by S. M. Boyce
No pressure.
“Ah, there you are,” Eldrin said as the host entered. He brushed off his hands and leaned against the table holding their map.
“We don’t have much time,” Lady Spry said from beside the fire, her arms folded across her chest. She stood as still as a statue, and Audrey could almost see her tremble with anticipation.
Victoria nodded to the senator. “Lady Spry, an update please.”
“He’s horrible,” the elegant woman muttered, her gaze falling to the ground.
Everyone waited in silence, and even Audrey stopped munching on her apple. Lady Spry wasn’t one for outbursts or saying anything that deviated from the task at hand, but she lifted a thin hand to her face to wipe away a tear. In the firelight her fingers shook.
Diesel put an arm around the witch, and that seemed to snap her out of it. She nodded once in gratitude and stepped out of his reach. “Since his fight with Victoria, Luak has begun to murder the people of the castle in their beds, demanding their magical artifacts and charms. He has forced the witches and wizards left in the city to cast charms and spells day and night to shield the castle and to protect him. We’re including failsafes where we can, but he has already killed so many of us.”
Every head hung in remorse as her words settled on the room, and for a moment, no one spoke.
Victoria finally broke the spell by tapping on the map. “We will win.”
Lady Spry nodded. “You’d damn well better.”
“We have new allies,” Victoria added, with a glance over her shoulder at Fyrn.
Eldrin perked up, the points of his elvish ears twitching with excitement. “New allies? Who?”
Victoria smirked. “More like what.”
Fyrn leaned on his staff. “We are in possession of a powerful artifact and relic combination which will take the brunt of Luak’s assault.”
Angelique laughed humorlessly. “What artifact could possibly be powerful enough to take the brunt of a massive army’s attack?”
Victoria chuckled. “Haven’t you learned yet that I’m full of surprises?”
Angelique tilted her head in annoyance, and even Audrey understood that gesture. Just tell me.
Audrey had to agree. Victoria was certainly milking this. From the satisfied smile on her face, though, it was clear she had gone through a hell of a lot of trouble to get this mysterious artifact.
In that moment, something in the back of Audrey’s mind clicked into place.
“The golems,” she said under her breath.
Most of the heads in the room turned toward her, and Fyrn let out an aggravated huff. After all, she wasn’t supposed to so much as mention his pet project.
But Victoria nodded. “We have golems on our side. Golems who obey me.”
The room erupted into chatter as politicians and generals argued. Audrey wasn’t sure why they were bothering to argue, and couldn’t even catch what most of them were saying.
“Shut up!” she shouted.
Several mouths clicked shut, and a few straggling conversations died shortly thereafter.
One of the politicians along the wall—an elf who rarely spoke and whose name Audrey hadn’t bothered to learn—rubbed his neck in frustration. “Golems? Are you insane? You’ve already gotten a third Rhazdon Artifact, Victoria. All this power, and—”
“All this power and what?” Diesel snapped, glaring at the elf like a man about to tear someone apart.
The elf hesitated for only a moment. “Golems are legendary for their brutality, and they obey no one. Wizards have chased them for years to remove the relics that power them, not bring them to life!”
Audrey lifted one surprised brow and tilted her head toward Fyrn, and the old wizard met her eye and shrugged unapologetically. Ah, so that was where he had gotten them.
“Do you see any golems breaking down buildings?” Victoria asked calmly.
“N-no.”
“Do you hear any screams?”
“No.”
“Are there golems ripping our armies apart?”
The elf only glared in answer.
“No,” she answered for him. “They obey me. They will listen. And thanks to their indestructible bodies and sheer rage, they will save hundreds of lives in our fight with Luak. Would you rather send a lifeless rock monster onto the front lines, or your friends?”
The elf crossed his arms and stared at the floor, defeated.
Audrey reclined against the wall with a grin on her lips as she watched her friend kick ass and take names. Victoria scanned every face in the room and most met her gaze, and a few nodded to her in respect. When Victoria locked eyes with Audrey, Audrey winked once. It was their signal for, Keep going, badass. You got this.
“Lady Spry, do you still have access to the castle?”
“I do,” the woman said as she stared at the map. Her almost vacant expression made her seem hollow—wounded, like she had seen something truly horrifying.
Living in Luak’s castle, that was likely the case.
Victoria’s voice softened. “After this battle, he will never harm you again.”
“It’s not me I’m worried about,” the senator said, her voice dark. She sniffled once as she tapped a location on the map, though from this angle Audrey couldn’t see what she was indicating. “I’ll be here, in the heart of the castle.”
Victoria nodded, taking the cue to move on. “We won’t be able to reach you until after the fight is over. Can you secure yourself and keep any guards who might come for you at bay?”
