Feel the Burn

by MacDonald, Nicole

  ‘Don’t protest,’ he said gruffly. ‘You’ll keep me up all night with that shivering. How is it the fire Elemental can feel the cold?’

  ‘Pass,’ I said, shuffling around until comfy. ‘How is it men keep so warm?’

  I wasn’t about to protest, the cold crept right into my thigh bones making them ache, and the warmth radiating from his thighs felt lovely. I twisted to the side, head against his chest and relaxed while trying hard to keep all thoughts out of my mind. It’d be nice to get some sleep. He folded his arms around me but the cold still clung, chilling me, and I had to do it. I flowed energy out around us, and even the griffons, keeping it at a pleasant temperature until the hard dirt beneath us warmed.

  ‘You can stop now,’ whispered Ignatius. ‘Or I’ll get too warm.’

  Drowsy from the warmth, I nodded and pulled it back in, dozing off.

  Ignatius never usually slept on the eve of battle but the warmth Cat created soothed him into a lull. A firm hand on his shoulder made him jerk awake, body reacting instantly, and he flipped Cat onto the ground behind him.

  ‘Peace, Ignatius,’ said an amused voice. ‘It’s Cat’s turn to shield.’

  The dim light from the lamp Sabyn offered showed the faint smile he wore when he handed the torch over before disappearing in the dark. Behind Ignatius Cat muttered as she staggered to her feet and he reached to steady her before realizing he clutched a dagger. He slid it back in its sheath and caught her arm.

  ‘Sorry about that, are you good to shield?’

  ‘Yes,’ she said in a dazed voice before shaking her head. ‘Do we need to move from here?’

  ‘I suppose not.’

  They settled back next to Loushka and Cat worked at her shield. It fascinated Ignatius to watch and see the differences between her shield and Kassie’s. It made him appreciate the varying nuances amongst the different elements. The faint red glow from the shield proved useful in telling when Cat dozed off, head gently slumping against his chest before he shook her awake. Staying awake wasn’t a problem for him now. Already the anticipation of battle thrummed through him with the time approaching. In the darkness he pictured the castle and the gathered enemy from yesterday.

  I wonder how many more arrived after dusk, he thought. The sound of distant feet was audible when they’d sat around the fire in the evening, and from those sounds he’d guess just as many again.

  Goblins on jehyns, elgrids for sure, urotho and rockvorhn, and the ranks of human Arumites. Shadow creatures; though that’ll be more likely at the castle. The rapthnas and whatever else she can launch at us.

  With his mind occupied he didn’t notice the lack of red glow until a slight snore came from Cat.

  ‘Cat, wake up.’

  The hissed command made me jump and I flicked the shield back up.

  ‘Sorry,’ I said guiltily, rubbing my blurry eyes. I yawned and shuffled, gripping Ignatius’ knees and sat straighter, the darkness not improving my natural lack of balance at all.

  ‘All right?’ he sounded amused when I swayed again.

  ‘Yeah. Just waking up. When is it?’

  ‘We have maybe an hour before Loi and Kassie need to leave.’

  That made me sit straight.

  ‘Oh wow,’ I breathed, feeling like I’d touched a live wire. My heart hammered and energy hummed.

  ‘Excited?’ Ignatius asked.

  I twisted to look at his face, knowing my eyes were as wide as saucers.

  ‘I guess.’ Excited sounded better than petrified.

  In the slight light from the torch at his side I saw his eyes slant and a smile spread.

  ‘Me too.’

  The darkness seemed so very black now and I jolted at every little sound; the slither of something small through the leaves; the rustle of one of the men; the far off mournful cry of a bird or animal, and then something else. I strained my ears at the familiar sound I couldn’t place; a rhythmic beat that echoed up from the valley floor below.

  ‘What is that?’ I whispered, looking up at Ignatius again. His expression shifted, eyes narrowing, and his lips drew back in a snarl of a smile, making the Lieutenant look feral.

  ‘Battle formations,’ he said reverently.

  Oh shit, this is really happening. I couldn’t fully fathom how I felt.

