Dillan nodded a ‘thank you’ to the seraph, but they paid him little mind, instead flying away to battle other shedom. Dillan scanned the area searching for Terrwyn.
“There is Avon!” he heard Bran say and Dillan saw the red dracen fighting for his life with a drakon, but Terrwyn was nowhere to be seen.
“Well, let’s help him!” Dillan shouted.
Bran dove toward the two warring dragons, landing on Morgan’s back and sinking his teeth into the drakon’s neck. Morgan released a shriek of pain and Avon took the opportunity to go for the throat.
Dillan leaned past Bran and began chopping at the drakon with his sword. Soon the three of them had removed Morgan’s head and the dark dragon fell dead to the ground.
Avon landed on the wall, his attention on Anne and Terrwyn. He saw Terrwyn on the ground, but the pain of losing Morgan had stopped Anne’s attack. She recovered quickly, however, and turned to face Avon, anger burning in her black eyes.
***
The deck of the Vagabond was full of drakmere. Starron swung his cutlass wildly keeping a pair of the beasts off of the bridge while Ramo and three other crewmen kept the beasts from assaulting them from the rear. There seemed to be a never ending flood of the lizards, pouring up from the river and over the rails, hoping for a quick meal before setting off again for Avonvale.
Starron thrust forward and stabbed a drak through the belly spilling its green blood upon the ship’s planks. He jerked his cutlass free and swung downward at the next drak ascending the steps to the bridge, but the monster blocked the blow with its mace.
The drak countered with a swing from its right which Starron was able to block, but lost his weapon in the process. Starron dove across the ship’s planks after the cutlass. As he scrambled, he saw a large green foot stomp down on the blade. Starron’s eyes slowly moved up the creature’s leg and body until he met the reptilian eyes staring down at him. The drak hissed and raised its sword to kill Starron when the ship captain heard a shriek followed by another. Soon all of the drakmere were screaming in horror. Their was a word buried in the screams of the drakmere. “Angels!”
The beasts fled from the ship as quickly as they could, back into the water of the Ehren river and swimming to the far bank away from the city. Starron took hold of his cutlass and pushed himself to his feet. He joined his fellow sailors in staring up into the sky at the host of seraph descending upon the city. Starron began to laugh. Ramo threw an arm around his shoulders. The entire crew broke out into boisterous laughter of relief.
***
“It’s over Anne!” Terrwyn shouted.
Anne glanced back over her shoulder to see Terrwyn pointing to the seraph descending upon the kingdom.
Anne looked up. How could this be? Orrick had promised her the armies of light would not come. Anger began to boil inside of her, but they had not lost yet. Contrary to what Terrwyn had said, it most definitely was not over.
Anne chuckled. “No matter what happens in this battle or in this war, you will die.” She was about to charge toward Terrwyn to finish the newly crowned Queen of the Stromland when she heard a deafening roar behind her.
She turned to see Terrwyn’s red-scaled dragon soaring toward her, its jaws open, its enormous teeth ready to crunch down upon her. Anne stood still as it approached, providing an easy target. Just as Avon was about to clamp down and bite her so hard she would fall away in two halves, Anne leapt to the side in the blink of an eye. As she did so, she swung her dark sword, removing the dracen’s head from its body.
As Avon’s headless body fell down into the courtyard below, Anne heard Terrwyn scream out. She glanced up to see her cousin fall to her knees as she stared at the red dragon, its body sliding to a stop upon the ground. Now, it was Terrwyn’s turn to die.
***
It was chaos when Sephene emerged from the castle into the courtyard. She smiled brightly when she saw seraph warriors fighting with them. The battle was turning against the shedom and se’irim, but the fighting was fierce. Sephene glanced around and noticed Terrwyn kneeling atop the wall. Nearby, Anne readied to kill her. Sephene gasped as she realized Terrwyn did not seem to even notice Anne. Horror and panic rose up in Sephene’s chest as she realized Anne was about to murder another member of her family. “Terrwyn!” Sephene shouted as she sprinted across the courtyard, but her cousin did not appear to hear her.
