by Carey Corp
Ewan only hesitated a second before sprinting after the defector. Duncan and I fought the two remaining soldiers, but with every clash of bone-jarring steel, it became more obvious that these were no ordinary men. As I’d feared she would, the witch had magically enhanced their strength and skill.
And whether I wanted to admit it or no, I was not yet at full strength after my ordeal. Even as I thought it, a blow drove me to one knee. The soldier raised his sword above me and I gripped mine to block, unsure if I had the balance to hold him off. But before the guard could land the deathblow, an ax whizzed past my head and wedged in the creature’s thigh. Without even acknowledging that he’d been hit, the soldier swung at my head. I ducked and rolled away, then jumped to my feet and spun, landing a kick to the guard’s ribs. I heard a satisfying crack, and the thing’s eyes widened in shock.
Mackenna joined the fight, showing considerable skill as she helped Duncan push his opponent back. I side-stepped my own attacker and caught a glimpse of Kenna’s sword being yanked out of her hand. She pulled a dagger, but Duncan jumped in front of her and yelled, “Stay back, woman!”
A fist landed in my face and I stumbled back. Deciding to change strategies and focus on my opponent’s weakness, I came in low and managed to slice into his other leg. He didn’t even react. Fine. If we couldn’t out fight them, we’d have to outwit them. I took quick stock of our surroundings; muddy sloping trail, forest on my left, a wall of boulders on my right. Boulders on my right . . .
I deflected another thrust, but not fast enough. The tip of the blade sliced through my bicep with searing pain. Red clouding my vision, I channeled the rage that lived within me and yelled, “Hurley!” A code word Duncan and I had devised to indicate we needed a distraction.
Duncan’s eyes cut toward me and I knew he’d understood. With a growl, I swung my sword with all my strength and succeeded in throwing my opponent off balance a step. Duncan whirled and kicked the soldier square in the solar plexus. The guard’s breath whooshed out and he lurched back, giving me the opening I needed.
Sprinting at full speed, I raced up the wall of boulders, then leapt into the air, sword raised. My opponent began to turn, but it was too late. I arched my arm back and brought my weapon down, slicing the witch’s monster neck to chest. I landed on my feet and spun, but he didn’t get back up.
I turned just as the last soldier smashed his fist into my brother’s throat. Duncan’s eyes bulged and his mouth gaped open. With a growl of uncontrolled fury, I charged, but the guard smashed his sword into mine, knocking it from my grasp. Duncan, still gasping for air, tossed me his sword. But it flew wide. I crouched and pulled my dagger, knowing it was no match for a magically enhanced soldier with a claymore.
A scream like that of dueling banshees rent the air and a missile zoomed past my ear. A tiny ax thunked into the guard’s chest and he lost his footing. I turned to find Veronica and Mackenna swooping in like avenging warriors. Veronica had another ax at the ready, but Kenna raised her sword, and with a violent shriek ran the creature through.
The last soldier fell, and for a moment no one spoke.
Post-fight adrenaline going to my head, I twirled my dagger around my right hand, then re-sheathed it and turned to Duncan, who was bent at the waist sucking in air. “I take back what I said earlier, brother. Perhaps ye should be scared.”
The color returning to his face, his lips quirked and he shook his head.
Veronica helped Eòran back to his feet. He’d taken a hard hit to the head, but as luck would have it, the man possessed a skull of concrete.
We all turned to see Ewan returning up the hill. “I lost him. I’m light on my feet, but he was wildly fast.”
“Wicked fast,” Kenna clarified as she hovered near Duncan, seemingly afraid to touch him.
No such reservations, Alasdair placed a hand on Duncan’s back. “Are ye all right, lad?”
Duncan straightened. “Aye,” he answered, his voice craggy.
Alasdair then turned to Eòran. “And you?” The guard rubbed his head and nodded. “Then we should hurry. That guard will have gone to alert the witch.”
The old man’s warning drained the vestiges of my adrenaline, leaving me appropriately sober.
Veronica stepped forward and cleared her throat. “Right. Let’s clean up these er . . . clear this . . .” She stared at each one of the bloodied bodies in turn and then looked up at me, her eyes luminous with tears. I reached out and tugged her sleeve, drawing her tight to my chest. I knew what she was feeling; these men may have pledged themselves to evil, but they were her people. It was the sort of thing that left a permanent mark on one’s soul.
“I killed them,” Vee choked out. “Men that used to be my guards.”
My own throat tightened as her sobs shook my chest. I buried my face in her hair, wishing I could cry along with her.
“Laird, look.” Murray bent over the first soldier Vee had killed, a pair of empty boots in his hands. The body had disappeared; only the clothes remained.
I turned to the other guards. “Vee, you should see this.”
She peeked up from my chest, just as the body closest to us turned from a putrid violet to black, and then shriveled like a raisin before my eyes. Within seconds, the cadaver vanished completely. Creatures, indeed.
Kenna walked up beside us and took Vee’s hand. “They were no longer human.”
“Aye,” Alasdair said as he approached. “These men where long dead, Yer Majesty.”