  A portion of me felt terrified and shook like a leaf, while the other portion regarded it with utter disbelief—like this sort of thing ever happens in real life, it sneered. As ridiculous a thought as it was, right now I kind of expected to wake up. In fact, I desperately wanted to wake up.

  Enough, I’m done being Dorothy, I want to go home. The childish thought making me want to close my eyes, click my heels three times and be safe, back in New Zealand.

  I did squeeze my eyes shut but kept my feet firm on the ground and let my rational voice work through the awful fear response of flight. The adrenaline pounding around my veins slowed a little, and now the rhythmic marching sound from the valley started to make sense—reminding me of the task at hand.

  All the months of training, all the time I’d spent with Alek, all the people I’d met and everything I’d seen and done; finally it was happening.

  ‘Okay?’ Ignatius asked and I nodded, not speaking. He patted my limbs, checking all the weapons he’d strapped to me yesterday.

  ‘Make sure all the weapons are easy to pull out,’ he instructed. ‘Keep your mind occupied, Cat, don’t let the fear get to you.’

  What gave me away? Was it my quivering limbs, I thought facetiously, and nodded to him, working through all the various daggers he’d loaded my armor with, my sword nearby. I ran my fingers over the sleeve and spare blades on my upper arm.

  ‘Why is it so dark?’ I whispered, feeling an irrational annoyance.

  In a wry tone Ignatius replied, ‘It always feels darkest before dawn, Cat. Especially the dawn of battle.’

  I wished I hadn’t said anything, because what seemed like moments later the barest glimmer of light brightened the tops of the mountains, whose ridges bowed down to the castle. Ignatius leaped to his feet, calling commands in a quiet urgent voice and everyone rose, eyes bright and smiles hard. Gredel appeared at my side with a couple of strips of dried meat and a water bag. The meat tasted like leathery sawdust and I chewed hard, swallowing it down with the water. Kassie and Loi stood in the middle of the group while Sabyn and Rumal checked over their armor. Both girls looked haunted but determined. I scrambled up the hill to join them at the same time as Sian, and we hugged them both tightly before the men hastened them onto the griffons.

  Tomiar’s sharp eyes easily picked out a spot to land on the ridge, the scarce light no hindrance to her, and they dropped silently from the sky. Sabyn held Loi tight for a moment, pressing his cheek to hers.

  ‘It’ll be okay, goddess. We’ll do this and I’ll get you home. Promise.’

  He pressed a kiss to her cheek and she twisted her head, lifting her mouth to his, her hand gripping the plait he wore. Everything unsaid flowed through that kiss; love, terror, determination, and anger. When they separated she sucked in a rough breath, a lump wedging in her throat. Sabyn hugged her tight again, so tight her bones creaked, and yet still not tight enough in that moment and she clung to him. Kerak landed beside Tomiar and they released each other and slid down to the ground.

  Kassie stood waiting when Loi’s feet hit the ground and they hugged tight, energies linked with thoughts flashing through the link while they readied themselves. Then Kassie walked to where Rumal and Kerak stood. Loi stayed with Sabyn by Tomiar, looking out over the valley. It wasn’t visible yet, but with her energy flowing into the earth she could sense the massive number of gathered enemy. For an instant the gravity of the situation overwhelmed and despair took her. Then she felt Sabyn step behind her, an arm around her waist and Tomiar shifted closer. Fear gave way to determination and she opened her eyes, staring down at the valley.

  Just like that time in the forest, she told herself, but this time we’re ready for
it.

  Start doing your thing, she thought to Kassie. When they’re in range, I’ll do mine.

  Kassie needed a touch more light to make her trick effective and it felt like forever as they stood there, watching the slowly dawning sun. Needing to do something while she waited, Kassie spread her energy out and called a breeze up, bringing in the dust she required, and played with it. Spinning knee high dust devils around them. Kerak regarded the small whirl winds in amusement and sat on his haunches, swatting at them with a large soft forepaw, talons retracted. Sunlight crept down the mountain tops and Kassie stared hard at the valley floor, trying to make out the gathered enemy.

