by Jamie Davis
She stood alone in the center of the Crystal Well. The electric lamps on the walls had been replaced by torches. They lit the ceiling as the electric lamps did, though the flickering flames made the effect even more beautiful. She knew she was still in the chamber, yet simultaneously somewhere else.
“Daughter, why do you fight what must happen here tonight?”
The voice was the first indication that she wasn’t alone in the room. Quinn moved her gaze from the ceiling to a gray-haired woman standing directly in front of her. She wore a cream-colored dress with blue flowers embroidered across the chest and down the sleeves.
“Where did everyone go?”
“They are still here. You will return to them soon, but I needed to talk to you once again.”
Quinn recognized the voice. It was the same friendly voice that had spoken to her before, showing approval or lending guidance when she most needed it.
“Are you here to rescue me or give me a way out of this trial?”
The woman smiled and shook her head. “No, daughter. You must do that on your own. Know that I have faith in you, though. Trust yourself in the trial to come. Your kind nature will show you the way out.”
“That’s not much help if you don’t mind me saying so.”
An amused smile crossed the woman’s lips. “I do not. It is the way of humans to question. It was how you were fashioned. Our hope was to create a creature on Earth that could find a way to defeat the demons when they finally opened their way to return.”
“I don’t think the other humans know that. They don’t even seem to be aware of the danger.”
“Quinn, dearest, they aren’t the answer we sought when we influenced creation in that direction. You and your clan are our answer to the prideful Fae and their machinations. Some of my brethren allowed them to grow too far in their hubris. They’ve reached the point where most no longer listen to reason about their lost cousins in the netherworld. I and others foresaw the danger. That is why you are here.”
“I don’t understand. I’m sorry,” Quinn said. “I still don’t know how this will change things. You tell me you don’t know if I’ll win and cannot help me. If I can’t make it through this trial they’ve arranged, all you’ve worked to do with me will be for nothing. The princesses are very aware of what I can do. They will not leave it up to chance.”
“Ah, but they already have, daughter. They do not control everything. The most important variable is you. Know only that win or lose, I am proud of all you’ve achieved. There will be no disappointment.”
“But—” Quinn had so many questions.
“There is no more time, daughter. You must go back. Do not struggle. Wait for your moment, and trust the goodness you carry inside. It will always guide you.”
Quinn started to ask another question, but when she blinked, she was back amid the electric lights and the Fae court. The goddess or whoever she was had disappeared.
The court had apparently continued while she’d been elsewhere in her mind. Filippa finished listing Quinn’s offenses.
“Finally, she removed the protective coating we’d placed around the dragon egg, knowing it would result in another incursion. Luckily, our trackers were able to contain the outbreak.”
Quinn wanted to scream. Filippa was taking credit for Quinn’s efforts to close the rift last night.
“Is there anything else you’d like to present, Princess?” the chief judge asked.
“No, Magistrate. That is all.”
“Does your cousin back your testimony?”
Aurora stepped forward. “I do, Magistrate. The girl is a menace and must be dealt with.”
The old woman nodded and leaned back in the chair, turning to each side as the others leaned in her direction. Though their lips moved, Quinn heard nothing of their voices. Some spell or trick covered their voices so she couldn’t listen to their deliberations.
“We are forbidden from executing the human outright as you know, but your request for a trial by combat is approved. Remove the girl’s gag and restraints.”
The guards untied the strip holding the gag in her mouth. The female guard pulled the wadded cloth from her mouth. Someone behind her took off the heavy shackles.
Quinn rubbed her wrists and licked her dry lips. She looked around, trying to decide who she had to fight. She liked what she saw and decided she could take anyone in the room in a standup fight. Her still-injured shoulder might tip the balance in their favor, but she figured she had an even chance.
“Do I get to choose a weapon, Your Honor?”
“No, girl. You may only fight with what the gods have given you.”
“Who am I taking on, then?” Quinn clenched her fists and held them up, ready to fight.
“Your Highness,” the magistrate said, “you may present your champion.”
“Gladly,” Filippa said. She clapped her hands, and all eyes turned toward the entrance to the chamber. An enormous robed creature entered, followed by four slightly smaller ones, also obscured by robes. The central figure had to stoop to enter the room. Quinn knew they must’ve had to almost crawl through the tunnels to get here.
Once inside, the robed figure stood, its face still covered in the shadows of the hood. It stood at nearly eight feet tall and was armored in leather and metal plates from head to toe. They’d stacked the deck against her this time.
Quinn recalled what the goddess had told her moments before and searched the woman’s words for some inkling of how she was supposed to defeat this monstrosity.
Behind her, Quinn overheard Filippa say to her cousin, “Let’s see the girl get out of this one. She’s finished for sure this time.”
Quinn looked at the shadows inside the hood standing over her, trying to see who they’d brought to execute her. She couldn’t pierce the darkness and make out the face of the creature. A shiver went down her spine as she prepared to defend herself against this impossible opponent.
This time, that smug Fae princess might be right.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Filippa called as Quinn assumed a defensive stance, “Bring the champion his weapon.”