***
Aura fought with the Caerwyn in the streets of the city. The kingdom had become her adopted home over the last year and she felt a greater kinship with its people than she did with any other humans save Erec, Taite, and Tallah. Thus, when she saw they were quickly being destroyed by overwhelming numbers of se’irim, she rushed to assist them.
The introduction of a seraph warrior into the fight initially helped turn the tide against the se’irim, but there were simply too many of the demons for it to make a lasting difference. Aura now fought for her life like all of the others.
Aura smiled reassuringly when she recognized Gwyndalin’s daughters Lisabeth and Gwyn. The girls returned the smile just as they stepped up to the front lines. Aura helped them out by dispatching the first several se’irim standing in front of them. Others quickly filled the holes, however, and there were simply too many for Aura and the Caerwyn to defeat.
Aura and the others fought desperately as the se’irim continued to close in on them from all sides. Suddenly, the se’irim to Aura’s left and right fell dead to the ground. Several in fact. Aura was happily shocked to see Mihang’el and Gavri’el standing on either side of her.
“What are you doing here?” she asked the seraph.
“You think we’d let you kill all of the dark devils yourself, General?” Mihang’el asked with a rare smile upon his lips.
“We have brought reinforcements!” Gavri’el added and Aura looked up to see the shield maidens streaking down from the sky to attack the shedom and se’irim. An excited cheer rose from the Caerwyn as they watched seraph join the fight to kill the se’irim.
“Let us send these demons scampering back to Abaddock!” Aura shouted to the reinvigorated soldiers as the battle began to turn.
Chapter 29
Terrwyn was on her knees staring over the side of the wall at Avon’s headless body. She could still feel the sharp pain in her neck and the immeasurable sorrow from the death of her dracen. She was in a state of shock as she stared at the body. She did not weep; she only stared. She was barely aware of Anne’s approach to her right.
“Oh Terrwyn,” Anne smirked. “It hurts, I know. But a warrior—a queen no less—must be able to fight through the pain as I did when my own drakon died. As I did when my brother died. As I did when my son was taken from me.”
Terrwyn did not turn to look at her. Anne stepped right beside Terrwyn and began to raise her sword.
“I tell you what cousin, I will allow you to live,” she said. “I shall allow your family to live. All you have to do is bend over and kiss my boots.” Slowly Terrwyn’s eyes rose to meet Anne’s. “Just kiss my boots, Terrwyn,” Anne smiled.
Terrwyn glanced down at Anne’s boots and then back up at Anne. Terrwyn’s light sword flashed as she leapt to her feet, attacking a stunned Anne, who was now in full retreat. Terrwyn fought fiercely, her once lifeless eyes now filled with rage.
“I would rather die a thousand deaths than bow to a disgusting, murdering, traitor like you!” Terrwyn shouted as she lunged from the left. “You not only betrayed your family and your kingdom, but your entire species!”
Their swords locked momentarily and Terrwyn punched Anne in the nose, sending the younger woman stumbling backward. “You killed your own brother, you black-hearted witch!” Terrwyn shouted. She swept upward, spun and swung from the left. Then the right. Anne was being pushed back further and further.
“You have threatened my children and killed Avon!” With that Terrwyn knocked Anne’s sword out of the way, raised her boot up and kicked Anne square in the chest, knocking Anne down upon her back.
Terrwyn placed the blade of her sword to Anne’s throat and was about to finish her.
“No, please don’t!” Anne begged. Terrwyn stared down at her cousin who lay upon the stones panting, scared—like an animal. Terrwyn could not believe how much Anne had changed, physically. Anne was once one of the most beautiful young ladies in the realm. She was now sickly pale, burnt, shriveled, and scarred. Terrwyn suddenly felt sympathy and sadness for her cousin. Terrwyn held her sword.
“You shall be locked deep in the dungeon. You shall never harm anyone again.” There were soldiers not far away and Terrwyn turned to call them over to arrest Anne.
When Terrwyn turned back, Anne was already on her feet, shrieking like a shedom, her dark-bladed sword in her hand. Terrwyn barely deflected the blow in time. She was knocked to the ground and this time Anne had the upper hand.