  ‘How are you going to catch their attention?’ Rumal asked quietly. ‘Did you want Kerak to roar?’

  Kassie shook her head.

  ‘No, I’ve got something up my sleeve.’

  Rumal quirked a brow.

  ‘You’re not going to roar…right?’

  She gave him a look.

  ‘No. I’m going to do the scariest and most appropriate thing I know.’

  *~*~*

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  Everyone stood tense and we divided our attention between where Kassie and Loi waited, and the light making its way down the mountains. When just enough light filled the valley, Kassie would start.

  ‘Did she give you a hint of what she’ll do?’ Sian murmured from beside me.

  I shook my head.

  ‘Nope, guess we wait and see.’

  Ignatius appeared beside me and quietly said, ‘Princess, now would be the time to speak to everyone.’

  I groaned inwardly and Sian smirked.

  Come on, ordered my rational voice, you can do this. For Alek.

  I scrambled about in my mind for words while trudging up the hill after Ignatius, following him into the middle of the crowd of waiting soldiers and allies, then waited for his introduction.

  ‘The Princess would like to address us.’

  Taking a steadying breath and attempting a stern but calm appearance, I spoke.

  ‘Soldiers and allies of Elion, denizens of Gar’nyse, today we gather to do battle. Today we make a stand for those who can’t, for the innocent lives snatched, for those who stood against her and lost. For our loved ones in far away realms. I can’t guarantee any of us will make it home, but I can promise that victory will protect those loved ones and realms we left behind. Freedom from tyranny is a luxury few on Gar’nyse know. Here today we make a stand against the tyrant. Against those who desire to possess our world. Whether we rise or fall, all will know of this battle, of this stand we make. We will shake the ground. We will topple the castle and we will bring about the end of the DeNaga line!’

  The roar from all those around Cat made Sian wince while she worked at muffling the sound beneath the shield. Sian felt an unexpected surge of pride at Cat’s speech, knowing how nervous Cat had been. The way she’d snarled the declaration at the end, eyes narrowed and flashing, rousing the troops. Sian felt the fear and anxiety that had annoyed her since waking this morning vanish, as Cat’s words rung in her mind.

  We will shake the ground, Sian thought in grim satisfaction.

  Daron swooped, scooping her up with an arm, the other hand buried in her loose hair and caught her mouth with his. The hard kiss snatched the breath from her lungs, making her head spin when he released her lips. Daron pressed his forehead to hers, his eyes fierce and growled, ‘Don’t hold back, Pixie, be the savage creature I know you can be. Spare none, and don’t look for me. I’ll hold my own. You hear?’

  The brusque order made Sian stare heatedly back.

  ‘Sure. I won’t watch for you, if you don’t watch for me.’

  Daron’s lips flattened and he gripped her hair, tugging.

  ‘Please, Pix. I’ll be fine. Nesha and I have done this before. Promise, no holding back.’

  Sian breathed hard, staring into his gaze and let the fury at the deaths of those they’d known and loved, rise. Nodding against his head she growled the words.

  ‘I promise. No holding back. No fucking way.’

  He released her to the ground and she went directly to Chaieth who offered an arm. Cat already sat on Belsesus and the rest of the army moved into position behind the Aswaran centaurs at the head of the line. A hum of energy through the link signaled Kassie getting ready and Sian dealt to her hair, tucking it down the back of the chain mail and pulling the hood into place, snapping the clip over the bridge of her nose.

  ‘When do we move?’

  ‘When they take the bait. Then we’ll start,’ Chaieth said, and he moved alongside Belsesus. Kassie’s energy sung louder through their link and Sian glanced at Cat with Ignatius seated behind her.

  ‘Wonder what she’ll do?’

  Cat quirked her lips and winked at Sian.

  ‘Hopefully not that god awful monkey noise.’

  Sian grinned and sat higher, bracing herself for the downhill charge when the valley floor started to lighten.

  Weird isn’t it, she thought to Cat, not wanting to voice it in front of the men. How fast the fear disappears.

  I don’t know if it disappears, Cat replied. But it feels like a crazy high.