One of the hooded attendants accompanying the champion turned and left the chamber.
“Oh, come on,” Quinn turned and objected to the magistrates. “This guy’s armored from head to toe, and he gets a weapon?”
The chief magistrate raised her hand to stop Quinn’s complaint. “What weapon would you choose?”
Before Quinn could answer, Filippa stepped forward. “She was captured with a weapon. Perhaps that will do.”
“Agreed. Bring the girl her weapon.”
One of the black-suited guards reached into a leather satchel and pulled out Quinn’s sheathed Bowie knife. He tossed it to the floor at Quinn’s feet and returned to his place along the wall.
Quinn bent down and picked up the knife, drawing the blade and throwing the sheath aside. At the other end of the chamber, the hooded attendant returned. He carried the golden spear taken from Quinn and the clan.
She shook her head. She knew the powerful magic inherent in that spear. Besides the magic, there was also the long leaf-shaped tip this monster could use to impale her before she ever got close with her Bowie. One strike with the spear could finish her. Quinn had no idea how many thrusts of her blade she’d need to take out the giant facing her.
The champion reached out a gauntleted hand to take the spear. As he gripped it, ripples of magical lightning coursed up and down the shaft. That doused the small hope that the champion might not be able to activate the spear’s magic.
Quinn crouched and took a few steps forward toward the champion. To her surprise, the giant didn’t advance to meet her. If anything, its body language seemed almost hesitant.
One of the attendants shouted something in a language she didn’t know. The angry tone accompanying the guttural words was unmistakable. He was telling the giant to get it over with.
Quinn felt the same way. All this waiting
was getting to her. “Come on, you big brute. Come and try to stick me with that thing.”
The giant form shuffled forward a few steps and stopped, still not adopting anything approaching a threatening stance.
Quinn decided this was her only chance. She had to strike before the creature chose to kill her.
She tensed, prepping herself to spring forward and try her luck at finding a gap in her opponent’s armor.
“Quinn, are you mad at me?” the towering figure asked in a sorrowful tone.
Quinn relaxed and stood up straight. It couldn’t be.
One of the gauntleted hands reached up and pushed back the hood, revealing an orc’s tusked visage.
A broad grin crossed Quinn’s face. “No, of course not, Tadpole. I didn’t know it was you until now.”
“My brothers said I had to come in here and kill someone. I didn’t know it was going to be you, honest.”
“You’re way bigger than they are. Tell them no.”
“I don’t know if I can do that, Quinn.” A single tear fell and coursed down the orc warrior’s cheek.
Filippa shouted and rushed from her place on the wall to the seated judges. “Magistrate, stop this chatter. Order the champion to kill the girl.”
“The champion was yours to choose, Princess.” An amused tone filled the old Fae woman’s voice. “Perhaps you should have chosen better.”
Quinn ignored the discussion behind her. She concentrated on Tadpole. More tears followed the first. “Hey, don’t let this upset you. It’s going to be all right. I promise.”
“But if I don’t do what they want, I won’t have a family anymore.”
“I know how that feels. I didn’t have a family of my own growing up. It was hard, but I discovered a secret. You know what I did?”
Tadpole wiped his tear-filled eyes with the back of his gauntlet. “No, what?”
“I found my own family. You can do the same thing.”
All four of the hooded attendants ran up behind the giant orc, shouting at him in guttural Orcish. Two of them had drawn their swords and poked him from behind. The giant orc winced when the sword points pricked him through gaps in his armor.
“Hey, leave him alone. He doesn’t have to do what you say. If you want to fight someone, come and fight me.”
Two of the orcs continued tormenting the giant. The other two turned and advanced on Quinn.
“We’ll kill you if our brother won’t,” the leader said in English.
“You’ll try,” Quinn replied. She dialed up her HUD and drew off her stamina bar to ramp up her speed and strength rating. Her arm still ached, but the added boost should compensate for the lingering injury.
The two orcs stepped past their giant little brother and spread out to either side, trying to split her attention.
Quinn didn’t wait for them to react. She feinted to the right, drawing the attacker on the left into attacking her exposed back.
He walked right into her trap.
Bending and spinning around, Quinn’s booted foot connected with the hand extended in a lunge. The sword he held went flying and clattered on the floor. The crack that resonated up her leg told Quinn she’d broken the orc’s wrist.
There was no time to relax, though. She came back up from the spinning kick, ready for another incoming attack.
The brother on her right recognized the feint and switched his block into an awkward lunge at her back. Quinn had trouble bringing her Bowie around in time to parry the incoming sword.
The tip of the sword scored a bloody line across Quinn’s back and side as she completed her spin. She hissed in pain and took a step back as she recovered.
The second orc clutched his broken wrist and backed away as Quinn moved in his direction to get away from the other brother. He was out of the fight for now.
Quinn concentrated on getting past the incoming sword to finish off the lead brother before the final two decided to join the fight.
Tadpole sobbed as two of his brothers continued to poke and prod him, shouting at him in Orcish. The words seemed to be doing more damage than the swords.
