They all have how its own craftings aside from their armour, they begin putting them on. Gray has the most, his left hand covered in ring, a wrist bracelet, a necklace and his own helm to replace the one from the smith made armour.
When everyone is ready, they set off. It's quite a long walk in their armour and through the scorching heat of the Arizona summer.
It takes them an hour to cross the distance. And there a few hundred yards in front of them, a small wooden shack. The last surviving structure within a thousand miles. It's old. So very old. She can tell that from she stands. The wood is worn and crumbling, the roof is kissing some timber planks.
But her eyes aren't on the hut right now. Thomas has his arm up, halting them. And before them lies an army. More men than Katie has ever seen in one place. It must be thousands.
A black wave stretching out across the sand between them and their hut. Black cloaks wrapped around each figure. A cloud of darkness pooling at their feet.
All hope abandons Katie. There are just too many. They have no hope of defeating this massive army of magi, even Thomas's incredible power cannot help them break such a force.
Thomas turns and looks at each of them, his eyes lingering on Katie for longer than the others. She can see how unsure he is and then he looks back at the army in front of them.
"We have to break through, whatever the cost. We must cut a path to the hut, I need to be touching the door when I speak the words to summon Gandrea. And we must hope that her arrival will turn the tide. Does everyone understand what I'm asking?" Thomas asks them.
There's silence for a moment as everyone takes it all in. His words, the army and the small wooden hut currently blocked off to them.
He was asking them to give their lives for him, and he was giving them a chance to back out, to save themselves. He wasn't watching them. His eyes staring straight ahead.
The first sound she heard was of a metal clanging. She looked to her right. Phil had his swords out. He moved up to stand by Thomas's side, a peaceful smile on his face.
"Until the end brother." He tells Thomas, a small slap on his back. Thomas nods. Katie can see a tear roll from the corner of his eye.
She takes her place next to him, she calls to her dragon. She can feel it waking, ready for battle. Her powers were still very limited, but her battle instincts would kick in and her fire would come - without any control, and she just hoped her limited power would help. She takes Thomas's hand now.
A cackling of electricity, and suddenly Melanie is to her left. She's looking at Thomas now. No smile on her face, a deep look of concentrating contorting her features. No mirth in her eyes today, all thought of laughter gone. She nods to Thomas. He returns it.
A small burst of heat behind her, Wident steps forward. He takes up a position to the right of Phil, a ball of flame in his hand. He has tears in his eyes also. His entire life dedicated to knowledge, and now he stood with the Lightbringer, the king of light, ready for battle against an army that must number them 200 to 1 at least.
The last person to take his place is Gray, but take his place he does. He steps up to Melanie and kisses her. She looks shocked. I can hear electricity spark. But she calms. She smiles at Gray. Gray nods to Thomas and stands beside Melanie. They're holding hands now.
Katie smiles. But only for a second. Her attention returning to the army ahead of them.
A figure steps forward at the head of the army. She recognises him. Asrath.
"Surrender," His voice booming out, magically enhanced, "you cannot win. You cannot beat an army, not even you Lightbringer."
"You may call me King." Thomas's only reply. There is no Surrender in his voice, no intention of backing down. His crown of light pops into existence above his head. The army in front of them stagger back as one.
Even the traitors know what it means, they can feel the power the crown has over them. The first king of light, and they are scared. Scared because while their light is corrupted by the darkness, it is still there. Trying to break free. Refusing to be imprisoned. And now each one of them faced two battles - the battle against us, and the battle that raged in their ethereal between the light and the darkness, as the light tried desperately to answer the call of its king. Asrath is silent now. His hands stretched out before him. He's staring at them. He is shaking slightly, Katie knows he's crying.
"Is this it? Is this the moment?" He asks everyone, and no one. Katie doesn't understand. But Thomas smiles.
"Yes." Thomas's response. Asrath disappears in a cloud of darkness and with him half the army follows fleeing from the Lightbringer.
Katie is shocked, she has no idea what's going on. She looks at the rest of the council, they're equally confused. But Thomas is moving now. He's rushing towards the army ahead of them, their numbers still overwhelming. Phil keeps pace with him, Thomas's sword appears in a flash of light. Katie and the others are a few steps behind the two swordsmen.
All around them darkness and fire is shooting out, Wident is the first to answer the traitors attacks. A huge wave of flame roaring out of his fireball and washing through at least a dozen of the traitors. Next is Gray, a huge deluge of water appearing above the heads of the traitors - and it crushes everyone in its path. A huge spark of Lightning snaps out of the sky, frying another group of traitors.
But their free attacks are over, they were inside the army now. Smaller attacks raging out from the magi. But it was a standstill. There were shield all around, the traitors pooling their power into each shield covering the front line.
Thomas and Phil are devastating. A huge sword of light and cackling energy cutting through shield, cloaks and flesh, a blue of silver and white darting in and out and leaving destruction, and Phil, twin swords of electricity flicking in and out and leaving bodies piling up all around him.