The woman nodded. “The castle will lock this area off. I will be able to monitor the fight using the magic portals in this control center, so I will be able to see what’s happening. I will lower the defenses once I see Luak die.”
“Good,” Victoria said. “Queen Angelique, your armies will divide into three sections and attack from here, here, and here.” She pointed to areas on the map Audrey couldn’t see.
It didn’t matter. Audrey would be with Victoria to make sure she didn’t die. That was all she cared to know.
The generals of each army discussed strategy for the next hour and Audrey tried her best to pay attention, but battle strategy just wasn’t her thing. She didn’t care about funneling troops through this, that or the other to get the optimal leverage. Maybe she should, but she didn’t.
After what felt like ages, Victoria leaned back and stretched. “I think we have a plan.”
The others nodded, even that elf who had protested the golems. Once he heard Victoria’s plan, he had relaxed.
Victoria clapped her hands once to close the meeting. “We march tonight. We’ll catch him off-guard as he goes to sleep. Make sure your people are ready, and begin moving out. The onslaught begins with my signal.”
One by one the leaders funneled past Victoria, patting her on the shoulder or back as they left. They all murmured something to her as they did, and she smiled or nodded respectfully each time. Finally only she, Diesel, Fyrn, and Audrey were left.
“Never thought you’d lead a war, huh?” Audrey asked when the room was quiet again.
“Nope,” Victoria admitted with a chuckle.
“Well, I’m with you to the end,” Audrey said, lifting her fist.
Victoria smiled and bumped it with her own.
“As am I,” Diesel said, offering his fist as well.
Audrey and Victoria grinned, bumping it in unison. The three of them turned toward Fyrn expectantly, and the grumpy old wizard rolled his eyes.
“Very well, you sentimental fools,” he groaned, raising his hand.
CHAPTER 24
Victoria sat on a cliff-dwelling’s balcony as she watched a dozen fires in the refugee camp flicker and burn. Far below her silhouettes huddled around them, leaning together and whispering.
The hundreds who had gathered to aid Fairhaven huddled now in silence, everyone watching the flames before they moved out in less than an hour.
Nervous energy hung in the air like fog, weighin
g everyone down. Ogres and elves and witches and wizards alike were afraid. She had passed a few open doors on the way up here, and had seen that even the generals and leaders sat in their rooms, watching the seconds tick by.
Deep in her core, she knew this wouldn’t work. If they went into the war afraid, then…
A vision flashed in her mind of swords through stomachs, of blood, of a grinning and triumphant Luak as buildings toppled and fires raged.
Failure.
As she snapped back to the present moment, her heart thudded in her chest. Her blood froze with panic, and she could barely breathe.
No, after everything they had done—after everything she had sacrificed—they couldn’t lose.
It had to be the fear. The reservation. The unspoken worry that a scraggly bunch of refugees weren’t enough to win a war.
They needed hope. If they had hope, then…
A vision flashed in her mind again of blood and carnage. A building crashed into the street, smoke billowing from its sunken roof. Screams filled her head.
But this time the figures in Luak’s black mercenary uniforms ran away. This time, Luak’s smile faltered, and a sword pierced his heart.
Victory.
Victoria stood on the rooftop, her heart racing as she tried desperately to think of what to do. She had to rally them. She had to inspire them, to make it known that their fear could destroy them and everything they loved.
She raced down the steps, brain buzzing with ideas. In no time at all she stood in the street, surrounded by the soldiers who were going to war under her banner. Some of these people were going to war for her—namely, the witches and wizards who had been freed in Lochrose. They felt they owed her a debt.
They owed her nothing.
“Everyone?” she shouted as loudly as she could.
Heads turned toward her as she circled the street, doing her best to get their attention. Many of the ogres lumbered closer, the ground shaking with their steps. Witches set their wands down, and several elves paused in sharpening their swords to study her face.
Truth be told, she had no idea what to say. She had never given a speech before, and definitely not to an audience this large or frightened. She didn’t even know what the outcome should be beyond inspiring them. Somehow, some way, she had to take their fear and transform it into hope.
Well, perhaps she should begin with the truth.
“I know you’re scared,” she said. “I am, too.”
A few elves close to her murmured to each other, looks of panic on their faces. Apparently they should be scared, but she had to be their fearless leader.
Maybe not the best start.
She pressed on. “Luak is frightening, and you have every right to fear him. I first met Luak when he killed my father in front of me and burned my house to the ground. He thrives on destruction, chaos, and yes, fear. He wants you to shake when you hear his name. He wants you to think overthrowing him is impossible.”