“I’m not sure if that makes me feel better or worse.” Veronica sniffed and brushed away her tears. “If Addie has this kind of power, what more is she capable of?”
I had to agree. The witch was growing stronger by the day. Our kingdom was falling apart from the inside, and this time, I wasn’t confident we could save it.
CHAPTER 28
Duncan
Growing up, I was always bigger than the other lads, even Fergus. People assumed that because of my size I was brave. The MacCrae brothers were unstoppable, at least that’s what our kinsmen believed. And in Jamie’s case, it was true.
Whenever I faced an exploit that terrified me, like scaling the castle turret or repelling from a cliff, Jamie would say in a low voice meant only for my ear, “You’re no’ scairt. You’re Prince Duncan MacCrae.”
I would reply, “The valiant . . .”
To which, he would add, “The daring . . .”
And I would conclude, “The fearless . . .”
And then he would give me a shove toward whatever it was that was giving me pause and I would go and do it.
We stood at the base of a cliff, contemplating the obstacle separating us from the others—an almost vertical rock face. The ring’s guidance had unmistakably led to Armpit Cave. When Jamie and I had discovered the cavern as lads, we thought we were the only ones on earth who’d set foot in it. Apparently, it wasn’t only our secret.
Without warning Jamie shoved me in Mackenna’s direction and I collided with her, our feet tangling so that we needed to cling to each other to stay upright.
Mackenna’s fingers dug into my shoulders as she struggled to regain her balance on the uneven terrain. “Duncan, what the heck?”
“Sorry,” I mumbled as I braced us. Looking over my shoulder, I shot my brother a glare meant to wipe the smirk off his face. “I must’ve tripped.”
Balance restored, I continued to cling to the girl who possessed my heart. I stared into her stormy gray eyes as her brow lifted. “Well,” she drawled. And for the briefest of moments, I thought she’d discerned my true intent. “Aren’t you going to let me go?”
It was a literal question, but I continued to stand there holding her and gawking like a fool. When her brows ratcheted up even more, I released my grip. But as to the question of letting her go, I was afraid that was impossible. I could sooner let myself go than her. But perhaps, as my brother had tactfully pointed out, I’d been wrong about my approach.
Mackenna shielded her eyes against
the setting sun and pointed to the fissure in the rock eighteen meters above us. “That’s like, sixty feet. How do we get up there? Any ideas?”
Jamie stepped up from behind. “I’ve one.” He lifted his fingers to his mouth and whistled—short, long, short, short; our training signal for allies approaching.
After what felt like hours, but was likely only a minute or two, a rope began to snake its way down the cliff. As we watched it being lowered, Queen Veronica chuckled appreciatively. “Where’d the rope come from?”
Jamie and I exchanged grins. “Many of the caves in these mountains are stocked with supplies. Ropes, bedding, dried food, and whatnot from our training exercises. If our people have been moving from one to the next, they would’ve likely come across provisions.”
“Perhaps enough for a small regiment,” I added in afterthought. “But scarcely enough to sustain the number of people we estimate are up there, even if they raided a dozen caves.”
As Jamie caught the end of the rope, Veronica brushed her hands together. “Then let’s not waste any time.” She took hold of the rope and began to climb.
“Alasdair will go next. Then me. Duncan and Mackenna will follow an’ Eoran will climb last.” My brother pointed to Ewan. “Murray, stay down here and secure the perimeter. You know the distress call?”
“Aye, m’Laird.” With a nod and a reticent glance toward the queen, Ewan scurried off into the woods. I found myself wondering, not for the first time, what had transpired between them while Mackenna and I were in Alloway and Jamie was captive.
Veronica was already halfway up the cliff with Alasdair close behind. For an auld man bordering on ancient, he was surprisingly nimble. “Rather like a mountain goat, isn’t he?” I remarked for my brother’s benefit.
“Tha’s what I thought.” With a chuckle, Jamie handed the end of the rope to me to hold taut, but before he began to climb, he repeated, “You’re no’ scairt.”
Mackenna reached for the rope, but I shook my head to stop her. “We’ll wait for them to reach the top,” I explained as I pulled on the rope to take up the slack.
“Okay.” Her face, which guarded nothing, told me that she wanted to go right away before her courage failed her.
“It’ll be all right. I won’t let any harm come to ye.” I longed to reach out and cup the downy skin of her cheek, but my hands were occupied with the task at hand.
“I know that,” she said stiffly. Although she was standing next to me, close enough to touch, the distance between us created a void that chilled me.
Doing my best to take my brother’s advice, I said softly, “What’s on your mind, woman?”
She raised her brow. “Why would Jamie think you’re scared to scale the side of a cliff?”
Looking away from her penetrating gaze, I shot daggers at my brother’s backside—thanking the Protector he’d chosen to wear trousers and not a kilt. “It’s a long story.”
“Of course it is,” she replied with a huff. Even though I wasn’t looking at her, I could picture the eye roll that accompanied it.
In silence, we watched Jamie disappear into the fissure on the side of the cliff. “Seriously, Duncan. I’m not sure what I—”
“Now’s not the time.” I cut her off, my words sounding harsher than I intended as I pulled the rope taut. “Up you go.”
