As Sowena marched into position along the top of the wall, she glanced to the side and saw Maya standing next to her. Sowena’s head snapped forward and she straightened her back.
She stood mere inches away from her idol. Sure, they’d been on the boat together, but then Maya had disappeared with Will before Sowena could say anything to her personally. Now that she had the opportunity, she didn’t know what to say. It suddenly didn’t feel like the right time, with a thousand or more angry elves knocking on their doorstep.
Inhaling sharply, Sowena took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“Sowena, right?” Maya asked.
By the gods! Sowena thought. She’s talking to me. Breathe, Sowena. Just be calm and don’t say anything stupid.
“Hi, I mean yes, I mean I’m Sowena,” she said, dropping to knee and bowing her head. “So nice to meet you, Your Grace, I mean Your Highness, I mean—”
“Just Maya will do,” she said with a smile.
Sowena looked away, heat rushing to her cheeks and a hollow pit opening up in her chest.
“This is your first battle, isn’t it?” Maya asked.
“It’s that obvious?” Sowena replied.
“None of this is easy,” she said. “But I want you to know I’m glad to have you standing beside me today—and thanks for taking care of Will for me.”
Sowena returned Maya’s smile.
Before she could speak, Khate appeared beside them and said, “You weren’t going to start without me, were you?”
“Good of you to join us,” Maya said. “Link up with Thallan and follow his lead.”
Khate nodded.
“Watch this,” Maya said to Sowena.
Turning her attention back to the battlefield, Maya raised her fist into the air. All the other archers lifted their bows and nocked an arrow. Sowena fumbled to follow suit.
Maya dropped her hand in a quick, fluid movement and yelled, “Fire!”
Releasing the string, Sowena let fly, but instead of a single arrow, five left the bow.
Sowena gasped.
Arrows filled the air, turning the sky black. They arced, then plummeted toward the elves. Sowena watched as several went right through elves and disappeared, but many found their marks and plunged deep into elf flesh.
Will raised his sword to parry and brought his other hand up under the block, blasting his opponent with a wave of energy that shredded his soul. Another elf charged him, but he dodged and sliced his sword through the elf’s neck.
Tossing his sword on the ground, he brought his hands together and created his favored energy staff. He dropped into a fighting stance and beckoned the enemy to attack, taunting them.
They stood around him, cautious and wary after so many had fallen. Will couldn’t keep this up much longer. He needed his stone—his anchor—if he was to draw more strength to fight. But all he had to do was break their will and shake their confidence. A demoralized and frightened enemy would make Maya’s job easier. Will only worried that his enemy feared Ophi more than they feared him.
The elves all rushed in at once. Will cut down the first three, but then danced away to avoid the blow of a fourth, placing him right into the path of a fifth, who proceeded to impale him.
The elf shouted in victory. Will gave a pained laugh and smirked at the elf, whose joy was replaced with shock as Will clutched the elf’s wrist and thrust the sword deeper into Will’s own abdomen.
Grabbing ahold of the elf’s soul, Will pulled and swapped their bodies. Now Will stood with a sword in his opponent’s gut as he watched the life drain from the elf’s eyes.
The others, thinking that Will was dead, turned their attention toward Derton and raced for the city gates. Will stood there, still and silent, breathing heavily as he watched them go.
A sound behind him caused him to turn, and he found himself staring down a horde of elves almost twice the size of the one he’d just fought.
Looks like we know where the rest of the army is, Lotess said. We should get out of here. Regroup.
No, Will said. I can take them. Nothing can stop me.
Will flicked his wrist, beckoning his energy staff to come forth.
Nothing happened.
He tried again, and still nothing.
He squinted hard at the approaching horde and saw Haladavar—his shoulder bandaged, but otherwise unscathed—marching at the front.
Nothing can stop you but him! Lotess shouted.
If he and Sowena survived this, Will made a mental note to teach her how to fight so her opponents didn’t get back up.
Now can we go? Lotess asked.
All right, you win, Will said, then he turned and ran for the city.
41
Harmony sliced through the elf’s neck like a knife through the heart of an apple: catching on the core for a moment, but with enough pressure carving clean through. Though his arms and legs burned, Ocken hadn’t seen this much excitement… well since about a day ago.
After smashing the butt of his staff into an elf’s face and breaking his nose, Ocken reversed the swordstaff’s direction and impaled the elf that was coming up behind him. Turning slightly, Ocken hefted the elf up over his head and tossed him into two of his comrades, knocking them to the ground, where Khal and Jade finished them off.
The elf with the broken nose stood, blood coating his face and hand, then he staggered and fell forward. Robert, his sword painted crimson, stood in the elf’s place.
Several more elves rushed forward and Ocken slid back to back with Robert to face them.
“You stole my kill,” Ocken said over his shoulder, blocking an incoming blade.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Robert said as he grunted. “I didn’t know saving your life was a crime.”
“The day you save my life… ” Ocken said, then he lunged forward and with a giant sweep took an elf’s legs out from under him, severing his achilles in the process. Backing up, he continued, “… is the day I hang up my swordstaff.”
