Brynn grunted. Now, to finish his preparations.
Day 20 – Dawn
Sal-Cirus
Sunlight streamed in through the wide, seamless panes spanning almost two-thirds of the curving wall and part of the roof. Plants and trees framed the windows and lined the walls. The deep-piled rug was a blend of greens and was almost as large as the room itself. The elegantly-curved wood benches were comfortable and the small, glass-topped tables flanking them did not clutter the room. The borders of the windows were etched with birds and even a dragon seemed to be winging across the sky. Closest to the window, two lines of mages sat in pairs on wide, flat floor cushions. Behind them, more mages occupied the benches. They were not ordered in terms of rank or race, but in terms of comfort. Only one group sat apart from the others. Four long, cushioned wooden seats were occupied by the mages that coordinated the battle and where Colnba and Ko-rayen sat.
Were it not for Liacoren's insistence, Malithorn would be here, too. Instead they were in a private room in the opposite wing. Liacoren would assist the Great Lord in viewing what he could of the planes-bound battle, but her main role was to protect him from rebel mages.
The mages in the room were not the only ones participating in the battle. Nisari was also preparing to join them, it would risk her operation, but if they succeeded, there would be no need for her to infiltrate the rebel forces. Several more human and elvan mages stationed in other cities were making the same preparations.
While many of the mages would try to counteract what the rebel mages did to the environment and terrain, others would tend to the health of those fighting in the field. Of those mages actively fighting, the strategy was straight-forward — corner each of the rebel mages and take them down. Without their mages, the rebels would fail.
Day 20 – Dawn
Serenvale Plains
Sershja shifted nervously and Brynn ruffled his mane. 'I owe you a long rest.'
'And apples! You promised apples, remember?'
Brynn chuckled. 'I remember all right, a whole bushel, was it not?'
'Now you're teasing me, Brynn — you said two bushels, I'm sure of it,' Sershja exclaimed. 'And I contend that I've earned at least two more since. I barely raised a complaint in either desert.'
Brynn laughed at the charger's tone. 'Only you, Sershja, could see fit to joke at a moment like this.'
'Who's joking?' the charger replied.
'Do you think you can make it?'
Sershja's tone sobered. 'I will try. I am tired, Brynn.' A note of sadness underscored his tone. He wanted desperately to please his friend, but feared he had not the strength.
Brynn rubbed the horse's neck and inhaled deeply, drawing in energy to rejuvenate Sershja's muscles and boost his stamina. He heard Sershja whinny as his horns started to regrow. Brynn did not stop until after they were three inches longer than when he had sawn them off.
Too much of this without real rest could send Sershja to an early grave. Dwarven chargers had long life spans, but they were not used to a life like this. Sershja needed a proper break before he went on any further journeys. As much as he loved Sershja's companionship, he could not risk putting him through this again so soon. Sershja would rest, and he would have all the apples he desired.
'When we charge, our enemy will see a horse of fire. Flame will flare from your mane, tail, hooves, and even your breath. You will make a fearsome sight.'
'I cannot see anything wrong with that,' Sershja rumbled.
Brynn smiled, he had not thought so. 'We are going to take out some of their key leaders,' he continued to explain. 'I will send a wall of fire forth and we will ride in with it. You will smell the smoke and feel the heat, but you will not be burned.'
Sershja snorted in understanding.
'I may jerk hard on the reins, Sershja, as my attention will be spread through several planes, please, forgive this rough treatment of you.'
'Mind not what you have to do, just get us home, Brynn.'
'That is my aim.'
The charger pawed the ground. 'Let's get it over with, then.'
'Let us do just that.'
They walked through the front shield, feeling a slight resistance as it gave way to them.
'Let them in, Riqu,' Brynn directed as he prepared the wall of flame.
Rumbling filled the air and the ground shook as Abbarane soldiers surged into the valley.
Day 20 – Dawn
Serenvale Plains
The thundering of hooves filled Daniel's ears. His body ached but in him was the same urgency that filled them all. He had felt healed and whole and content just hours ago — the night before. The evening had been getting on as they finished their preparations for the upcoming banquet. Belon had spent some of the evening teaching Jador how to make traditional elvan fare while Daniel cut up vegetables for them. Their laughter had been such a beautiful sound to him. It had almost been enough for him to forget Nathan Kennelm and the fear-soaked atmosphere of Ancoulan.
Ever since his abduction from Ancoulan he had been having a terrible time getting to sleep. And when he did fall asleep, it was fitful, and he would wake exhausted. But the last few nights, it seemed to get easier. There was a peace at Caradon, a sense of safety that allowed him to clear his mind more easily. Daniel thought it might have something to do with being surrounded by warriors and mages. For Caradon had certainly started filling up.
It had not taken long for rumour of the Saviour starting his path along The Prophecy to get around the rebel population. As if heeding a call, they came. Every day warriors, rebels and mages arrived. Is it true? They all asked. Was he really revealed? Was the Saviour about to lead them to freedom? Such hope in their voices and their expressions. Elvan and human alike, they all wanted the same thing, they wanted a country that was not ruled by cruelty and greed.