  Larvaste, on the other side of Chaieth, made a sound of shock and Sian leaned out to look past.

  The intense high vanished.

  The valley floor teemed with enemy, at least fives time more than last night.

  God I hope this plan works, she thought as her mouth went dry.

  ‘Ignore the numbers!’ barked Rashid astride Larvaste. ‘Stick to the plan. Remember girls, once the threat from the air is eliminated and we’ve drawn her army away from the castle, get on a griffon and get there!’

  Sian and Cat nodded together and at the same time a loud rumble echoed through the valley.

  ‘That’s Kassie!’

  ‘Shields up! We move when they move,’ ordered Rashid.

  Everyone stared at the ridge opposite, waiting.

  Ignatius gripped my waist when we spotted it, leaning forward for a better look. Along the ridgeline, standing tall and proud, appeared to be a massive army of centaurs. From here, they looked real. Our army made sounds of approval before all gazes turned to the valley floor; would it work?

  Another rumble of sound rolled out developing into the roar of hundreds of thousands of voices in unison.

  ‘AHHH KA MATE, KA MATE, KA ORA, KA ORA.’

  My jaw dropped and I twisted to look at Sian, who wore the same astonished expression.

  Hell! Does she know all the words?

  Sian, head to the side while she listened, shook her head with a grin.

  Not exactly, she just substituted some Malay in there too.

  It sounds really good!

  ‘What is that?’ demanded Ignatius, and all the soldiers around us listened with intent faces, nodding in approval at the harsh guttural way Kassie projected it.

  ‘Err…,’ I scrambled for a moment, trying to think of the definition of the haka. ‘Oh! It’s a war chant, from our realm.’ Technically true, nodded the rational voice in my mind. So what if it’s used before rugby games. Technically, it is a war chant to challenge the enemy.

  ‘You should have shown us that the other night!’

  I ignored him while watching the valley floor, then bounced in the saddle, pointing eagerly.

  ‘Look! Look! It’s working!’

  The mass of formations on the valley floor started to shift, then moved in a wave of motion toward the other side of the valley while Kassie roared through her version of the haka once more, building to the end challenge with her ‘centaurs’ stamping their feet in time.

  ‘Now! Move out,’ ordered Rashid.

  ‘I’ve got you,’ Ignatius said in my ear, his hold around my waist firm and I nodded, grateful not to have to focus on that while working on the shield. Locating everyone’s life lights took an instant and I felt Sian’s energy when she did the same, layering the inside of the shield I created. I felt my stomach dro
p as Belsesus plunged over the steep edge. The almost vertical slant the centaurs charged down meant I had to use my shield to help the army ‘stick’ to the side when the occasional soldier stumbled. Ignatius kept his hold tight, leaning back so we almost lay against Belsesus’ back while the centaur navigated the rough terrain.

  Hurry! Loi’s thought flashed in my mind. We can’t let them get too close.

  ‘We ne-e-e-d to h-u-u-r-r-y,’ I chattered the words out as we jolted downward, tree branches swatting past along with the occasional rock dislodged, with me unable to prevent them all from falling. The valley floor came up fast and our army spilled across it, picking up speed when everyone gathered their footing again. Halenine fae flew around those of us at the front and we sped toward the middle of the valley. Only a couple of kilometers, I thought, sitting forward now, with Ignatius pressed against my back. No one made a sound, all intent on the desired location, and I felt Sian’s energy smooth around my shield while she attempted to correct the color, to make us less visible.

  My heart raced with the quick looks I cast to our right, seeing the masses of enemy formations moving toward the ridge, not having noticed us. Yet.

  Kassie finished her thundering roar and made all the dust centaurs thrust their weapons in the air while bellowing.

  ‘Hooah! Hooah! Hooah!’

  Sabyn squeezed Loi’s hand.

  ‘Ready?’

  ‘Just need them a little closer.’

  Their army, so pitifully small compared to the masses of enemy, moved at good speed across the valley, gathering in the center.

  No, Loi thought to Cat and Sian. Pull them in more, like this, and she flashed a vision of how she wanted them organized.