“Then get ready for retirement,” Robert remarked.
Ocken glanced to his left and saw an elf racing forward with his blade coming in high. But Ocken wasn’t about to let Robert get one up on him.
“Not today,” Ocken said as he turned his weapon and caught the elf’s arm with the staff end, then wrenched, pulling the elf to the ground. Spinning Harmony, he drove the blade into the elf’s heart.
Robert scoffed, but was already onto the next opponent before he could say a word.
For every elf they felled, two more came through the gates. The defenders would be quickly overrun if they continued at this pace.
“To the high ground!” Khal called out.
Ocken worked his way up the steps backward, deflecting the blows of an elf as he did. As he neared the top, Ocken parried the elf’s sword with Harmony’s staff and thrust upward, knocking the elf off balance. Leaning over, Ocken kicked out, connecting with the elf’s chest and sending him tumbling down the stairs.
Robert made it to the top next.
As Jade ascended the stairs, her heel missed a step, causing her to fall onto her back. Raising her sword in front of her face, Jade blocked what could have been a fatal blow. She kicked the elf’s shins and he crumpled to the ground.
Before he could recover, Jade flipped over and stood, once again beginning to ascend the steps.
The elf, still on one knee, lunged forward, driving his blade deep into Jade’s calf. She screamed and fell onto the steps once more.
“Jade!” Khal yelled.
Khal cut down his opponent and ran to Jade’s side, plunging his sword into her attacker’s back and removing his blade from her leg.
Robert rushed back down the steps to help Khal, while Ocken stepped in to engage the enemy as her comrades lifted her to her feet and carried her up the steps. Once they reached the top, Kosta’s men surrounded them, giving them a much-needed break.
Maya reached out with her power and caused a house-sized chunk of parapet to fall f
ree from the wall. It was all an illusion, of course, but with Thallan and Khate standing next to her, they reached down into the minds of the elves below and made them believe they were being crushed to death as the stone slammed into the ground.
Thallan and Khate could have done it on their own, but with Maya’s illusion not only were the “crushed” elves dead, but all of their comrades broke formation and scattered as well, allowing the archers above to pick them off as they scurried away.
Something caught Maya’s eye, and she turned to see a lone figure racing across the battlefield like he was running away from something, pointing back behind him as he ran.
Coming around the base of a mountain on the valley’s eastern edge was a sea of elves that dwarfed the regiment they currently fought.
“Close the gates!” Maya shouted. “Close them now!”
The great iron doors shook and slowly started to close, metal groaning on stone as they moved.
“Come on, Will,” Maya said under her breath.
It was painful to watch how slow his progress was across the open expanse. Even if he arrived before the gates closed, Maya wasn’t sure how he would get past the thousand or more elves that crowded outside the gates and tried to push their way in.
The left door slammed shut followed by two loud clicks as iron bars slid out of the door on the top and bottom, locking it into place. But the right door had come to a halt still halfway open.
“What’s going on?” Maya asked.
Running to the edge of the inner wall, Maya looked down at the eastern gatehouse. A few elves had snuck past Kosta’s blockade at the top of the steps and were engaged in battle with the guard at the gatehouse.
Maya watched in horror as one of the elves slipped through the man’s defenses and stabbed him in the chest. She had to get down there and close the gate before the larger army arrived or there would be no way to keep them out.
Regret washed over her. It had been her decision to open the gate. It had been her pride that had wanted to show Ophi what they could do. And it was quite possibly her mistake that was about to get them all killed.
Not seeing an easy way down, and not wanting to backtrack to the stairs, Maya raced across the top of the wall and jumped down six feet to the roof of the guardhouse, then an additional ten feet to the stone beneath, rolling as she hit the ground.
Two elves emerged from the gatehouse and charged in. Maya drew Twilight, her black blade of death, and met them head on. Dancing out of the way, she dodged the first elf and came in slicing at the second’s stomach. He managed to twist, and she only caught a glancing blow, her blade deflecting off of his leather armor.
The second elf spun and lunged for her, but Maya batted the sword aside and punched him in the face. Spinning, she faced off against the first elf. As his blade came in high, she raised her left arm and blocked his blow as her forearm connected with the inside of his wrist.
Then she wrapped her arm around his and squeezed, slamming her head into his face and dislodging the weapon from his grip. The second elf yelled, and Maya barely had enough time to turn, placing the first elf between her and the second.
Maya backed away as steel came through the first elf’s chest. Before the second could withdraw his blade, Maya pivoted and brought her own sword down, severing the elf’s hand from his arm.
Screaming, he fell to the ground while clutching at his wrist. Maya pounced on him and plunged her sword into his throat. As he died, he coughed, spraying blood into her face.
Maya stood and wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her tunic.
Thallan landed on his feet beside her.
“Nice of you to join,” she said sarcastically.
“Looks like you had things under control,” he said.
Together, they ran into the gatehouse. Maya grabbed the wheel and started to crank it.
“Hold up!” Thallan shouted. He pointed to a section of the rope that had been partially chopped by a sword.