Edgar appeared in the crowd with a large box and set it beside her with a smile.
She nodded in thanks and stood on it, doing her best to project her voice as far as possible to the gathering crowds. “But you know what? He’s afraid, too. He’s afraid of me. He’s afraid of you. He’s afraid of what will happen when the good people of Fairhaven and their allies have had enough! He’s afraid you will burn the world around him because, my friends, you will.”
A cheer came from the crowd, and for the first time in her speech she saw several smiles. A few witches lifted their wands to the ceiling, sparks shooting from the tips. Elves lifted their swords and hollered in agreement.
She pumped one fist in the air, lost in her speech as she spilled her soul to any who would listen. “If you feel fear tonight, remember that Luak is terrified of your power and what you can do together! Remember why you’re here! We’re liberating Fairhaven from a monster. We’re here to do what’s right, to bring justice to the people who have been trapped in their homes or forced to run from the only life they’ve known. We’re here to fight for those who are living in fear, unable to escape. This isn’t about fear or facing death. This is about justice, honor, and sacrifice!”
The crowd cheered loudly. More swords were raised, and more wands sparked.
“And, my fellow fighters,” she continued, “we have immense power on our side! To the witches and wizards of Lochrose, thank you for being here, for coming to our aid. You are heroes.”
Cheers and shouts rolled out of the crowd around her, and several witches and wizards shook beneath the hearty back slaps and hugs from the ogres and elves around them.
“We have incredible power on our side,” Victoria added with a mischievous grin. “Not only are we fighting beside the legendary power of Lochrose, but we also have a secret weapon Luak cannot defeat. You will see it for yourself soon. Luak does not stand a chance, my friends, and we do not need anyone else to defeat him. Those gathered here—you are more than enough. Your names will be immortalized in history as the heroes who liberated an empire, and future generations will be grateful to you!”
The crowd screamed her name.
“For justice!” she yelled over the roar. “For freedom! For FAIRHAVEN!”
The crowd’s cheers were like thunder. Swords clashed, and overhead fireworks whizzed from hundreds of raised wands.
Fear no longer ruled in Fairhaven. With this final battle, hope would overcome.
CHAPTER 25
Audrey tensed at the mouth of a cave, peering out onto a quiet street in Fairhaven. Three of the nearby homes had been burned, and the cobblestone road led into the city’s heart. In the distance, the castle’s spires rose toward the immense crystal that grew from the cavern’s ceiling. The dim glow of evening cast long shadows on the ground.
Hopefully Luak was asleep somewhere in that palace, because Audrey wanted to be the one to rudely awaken him.
The nervous jitters of impending battle propelled her forward, sending her in a silent run to the first building. She knelt beside it, taking cover in case a patrol should come near.
Victoria followed her, with Diesel and Fyrn hot on her heels. Beside her, Victoria closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The golden amulet in her right palm glowed like a tiny green sun as she summoned the golems.
Audrey held her breath.
The ground rumbled, and she gripped the side of the building for balance. Three perfectly round balls of rock, each twenty feet in diameter, rolled out of the massive tunnel entrance. They proceeded on command down the street, knocking over the occasional mailbox on the way.
“Let’s go,” Victoria said, chasing after them.
Around the city Victoria’s other golems were rolling toward the castle. It would be surrounded, and while Luak tried to figure out what was going on Victoria and her armies would get as close as they needed to.
Audrey clutched the Atlantean crystal in her pocket. Time to start a war.
***
Angelique pressed against a building, and her warriors followed suit. Their guide, a local elf with beautiful blond hair, lifted one hand in a gesture that meant, Wait. He tensed, eyes scanning the darkness.
The ground rumbled, and moments later four massive balls of rock tumbled by on the way to the magnificent palace in the city center.
Her elvish guide gestured for them to continue, and Angelique followed his thin frame. After a lifetime with only witches and wizards to keep her company, the elves she met in Fairhaven were exotic and intoxicatingly beautiful. Honestly, she had never thought men could be so pretty.
It was a little distracting.
The guide led them once more into the darkness as the massive golems rolled toward the castle. The elf would take them through the streets, always ensuring they had cover on their way to the main staging area.
Angelique marveled at the golems, a smile playing at her lips as she fantasized about how they would do in battle. From all she had heard, these were powerful behemoths that would destroy everything in
their paths.
She couldn’t wait to see them in action.
***
Regina Spry stole through the castle’s dark halls, her heart thudding with the surreal realization that tonight’s battle would either liberate Fairhaven or damn it.
This was the end, and she had survived thus far.
When she reached the hidden door to the castle’s defense system, she pressed herself against the cold wall and did her best to calm her racing nerves.
