Cass followed Agne’s instructions while Agnes approached the bodies. Their eyes open and unresponsive, Maeve and Gideon lay on the ground. They didn’t appear to be breathing. Agnes didn’t know how long they’d been dead but she had no intention of checking to be sure. Stench from what she assumed was their bowels releasing permeated the air. She covered her mouth and nose as she looked at them.
Agnes noticed right away the blood that had leaked from the eyes, black at the fingers and mouth. Just like Edith. Worry settled low in her belly. She skirted the pair. There was nothing she could do for them anymore. She said a prayer to the Goddess and walked up to the house.
Agnes twisted the knob. “It’s locked up tight,” she shouted to Cass. She knocked on the door but didn’t expect a response.
The key Isadora had given her for emergencies lay in her purse. Agnes hated to violate that trust, but if there were ever an emergency, this seemed to be it. Minutes later, she found it and held it up for Cass to see.
“I’m going in! Don’t move until the sheriff gets here!”
The key slid in with ease, and Agnes twisted the knob. In less than five minutes, it was obvious Izzy was not home.
Agnes walked back outside, closing the door behind her. The sheriff stood speaking to Cass but shot his eyes to her when she came out. Agnes shook her head in the negative, letting him know she wasn’t there. She refused to cry.
“Where are you, baby girl?” she whispered to the wind.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Izzy
Hundreds of feet below the surface, Izzy tried to come to terms with her new environment. Walls of dirt and stone surrounded the small community where she stood. She thought briefly of the white rabbit and his famous hole. She had definitely entered a wonderland of sorts.
Minutes before she had followed the gnomes, she had sent Cass and Agnes a message on the wind. She knew they were probably worried sick. She hadn’t been able to explain everything, but at least they should be aware that she was okay.
Dodger, too, had been left behind. She hoped he could forgive her for abandoning him. But, she couldn’t risk him when she hadn’t a clue what was coming. It would have been selfish to bring him. He would be fine, she told herself. He had to be.
Gnomes were working to prepare for their attack, their mood somber and focused. Others were huddled in groups, hugging each other and crying. Izzy watched, not quite included but not excluded as well. She wanted to find out more, do more but was hesitant to intrude.
“Marked,” a group of the soldiers greeted her, their voices in unison as they bowed. “We are honored by your arrival.”
With a shake of her head, Izzy let them know she respected them and their ways. “No, it is I who is honored. Thank you for allowing me to come to your home. I know you don’t trust humans and I appreciate your faith in me.”
“You will always be welcome at Glurtzcrag,” their leader informed her.
Izzy smiled. “Is there anything I can do to help?” She motioned toward the troops gathering nearby, the sheer number of men that lived below the surface staggered her. Hundreds if not thousands were lined up for war.
The gentleman shook his head, “We’ve been sharpening our stones for months. Everyone knew this was coming. The only question was when.”
“Yes, I know you all suspected something. I hate that it is the children though.”
“He will pay most dearly for that,” he snarled. “Children are hard to conceive in this environment. Our numbers have dwindled from the enforced captivity below the ground. They need light and air like everyone. We all do. We hope after this, we might be able to resurface and grow our communities again.”
“I’ll do anything I can to help,” Izzy ensured them.
“Thank you. You don’t know how much we appreciate your assistance.” Someone shouted across the way and several of the men turned their heads. “We must return to the team. We’re almost ready. I believe the captain will come to you shortly to brief you on the attack.”
Izzy was tempted to salute but just smiled. “I’ll be here waiting.”
“War!” The battle-cry carried from group to group, house to house. “War!” Their voices reverberated off the stone walls that surrounded them.
Izzy only hoped she could be as helpful as they expected.
“WAR!!!” Shouts and cheers echoed as the men began to dance.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Izzy
The surge of men, soldier after soldier - dressed and girded for battle, staggered Isadora. It was reported runners had been dispatched. Every gnome village and town adding to their growing multitude exponentially. By the time the groups congregated, they were expecting the army to number in the thousands. Izzy was speechless.
This village’s leader and captain of the militia, Balzer, and a select few other men made their way to her.
“We’ll lead the way once topside,” Balzer informed her. “Intel says he has created a lake, the children trapped at the center. Our children have never encountered large expanses of water. They will drown if they attempt to escape. We need assistance getting them back across.”
Up until now, the gnomes had been a source of amusement for Izzy. Cute but hardly deadly. Their seriousness and sheer planning had her reassessing.
“Do we know how many children they have?” Izzy asked.
“One hundred and twelve. Most are older, what you would consider a teenager. There are several quite younger, however. They will react and might panic. We must take that into account.”
Izzy nodded as she thought. “Can we divide the troops? Send some with rafts or fell trees to reach them while we battle their abductor? Is there more than one? I need more information.”
“He works alone. He captured them in groups, then once he had them, he left them, knowing they can’t escape from the platform he prepared.” Rage colored what little she could see of his cheeks. “We cannot fail. I will ask for volunteers to lead and work the rescue while others fight. Some will view it as a punishment, even though our mission tonight is to save the children.”
“What can I do to help?”