But the plan isn't working, they're stuck in one spot, surrounded by a never diminishing army of enemies, they need to fight their way to the hut.
Katie looks directly ahead towards the hut. She roars. A gigantic blast of fire knocks her back. But the job is done. She looks ahead. Fire. Fire everywhere. Screaming and burning. She can smell burning flesh in the air as her dragon fire burns through the army, a straight line to the hut.
The group rushes forward, they only make it a few yards before the gap ahead of them closes as the army of traitors close ranks around them once more. Thomas shouts, a roar of pure anger. Suddenly light envelopes him and he begins to move at an impossible speed. He cuts through the traitors now. Truly cuts threw them.
All around him traitors are staggering back, shocked at the Kings power, everywhere his sword touches or lands, a black cloak explodes into light, all around him the enemy dies. He's spinning, ducking and springing, his sword stabbing and slashing, little flicks and huge overhead swings. The rest of the group watch on in horror as their saviour loses himself.
And then he stops. He drops his sword and he's breathing heavily. He turns to Katie. His eyes are shining now, like in the event Hall of the old sanctuary. His face the same as when he kneeled in the hall after destroying the black cloaks. His face pale. His lips drawn tight. He's shaking, his hands unsteady. He stares ahead of him. The path to the hut clear now.
But the black cloaks are closing in again, aware that the Lightbringer has stopped. They take their chance and rush the small group.
"Thomas, go!" This is Phil, he springs forward, cutting down any black cloak that gets close to Thomas.
Thomas pulls himself together and stagger toward the hut, his hand meets the wood, a tiny flash of light coming from his palm. Katie can see his lips moving. And then he backs away from the door, he's watching the hut, waiting.
But nothing happens. It takes another minute for the group to reach him. They're standing around him in a circle now, defending him from the black cloaks that are closing in.
And still Thomas waits. The traitors are there now, their attacks never ending, never stopping for a second. Melanie falls first. A fireball catch
es her on the shoulder. Katie can tell immediately that it's bad, Gray roars and jumps over here, defending her from the black cloaks. Phil and Wident close in, filling the gap he left in front of Thomas.
Wident is next. A ball of darkness takes him in the chest, he is launched backwards into the hut, a sickening crack as he hits it. His body lands on the floor with a loud thud. He isn't moving.
They were losing now. Katie was desperately begging Thomas to fight. But his eyes were glazed over. He was lost, deep in his mind. Waiting for Gandrea. But there was no sign of her. Katie began to worry it was just a trap, an elaborate plan to gather the last force of magi to be annihilated.
Gray was still standing over Melanie, protecting her. But he was surrounded now. He was barely holding his shield up as the traitors continued unleashing their attacks on him. Phil had abandoned his magic, he was fighting with his swords. He was cutting down traitors all around him - but he was slowing, Katie could see it. His face was straining, ever slash of his swords caused him pain.
And in the middle of it all stood Thomas, his crown upon his head. His hands stretched out in front of him. He had lost himself to his rage, and he hasn't recovered.
Katie knew it was over then. She looked all around her as the traitors closed in for the final assault.
She closed her eyes.
And then the sound of battle was drained out by a huge roar in the distance. She opened her eyes. In the sky a few miles away was a burst of flame. A huge shape exploded through the flame and moved towards them.
She felt her dragon rise up once more, the last of its energy thrown into a roar that began inside of her before exploding out. The shape in the sky responded, another roar. And then she understood what she was looking at her.
Her dragon was purring. It was no longer alone.
Thirty-One – Return of the Dragon
My hands were covered in blood, my heart beat very fast as I looked at them. I could only remember flashes of the battle. Traitors had died all around me. We had just about managed to break through the army that had been arrayed before us. A wave of darkness making its stand, an attempt to prevent me from making it to the hut.
But we made it. I had spoken the words. And I had waited. Every second that passed I lost hope. A realisation crept into my mind. This was all a trap. An elaborate plan to lure us to our death.
But something in the back of my mind refused to believe it. Why would they try so desperately to stop us from reaching the hut? Why not just wait until we got to the hut and then surround us with no way to escape? Why warn us against our trip and attack us before we even left England? Why did the light seem happy when I spoke the words? Why would half of the darknesses army abandon the fight?
No. None of it made sense. She must come. I raised my head and looked around me. Wident was just laying against the hut, his head was bleeding, he wasn't moving. Melanie lay spread eagled on the ground by Gray's feet, Gray making a desperate last stand as the traitors surrounding him closed the circle. Phil was a blur, darting in and out, his blades a blur of electricity as he took down black cloak after black cloak - but his movements slowed now, he looked like he was moving in slow motion compared to his speed in their sparring sessions.
And then Katie, stood to my right. Her eyes were closed and her lips were quivering. The battle was lost.
