by Vi Voxley
"Get him!" Rago yelled, holding the Orochi champion in place. "Get that bastard!"
Those were the best words Eredin had ever heard out of him.
He turned on his heels and dashed right for his treacherous uncle. All the years of pent-up anger and suspicion were finally released in his heart and the final betrayal sealed the judgment. Seeing the way the Lord Templar ordered the men loyal to him to go through their own brothers was unthinkable.
To see them obey was somehow even worse. Such was the power of authority.
It was complete chaos around him. Behind him, Eredin heard Rago grunt as he dueled the Orochi champion. He saw Rago dodge a vicious blow of the terrible spiked maul and slash back, lightning-quick, making the champion wince when it connected with his rough armor.
Eredin trusted Rago to handle the champion. It was a curious feeling to count on Rago, but if there was anything the past days had shown him it was that fate had known what it was doing by binding the two of them to Joanna after all.
There were still Orochi soldiers all around, trying to get to Joanna. Their short guns were constantly seeking her out, but Eredin was pleased to see that the Templars who'd sided with him were blocking every shot. With their own bodies, if need be. Luckily the Haverin armors were sturdy enough to take a glancing shot without it being fatal.
And then there was Doraton, of course. The only positive moment in the entire mayhem was the look of fury in his eyes. If Eredin wasn't mistaken, a glint of fear as well.
You should be afraid. I have something much worse in store for you than death.
"You will not stand between me and my duties!" Doraton called to him when Eredin neared, his uncle's men uncomfortably standing in his way, unsure of what to do. "The gods have chosen me for this, Eredin! You should join me! I don't need to hurt your female if you only make her see reason!"
Eredin didn't slow down.
"Rago and I have warned you several times now," he answered, his voice carrying easily over the battlefield despite the ruckus. "No more, uncle. You have disgraced your name, the gods and the entire order!
“Every man following you should better know what is waiting for you after this is over! Fighting your own brothers, do you not see that the Lord Templar is leading you to your doom!?"
There was some doubt, some hesitation too, but the men were too far gone. They'd already thrown their lot in with Doraton and there was only one way for them.
Eredin hadn't expected much. His eyes were looking for Joanna. His fated had been slipping from cover to cover on the ruins of the broken ship. Now she was nowhere in sight. Even the Templars protecting her seemed to be confused as to where their charge was.
Then Eredin saw her.
Joanna climbed out from the shadow of the ship's wing, carefully crouching in a position almost on top of Doraton. The look of concentration was plain to see on her gorgeous face. Eredin realized her plan right away.
She reached down, her hand inches from Doraton's bald head. He could see the pattern so clearly on her hand it looked to be glowing. If she was just a bit taller, she could have laid her hand on him and taken control.
"Lord Templar!" one of the traitors yelled out, following Eredin's line of sight.
Doraton turned the second Eredin started running again. The moment of surprise was what saved Joanna, who pulled her hand back right away and scrambled back. The Orochi guns were barking and the chaos ensued even worse than before.
As he ran, Eredin could hear a roar from behind him. It was definitely the Orochi champion but he couldn't tell if it was one of joy or fury.
All he could think of was Doraton, climbing to the top of the ship, a bared sword in his hand.
The traitorous Templars tried to bar his way.
"Out of the way!" Eredin roared and the tone of his voice made many of them halt. "Any man who tries to stop me will not leave this place alive!"
Without waiting for an answer, he ran on, seeing Joanna disappear behind the wing again and Doraton follow with a quick stride. There wasn't much time.
There were still men in his way. Eredin didn't look twice at their faces. He didn't care who he killed, for everyone who had decided to stay with Doraton after his insanity was finally revealed didn't deserve to be remembered.
Forcing his bones to steel and muscles to work twice as hard, Eredin sent his opponents flying with such force they crashed against the ship like pebbles in a storm. The sound of breaking bones was audible even over the roar of battle.
Then he was climbing, faster than he ever had before. His body made itself ignore any pain or exertion until Joanna was safe. Eredin didn't stay to bother with the easiest way. He ran headlong to the top of the ship, up a nearly vertical wall.
Joanna screamed somewhere in front of him and Eredin jumped over the last stretch of the ship, the distance seemingly impossible to cover for any being of blood and flesh.
He landed squarely on the ship's hull, the golden blade in his hand. Doraton had a moment to stare at him, standing over his fallen fated before Eredin grasped the sword with both hands and swung.
The Lord Templar reacted faster than he'd thought, bringing his sword up in defense, but it made little difference. The blade was cut in half before Eredin's sheer fury. The golden sword went on, only stopping when it was lodged deep in Doraton's armor. Blood spilled in droves from the wound and the man sank to his knees.
"Don't kill him!" Joanna warned, standing.
Eredin stayed his hand with terrible difficulty. The man had already shown he was capable of killing innocent people as well as those who had put their faith in him.
Joanna was right, of course. If they stood a chance of getting Doraton to confess to all his crimes, it was worth taking it.
Eredin kept the tip of his sword on Doraton's neck.
