Faery Revenge

by Donna Joy Usher

Orange flitted by above and arrows rained down, each finding a home in the neck of a goblin. Arthur and Isla sailed past, Isla loading and releasing three arrows in the space of each heartbeat.

  My breathing came in pants. My arms felt like lead. And still the enemy came.

  A dull horror hovered in the back of my thoughts. How were we going to win this? How could we defeat such a large army? And even if we managed it, Santanas would raise another one. It might not be for years, but it would happen again, and again, and again. Generations would be dedicated to the continual battle against him, until he wore us down enough to win. I couldn’t let that happen. I had to find a way to end this here.

  ‘Switch out.’ Rako’s call registered in my exhausted thoughts.

  I felt men moving behind me, waiting till one tapped me on the shoulder, then I ducked and stepped back to allow a fresh Millenium into my space. I stumbled back a few more paces, suddenly free of the desperate struggle of life or death.

  ‘Get some water, something to eat, and get some rest. You’ll be going back in sooner than you’d like.’ Rako paced along the line of exhausted soldiers, patting shoulders as he went. He paused in front of me and I stared at the blood splattering his face and chest. ‘That means you as well.’

  I nodded numbly, wondering if I could be bothered walking that far. Perhaps I could just lie down where I was and have a nap.

  ‘Come on.’ Turos tugged on my arm.

  I turned towards the supply tent and Aethan fell in to step beside us. I looked sideways, checking him for damage. There was none.

  ‘You’re bleeding.’ He lifted my arm, inspecting a cut on my bicep.

  ‘It’s nothing.’ I looked up into the sky. The aerial battle continued, less fierce than before but it seemed the Vulpines had rallied.

  ‘I was wondering,’ Turos cleared his throat, ‘couldn’t you just?’ He held his hands out, wiggling the tips of his fingers.

  ‘Couldn’t I just what?’ I mimicked his gesture.

  ‘You know, just blast into them. Like you did on the beach that day.’

  I glanced guiltily at Aethan. Blasting pirates hadn’t been the only thing I’d done on the beach that day. Thoughts of that spectacular kiss were still able to boil my blood. ‘I could. I guess. Maybe.’

  Men bustled around us, heading for the supply tent. We made a gory bunch, covered in blood and sweat.

  ‘Why only maybe?’

  I could feel Aethan watching me. I was pretty sure he already knew the answers. ‘Well, it’s not something I can kind of do in cold blood.’

  Turos’s eyebrows rose but he stayed silent, watching my face as I struggled to come up with a better way to describe it.

  ‘It seems wrong to blast them with energy when they can’t do it to me.’

  ‘You’re looking for a fair fight? Because I don’t see one here.’ He waved his arm back down the valley.

  ‘Hmmmmm. Not a fair fight, no.’ Dark Sky, why couldn’t I just go blow holes in their lines?

  ‘Things have to be desperate for Izzy to trigger her magic.’ I looked at Aethan. He shrugged and gave me my favourite smile. ‘It’s just what I’ve observed. It seems to be connected to her fight-or-flight instinct.’

  His hand lifted towards me and for a second I thought he was going to tuck my stray hair behind my ear, or touch my cheek, or something really nice like that. But then his gaze shifted to Turos and he let his hand fall back to his side.

  ‘I think we’re pretty much outnumbered.’

  ‘We’re containing it,’ I said. ‘And reinforcement is coming. Besides, if I start blowing holes in them, I’m sure Santanas will retaliate in kind, and I’m not sure I would be able to stop him.’

  ‘I wonder why he isn’t doing that now?’

  It was a good question. Surely not because he was scared of me? I was pretty sure he knew I was no match for him. So why wasn’t he?

  ‘Aethan. Oh Aethan. I’ve been so worried.’ Ebony rushed towards us from the supply tent. ‘You promised you’d come and find me as soon as you had a break.’

  Aethan’s shoulders slumped as he let out a sigh. ‘We’ve just come off the field. I need food and water.’

  ‘Of course.’ She fluttered in front of him, her green eyes wide with dismay as she ran them over him. ‘Are you hurt? There’s so much blood.’

  ‘None of it’s mine.’

  ‘Come.’ She reached out and took his arm. ‘I’ve got food for you.’ She looked over at Turos and me. ‘There’s some for all of you.’

