Tyrell scooped up the dead shield knight’s shard and dropped it in a sack already bulging with shards. “No sense letting Pride have these.”
He tightened the drawstring and strapped the sack to his belt. “Miss Deveaux, I apologize for the trouble your team met on your way to Redkeep. I hope Connal won’t hold it against me.”
“Not to worry Master Tyrell. I knew the risk when I accepted the mission,” Danielle said.
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it looks we need a new escape route,” Kelwin said as he gazed at the eastern wall.
The morning sun had burned away sections of fog revealing dozens of archers lining the eastern ramparts. The line of bowmen disappeared into scattered fog banks in the camp’s north and south corners.
Ronan peered through the fog and scanned the north, south, and western walls. His stomach lurched. “I see archers lining the entire camp. We’ve no escape over the wall without fighting hundreds of warriors.”
“Keely, can you and Rika fly us out?” Danielle said.
Keely’s expression turned grave. “To clear the archer’s bow range, we need to gain enough altitude straight up. Carrying Danielle and one man is possible, but we’ll never make it off the ground carrying two grown men.” She gestured toward Rika. “No offense toward Rika, but she’s never experienced flight let alone carrying two grown men on her back.” She shook her head.
“I’ll try,” Rika said.
“What happens when your power burns out three hundred feet in the air? Where does that leave you and the lives you’re protecting?” Anger flared in Keely’s eyes.
Ronan sighed. “We’re running out of time. We need a solution.”
Rika gasped. “Look!” She pointed toward the eastern wall.
Grim silence descended as shields by the dozen flared near the eastern wall’s base.
Ronan sharpened his vision and appraised the soldiers.
Five hundred yards away warriors by the score lined up in tight formations. Well trained Meranthian infantry stood at attention as a half-dozen shield knights barked orders from horseback as they applied their craft. Globes of blue light sprang up around pike men, archers, and cavalry.
“We’ve got trouble,” Ronan said.
“There’s soldiers lining the base of every wall in camp,” Tyrell said.
“There’s no sense for all of us to die,” Ronan said. “Rika, carry Kelwin. Keely can take Danielle and Tyrell. I’ll stay.”
Rika barked out a short laugh. “I’m not leaving you behind. If you stay, I stay.” She folded her arms and glared.
“I’ll stay.” Kelwin said. “I didn’t come all this way to watch my sister die.”
“For crying out loud, nobody’s staying behind,” Keely said. “Kelwin pass me one of those fancy potions in your belt pouch.”
Kelwin grinned handing Keely a glass tube filled with a murky green liquid.
Using her teeth, Keely ripped off the cork stopper and slammed back the dark elixir. “Patron and Kelwin, you’re with me.” Grim determination etched her face. “Rika, you carry Ronan and Danielle. Remember, focus on me. Don’t fight your instincts.”
Along the eastern wall, battle cries erupted from the Meranthian infantry, and they began a steady march toward the guardhouse. Distant shouts came from the south, north, and west as troops lining all four walls marched.
“Patron, you’ve been too quiet.” Ronan said.
Tyrell shook his head. “I think the young guardian has it right.” He squinted toward the soldiers marching from the eastern wall. “The lives of thousands hinge on decisions made during the next few minutes. Should we fall here, thousands fall with us.” Tyrell’s steel blue eyes held Ronan’s for the span of three heartbeats. “Remember that Ronan.”
The lead shield knight barked orders as the soldiers closed half the distance to Ronan’s group.
Ronan’s gaze darted to toward the incoming soldiers, and his stomach churned. “Yes sir. I understand.”
“We don’t have saddles so hang on tight. Good luck everybody.” Keely shifted into the form of a giant hawk and spread her giant wings.
Ronan gave Rika a quick kiss. “I love you Rika Finn.”
She bit her lower lip and let her gaze linger. “I love you too.” She stared into Keely’s round hawk eyes and transformed into an enormous black and silver hawk.
A shield knight bellowed an order, and a wave of arrows flew from the rear formation landing a few feet short of Ronan’s group.
“Hurry, climb on!” Danielle said. “Ronan, move to the front. It’ll be easier for Rika.”