“What do you want me to do about it?” Maya asked. “We have to close this gate—help me out.”
Thallan looked at the cut once more, pursed his lips, then sighed and moved up next to Maya. Together they moved the wheel, but with each successive turn the tear in the rope grew larger, its ends fraying.
If they could just get the ruined section of rope reeled in, Maya believed it would hold. With one final shove, she watched as the tear drew closer—and then snapped in two.
Maya cursed.
Thallan opened his mouth, but Maya held up a finger. “Not a word. Let’s hope it was enough.”
Emerging from the gatehouse, Maya’s heart sank. The gap was still at least ten feet wide.
“Maybe we don’t need to close it,” he said. “We just need them to think it’s closed. How long can you hold an illusion?”
“Something that large? Hmm… but it’s not moving. I don’t know, a couple of hours?” she said. “But if I take turns with Khate, we should be able to keep it up longer.”
“Then let’s do it,” he said, taking Maya’s hand.
Concentrating, she made the door slide shut slowly as if it had once again resumed its normal path. The elves nearby moved out of the way at Thallan’s command. Through the gap in the door, Maya saw Will reach the outside of the mob thronging the gate.
“Wait!” she shouted. “We have to help Will.”
“He can take care of himself, remember?” Thallan said, straining. “There’s too many around the door. I can’t keep control over them much longer, just keep going.”
Too many elves between Will and them, too many elves around the door—Maya needed a diversion.
She delved deep within herself and a roar filled the valley. Rising up over the mountain, a dragon appeared and soared for the front gate. It swooped in low and caused all the elves nearby to dive out of the way.
Maya made the dragon circle back around and spit its fire on the ground, running a stream of flame straight for the gates. Elves desperately scrambled to get out of the way, creating an open path for Will as he continued racing for the open door.
With the congestion gone, Maya didn’t wait another minute and began once again closing the imaginary gate. Will slipped in seconds before it slammed shut, then he collapsed on the ground.
Khate continued the dragon illusion and cleared the entire wall, forcing the elves to retreat and rejoin their larger force—the archers beside her cutting down any that still lingered.
The clash of steel on steel echoed through the city as Ocken and Kosta’s men continued to battle the elves that had managed to make it through the gates. Khate rushed down the stairs to join them.
Three elves surrounded Ocken as he traded blows with them. Every time he moved in for a killing strike, another lunged for him and he had to abandon his attack to dodge. Each successive dodge became slower and slower.
Pulling out her throwing knives, Khate placed one between her fingers and lifted it, hoping her aim was as good as it used to be. She couldn’t normally make the distance, but she was elevated enough, and if she angled it right, it should find its mark.
One, two, three—the daggers soared into the air, spinning end over end. The first blade hit the far-left elf in the shoulder and the second caught the elf on the right in the throat. But Ocken moved to the left at the last minute and the third dagger grazed the side of his neck before impaling in the final elf’s eye. Ocken hissed, bringing his hand up to the wound.
And one, two, three—the elves dropped to the ground.
Ocken flipped his swordstaff over and finished off the first elf, then lifted his head, glaring at Khate. She might have wounded his pride, but at least he was alive.
He’ll get over it, she thought. Wouldn’t be the first time.
Kosta’s men made quick work of the rest and the sounds of battle abruptly came to an end. Ocken sat down on one of the steps and fell onto his back.
Khate ran down the rest of the way and rushed to his side.
“Where’
s Robert?” she asked, worry in her voice.
“Oh, don’t mind me. I’m fine, thank you,” Ocken said. He laughed and groaned.
“I’m serious,” she said.
“Over here,” Robert said, off to the side.
He and Khal crouched over Jade, who was propped up against a wall nursing her leg.
“Are you all right?” Khate asked Jade.
“Never been better,” Jade said. She tried to stand, but as soon as she put weight on the leg she collapsed to the ground again.
“Easy, easy,” Khal said.
Jade clenched her teeth, breathing heavily. Picking up a rock beside her, she growled in frustration and chucked it down an empty street as hard as she could.
“Don’t worry,” Khal said. “We’ll have someone come take a look at it. I’m sure we can get you patched up before the fighting starts again.”
“Just leave me alone,” Jade said, looking away.
Khate placed her hands on her hips and surveyed the scene. Back by the stairs leading to the battlements, Maya stood with Thallan and another elf Khate assumed to be Will in yet another body. When Maya noticed her, she waved for Khate to follow, then they turned and climbed the steps.
“Hey, come on,” Khate told Khal. “Maya needs us.”
Khal glanced between Khate and Jade.
“Go ahead, I’ll stay here,” Robert said.
Khal nodded with pursed lips and left with Khate.
As soon as they reached the top of the wall, Maya created one of her magic webs, blocking Ophi’s gaze.
Khal asked, “What’s going on?”
“Have a look for yourself,” Maya said, holding out her hand toward the valley.
“Iket’s bones,” Khal said.
It was worse than Khate could have imagined.
Khate looked at Will and said, “I thought you said there were only three or four thousand. This is more like ten.”
Soul Shade (Soul Stones Book 2) Page 32