“Our plans include a full military assault from land as well as underground. We have catapults moving into position now with a large storage of rocks for ammunition. Traps are being created as he’s called the wildlife to his aide. Below ground, our men will create waves of movement. A tsunami of quakes if you will.”
Izzy nodded as she listened.
“The quakes should topple the trees. We need you to light them. We want him trapped by fire.”
“What powers does he have?”
“We know he has wind and water, as well as the ability to command the wildlife. Other than that, your guess is as good as mine.”
Izzy hoped her arsenal was as strong. She wasn’t even sure what her capabilities were, but she was about to find out. “I’ll give it everything I’ve got.”
“You have the knowledge inside you,” he counseled. His tone left no doubt that she was capable. Balzer’s words helped to shore up her lagging confidence. Together, they would defeat him.
“Just lift your voice to be heard by all and ask for their assistance, the creatures will respond accordingly. Your call should sway them to our side.”
Izzy nodded. “Okay then. When do we leave?”
“We’ve already begun.” Balzer turned and shouted instructions to his men. “Infantry first, archers remain in the rear. Look to the Marked for direction!”
Izzy was sure they could hear her heart as it beat in her chest, it was so loud. She took a deep breath and nodded. “I’ll call for the creatures first. To remove them from harm’s way and hopefully take away some of his army.
Balzer agreed, “Good thinking. The infantry push for position while we follow from the rear.”
“Wait, I should be out in the front, right?”
“Absolutely not,” Balzer appeared shocked. “You are the Marked. We face certain death without your mig
ht. Our job is to weaken the target, perhaps trap him, but we need you at our flank.” Balzer instructed. “Follow our lead. We can protect you more easily with you at the rear.”
Izzy wanted to argue. The thought struck her at that moment, how careless she’d been in learning her craft. She hadn’t taken any of this too seriously. At that moment, she forced herself to put away the last of her little girl notions. These men might have stone swords and leather armor but she was the Marked, and it was damned time she acted like it.
The men began moving forward rapidly. Waves of them, pushing toward the dirt tunnel and eventually back to the surface, each called out their own bloodless cry of victory. Their words seared on her breast. With every man that passed through the portal, she heard their shout, “All hail the Marked!”
Seconds ticked by in slow motion, then she was rushing to keep up. As Izzy crawled out of the hole they had created, she cupped her hands to make the call. Balzer shook his head. “Touch your throat, release your voice!” he shouted.
Izzy nodded, laying her hand against the base of her neck, she opened her mouth. She literally felt her words as they reverberated across the expanse of woods. Animals began responding in droves. A herd of them, foxes, squirrels, deer, animals of every type running in their direction. Fear paralyzed her for a moment. Had she did it wrong? Were they going to attack? Then they continued on, heading farther into the woods toward safety. The earth trembling as they passed.
The troops pushed forward and Izzy raced to follow. Coated in sweat and panting for air, she followed the troops to their quarry. One foot following another. They zigzagged past trees. Jumped over fallen logs. Even in pursuit, they managed to stay in relative formation.
Finally, she saw a man, far off in the distance, standing alone. Izzy recognized him at once. Sebastian stood in what should have been the middle of the meadow. He appeared taller than before, more powerful. She looked around but she didn’t see the lake. She hoped the rescue had already started.
“Isadora, I’m so glad you could join us,” Sebastian called out to her. “It will be a pleasure to add your power to the collection I’ll amass today.”
“Yet you hide behind trees? Really Sebastian? Is that the best you can do?” She purposely belittled him.
The forest, she thought he’d hid behind, came to life at that moment. They weren’t merely trees, but a vast army of Sebastian’s creation. “You’ve so much to learn.” He shouted. “Such a waste of raw talent.”
“We’ll see who’s the waste!” she countered.
Sebastian threw back his head in laughter. “Ah, the young are always so brash and trusting. I see you’ve inherited your gifts. You think you’re ready to try them out on your first day?” His eyes narrowed and focused on her. “Come to me, Isadora. You need more time to develop your craft before you can handle war on this level. Come and kneel to your master!”
“You think I’m so weak?” Izzy pushed bravado into her voice despite the strong urge she had to walk. Her resistance was weakening though and she knew the others could see her worry.
One of the men stood beside her and quietly counseled. “Sometimes the best course is not resistance but offense.”
Izzy’s head turned and she nodded. He was right. “Thanks for that,” she murmured. Immediately, she switched from using her power to hold herself back to shoving it forward. Arms stretched wide, she sent a steady wave of wind toward him.
“Good save, Isadora!” Sebastian’s laugh sang across the landscape, slapping her with its force. “This is going to be more fun than I thought.”
“Let’s dance then,” she taunted. “Show me what you’ve got!”
Sebastian’s army of trees attacked first. Slivers of wood and nettles flew from their branches. The volley took out many in the front line of gnomes but they quickly regrouped.
The wave of quakes was next. Trees, some even from Sebastian’s army, gave way, falling like dominoes. Izzy called for fire, creating the barrier they had asked for. The catapults pulled forward to send their payload as well. The gnomes’ voices carried, chanting in a language Izzy had never heard. Suddenly, the ground below Sebastian’s feet turned to quicksand.