"Move even a little," he said darkly, the implication clear in his voice. "Go on, Joanna."
But before his fated could try out her newfound powers, a cry split the battlefield's noise. It was definitely Rago.
Making sure Joanna was safe behind him and keeping an eye on the Lord Templar, Eredin rushed to the top of the ship again to see.
The Orochi champion was towering over Rago, the maul raised up above his head. It was already in motion and Rago didn't seem to be moving anymore.
Eredin knew he couldn't cover the distance in that time. It was too late.
Joanna screamed.
The cry echoed across the air, setting Eredin's blood on fire. He knew she was standing right next to him, yet the desperate, burning desire to protect her awoke within him with a force that couldn't be denied.
Out there, Rago reacted the same way. It seemed as though his arm didn't belong to himself, but Joanna's cry had brought him back to the living. His hand shot out to block the death blow with his sword.
Eredin could see the surprise on the beast's face as Rago stood, slowly but surely, to his feet. He could only imagine the immense pressure of the maul bearing down on Rago.
Eredin had no doubt that Joanna's cry had pulled up the last reserves of Rago's power. To hear his fated in such distress, there was nothing Rago wouldn't have done to get back to her. The Orb's power helped to boost his strength for one last strike.
The Orochi champion was clearly confused and it cost him dearly. Rago brought the standstill to an end so quickly even Eredin could barely see him move. His sword cut cleanly and swiftly, dodging under the maul to stab right at the beast's stomach.
Eredin saw Rago twist it in the wound before yanking it out with a furious grunt. In the next moment, the champion was disarmed and forced to surrender, clutching his wounded stomach.
The horizon was dark from the burning of the city around them and the Orochi attack had lost none of its edge.
Just when Eredin was thinking where to put their prisoners and how to keep Joanna safe, the true sons of Corolon finally found them.
He recognized the kings at the head of the Haverin armies, going to battle first be
fore their men as befit the rulers of a warrior race. Looking at the joined symbols of both royal families on their armors, Eredin knew they'd taken a step forward to ending the ancient feud.
Free to focus again, Eredin turned to Joanna who was observing the attack of the army with a peaceful, relieved smile. She looked positively stunning, absolutely flawless in her joy.
A life without you would be nothing.
He pushed the thought of her possible departure to the back of his mind. It wasn't customary for Haverins to dwell on the futures that hadn't yet come to be when they could still change it.
"Come now," he told his fated. "Let us put the Orb's power to the test."
Twenty
Joanna
They went for the Orochi champion first.
Joanna's heart was still beating in her chest after seeing Rago almost die at the hands of that beast. She could barely believe her fated had managed to stop the death blow.
Eredin had left Doraton under the guard of the loyal Templars. The rest had scattered when the kings arrived, undoubtedly fearing their retribution. He also made Joanna wait before approaching the champion to make sure it was completely safe.
"Go on," Eredin said when she finally crouched down to look at the champion.
Both he and Rago were heavily wounded, but alive. Joanna hoped that it would serve both as an incentive for her to have more damn conviction and a motivation for the champion to abandon his doomed campaign.
She reached out the arm with the pattern, seeing the champion's eyes go wide.
"You can't do that," he growled, "not to me."
"We'll see," Joanna said. "Keep his hands away from me or we might have a problem on our hands."
Her fateds didn't need to be told that twice.
The champion's green skin felt surprisingly cold under her fingers when Joanna finally touched the back of his neck. Like scales, the skin moved oddly under her fingers.
She focused.
"You will leave," Joanna said, making an effort to make her voice firm and strong.
The champion chuckled as if her attempt was that pitiful.
Bad idea. I don't think making me angry helps you.
Glaring at the beast in front of her, Joanna focused on all the destruction the Orochi had reaped just because he wanted to be the only big kid on the playground. She had no doubt that the champion had rounded up all the others, convincing them that the Orb was a threat to them when in truth he himself posed a much bigger one.
"You will leave," she repeated.
This time, Joanna felt it. The power surged through her fingers, strong enough to almost pull her under the surface along with it. She resisted. The Orb had chosen her as a host, not the other way around. She was stronger.
"Take your soldiers and all the ships and even the stupid notion of attacking the Haverins again and get back to your own worlds," she said, feeling the champion relax under her touch like he'd just been drained of something. "Stop looking for me and the Orb. Do you understand?"
Slowly, very slowly, the champion nodded.
Joanna stood. She had no idea whether it would work or how long her power would last if the champion really did leave. The Orb needed physical closeness to work.
If they just get out of here, that's good enough for me. If he gets free from my power, at least he'll have the memory of what happened here today.
She looked at her fateds, hesitating.
"Let him go, I think," she said.
Eredin and Rago didn't looked thrilled at the idea, but since it had been their plan all along, they both took their swords away from the champion's throat. Backing away, the three of them watched as the Orochi stood and looked at them. His eyes were burning with hatred, yet he didn't take one step toward them or pick up his maul, still lying on the ground.
