would she give them to him? He couldn’t use them. He didn’t know how.
Alaric slipped the ring onto his fingertip and put the gem in his pocket. He turned his attention back to the rock. There. A tiny opening near the bottom. He slipped the diamond into the keyhole. He would be ready whenever Lina gave him the signal.
The mirror showed Nog’s fist slam into Lina’s side. Pain flashed across her face. Alaric watched her agony and gritted his teeth. He couldn’t stand this waiting.
They seemed to be covering ground. Moving away. The scenery around Lina blurred as she retreated. Was Nog following her? Was it safe to open the door?
“Alaric.”
Alaric stared at the mirror. Was that the signal? Was Lina ready?
“Alaric, go.”
Alaric turned the ring. Something inside the stone clicked. He pushed the door open and stepped into the night. Rain pelted his face, and the goblin’s stench washed over him. He pushed the stone shut and felt for the keyhole so he could lock the door.
Wherever it had been, it was gone now. Nog’s scratches had destroyed the surface of the rock.
He would have to leave the cave unlocked. Leave Lina’s body unguarded.
He needed to defeat the goblin quickly.
Alaric examined the mountain. He couldn’t see much. The storm clouds blocked any light from the moon or stars, and the rain ran into his eyes.
Nog was nowhere in sight. Where had Lina led him? He looked at the mirror, searching for a clue.
“Follow the smell,” Lina whispered.
Her face was a blur in the mirror. Whatever she was doing, she was moving fast. Her hair flew around her face, masking her expression. Alaric took a deep breath and gagged on the odor. He turned in a circle, sniffing.
There. It was stronger uphill. Flashes of lightning lit the mountain and showed a trail of muddy footprints. Alaric gripped the mirror tighter and ran.
The smell grew overpowering as h
e climbed the mountain. He heard the goblin before he saw him. Nog’s footsteps shook the ground. His laughter filled the air.
“Foolish goat! Did you really think you could defeat me?”
Alaric paused. Nog waved his fists in the air. An aura of darkness surrounded the creature, but strangely it made him easier to see. This must be the goblin’s magic. The rain slowed to a drizzle, although Alaric could still hear it pouring down around him. A wisp of shadow hovered around the goblin.
Lina.
She was a dim outline, but it was easier to see her here than in the mirror. She looked just like Alaric had always imagined she would. Well, minus the goat part. Her shadow clothes billowed around her. Her face was fierce. She was nimble and agile as she leaped around Nog. She landed blow after blow on his face, dodging his massive arms.
Alaric stepped towards them. The air chilled. His skin crawled. Something wasn’t right. The air felt wrong somehow. That must be the effect of the goblin pulling light into shadow.
The goblin and Lina grew even clearer, and the mountainside grew dim. The rain stopped hitting him entirely, although he could still see ghostly silhouettes of drops falling.
“This is pointless,” Nog growled. “I’m tired of your games, goat.”
His hands glowed red. He hurled a wave of magic at Lina. It wasn’t sophisticated like her magic. It was raw power and hatred wrapped in red light.
Lina jumped away, but the spell caught the edge of her cape. Lina’s mouth opened in a silent scream as the fire consumed the fabric and burned around her. Alaric studied her face in the mirror. That was a clearer image, and it twisted his heart. Lina was in pain. Lina was in trouble.
Alaric circled around until he was at the goblin’s back. Nog stared at Lina as she tried to extinguish the flames. She gathered shadow magic in her fists, but it had no effect on the red light. She collapsed on the ground and didn’t move.
Nog walked toward her slowly, savoring the moment. His laughter shook the mountain.
This was his chance. The goblin was distracted. Alaric ran and jumped. He climbed Nog’s back and stabbed him in the neck.
The goblin roared when the glass touched his skin. It cut through his hide as if it were made of paper. Nog regained his balance and threw Alaric off his back. Alaric crashed into a patch of snowbells. The fall knocked his breath out, but he jumped up and faced the goblin.
A shimmering scar marked the place he had cut Nog. The goblin reached his muscle bound arms up and scratched at it. He narrowed his eyes and turned his full attention to Alaric.
“Who are you?”
Alaric stood tall and tried not to look winded.
“I am Crown Prince Alaric of Aeonia.”
Nog laughed.
“That’s all? You have no magical title? No honor earned in battle? How is it that you are able to wield the light?”
Alaric glanced at the mirror. It glowed bright white. He wasn’t exactly sure how it worked. The important thing was that it did. He raised the mirror above his head in what he hoped was a triumphant gesture.
“The light will be wielded by those who protect it.”
He was pretty sure that was true. At least, it was a line from his play.
Nog laughed so hard he bent over to rest his hands on his knees.
“You are funny, prince without a title.”
He kept laughing. Alaric glared at him. It wasn’t that funny. It was a good line. Dramatic. Poignant. The audience had loved it.
No. This wasn’t the time to feel self-conscious about that blasted play. Alaric looked at Lina. Maybe he could aid her while Nog laughed. He slid the diamond ring off his finger and threw it at her. He pulled the pea out of his pocket and threw that as well. They went through her and landed in the mud below her stomach.
Right, she wasn’t really there. She was in another realm.
Nog frowned.
“What are you trying to do, wielder of nothing?”
“Nothing,” Alaric said.
Nog looked from Alaric to Lina. She lay still on the ground. The flames had burned out and turned into a sick wisping smoke that hovered around her body. The goblin laughed.
