“When we get to the bottom, do exactly as I say.” Raven didn’t wait for a response. They raced quickly as they could down the dimly lit path.
Stephen cursed, watching the losing battle. Valentria’s men were more than a match for the invading soldiers but the airships were raining flaming death everywhere, indiscriminately destroying anything their shadows fell on. Even now, a loud explosion rocked the castle as another of the towers crumbled. Without the archers there was no way to bring down the zeppelins. Just when he started to give the order to retreat, something large and black hurtled above his head.
A monster born of nightmares barreled into the fray, roaring loud enough to wake the dead. All spikes and wings, the terror bore down upon the nearest air ship, fire bursting from its maw, incinerating the balloon that held the ship afloat. Before the weapons platform could plummet into the courtyard below, the beast grabbed it and flung it far to the left where it could do no damage.
Without pausing to see where the smoldering wreck landed, Bryson twisted gracefully in the air, aimed at another ship. This one fired a cannon but the dragon easily avoided the projectile and let burst an inferno. He would never admit it but he was starting to find this whole afternoon quite entertaining.
Stephen let out a sigh of relief. If Bryson was helping defend Valentria that meant Raven wasn’t the traitor, and he could focus on the enemy soldiers on the ground. It was just a matter of tidying things up and making sure Raven and Bekah didn’t do what the enemy had attempted and destroy the castle during their usually exuberant-- and often disastrous-- reunions.
CHAPTER 26: MATRICIDE
The girl stood in the center of the room flipping through a book that had suddenly appeared before her. She needed to know something about the room they were in, something that would give her an edge. Finding nothing helpful in that tome, the girl whistled sharply and a second volume floated down to her. She started flipping through it, heedless of anything else.
The shadow remained silent but not inactive. A small tendril, careful to avoid the large patches of light that shone on the floor, snaked its way towards the girl who was too preoccupied to notice.
The uniform brown stone walls eroded any real sense of time, but Sarah figured they trekked downwards for at least five minutes. Finally she felt the ground leveling out, meaning they were close to the bottom. A heavy oak door was waiting for them and Raven slowly opened it, careful not to make a sound.
Never even knowing this place existed, Sarah looked around. It was about 15 feet high with torches burning along square pillars ringing the circular cavern. There were runes drawn all over the floor and she asked about them.
“They negate magic. It’s been here for centuries, a place for the royal family to escape to in desperate times.”
Raven couldn’t tell Sarah everything, no matter how much she wanted to. This room would be the only place anybody would stand a chance of defeating Malleus if she ever got loose. Brian bringing Elspeth down here meant things would be a bit more difficult.
“Stay hidden.” Raven stepped behind a pillar close to the door where they could see and hear anybody coming in.
“You’ll need my help.” Sara insisted.
Raven turned and the shadows flickering in the emerald eyes unnerved Sarah. “I know I will, which is why it needs to be a surprise you’re here.”
The blonde nodded slowly as Raven pressed a vial of magic healing salve into her hand. “When I distract him, get Mandy and Elspeth back to Stephen. If they’re injured, use this.”
“And I suppose you want me to wait until you join us?”
Raven forced a cheerful laugh, “Hell no, I want you to send every soldier you can find down here. In a fair fight Brian would kick my pale ass.”
Both girls quit talking and hunkered down deeper into the shadows as a door opened. They heard Mandy’s voice telling Elspeth that this was the best plan. A lock clicked and Brian said something to soft to hear. After checking to make sure Sarah was safely hidden, Raven rose out of the shadows, brandishing her sword.
“Step away from them now, Brian.”
Three pairs of eyes followed her movements as Raven positioned herself between Brian and the two women, careful to make sure Sarah was behind Elspeth and Mandy.
“That is a nice sword, Raven. Did Sarah make that for you?” Brian was remarkably nonchalant considering an extraordinarily pissed off young woman was currently shoving that particular sword under his chin.
“Yeah, had her whip it up for me on the off chance I lost the other one.”