Ronan climbed on Rika’s back and slid behind her wings.
On Keely’s back, Kelwin moved forward followed by Tyrell.
Danielle climbed onto Rika and slid forward until she pressed into Ronan’s back.
“Danielle, wrap your arms around my chest. I won’t let you fall,” Ronan said.
She wrapped her arms around his leather armor and clung to him. “You’re hurt Ronan.”
Sticky blood oozed from the wound at his side. “The shard magic should hold awhile. I’ll be fine.”
Rika beat her massive wings and pushed straight up off the ground. She wobbled pitching Ronan and Danielle as she gained her balance.
Ronan tucked his knees beneath Rika’s wings and placed a hand behind Danielle holding her steady.
Rika found her balance and flapped her wings at a furious speed.
Keely strained making slow progress skyward, but she inched a few feet off the ground.
A second volley of arrows flew through camp finding the spot the group had left behind moments earlier. The commander bellowed, and the soldiers moved into a quick march closing to fifty yards.
A shield knight barked a short command, and a chorus of cheers erupted from the eastern force. The foot soldiers broke ranks and sprinted toward the struggling Keely.
Rika battled the force of gravity but managed to open fifty feet of airspace on the converging soldiers.
The archers, lagging twenty yards behind the infantrymen, settled to one knee and pulled arrows free from quivers.
“Let me slow those archers. Hang on to me Ronan.”
“I won’t let go,” he said.
Under the extreme load, Keely made twenty feet of progress, and strained to gain more altitude. She let loose an ear piercing screech causing the foot soldiers to falter with their attack.
Danielle poured magic through her staff and held it beneath Rika’s exposed belly. The staff flattened spreading into a large round disk. She angled the disk toward the archer line providing maximum coverage from the incoming arrows.
Kelwin followed Danielle’s lead creating a flat disk of his own protecting the soft flesh beneath Keely.
Arrows flew inbound with many clattering off the protective disk. A few managed to skirt Danielle’s defense whizzing past the heartwood at wild angles.
A rogue arrow whistled past the defense on a collision course for Rika’s flapping wing.
Ronan leaned over stretching his arm beneath Rika’s exposed wing.
Rika let out a high-pitched shriek in protest, but she increased the furious pounding of her wings pushing higher.
Ronan’s vision dimmed as he channeled his fading power reserve strengthening the muscles and flesh in his arm.
The arrow scuffed Ronan’s forearm and ricocheted away from Rika.
Ronan released the extra power and held onto enough shard magic to stave off the pain flaring in his ribs.
Hundreds of soldiers weaved between barracks racing toward the mass of foot soldiers and archers already converging beneath Rika and Keely. Archers settled into position beneath the guardians aiming their bows skyward. Volleys of arrows streamed upward as the archers opened fire.
Keely gained another ten feet managing a thirty foot gap from the ground.
Arrows by the dozen clattered against Kelwin’s flattened staff, as other whizzed inches from Keely’s tiring wings.
She
emitted a high-pitched screech of desperation as her wings slowed and she sank a few feet lower.
Cold sweat rippled across Ronan’s brow as he watched helpless to act. He willed Keely upward, but the guardian fought a losing battle. “Fight Keely!”
She inched a foot hire as a shield knight scrambled from his horse and settled in place beneath Keely. The knight raised his palm and sent a blue orb coursing toward Kelwin’s flattened staff.
Ronan’s stomach twisted as he watched the tragedy unfold. Then he met the gaze of the only father he’d ever known, and he understood Tyrell’s final message. “No!” He screamed and reached toward his dearest friend.
The shield knight’s spirit attack slammed into Kelwin’s staff forcing the heartwood to retreat to its original shape. The soft flesh of Keely’s underbelly laid open to attack.
Steel determination set in Tyrell’s fearless blue eyes as he held Ronan’s gaze for one final moment. The great man nodded once bidding his farewell. Tyrell ripped the pouch from his belt and slipped it around Kelwin’s heartwood staff.
Numb shock spread over Ronan’s mind, and he stared wide-eyed as he watched Tyrell’s final act of heroism.
Tyrell lifted his leg over Keely’s back and perched sparing a final glance for Ronan. Without another word Patron Tyrell leaped.