“You are amusing at least. If you can’t have a warrior, a clown will do. She must be desperate indeed. The shadow warrior cannot fight alone, but being alone might be better than working with a weakling like you. Run back to your castle, Prince Nothing. I seek only to free the darkness and devour the light. Perhaps you can find a safe corner of the world to hide. Perhaps you can survive.”
Alaric shifted his weight into a fighting stance. It worried him that Lina was still down. That red magic had hurt her more than any of Nog’s other attacks. The ring wasn’t helping her.
It was up to him.
“Evangelina Shadow-Storm does not fight alone,” he said. “I stand by her side.”
Alaric raised the mirror above his head and ran towards the goblin.
44
Nog’s magic devoured Lina’s cape and crept across her skin. She pulled shadows around herself, trying to block the attack. The fire felt heavy. Was that how he was able to wield light? Had he mixed it with something else?
The magic’s weight pulled her to the ground. She lay there, fighting pain as the red light attacked her shadows. Spots clouded her vision. This was it. Nog had her. She couldn’t move enough to resist. A single blow would end the fight. He wouldn’t even have to use magic. He could step on her.
She closed her eyes and waited for the end.
It didn’t come. Lina opened her eyes. Nog wasn’t looking at her. He hadn’t moved towards her. He focused his attention on a faint glimmer of light.
Alaric.
Lina watched the light flit around Nog. She could just make out Alaric’s shape. He was fighting Nog. Protecting her.
She winced as Nog punched Alaric’s right shoulder. The prince switched the glass knife to his left hand and kept attacking.
He was doing it all wrong. Fighting angry and trying to manhandle the goblin. To defeat him with strength. No human was strong enough to defeat a goblin that way. If you couldn’t outnumber them, your best chance was to outsmart them. Of course that strategy hadn’t worked well against Nog so far.
Nog landed another blow on Alaric’s side. He was just toying with him now. Alaric nicked Nog’s arm with the glass, and the goblin’s irritation rippled across the realm of shadows. He wouldn’t toy with his prey much longer.
Lina’s stomach itched. She reached her hand down and wrapped her fist around a familiar shape.
Her diamond ring.
She slipped it on her finger.
“Heal,” she whispered.
Magic bathed her skin. The pain from her burns eased. She could breathe again.
She could move again.
Lina pushed herself to a seated position. The pea emerald sat on the ground beside her. She placed it in her headband. The emerald hastened the diamond’s healing magic. She had strength now. Not much, but maybe it would be enough.
Alaric’s attacks, however ineffectual, had distracted Nog. He didn’t notice Lina’s recovery. She stood and gathered her powers. She had enough energy for a single blast of shadow magic. Better make it count.
Nog turned his back to her. He raised his hands, ready to finish Alaric. Lina dove for the goblin. She aimed her shadow magic at the shimmering scar in his neck. A wound caused by light. If she added shadow to the injury, she might be able to defeat him.
The blow met its target. Nog roared and dropped to his knees. Shadow and green tendrils of light surrounded him. They looped around him until he dropped to the ground. Lina leaned over and looked him in the eye.
“Who helped you?” she said. “Who let you out of the seal?”
Nog laughed.
“You did. Your awakening weakened the seal.”
“I don’t believe you. Someone taught you light magic. Who?”
“Is it so hard to believe that I learned it myself in a century of imprisonment?”
“Perhaps.”
Nog’s laughter turned to a roar of pain. Lina whirled around. The shimmering outline of Alaric stabbed Nog in the chest with the glass blade.
“Alaric, stop!”
Alaric raised the glass above his head for another blow. Lina grabbed his wrist. Their eyes met through the realms.
Then Alaric shook his arm loose and stabbed again.
Nog chuckled.
“Looks like you won’t get any answers this time, goat girl.”
“No!”
Lina wrapped her shadow magic around Nog and focused on his life force. He wasn’t dead yet. There was time. She grabbed his arm and pulled him across the shadow realm to the seal. She ripped it open with her diamond ring and shoved the goblin through the hole. He watched her with dim red eyes. Lina gathered the magic in her ring and pushed the seal shut again.
Three stars appeared over her. With Nog sealed, there was nothing to keep them away.
“It’s about time!” Lina said. “Help me shut this!”
The stars hovered around the seal and patched any weaknesses. Lina pulled the pea emerald out of her headband and held it against the seal. The gem crackled as the enchantment absorbed it. She hated to sacrifice the emerald, but it was the only way to mend the seal since she was so weak.
Nog crouched behind the shimmering curtain and glared at her.
“What have you done, shadow warrior?”
Lina focused the last of her energy and wove a truth spell into her shadow magic.
“Saved your life, goblin. You owe me. You will answer my questions.”
Nog chuckled. The sound was so soft, Lina hardly heard it. She raised her hand to unleash the truth spell.
“You’ll have to find me first,” Nog whispered.
The goblin disappeared in a flash of red fire. Lina gasped and rested her hand against the seal. It had not been broken. Wherever the goblin had gone, he was still trapped behind the seal. The faint trace of his energy faded. Had he died? Or simply disappeared deep into the darkness?
Forming the truth spell had taken all Lina’s strength. She staggered backwards and collapsed.
Princess of Shadows: The Princess and the Pea Retold (Fairy Tale Adventures Book 1) Page 22