“So you were behind this Branwyen.” Elspeth spat as Mandy tried pulling her mother out of harm’s way. Sarah watched them come closer and felt the tension rising in the air.
Without daring to take her eyes off the enemy, Raven smirked. “I’m saving your butt while Bryson is taking care of things topside. Now if you would kindly shut up while I kill this traitor.”
“Raven, NO!” Mandy shouted to stop Raven, her voice near panic. Sarah noticed that her hand never left Lady Chandlish’s arm nor did she move towards her sister. “He’s not the traitor.”
Raven wouldn’t be swayed, “Who has access to all of our information? Who knew when we were separated so they could frame me and Sarah?”
Mandy sounded like she was near tears. “Dozens of people are in on Mom’s meetings and everybody in the castle knows when we go out, it’s for security.”
Raven’s eyes never left Brian’s sneering face. She growled, “Yeah, well whose bright idea was it to take Elspeth away from Stephen?”
“Mine.” Amanda said plainly.
Sarah reacted quickly when she saw the glint of the knife Mandy drew from a sheath on her back. She shouted a warning and tried desperately to close the distance between them but she wasn’t close. The Duchess’s look of surprise turned to one of pain as the blade pierced her back and Elspeth slumped to the floor. Sarah’s right fist struck Amanda under the chin, sending her reeling towards Raven.
Raven spun when Mandy spoke; Of course, there would have to be two traitors but she couldn’t believe the other was Mandy. Then she saw Els falling and Sarah swinging at her baby sister. Her attention was off Brian for just an instant but that was too much time to give an expert swordsman. His blade cut through the air but Raven had been expecting it and ducked low, catching Amanda on her shoulder and throwing the girl onto her husband. The two would-be-murderers landed in a jumble on the floor.
“GO, NOW!” Raven ordered Sarah as she pressed a hidden latch near the door before leaping at Brian and Amanda. Sarah heard the clanging of metal as she half carried, half dragged the Countess out of the room.
Once they were in the hall Sarah uncorked the bottle Raven gave her and poured a small amount into Elspeth’s mouth. With a sigh of relief she saw the ugly red gash starting to close but that relief was short lived. The wound opened up again.
Grim faced, Sarah pushed the bottle against the Duchesses’ lips. “You have to drink the whole thing, Your Grace.”
Elspeth nearly choked on the viscous, cloyingly sweet liquid being forced down her throat. With a last cough the bottle was drained. The wound was still seeping blood though not nearly as much. “I think you can call me Elspeth, now.” She said with a pained smile.
Sarah grinned, despite the tears in her eyes. She couldn’t remember when she started crying or why but it wasn’t really important. “I won’t be calling anybody anything if I don’t get you to Stephen like Raven said.” The two women, a Duchess supported by a black smith, slowly made their way through the castle.
“Brian and Amanda Tully, for the crimes of high treason and attempted murder I am placing you under arrest. Try to resist and I will kill you.” Raven’s matter-of-fact stance and cold voice belied the sorrow she felt. The three combatants stood a few yards apart, eyeing each other warily. Already Amanda’s face was beginning to swell where Sarah punched her.
“Bekah, you alright?” Liz turned in the middle of the carnage, desperat
ion mounting with every second.
A smoldering pile of debris started cussing, “Well I’m alive but this outfit is ruined.” Bekah tried brushing off the soot that now covered her from head to toe but only succeeded in smearing the ash around. “Still, it’s a good thing you saw that bomb and got the shield up in time or we’d have been dead for sure.”
Liz knew they had been lucky. Her magic absorbed most of the blast and already the men in the platoons they were leading were stepping out of the rubble; some singed and smoking but alive.
They heard a tremendous crash in the distance and turned. Bryson had just thrown the last remaining airship into the side of the mountain. The dragon howled in victory and Liz smiled. Having her sister, and the unbeatable dragon who was her familiar, back made winning fights a lot easier. Nothing would dare attack Valentria now.