Kelwin twisted reaching for Tyrell, but missed by an inch.
Waves of heat flashed through Ronan’s cheeks, and he screamed. He wrenched to his side twisting and lunged for Tyrell.
Danielle grabbed Ronan’s chest and held him firm. “Ronan, No!”
Ronan clenched his jaw and stared horror-struck as Tyrell sailed through the air.
Keely surged skyward as a wave of arrows whistled through the air inches below her extended talons.
Tyrell unsheathed his shard blade, and it blazed with yellow light. He sailed toward the shield knight as he readied a second blast of spirit magic.
The shield knight stared with a shocked expression as the greatest commander the world had ever known slammed his leather boots into the knight’s spirit shield. The knight never stood a chance as the force of impact cracked open his shield like a cheap glass bottle.
Tyrell’s heavy boot flew forward and hammered into the knight’s jaw.
The stunned knight’s neck snapped backward broken, and he dropped in a lifeless heap.
Tyrell brought his sword to bear and with a mighty swing, cleaved the shield knight’s head from his shoulders.
A dozen shields fell at once from the warriors surrounding Tyrell as shard energy escaped the dead knight.
Hundreds of warriors poured through the camp’s gates converging on Tyrell’s position.
Ronan’s stomach churned as any hope of Tyrell’s escape died.
Tyrell swung his blade in a wide arc before the infantry descended swallowing him like a pack of jackals picking at a wounded lion.
Ronan turned from horror, and his body shook with unfettered grief as hot tears streamed down his face.
Danielle rested her head against Ronan’s back and slipped her arms around his chest. “I’m sorry Ronan. I’m so sorry.”
Rika and Keely climbed to heights unreachable by any Meranthian archer. The guardians glided over the camp’s western wall leaving behind the horrors of Merric Pride’s death camp.
Twins
Rika coasted into a clearing nestled inside a forest of towering pine trees two-miles from North Camp. As Rika touched down, Keely glided in behind her settling onto a matted bed of pine needles.
Danielle hadn’t let go of Ronan during the short flight and wanted to linger near him. She felt a natural affinity toward him, an instant bond.
Instead, she released her grip and climbed off Rika’s back. After twenty years apart, she wanted her brother nearby.
Kelwin climbed from Keely’s back, and she shifted into her human form. Exhausted, she dropped to the thick carpet of pine needles and hung her head pulling in deep breaths.
Rika followed suit shifting into her human body and collapsing in a heap next to Keely.
Ronan knelt near Rika and examined her from head to toe. “Are you okay? Were you hurt?”
She shook her head and squeezed his hand. “I’m not hurt, just exhausted.”
“Keely, are you okay?” Danielle said.
Keely’s head snapped up, and her eyes blazed with fury. “Am I okay? What do you think Danielle? My weakness cost a man his life today. I failed.” Her chin quivered, and her eyes filled with tears. She hid her face between her bent knees and wiped the tears from her eyes.
Danielle flushed. “You’ve nothing to apologize for. You volunteered for an impossible task.”
Keely waved her hand without looking up. “Leave me alone Danielle.”
“Kelwin, I need to fetch the horses,” Ronan said. “Can you stay and make camp?”
“Yes, of course.” As Ronan turned to leave, Kelwin rested a hand on his wrist. “I’m sorry for your loss Ronan. In the short time I knew Patron, it was clear you meant a great deal to him. He thought of you like his own son.”
Ronan nodded. “Thank you Kelwin.”
Kelwin nodded once and turned to leave.
“I think he planned it. The jump I mean,” Ronan said.
Kelwin paused and lifted an eyebrow. “How do you mean?”
“His last words carried such finality. He was saying goodbye.”
Kelwin’s eyes pooled with grief. “I think you’re right.”
“He couldn’t allow one of us to die while he lived. He’d already lived five years carrying that burden…it would’ve destroyed him,” Ronan said.
“Then he died on his terms. He found peace, and we can honor his sacrifice.” He smiled at Ronan.
Danielle’s chest tightened. She felt wrong eavesdropping on Ronan’s conversation. “Ronan, I’ll help with the horses.”