And then a roar. A roar unlike anything I had ever experienced. My light responded instantly, my crown exploding into a shower of brilliant white pinpoints in the sky. And then a burst of flame in the sky. A huge shape roaring towards us.
Then a noise to my right, a rumbling that began low, sounding distant. But it rose and rose and suddenly Katie's eyes were open and she was roaring. Another roar in the sky above them and the battle ground to a halt as every stared into the sky.
One more huge roar and a gigantic wave of fire exploded out of the sky and swallowed dozens of the black cloaks towards the rear of their army.
The flame died down and a huge dragon was there. Long, thick leathery wings beating at the air. A long winding neck covered in spikes. It was red. A dark, blood red. The tops of the wings lightening into a sharp red of fire. A thick scaly tail was whipping back and forth behind the muscly and shifting fleshy body of the beast.
A new roar to my left, a human roar. Phil sprang across in front of me, his swords a blur once more as his hope was restored, his new energy being used to blitz the traitors. Gray resumed his attack, dropping his shield and unleashing a stream of boiling water at the circle surrounding him. Katie's dragon was here now, her eyes shifted and suddenly she was breathing fire at the enemy, burning them to nothing.
And the dragon roared again, it's tail started to smash into the black cloaks, crushing them. The awful sounds of cracking and snapping as their bones broke wherever the tail hit. Dozens were falling to water, fire, tail and sword.
The dragon lands amidst a group of traitors, its tail snapping back and forth, there's a figure on his back like in my vision, firing fireballs down into the traitors as the dragon uses teeth and tail to destroy the humans standing shock frozen around it.
Phil is next to the dragon now, and Katie. One on each side of its head next to its huge paws, a wave of magic cast all around them unleashing a devastating combined attack on the traitors.
I rush to Wident, checking his pulse. He's alive. Must have been a blunt force attack. Then I move to Gray, I look at him worried. He nods. Melanie is alive. We carry her body over to Wident and I place wards over them. They disappear from view and should hopefully be protected from any loose attack of fire or darkness. We rush over to the dragon now.
Gandrea sits on its back, watching me with a smile. Her dragon is huge. I can see it watching me now too. I can feel a vibration coming from the bottom of its throat. Her dragon is purring.
I pull my sword into existence and Phil and I spring into the crowd of traitors on one side of the dragon while the others unleash fire and water on the other side. The dragon is attacking the group in front with its mouth, biting and ripping and unleashing streams of fire from its mouth, its tail still whipping at the traitors behind, reducing them to nothing.
It doesn't take long. The devastating power, both physically and with fire, of the dragon is enough to turn the tide. Dozens fall at every flick of its tail, dozens more fall to flame and tooth. Phil and I are back to back, our blades a blur of deadly precision as traitors are burned and electrocuted all around us. Their bodies hitting the floor with a thud.
And then it's over. The battle is won. I collapse. So does Phil. We're still back to back, holding each other up. My body completely drained. The ethereal streaking back into my crown, leaving my body used up.
I'm watching the dragon, but my eyes are playing tricks on me. The dragon looks like it's shrinking. Gandrea is stood next to it now, a hand on its shoulder. And it is. It is shrinking. Soon it's the size of a house cat, it darts between Gandrea's leg, a long tongue flicking out at her. Katie laughs. I smile at her.
Gandrea ushers us over.
"Thomas. It's an honour to meet you." She tells me.
"The honour is all mine." I reply.
She guides us back to the hut and I cancel the wards over Wident and Melanie. Gandrea checks on them, nodding to herself.
"Get them inside, I can help them." She tells Gray and Phil.
Gray lifts Melanie in his arms and enters the hut. Phil behind him with Wident draped over his shoulder, his feet dragging in the sand.
Gandrea enters the hut next, her dragon bounding after her purring. I take Katie's hand before she goes in. I kiss her and tell her I love her and I hug her for a minute.
We step into the hut. The first thing I notice is the size, on the inside the hut is huge. They step straight into a massive living room, at the head of the room a large fireplace surrounded by chairs. There are doorways leading off to other rooms all along the wall on the right-hand side of the room. The others are already sitting in the chairs. Gandrea is standing over Wident.
I can see her fire entering him where her hand is resting on his forehead. Her fire spreads through him, I can see as it stops in some places and burns bright. It takes a few seconds and then it's done, Wident opens his eyes and looks all around him. He sees Gandrea, a small smile and a nod. Next is Melanie, the same thing. Using her fire to heal. I can see Katie watching her too, I can feel her excitement.
We take the couch, sitting next to each other. Gandrea takes the big armchair in front of the fire. Her dragon resting on her shoulder now, I can still hear the purring. It raises its hear and gives Gandrea a nudge.
"Of course! This little fella is Ringothor, Thor for short." She tells us.
Well met. The voice is in my head, male and old. The dragon. I can tell the others heard it too.
The Darkest Light: Book 1 of The Inferno Prophecy Page 14