CHAPTER 27: A LOSING BATTLE
“I’m going to die! I’m going to die! I am going to FREAKING DIE!” The girl repeated the mantra over and over as if somehow it would speed up her search for any sort of plan. It was one thing to hold off Brian without the aid of magic long enough for help to arrive. She hadn’t planned on Mandy being involved.
Quickly the redhead skimmed over books, desperate for hope. Magic was made impossible in the room they were in by an ancient and powerful rune. If she could break it she would win easily but the rune that sealed magic was protected by five more shield runes. She could destroy each in turn with her new sword but had no idea where they were. While random destruction was always a useful idea, the fact there were two great fighters who wanted her dead meant she should probably focus a bit more.
“Damn. And I wanted to have dessert one more time before I kicked the bucket.” The girl dropped her book and drew a sword out of mid-air. It shone a dark purple, pulsing with power.
The tendril waited until the girl’s attention was diverted. Slowly it inched its way along the stone, curling around a boot, the girl completely unaware of its movements. It had waited a long time for this, to be out of that accursed chamber the vassal and its wretched sibling forced it to fight in.
Still there was a final act for the girl to play. Here it was safe, wrapped in a cocoon of magic that sprung from the vassal itself but the shadow could feel the emptiness of the room they were in. For the mortals it merely dampened their power but for it-- a creature composed of magic-- to expose itself would mean utter destruction.
No, it intended the girl to destroy the runes and then it would be free once again after a millennium in prison. The tendril worked its way under the skin of the girl, only the tiniest bit was necessary. Slowly, so slowly, the darkness fed the girl its arcane knowledge.
Raven forced her eyes to remain on Brian and Amanda instead of looking at the pillars. Five of them were glowing softly in her peripheral vision and she could make out intricate markings.
Of course! She wasn’t really concerned where the new knowledge came from but happy to have it. Five pillars were acting as the keystone runes. She would have to destroy each one, which was no easy trick, but at least now she could act. As casually as she dared, hoping to not give away her scheme, Raven strolled to the nearest, about three feet to her right.
“Come on you two, give up already.” With patience honed from years of dealing with Elspeth Chandlish and a hint of sarcasm perfected by being related to Sis, Raven drug the tip of her sword’s blade across the stone, destroying the rune.
Brian leapt forward, his blade slicing through the air. Raven ducked and spun, using her momentum to dodge Amanda’s blow. She jumped to her feet and searched for the next rune. She spotted it a few steps in front of her and considered breaking it right then but she couldn’t make it to obvious. While she was trying to figure things out, Amanda feinted in, catching her by surprise. Raven felt the blade cut into her right arm, not deep enough to do any real damage but it did hurt. Brian followed up his wife’s attack and Raven saw her opening. She danced forward and swung her blade in what looked like a killing blow but she hesitated for half a heartbeat. Any quicker and Brian would have blocked it with his blade. Instead he moved out of the way and Raven’s sword slid through another rune, sparks spitting in its wake. Two down, but now Brian and Amanda blocked her path to the others she could see.
The two would be murderers approached from either side. Surprising them, and herself, Raven jumped over their swords and rolled of Brian’s back. As she landed on her feet, Raven swung her sword towards Amanda’s neck, forgetting about the plan, intent only on separating her sister’s head from her shoulders. Luck was with both of them though. Amanda slipped and fell out of harms way as Raven’s blade passed cleanly through the third rune. Now there were only two more to go.
Inside the walls, Sarah labored to support Elspeth, who was still weak from loss of blood, as they limped up the stairs. Only three more flights, Sarah muttered to herself in dark humor. Usually this castle would be swarming with people falling all over themselves to lend a hand but now it was deserted.
Sarah wanted to remain behind to help but knew they would just be in the way so she needed to trust that Raven wouldn’t do anything foolish. The thought actually made her laugh. Elspeth asked what was so funny at a time like this.
“Maybe Raven isn’t doing something reckless.”
Elspeth rolled her eyes and slowly but steadily the women worked their way up the castle stairs and to help.