  She led us to a table near the supply tent. Three mugs, a pitcher of water, and some flat bread and dried meat were waiting. I sank onto a foldout chair with a sigh. It felt really good.

  We were silent while we drank and ate, our gazes on the distant fight. There were so few of us holding them at bay. A plug in the neck of a full bottle. If they got around us, or through us…I shuddered and pushed my thoughts away from that.

  Two of the circles of witches held hands, their eyes distant as they pooled their forces. Wolfgang stood up the hill, staring at the fight. ‘Now,’ he barked.

  I saw a wicked smile form on Grams’ face as she twisted the spell and sent it toward the enemy.

  ‘What do you think she did?’ Aethan nudged my leg with his knee and nodded toward Grams.

  ‘Can’t tell.’ I shrugged. ‘There’s possibly a contingent of orcs who just decided to take up ballroom dancing.’

  Rako dragged a seat over to our table and sat down. ‘Princess.’ He inclined his head to Ebony.

  Turos stiffened and a second later Emerald howled in my mind. I can see them. She showed me the valley, full to overflowing. Out on the plain beyond the end of the enemy, another force marched.

  ‘They’re almost here.’ I could feel relief forcing energy back into my muscles.

  ‘How far?’ Rako and Aethan sat forwards in their chairs.

  ‘Twenty minutes. Maybe thirty.’

  Rako nodded, his eyes gleaming. ‘Eat up. I want you back at the front in twenty minutes. When he hits them from the rear they’re going to increase their pressure on us. I need my best fighters there.’ He hopped up, looking down at me before he left. ‘Any sign of the dark faeries?’

  I shook my head. ‘But Emerald didn’t go far.’

  ‘They’ll be here.’ Ebony put her hands on her hips. ‘My father will be here to save the day.’

  I looked around at the men, exhausted from fighting; the healers bent over the wounded; the witches and faeries, concentrating on their magic, then I looked back at Ebony, resentment making my voice hard. ‘We’re all saving the day, Ebony,’ I said. ‘We’re all saving the day.

  ***

  ‘Here they come,’ I said. My initial guesstimation of thirty minutes had been overly optimistic. That had been an hour ago.

  Aethan grunted and slashed his sword across a goblin’s throat. I grabbed the falling creature’s arm, pulling him forwards and out of our way.

  We couldn’t see the rest of our forces from where we were. They were still too far away. Emerald was sending me snapshots as she could. She had landed a short time ago, taking on another Millenium to replace one who had been wounded. But now I could see our army spread out along the enemy rear where it flowed back onto the plain at the beginning of the valley. They surged together as the battle was joined.

  I had lost count of how many of the enemy I had killed. I was sure Turos and Aethan had as well, because the numbers they randomly called out had no relation at all to a numerical sequence. I had long since stopped trying to compete, concentrating, instead, on the movement of my arms and legs as I parried and thrust, dodged and weaved. I had never fought this hard for this long and it was beginning to show.

  I’d had to drop my Millenium mind control. Moving that fast used up far more energy, and my normal speed had served me well enough before. One-by-one the other Millenium had dropped back to normal speed as well. We were in for the long haul and it was starting to show.

  ‘What ab
out the giants?’ Sweat glistened on Aethan’s body and dribbled down his forehead.

  ‘They’re using ropes. Winding them around their legs.’

  ‘Swap.’ Rako yelled.

  I waited for the tap that would indicate my replacement was ready, then I kicked out at the nearest goblin and darted backwards past my replacement Guard.

  ‘Fifteen minutes,’ Rako said. ‘Grab some water.’

  A group of women waited about twenty metres behind the line. Ebony was amongst them, a pitcher of water and some mugs in a basket at her feet. I grabbed a mug, trying not to be bothered by her fussing over Aethan while he drank. At least she was making herself useful.

  I didn’t talk as I slumped down next to Turos, finishing my water and lying back, my knees up and one arm draped over my eyes. All around me men did the same.

  ‘Is it true?’ one of the Guard asked. ‘Is the army here?’

  I pulled my arm away from my face and looked over at him. ‘Yes.’ I nodded. ‘They are fighting at the rear.’