Quinn batted away an incoming lunge and shouted, “Tadpole, you don’t owe them anything. If they treat you like this, they don’t deserve to be your brothers. I’ll be your sister. My whole clan will welcome you. Come be part of my family.”
The giant’s eyes met hers, and she caught a glimmer of hope shining forth. She nodded and smiled despite the pain in her back and arm.
Tadpole extended his arm, thrusting the length of the golden spear out quicker than she’d thought possible for someone so large. The flat of the spear’s blade flicked away the incoming sword aimed at Quinn’s side. The parry struck with such force, it dislodged the sword from his brother’s grip. The sword dropped to the stone floor.
“Don’t hurt her.”
The lead orc stared up at his brother in disbelief. “You cannot change families, you stupid oaf.”
Tadpole paused and glanced at Quinn, once again unsure of himself.
“Our clan will never call you names, Tadpole. We welcome everyone.”
“Theodore, I swear, if you don’t listen to me now, I’ll kick you out of our family, and you will never be allowed back.”
Quinn shook her head. “That’s not how a real family works. A real family always welcomes you back and throws a party for your return.”
Tadpole’s expression shifted from pain to puzzlement and then to a broad grin. He took two massive steps, pushing his oldest brother out of the way and turning to stand side by side with Quinn.
The three uninjured orcs formed up in an arc, facing the two unlikely companions. The Fae trackers came from the walls to complete the circle and surround Quinn and Tadpole.
“Enough!”
The woman’s magically enhanced voice resonated through the chamber.
Everyone turned to face the chief magistrate. She stood, glowering at Quinn and those arrayed against her.
“The trial is decided. Blood has been shed, and the champion has chosen.”
Aurora stepped forward. “Magistrate, the champion was to fight the accused. The girl has subverted justice, twisting the court of honor’s intentions with her vile ways.”
Quinn said, “The only vileness here is forcing this gentle person to fight against his will. I charge you with subverting justice, Aurora.”
The princess gasped. “How dare you accuse me of anything! You stole the egg from my cousin and me. You released the wild magic and set the hatching into motion. All of this happened because of you.”
Before Quinn could answer the charges from the Fae woman, a loud crack filled the chamber, and all eyes turned to the dragon egg on the ground in front of the five magistrates. A long, jagged opening had appeared in the shell, and a golden glow emanated from it.
Quinn’s wild magic icon lit up in her HUD and started flashing again. This wasn’t good. A sense of impending dread washed over Quinn.
From the expressions on the faces of the others in the room, they felt something, too.
Tadpole reached out to grasp her free hand in his massive gauntlet. “Quinn, what’s happening? I’m scared.”
“It’s going to be okay, buddy.” She patted the back of his hand and pulled him back to stand near the wall. “Give me a second to figure it out. Just stay close to me, whatever happens.”
The golden flows of wild magic leaching from the opening in the shell spun in a growing circle on the stone floor beside the egg. After a few seconds, the swirl’s center seemed to draw downward like a whirlpool until a dark hole had opened in the center of the chamber floor. The egg rested beside it, the golden magic feeding the maelstrom.
As the opening expanded, a few of the trackers and one of the orc brothers were caught unawares. The swirling energy grabbed them, pulling them to the center and down into the abyss. Their fading screams cut off as they disappeared.
“See?” Aurora screamed over the magical roar. “The wild magic she released is
expanding yet again. She’s a danger to us all and must be killed.”
“This isn’t me,” Quinn called. “This all comes from the young dragon inside. I don’t think it will stop until it is born.”
The chief magistrate stared at Quinn from the opposite side of the swirling energy. “This energy will continue to expand and consume everything it touches unless someone stops it. The princess is right. You are the key, girl. You must be the one to stop it. Perhaps your life, and the life of the dragonling, are the price that must be paid.”
The magistrate produced a long golden dagger from within her robes and stepped forward to stand over the egg.
“No, let me try something first. If the baby dragon is doing this, it doesn’t understand what is happening. We have to help it, not kill it.”
“What would you do?”
Quinn didn’t want to answer right away because she had no idea. She couldn’t tell the magistrate she was making this up as she went, though. “Just watch and see.”
She ran around the widening abyss to the egg. The magistrate nodded and took a step back to give Quinn room to work.
Quinn knelt beside the egg and stared into the crack. She couldn’t see much through the flow of golden energy, but she thought she could make out something moving inside. No, not moving, she realized. Writhing. The dragon inside was in pain.
Pulling up her HUD, Quinn ignored the flashing icon in the center, concentrating instead on her blue mana bar. She held her hand over the crack in the shell.
Taking a deep breath, Quinn lowered her hand into the golden flow, wincing as the powerful magic set off the ends of her pain receptors as if they’d exploded and caught fire. Relaxing and giving in to the wild magic instead of resisting it, Quinn drew it into herself until the blue mana bar changed color and filled.
Every nerve ending in her body burned now. Her whole being quivered with the agony that washed over her. She knew the poor youngling felt it, too. Grinding her teeth together, Quinn, reached down with both hands and gripped the jagged edges of the crack. They cut into her fingers, but she didn’t let go.