They all helped to prepare for the celebration. Belon and Keysjhon were looking forward to their son returning home, but to everyone else the celebration was something different — it would be the first time they saw the prophecised Saviour.
After the preparations were done, Kassan had appeared restless, getting up and pacing idly. Daniel thought some practice would do them both good — he needed to build his strength as quickly as he could, and Kassan looked grateful for something upon which to expend her excess energy.
They had just started stretching before a session with the staff. Keysjhon had come out to watch, Jador swapping terrible puns with him. It had seemed like many other nights. So had the night when Nathan had ambushed him and dragged him out to the At-hara. Like that night, the quiet air of normalcy was shattered in an instant.
Belon had come hurrying from the house. She almost fell into Keysjhon's arms as he rose to tend to her. Her face was pale, her breath coming in short gasps.
'Brynn says to evacuate — fast. Abbarane soldiers and mages are scouting the area! Caradon's location may be kept a secret, but only if there is naught for them to detect. We must decamp, or they will soon discover us and the hunt will begin.'
So evacuate they did, Belon's haunted words still echoing in their ears.
Day 20 – Dawn
Serenvale Plains
Sariah looked past her father at her brother. She found Sentary's presence both comforting and distressing. He had suffered so much and now he faced death again, while she just sat here and did nothing more than protect a mage already defended by shields and three other mages. Granted, Riqu was her father, but surely she could do more…
She understood Brynn's strategy to use a wall of flame as a cover to get close to the commanding officers at the back of the attacking force. It was a feint — strike at the left, while dodging right. Or, in this case, target the western flank and then head east to the relative refuge of the gully. What she did not understand was his decision to do it alone. At the very least, he should assign another to come from the other side. As a team they would have more chances of achieving their goal.
Consumed in her turmoil
, Sariah realised she could either feel helpless and hope for the best or do something about her situation. She leaned towards Sentary. 'I need to check the boundaries and make sure everyone is within the shields.'
Sentary met her gaze and she knew he had picked up on something in her tone or expression that told him she was not being truthful. In spite of that, he just gave her a simple, determined nod.
Treya wound her way through the group. Brynn was focused on the forces in front of him and did not notice her leaving her assigned station.
Riqu had taught her something of talent, mainly how to sense it and defend herself from the more common attacks used by mages. Brynn had left her the ability to connect with Kaydyr and, thus, hide her spirit within his, but it was voluntary now. Because of this, she was still able to slip through shields — both the enemy's and ally's. As she slipped through Riqu's shields, she felt a prick of enquiry from her father, but she dismissed his concern with a feeling of assurance.
A bright spark flared in front of Brynn, like a star coming to life. It grew into a column of fire and expanded into a wall. It was no illusion, this, it was real fire — Sariah could feel the heat. She had never seen mages fight on this level. Oh, the skirmishes saw some impressive use of talent, invisible shields, trees that wove themselves together to prevent pursuit, rivers that turned to ice for them to cross and then melted before their enemies could follow. The talent used to link her to Kaydyr proved the formidability of mages. Still, she did not like standing about like this, waiting for the mages to do their part. She believed in facing her opponent, in being able to act on her instincts. At least she agreed with Brynn's tactic, if he took out enough leaders, the ranks would be left in chaos.
But he would not take out enough, not on his own.
With unexpected speed the wall of fire fanned out, Sershja lunging forth to follow it.
Sariah counted to five before urging Treya to take off at a similar pace in the opposite direction. She would circle around to meet Brynn in the middle of his run, hopefully having taken out as many commanders as he had — crippling the enemy line.
Sergeant Stephen Levenworth leaned over his horse's neck as they charged into the valley. The group of rebels just stood there. Were they too dim to realise they should run? Had they given up already? Or was it a trick, an illusion?
A high whining sound filled the air, it was the first eerie sign that something unnatural was occurring. Then the air burst into flame, not illusionary flame, real fire, controlled and rising in a high wall. The fire leapt and twisted wildly as the wind picked up, quickly ascending to a howling shriek. It grew so hot the air blurred. The charge came to a tumbling halt as horses screamed and threw themselves to the side.
Then a charger plunged through the flames.
It did not waver when the flames closed around it, nor did it startle as the heat blurred its vision, and it did not pause when its kin screamed and neighed in fright. It neighed with defiance as it surged up the steep hill towards the chaos of the broken charge
Levenworth had been a cavalry man all his life and he'd never seen a horse like this. As it came away from the wall of fire it became a demon beast. Flame caught on mane and tail and flared up, even the hair about the horse's hooves lit up, and then, impossible as it seemed to Levenworth, the horse's snorting breaths became gusts of fire. The horse screamed again as it hit the first ranks in Levenworth's division. They scattered not wanting to be caught in the creature's path.
The rider wielded a long, golden-hilted sword, it was elvan, of that he was certain, and it looked as ethereal as its horse. Levenworth decided he really did not want to be anywhere near it when it came past… if only the thing was not heading straight for him!
Slowing the physical plane around him while keeping himself moving at the same time was a demanding task, but Brynn had done it before. The may-en-ghi had drilled him until it did not feel like it was going to tear his mind apart. To those watching, Sershja practically flew across the valley.