  His smile was weary. ‘Did you hear that? We’ve done it. The army is here.’ A ragged cheer came up from around us, cut off as they concentrated on consuming water and resting. Our fighting stints were getting shorter, but so were our rests. Most of our wounded were coming back from the healers ready to fight again, but some were not. I tried not to think about that.

  ‘Get ready.’ Rako sounded tired too.

  I clambered back to my feet, stretching my head from side-to-side as I attempted to loosen up tightening muscles. I was going to pay for this tomorrow.

  ‘Come on.’ I looked from Aethan to Turos. ‘Last one there is a rotten egg.’

  Turos stood and pushed Aethan’s shoulder. ‘Come on rotten egg,’ he said.

  I wanted to smile, I mean the sight of the two of them coordinating rather than fighting should have sent pure joy zinging through my veins, but I didn’t have enough energy to spend on a smile at that moment. I only had energy for fighting.

  ‘Come on.’ One of the Guard, young despite the years showing in his eyes, pushed despondently to his feet.

  I looked over at them. They were fighting this war because of me. Because of mistakes I had made. Because of traps that had been laid because I existed. Because my blood had the power to unlock a monster.

  Well, maybe I should take time for more than just fighting.

  ‘Great work.’ I reached over and touched the man on his shoulder. I’d never met him. Maybe he had just graduated from College. No doubt he had a wife and kids, or sweetheart at home. ‘We’re going to whip their butts.’

  ‘Are we?’ The look he shot me tore at my heart.

  ‘I know so.’ I smiled at him. ‘There’s nothing they can do that we can’t.’

  ‘You think? I mean, he’s a War Faery.’ Fear made his voice a rough whisper.

  A group of them had stopped. All of them looked toward Aethan, Turos and me.

  Aethan reached out and put a hand on my shoulder. ‘Wayne,’ he said, ‘have I ever lied to you?’

  ‘No, Sir.’ Wayne bobbed his head.

  ‘So if I tell you that this woman,’ he shoved my shoulder again, ‘has as much fire power in her finger tips as any War Faery, will you believe me?’

  Their eyes swivelled to me. Wayne gulped, then licked his lips. ‘So it’s true?’ he whispered. ‘She’s…?’

  Aethan held a hand up, stopping his next words. ‘She’s exactly what we need her to be.’

  I could feel the pressure of their hope pressing down on me as we walked back to the front. Dark Sky, I hoped I was what they needed. I hoped I was enough.

  ‘Ready?’ Turos’s eyes were smiling as he looked down at me.

  ‘Oh yeah. Bring it on.’ I scuffed my feet along the tarmac surface.

  ‘As much as I hate to admit it, he’s right.’

  I cocked an eyebrow at him and tilted my head.

  ‘You’re exactly what we need.’

  ‘Do you think?’ I hated the vulnerable edge in my voice, but nobody else seemed to have heard it.

  ‘When I was growing up, I hated broccoli. Mum told me it was good for me but I thought she was crazy.’ He pulled a face. Gladaline had been crazy.

  ‘Pardon?’

  ‘Hmmm. What I’m trying to say is that sometimes we don’t know what’s good for us.’

  ‘Are you likening me to broccoli?’

  ‘No. Well…maybe.’ A grin flashed across his face. ‘You’re much prettier than broccoli.’

  ‘Gee. Thanks.’ I stuck my tongue out at him.

  ‘And you’re not nearly as green.’

  I watched as an orc stumbled through a hurriedly made gap in the front. A Guard leapt forwards, slashing his sword through the back of its heels. As the creature toppled forwards, a downward strike severed its head. Blood sprayed out in an arc, splashing my arm and cheek with warm droplets.

  A bolt of energy flew overhead, blasting into a group of goblins. The ground beneath their feet exploded, chunks of tarmac flinging them upwards and backwards into their brethren. I could just hear their roars of pain over the din of the battle.

  ‘I don’t get it.’ Aethan shook his head. ‘What is he doing? Why isn’t he countering?’

  I shrugged. Who knew what the mad bastard was thinking. He seemed to be content to let his army die.

  ‘Ready,’ Rako roared.

  I pulled my swords back out of their scabbards and fell into the long line of fighters forming up. Aethan took my left, and Turos my right. I could feel more Millenium and Guard pressing in behind us.