Then he turned and marched back to the fighter. Joanna heard him order his soldiers back to the ship and after a minute, they were all gone. The Templars who'd fought them looked confused and so did the soldiers.
"Come," Eredin said. "Let's get back to Doraton. I bet the kings will be here soon, to hear what in the name of the gods is going on. We should be ready with some answers."
Eredin had been right. Kings Elias Greole and Vanor Merive were very interested in the machinations of their Lord Templar.
The Orb was another problem.
"We are thankful for your help in this matter, Miss Joanna," Elias said, the king's golden eyes shining at her, in deep contrast with the red marring his armor. "However, we are slightly concerned about a person with your powers walking around unchecked.
"The Orochis are leaving. Vanor and I believe your fateds when they tell us you did this, but even you have to admit it doesn't look good. How can we trust that you won't use this power against our people?"
Joanna tried very hard to ignore the glaring looks on the faces of her fateds. She couldn't know for sure but she bet that attacking the kings wasn't the best idea in the world. Searching her head for something that could placate the kings, Joanna finally found a lifeline.
"The messenger," she said. "The man who brought me here. I don't know much about him, but my fateds seemed to. They are trusted by your people. He told me the Orb wasn't a curse, but a blessing. And I don't think he would have led me here or my fateds to me if I could cause any more trouble than I already have.
"You have my word that I will not use my power on anyone. The Orb has a mind of its own and I can't stop it from affecting people near me, if just a little. I hope in time I'll learn to control that too if I find out more about it. Until then, I'll wear a glove in public if don't want to risk me accidentally taking control of someone. I can't give you more than that."
The kings looked pleased with that to Joanna's relief.
"She's right," Vanor told the other king. "The messengers have only brought us happiness and prosperity. I'm willing to take her word for it, considering her actions so far and the vouching of her fateds."
"Agreed," Elias said, grinning a little. "We might even find a use for your power, Miss Joanna. Nothing against your conscience."
He turned his eyes to the Lord Templar, bound and kneeling before them.
"Cases such as these," he said, glancing at Joanna. "Show us."
Joanna took a deep breath. She laid her hand on the back of Doraton's neck and ordered:
"Speak. For once in your miserable life, tell the truth. Confess everything you planned – and don't forget that tiny little thing you told me about wanting to rule the Haverins yourself."
The kings both tensed, golden eyes glaring all of a sudden as Doraton opened his mouth and condemned himself more thoroughly than she ever could have.
Twenty-One
Joanna
Rago's villa welcomed her like a home.
Joanna had always felt a little adrift in life. The Rivera had been the closest thing to a home ever since her childhood house, now long gone. And it said a lot, considering how the research ship wasn't the homiest place either.
Returning to Rago's villa felt like coming back to something warm and real, though. It gave Joanna the sense of peace only a home could truly have.
"Are you alright?" Rago asked for the second time now. "You were not hurt in the battle?"
Joanna laughed. He’d asked that a dozen times now.
"I'm fine, yes," she assured her fateds, who were both in a much worse condition than her, but you could never explain that to Haverins. "How are your wounds? My heart stopped when I saw that champion with a maul standing above you."
The emotion in Rago's golden eyes told Joanna that her concern was both appreciated and unnecessary given how invincible her fateds thought themselves to be.
"I wouldn't have died then," Rago said, leading her up to their bedroom. "The gods would have had to give me some answers if they took me from you at that moment. Besides, I couldn't bear the thought of leaving you alone with just Eredin for company."
"You know," Joanna said, pulled in for a dee
p, lingering kiss. "One of these days you two have to start getting along. I understand there are some difficulties and old wounds, but you fought by each other's side today. That has to count for something."
"It does," Eredin said, shutting the door behind them. "Both of us would give anything to be with you and to make you happy. For that, we're ready to come together."
"If you're going to share a bed with me, I think you need to be a little more cordial than that," Joanna said, grinning. "I won't wake up one morning to discover you've started a sword fight over my head."
"We wouldn't," Rago assured with that smile on his lips that told Joanna it was entirely possible. "Any quarrel we have, we can settle it on the arenas."
Joanna gave up, rolling her eyes at them. She knew better and if her fateds needed to keep up their bravado a little while longer to prove to each other they weren't friends yet, it was fine. The truth had been obvious to her in battle. All three of them had come together to fight the enemy and she couldn't ask for more than that.
"So what's going to happen now?" she asked, looking out of the window and admiring the beauty of Corolon.
The golden red light of the evening was painting the world in gorgeous shades that danced in the trees outside. Joanna was mesmerized by the sight, such peace settling in her heart that she would never have believed it if she hadn't been living the moment herself.
"With what?" Eredin asked as her fateds joined her, running their hands gently over her body.
Joanna didn't mind at all. They weren't trying to intrude on her quiet moment. Both warlords simply enjoyed her presence and being near her, as she'd come to understand. Joanna didn't think she could ever put it into words what that felt like, what it meant to her.
In her heart, the decision was born, but she didn't say it out loud yet. The world was on the right track once more and she didn't want to jeopardize it by blurting out something she couldn't take back.