“Is that all you’ve got?” he shouted.
Izzy wouldn’t let the gnomes fight alone. She called to the rain, centered it where Sebastian stood. She didn’t want to douse the fires, only assist the mud in pulling Sebastian downward.
He didn’t falter though. Sebastian demanded assistance from the trees. Had them lean their heavy branches his direction. He used their strength and began to make purchase as he pulled himself from the quagmire.
Just say the word, or show us your smirk. We sylph would be happy to whip on this jerk!
Izzy grinned. Small cyclones formed overhead and moved in Sebastian’s direction. Other gust of wind pushed against the trees, impeding Sebastian’s rescue. Gnome archers took advantage of the timely breeze and pelted the animated trees with rocks.
Meanwhile, the infantry wielded swords chiseled from stone at the trees. Hacking at their trunks and branches, felling everything in their path. Back and forth, each side challenged one another. Might meeting might.
Izzy switched from rain back to fire. The trees’ bark and wood were soaked from the rain though. The repeated shower of fireballs creating a mass of smoke making it hard to discern what was happening. Izzy called again for the wind to clear her sight.
Between the elements and gnomes, the trees had begun to fall. Despite Sebastian replenishing his army repeatedly, they were no match for the gnomes.
“IZZY!!”
Izzy froze when she heard the shout. She recognized the voice. It was Agnes. She turned in her direction and saw Cass running beside her.
“NO!!” Izzy shouted.
She watched in horror as Sebastian freed himself from the quicksand. He was quick to recognize the opportunity and flashed out an arc of electricity straight toward Agnes. Izzy cried out, sending a blast of her own to stop his volley too late.
Cass froze.
“RUN CASS!! GET AWAY!” Izzy screamed for all she was worth. “I’LL HELP AGNES! JUST RUN!”
Izzy watched as Agnes crumpled to the ground. Cass, stubborn to a fault, ignored her instructions and knelt by Agnes’ side. She wanted to go to her as well, check to see how badly she was wounded but knew she couldn’t.
Agnes was crouched on the ground, panting. Her hand pressed to her side. “I’ll be fine. Take care of your business,” she barked.
Izzy nodded and directed her attention wholeheartedly on the man now less than a hundred yards away. It was time. She hated what he’d done to the children, to Agnes, just hated him as she’d never hated before.
A smirk crossed his face. “Should I put her out of her misery? Or would you like to do it?”
Unable to speak or cry, she feared he might be right. But first, he needed to meet his maker.
“Izzy?” Sebastian coaxed. “I’m waiting.”
Izzy ignored him. She reached for the power that had been building, festering inside her all day. “I need to thank you, Sebastian,” she began. Surprise flitted across his face. “Without you showing up and encouraging us to practice, learn our craft, I don’t know if I would have it in me today to kill you.”
Sebastian grinned. “You honestly think you, baby witch that you are, can take me out?” Izzy didn’t reply. She just raised her right arm. “Wind, fire, water, earth, hear my call.”
With a kind of horror, Izzy watched as Sebastian caught on fire. His scream gurgling in the water in which he drowned. The air snatching his ashes as it sent his remains in all directions.
A roar of noise rose from the gnomes. Happiness for their victory, cheers of relief and joy.
Above the rest, one shout drowned out the others. “The children have been recovered!” After that, the roar became deafening. Izzy smiled and accepted thanks but Agnes was all that was on her mind.
She pushed her way in that direction.
The
sight of Agnes on the ground, looking weaker than she had ever appeared before, had Izzy’s heart stuttering. “Agnes?”
“I’m here, love. I was hit, but I’m here.”
Cass was kneeling next to Agnes still. “It’s bad. We need to get her to a doctor, now.”
Izzy nodded and knelt next to them. “Let me help.” She wrapped her arms around Agnes and Cass and winked, “You two aren’t going to believe what I can do.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Izzy
The first thing Izzy noticed when she arrived back at her house was Dodger. He stood on the railing of her porch patiently waiting for her return. He had managed to find some playthings in and around the yard in her absence. A neat pile of shiny things was stacked at his side.
Izzy walked over to him, reaching toward his new stash. Dodger rushed forward, blocking her reach.
“Yours, huh?”
The ferret barked at Izzy two or three times then settled down.
“I’m sorry,” she petted him while she waited for forgiveness. Dodger never liked to be left behind. Izzy understood that as she wasn’t fond of it herself.
“I’ll try harder to take you along next time,” she promised. Dodger must have accepted her apology as he grabbed one of his newly acquired items then caught purchase on her shirt, making his way to Izzy’s shoulder. Izzy reached over and patted him in welcome.
“Can we go inside now?” Cass asked. “I’m exhausted.”
After hours spent waiting at the hospital with Agnes, Izzy agreed with Cass. It was time to put their feet up and rest.
Izzy held up her finger, “Before we go in, I have a question…”
Cass waited, eyebrows raised, for Izzy to continue.
“I know I killed them.” She pointed to where she’d left Maeve and Gideon’s bodies sprawling on her walkway. “What happened there?”
Marked: Thoth's Legacy ~ Book One Page 20