“You are so weak,” Anne sneered. “I am not.” She raised her sword to finish Terrwyn when suddenly Anne’s mouth dropped open and her eyes widened in surprise. Her face reflected the anguish she felt as she turned to see Sephene standing behind her, holding a bloody dagger in her hand.
“I found this among your things when you fled the city,” Sephene said showing Anne the dagger. “Is it the dagger you used to kill my brother, you bitch?”
Anne raised her sword and was about to leap at Sephene when Terrwyn suddenly jumped to her feet, swinging upward and slicing Anne’s head from her shoulders. Anne’s lifeless body fell down in a clump as the head rolled to a stop at Sephene’s feet. Her eyes blinked once and when they opened again, the darkness was no longer present.
***
The se’irim were mostly leaderless. Anne was dead. General Asmodeus was dead. Most of the remaining shedom were dead or fighting seraph. That left the se’irim with very little leadership. A few shedom were among them calling commands, but not nearly enough to control the mass of thousands of the red demons.
The seraph were slaughtering them like cattle. Had the se’irim stood and fought as one, they would have certainly overcome the seraph warriors. There were simply too many to defeat them all. Se’irim did not think that way, however. Their main motivation was killing. Se’irim loved to kill more than anything, save torment. However, that desire to kill and torment humans was quickly subdued when facing death themselves upon the blade of seraph warriors. It normally took the fear of shedom and their drakons to keep se’irim fighting in the face of true opposition, such as seraph. With most of the shedom dead or otherwise distracted, there was simply no motivation for the se’irim to continue fighting the seraph. Thus, they fled.
The se’irim ran away, back up the hill the way they had come. They were pursued by the shield maidens and harassed by the animals as they ran. The se’irim that were unable to flee, caught inside the castle courtyard or wherever, were killed by overwhelming numbers of men.
Aura spread her wings about to give chase, to join the Valkyrie in killing as many se’irim as they could before they all hid in the mountains and forests as in the aftermath of past Realm Wars. She stopped when she felt a hand on her arm. Turning she saw Mihang’el staring at her.
“You must hide, Aura,” he said calmly. Aura knew he was right. “We brought the shield maidens here under the pretense of capturing you. Herja is intent to do so. She is distracted now, however, and this might be your only opportunity to flee.”
Aura nodded and turned back to Mihang’el. “Thank you, Mihang’el,” she said and surprised him by leaning over and kissing him on the cheek. She did the same to Gavri’el. “The two of you are true friends. I shall not forget that.”
“Good journey and a dracen’s luck, Aura,” Gavri’el said.
“Farewell,” Aura said to them and with a flap of her wings she was over the walls of the castle and inside the courtyard. She hurried through the door into the castle, rushing along the halls until she reached the strongroom. The guards outside leapt from fright when she suddenly appeared.
“The battle is over,” she smiled at them. “We won.”
The guards patted each other on the shoulders and backs. “If any seraph asks—I was never here.”
“Yes, General,” the guards replied as Aura banged on the large oak door. She saw Azaleigh’s eyes in the window and heard the slide of bolts. Aura rushed inside. There she saw Ashleen sitting with Taite on the floor playing.
“We have sent the enemy fleeing,” Aura smiled as heavy sighs, some cheering and tears of relief swept through the room. Aura rushed to her daughter. “Ashleen and I must be going now, before the Valkyrie find us. They will kill her for sure.” That caused a gasp.
“But where will you go?” Taite asked. “She can hide here. She is Erec’s daughter—he’ll protect her.”
Aura nodded as she knelt down to face Taite. “Yes, he would, little one,” she said as tears filled her eyes, “if he were able. But your brother fell to a shedom’s sword during the battle.”
“What?” Taite asked. She began to shake her head. “No.”
“I am truly sorry, Taite,” Aura said. Taite flung her arms around Aura’s neck sobbing onto her shoulder. “I must go,” Aura said. Taite pulled back and nodded. “The Valkyrie are everywhere. I must try and slip away.”
“They are in the city?” Taite asked.
“Yes,” Aura replied. “They helped us defeat Shebath’s armies. But now they will be looking for me.”
“Perhaps a disguise,” Aura heard Azaleigh suggest.