Outside the castle, the battle turned completely in Valentria’s favor. After Bryson disposed of the warships, the remaining enemy forces lost their will to fight and fled, streaming out of the courtyard. Daniel came rushing up to Stephen to tell him that the last pockets of violence were being quelled. Stephen barely acknowledged the doctor. This battle, at least, was over but Bryson had saved them which meant Raven wasn’t the traitor. So who was it that had betrayed them?
Stephen’s thoughts turned briefly to Elspeth but she was in the inner sanctum, guarded by two people he knew he could trust. After securing the castle, he could make sure she was alright.
‘Oh you have got to be kidding me.’ Raven’s fussed silently. The last two runes were all the way back across the room and half a dozen wounds were working to slow her down.
Bit by bit, never turning her back to Brian and Amanda, Raven circled the room. Amanda whispered something to Brian who snorted cruelly. “Give it up, Branwyen.” Her brother-in-law said, closing the gap between them.
“Yeah, sis,” Amanda snarled, “We know what you’re trying to do.”
Raven was tired but stuck out her tongue. Without looking over her shoulder, she drove the sword into the rune she was standing in front of. If they knew there was no sense in hiding it. “Yet you’re letting me do it. That’s not very smart.”
Brian rushed forward to attack and Raven only just managed to parry his thrust. Amanda looked indifferent. “Why is it stupid? Runes can only be broken by magic and magic is impossible in here.” Amanda eyes shot daggers at Raven and her voice dripped venom. “Even for you.”
She hates me. Truly hates me. Raven found that hurt her more than any of the sword slashes covering her body. Moist blooms dotted her clothes now. Her boots felt like they were made out of cement blocks and they squished every time she took a step. Red hair, dark with sweat, plastered her forehead. Drips of salty perspiration stung her eyes.
“So you going to let me get rid of the final rune since you’re so confident?” Raven’s voice wheezed with exhaustion. This was taking way to much damned time, where was Sarah with help?
Amanda shook her head as Brian attacked again. Raven moved but still felt the blade sink into her thigh. “No, I don’t think we will. Somehow you know which runes to destroy even though I can’t tell the difference. That means you’re too dangerous to be allowed to live. Kill her, Brian.”
Brian smiled and raised his sword.
Gathering the last of her strength, Raven launched herself into him. It wasn’t a hard blow but Brian was caught by surprise and they landed heavily on
the floor. She jumped up in a flash, running towards Amanda who stood in front of the last rune. Without pausing to consider what she was doing, which was a good thing because any time for reflection would almost certainly have convinced her it was a stupid idea, Raven drove herself onto Amanda’s sword. The blade slid easily into the supple flesh of her left shoulder as her own blade sank into the stone of the pillar.
Unnoticed by Brian or Amanda, a faint glow spread over the floor of the sanctum. Raven stumbled backwards into its center and collapsed to her knees. Her purple shirt turned black and heavy with blood rushing from the wound in her arm. But the five protection runes were destroyed. Now only the rune that dampened magic remained.
“Well?” Amanda sang in a mocking voice while she helped her husband stand. “Can you use your magic yet?”
Raven tried to blink back the darkness gnawing at the edges of her vision. She was almost done, just one more thing.
“So you wasted all of our time for nothing?” Brian walked over and kicked Raven hard in the face. She flopped hard on her back, the wind rushing out of her lungs. Amanda giggled at the sight. Here was her beautiful and powerful older sister, writhing on the ground like a worm on hot pavement. The fact Raven was down here meant that the soldiers sent to help them escape after her mother’s murder were probably dead. Still, even though her sister managed to stop them this time there was a back-up plan in place.
Brian’s boot landed heavily in Raven’s side. She flopped over on her back, gasping for air as a broken rib punctured her lung. He meant to kick her a third time but Amanda pulled him back. “Let her die on her feet, honey. We owe her at least that much.”
Using her sword as a prop, Raven stood shakily but instead of attacking, posed a question. “Have you ever wondered about the differences between witches and sorceresses?”
WINDOWS: A BROKEN FAIRY TALE Page 26