  ‘Go,’ Rako said.

  We moved forwards till we were behind the wall of men currently defending the narrowing in the valley. I reached out and tapped one on the shoulder. He ducked and fell back between a gap between Aethan and me. We worked our way forwards till suddenly we were facing goblins and orcs.

  A dwarf bared his teeth and ran at us, a club rimmed with nails swinging wildly in his hands. I jumped back and kicked his arm to the side. He lunged again and I leapt over him, kicking back so he stumbled into the line of men behind. Let them deal with the little banshee.

  ‘Going soft?’ Turos’s voice was mocking.

  ‘It would be like killing a child.’ I let out a growl as I faced off against a goblin easily seven feet tall with dreadlocks that hung to his waist. His dark skin rippled over his muscles and his pointed teeth welcomed me with a fierce grin.

  I was tired. He was fresh. Excellent. I loved a fair fight.

  They’re coming.

  I could see flickers of white – Vulpine flashing through the sky in front of Emerald. But beyond that, far in the distance, a shadow moved across the plain. It moved faster than our force had. An army on horseback coming to help us.

  The goblin’s blades flickered as he launched himself at me. I feinted to the left, then spun to the right, a whisper of air telling me of his dagger’s passage past my cheek. He let out a grunt and leapt back, missing the death stroke I had planned. A thin, red line appeared across his rib cage.

  I kicked out at an ogre beside him as it dashed forwards, trying to club me over the head. The ball of my feet hit his chest, forcing him back as I launched backwards into a spin. My blade slashed up in front of me, carving up through the goblin’s stomach to lodge in the bottom of his rib cage. He let out a guttural humph of surprise and toppled forwards.

  ‘They’re coming,’ I said to Aethan.

  ‘They never stop.’ Sunlight glinted off his blades as they danced in an elaborate pattern.

  His swordplay had always been more beautiful than mine. I had initially tried to mimic it, a student copying her teacher, but it had never felt entirely natural. A pale copy of the original.

  It wasn’t till I had seen Wilfred fight, his style more bear than man, that I had realised not everybody fought the same way. My style had developed after that.

  ‘Not them.’ I ducked under an overhead strike and shoved my sword through the orc’s stomach. It wasn’t an immediate
death stroke but there was less chance my sword would catch on something than if I went for the chest.

  ‘The dark faeries?’ A feral grin took over his mouth.

  ‘Come to save the day,’ I said.

  The never-ending tide of the enemy hung before us. I found it hard to match his enthusiasm. I doubted that Galanta and Santanas would let us slaughter their whole army. They had something planned and for the life of me I couldn’t work out what it might be.

  A low hum of fatigue set up camp in my arms. I moved with care, broken tarmac exposing churned dirt which had mixed with blood to form mud. It was slippery, and even though they were also pulling their dead and wounded out of the way, there was always a chance I would trip over a body part.

  I tried not to think about our next break, I tried not to wonder what Santanas was up to, I tried not to work out how long till the dark faeries arrived. I concentrated on killing the creatures that were trying to kill me. Do or die.

  I wasn’t sure how long we held for before Rako called the next change. I staggered backwards through the ranks, noticing how they had thinned. Ebony waited for us, a triumphant light in her eyes.

  ‘Here.’ She held out a mug of water. I grasped it in both hands and gulped down its contents. I could hear the others doing the same around me.

  ‘My love.’ Ebony was positively glowing with excitement.

  Aethan slopped some water over his head and scrubbed at his face with both hands. ‘Yes.’ His voice was as tired as I felt.

  ‘Come.’ She held out her hand. ‘Come see what our union has brought you.’

  ‘Ebony,’ he sloshed more water over his head and scrubbed some more, blinking at her through wet lashes, ‘I’m tired, I’m hungry. It can wait.’

  ‘No.’ Her voice hardened and she flashed me an angry look. ‘I want you to see what the sacrifices you have made have been for.’

  His gaze followed hers to where I stood frozen, my mug of water hovering above my head. He sighed and shook his head, but I could see a glint of guilt in his eyes.

  She knew about us. Knew that we loved each other. Knew he still wanted me. Suddenly, I felt ill. What had I been doing? He wasn’t my toy to play with anymore.