“You don’t have to come Danielle. I can manage. You stay here and rest.”
Her heart nearly stopped when he turned those sea green eyes on her. She’d of sworn Connal Deveaux just spoke those words. Ronan had the same penetrating gaze and wavy dark hair. If Connal Deveaux subtracted twenty years from his face, he and Ronan could pass for twins. “No. I want to go. We need to talk.”
Ronan smiled and tipped his head. “In that case, thank you. I’d love your company.” He turned toward Kelwin. “We shouldn’t be gone long.”
Kelwin nodded. “We’ll rest here. Travel safely.”
Ronan left camp heading west through the dark pine forest.
Danielle fell in next to him as they walked through the forest underbrush.
Soft pine needles lined the forest floor as the chatter of squirrels echoed against the sea of pine trees surrounding them. They continued without speaking for several minutes before Danielle broke the silence.
“Ronan, I’m sorry my appearance caught you off guard. I never met the queen, but I’d heard mention that I bear a striking resemblance to her.”
“Your appearance startled me, but you’ve no need to apologize,” Ronan said. “What strikes me the deepest goes beyond appearance. You sound like her, you walk like her, and you have many of her mannerisms. It brings me comfort.”
Danielle’s vision blurred, and she fought back tears. “Why do you suppose I look so much like her?”
“I think you must be her daughter,” he said.
Her stomach fluttered. She’d never get the chance to touch her mother or hear her voice. Merric Pride had cheated her. Danielle locked away the pain and forced a quick nod. “You guessed right.”
“She never told me I had a half-sister.”
They continued strolling through the forest. A woodpecker’s beak hammered on a nearby tree filling the silence.
She kicked a pine cone and stepped over a rotten tree stump. “Did Master Tyrell ever speak of me?”
“No. I suspect he felt it wasn’t his place.”
“I’m not your half-sister Ronan.”
Ronan frowned as confusion de
scended on his face.
She stopped and took his warm rough hands in her own and pulled him around to face her. Danielle found her father’s strength in his eyes and relaxed. “A few days before I left for Meranthia, I found out a secret hidden from me my whole life.”
“You’ve lost me Danielle,” Ronan said.
A slight smile touched Danielle’s lips, and she squeezed his hands. “Ronan, I’m not your half-sister. I’m your twin sister.” His hands grew cold and still beneath her own.
His eyes widened as shock spread across his face. Ronan shook his head. “My father served as a battle knight in the Order of the Shattered Heart. He died before I was born.”
“I know this is overwhelming. Come sit with me, and I’ll help you understand.” She guided him to a fallen tree and sat.
Ronan settled in beside Danielle wearing a blank expression.
“Your mother…our mother, I mean, came to Ayralen the year before our birth,” Danielle said. “That’s where she fell in love.”
“She mentioned her trip to Ayralen,” Ronan said. “My father accompanied my mother. He captained the soldiers charged with her protection.”
Danielle nodded. “When she arrived in Ayralen, she came with a company of shard knights. Patron Tyrell commanded the force.”
“Yes, that’s where he met the prime guardian, Connal Deveaux. He -” Ronan froze mid-sentence as understanding came with his words. “You’re Connal Deveaux’s daughter, aren’t you?”
Danielle placed her hand on his shoulder. “And you’re his son Ronan.” Her words came out soft and compassionate.
Ronan shot to his feet and stormed ahead.
Danielle jumped up and followed. “Ronan, please listen to me.”
“My father died a hero Danielle. He’d never abandon me. I’m sorry, we aren’t twins.”
“He thought you died in that house fire Ronan. It destroyed him.” Hot tears blurred her vision.
He froze and whirled on Danielle. “If that’s true, why isn’t he standing here right now?” His eyes flashed with anger. “Why did he abandon me again?”
Tears rolled unfettered down her cheeks. She wanted to take his pain. “He’s the prime guardian Ronan. He carries the burden of protecting millions of lives. Ayralens need him to defend the Heartwood, and Meranthian citizens need protection too. Refugees are streaming across our border fleeing Pride’s insanity.”
Shard Knight (Echoes Across Time Book 1) Page 24