Abbarane's forces had more command on the ground to help the soldiers deal with the dramatic changes in climate, terrain, and positioning caused by the mages on both sides. A mage was assigned to each commander and coordinated almost instant communication between each fighting unit and the base. Even without the glow of talented shields, Brynn could easily identify the commanders and their seconds and by their position behind their men.
The first pair looked on, fearless because they thought their mage's shields would protect them. Sershja dived between them, allowing Brynn to get close to both of them at the same time. Brynn targeted the commander first and when he swung Eirra-ghi, the commander's expression turned to shock as he tried to comprehend how it was his protection failed. The great sword diagonally sliced through the commander, the keen blade so sharp the man was almost riven in two. Brynn felt his shield vibrate as the commander's second attempted to strike him with his blade. Finishing the upward path of his swing, Brynn drew Eirra-ghi back and thrust it into the second's chest. The second looked stunned. Despite seeing the commander's shield fail, he had not really believed his own shields were fallible. Eirra-ghi's jewel flared, the talent within absorbing the spirit energy of the man.
Racing across the apex of the hill, Brynn was aware that despite his talent Sershja was in pain pushing his body at this speed. Brynn turned his attention to the next pair. This time the commander drew his sword, but Eirra-ghi sliced through it like the steel was water. The talented sword slipped through the armour, too. Panic flared up across the planes — the Abbarane mages providing the shields were calling for help.
The next commander decided to run. Whether the mage had advised it or if it was his own counsel, it was a good move, because Sershja could not handle much more, and the further he went, the more likely it would be Brynn would give up on him. Brynn felt the air around him sizzle as an Abbarane mage tried to send a burst of fire at him. Another started on his barriers. Brynn let the second mage be, there were plenty of shields for her to get through before she became a threat. He even let his shields waver a little to give her false hope.
With a tearing shriek, Brynn's wall of fire diminished.
Colnba and Nisari were making their move.
Brynn was running out of time.
Sershja was not letting the third pair of commanders get away, though, finally bringing Brynn within reach so Eirra-ghi could take two more spirits. Brynn spun Sershja around to find a group of soldiers closing in on him, 'Akileena...'
Before him, the soldiers wilted, their faces draining of colour. Their weapons slipped from their hands as they slumped over or fell from their mounts, lifeless, as Akileena responded to Brynn's call.
The fourth commander now had a contingent of guards. They feigned a retreat before turning at the last moment to charge Brynn, but Eirra-ghi knew no barriers and the soldiers fell at the touch of the dreadful blade. More soldiers were closing in on his left, trying to block his path to the next commander. Suddenly, a huge black charger smashed its way through them, opening up a path.
Brynn found himself cursing. How was Sariah able to move at a normal pace? How did she get past the shields? Or was it that her link with Kaydyr still allowed her to slip through barriers as easily as the hawk did thermal currents? Either way, Sariah was on the battlefield now, all questions would have to wait. But she was one of less than a handful of fully-capable warriors, he needed her back with the group, protecting their people should he be overcome — not out here.
Treya bent her head, literally spearing a soldier and tossing him aside. The charger spun on the spot and raced after the next pair of commanders, one of which was actually riding towards Sariah. His mistake.
Brynn felt Colnba and Nisari send out a wave of talent across the entire army as they rallied them to re-establish their positions after the flame wall had scattered them. Even as he felt it, he saw Abbarane riders all about him start moving as one unit, synchronously shifting in order to circle them.
'To me!' Brynn willed Sariah and Treya, side-stepping Sariah's personal barriers, and making sure neither horse or warrior could ignore the command.
Sariah seethed as she recognised his interference with her will. Unable to resist, Treya skidded as she changed course. Sariah twisted in her saddle, drawing her throwing knives. Three throws later, the commander's second was dead.
Brynn had to smile, he had underestimated her need to be an active participant rather than a defensive one. He had not emphasised just how crucial her role among the main group was, and so, she had reallocated her resources to where she judged they were most needed — by her torahn's side.
Yanking Sershja's reins, he turned sharply to return to the valley floor — Sariah and Treya not far behind. With the western flank weakened, the eastern flanks would be drawn away from the eastern gully as they moved to close the gap. Sershja flinched from a sword strike, but Brynn's shields held. Sershja's shields were not like those placed over the other horses whose shields would fade and were not as complex.
From his position on the higher planes Brynn became aware of a bright blue and amber spirit moving towards Akileena's spirit. It was barrelling through Akileena's barriers with a brute force Brynn did not realise was possible. Moving to a may-en-ghi plane, he dropped from the hidden plane into the attacking spirit's plane. The move confirmed his suspicions, the spirit was Nisari's. It also immediately gained Colnba's attention and distracted him from further coordinating the soldiers. Having successfully drawn off both Abbarane mages, Brynn switched planes.
'Help Akileena repair his shields,' Brynn directed Andarin.
Andarin moved to defend his brother. Then, another spirit appeared, it was like black flame — that would be the Ko-renti mage, Ko-rayen.
Prophecy's Quest Page 30