“No,” Taite said. “There is a secret passage that leads far from here.” She turned and pointed to the fireplace. “Push that back wall.” Aura stepped over to the fireplace, Ashleen held in one arm, and pushed against the stone wall with the other. The wall moved out of the way.
Aura turned and smiled at Taite. “Where does this lead?” she asked.
Taite smiled back. “I will show you,” the little Princess said and stepped into the tunnel followed by Aura and Ashleen.
Chapter 30
Terrwyn heard footsteps behind her and turned to see Dillan sprinting along the wall. He scooped her up into his arms and squeezed her tight as he smothered her with kisses. They both began to laugh excitedly.
“Is it really over this time?” Terrwyn asked.
Dillan set Terrwyn back down upon the wall. “You tell me,” he said and then nodded toward Sephene who squatted down staring at Anne’s head. “Is that her?” he asked referring to Anne. Terrwyn nodded. “You killed her?”
“Yes,” Terrwyn whispered as she wiped tears away from her eyes. She took no pleasure in killing her cousin. As if to punctuate Terrwyn’s words, Sephene spat in Anne’s lifeless eyes. She took great pleasure in Anne’s death.
“Your Majesty,” a voice called up from below and all three turned to peer over the wall to see a solemn Sir Stanlas standing below. He was staring at Sephene, but when she met his eyes he looked away, down at the dirt.
Sephene stood and her hand went to her mouth as she realized this news would not be good. Her father, and two of her brothers had died in this war already. She squeezed her eyes tight, nervous that Stanlas carried news of her youngest brother’s death.
When she opened her eyes, tears poured out of them. “Sir Stanlas,” she said, “Please tell me Staphon is not dead.”
Stanlas smiled. “The young lord is fine, Your Majesty. A few cuts and scrapes, but nothing that won’t heal.”
“Thank the seraph,” Sephene said with relief as she placed a hand over her chest.
“Your Majesty,” Sir Stanlas began again, but stopped as he searched for strength in his voice. This time his eyes leapt to Terrwyn’s before returning to Sephene’s. “It’s King Erec.”
Both Sephene and Terrwyn gasped at the same time. “Is he…?” Terrwyn began but could not complete the question. Sir Stanlas let his eyes meet hers briefly, shook his head and then looked back at the ground. “You should come with me, Your Majesties.”
Terrwyn, Sephene, and Dillan descended stone steps to the ground. They fo
llowed Sir Stanlas through the castle gates and into the city. There, they found Staphon and a large group of others forming a semi-circle around their fallen king.
Sephene sprinted toward her husband and fell to her knees beside his lifeless body. She took his hand in hers and kissed it as she began to weep. She doubled over, sobbing into her hands.
Dillan held Terrwyn tight as she cried onto his shoulder. “I’m sorry, my love,” he whispered. He felt her head nod. “Go to Sephene. She needs you. You need each other.”
Terrwyn raised her head to look into Dillan’s eyes. She nodded and then turned and walked over to Sephene. She knelt down beside her sister-in-law and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. Sephene turned to look at her and then threw her arms around Terrwyn and the two held each other tight weeping and trying to comfort themselves and one another.
Several minutes passed before Sephene finally pulled away. She wiped her eyes as she looked down at Erec. “I truly loved him, Terrwyn,” she said.
Terrwyn nodded. “I know you did, darling. I know.”
Sephene looked down at her belly and placed a hand on it rubbing it gently. Her eyes then rose to Terrwyn’s. “If it’s a boy, I shall name him Erec after his father.”
Terrwyn’s mouth fell open. She laughed happily through the tears that were a mixture of sadness and joy. “You are with child?” she asked. Sephene nodded. Terrwyn wrapped her arms around Sephene’s neck pulling her close as they both began to cry again.
***
Lisabeth examined the wound slashed through Gwyn’s face. A se’irim’s sword had split the younger princess’ helmet and sliced down her face, right through her eye. Lisabeth replaced the bandage, causing Gwyn to wince in pain. Lisabeth turned to look up at Tomfrey who smiled down at her.
“She’ll live,” Tomfrey said. “Probably won’t ever use that eye again, but let’s face it, you aren’t a Caerwyn woman if your face isn’t scarred at some point.”
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