MACKENNA
The Doonians clustered around Vee and Jamie, eager to hear news from camp regarding their loved ones. Vee did her best to calm their fears, but she couldn’t answer all of their questions at once. Speaking to Lachlan’s parents, who appeared to be in charge of those in the cave, she assured them their son was safe. Mrs. McPhee melted into her husband’s arms, both of them crying tears of relief.
And then chaos erupted—people crying out names, others demanding to know Vee’s plan to defeat the witch and take back the kingdom. I tried to shove my way through the mass of bodies, who clearly hadn’t had access to running water for a while, but there were too many people between me and my best friend.
A sheer whistle split the air, echoing through the cavernous space and instantly silencing the mob. I could no longer see him, but Jamie’s voice carried over the babble. “You will all back up now, unless ye wish to crush yer queen.”
Whispers and the shuffling of feet filled the pause as the crowd forced me back until I hit the jagged cave wall. Spotting a higher elevation, I climbed up to a rocky ledge, just as Jamie lifted Vee onto a boulder on the opposite side of the room.
“Give us just a moment,” Jamie commanded in his authoritative, prince-of-the-universe voice. “Her Majesty wishes to address you all at once, and then she will meet with ye individually.”
Vee dropped her dusty cloak to reveal her Royals jersey and baseball pants. Her hair, coming loose from her braid, fell in thick strands around her dirt-smudged cheeks. Dressed in modern clothes, she looked like a terrified eighteen-year-old girl, not the leader of a divided kingdom. But she could do this. I had faith in her.
After seeing Wicked, Vee had adopted Elphaba’s anthem as her own. She channeled the song whenever she felt hopeless or scared. If there was ever a time to defy some gravity, it was now.
As the Doonians anxiously waited for her to speak, I lifted my hand and waved until I caught her eye. Then I circled my fingers around my head and steepled them into the image of a pointy hat. Vee cocked her head in question. I repeated the gesture, then pointed to the sky and extended my arms like I was flying.
When she grinned, I knew she got it. The transformation was instantaneous. She straightened her spine and tilted her chin—my bestie becoming a ruler before my eyes.
Queen Veronica raised her hand and silence fell with the hushed expectancy of an opening stage curtain. “I know you all have a million questions, and I will do my best to answer them. What I will tell you first is that many of your loved ones are safe.”
There was a collective intake of breath before she continued. “Kenna and Duncan led many of the children and elderly across the bridge to Alloway, and most of the others are camping in a safe location here in Doon. We did sustain some losses during the earthquake, in addition to those who chose to pledge to the witch.”
A large man I’d never seen before shouted, “We’re almost out o’ food. How soon can we leave to join the others?”
“It’s good to see you, Mr. MacDonald.” Vee granted the man her patented PR smile and his cheeks flushed slightly. “We’ll set off as soon as it’s safe.”
She glanced back at Jamie, who stood near her left elbow. “Sunrise,” he answered. “The trail is too dangerous for two-hundred-odd people to traverse in the dark. We canna risk drawin’ attention with torch light.”
There were a few more logistical queries before an Asian man I recognized from the marketplace called out, “What’s your plan, Your Majesty? To take back our kingdom?”
The silence that followed was so deafening, you could have heard a hairpin drop.
Vee’s smile faded, her demeanor mirroring the severity of the question as she replied in a clear, strong voice. “As you may know, the witch has taken control of the castle, and we’ve gathered intelligence that she is attempting to raise an army of the undead.”
Everyone began talking at once. Shouts of panic and murmured prayers punctuated the chaos as the acoustics in the cave magnified the sounds of their fear. I saw Vee’s lips move; watched as she raised her hand and the Ring of Aontacht ignited in a flash of red that bathed the cavern in bloody light.
When everyone’s attention shifted back to her, she lowered her arm, light still pulsing from the ring. “I know you’re afraid, but that’s exactly what Adelaide wants. If we allow it, she will herd us all like lambs to the slaughter. But I, for one, will not give up Doon without a fight!”
Tears sprang to my eyes as the people cheered and raised their fists with shouts of solidarity. My focus shifted to Jamie, who gazed at Vee with more wonder and love than that of Romeo for his Juliet. I knew in that moment, whatever he
was hiding from her wasn’t strong enough to withstand their bond.
Oblivious to her prince’s adoration, my bestie continued her monologue. “Mr. Chang asked me what the plan is and I do have one, but I will need each of you to do your part to complete it. First, if you choose to pledge your life to Doon, we will hold a brief fealty ceremony. Your vow to the crown and the Protector should earn you a measure of protection against the witch’s power. But you must examine your heart, as the pledge will only work if you commit to protect Doon, no matter the cost.”
There were murmurs of assent amongst the crowd, which Vee spoke over as she hit her stride. “Secondly, with the help of others and a lot of faith, I was able to sneak into the castle and obtain this.”
She raised a tear-shaped vial; the liquid inside shimmered like sunlight on water despite the dreariness of the cave. “This is Saint Sabastian’s elixir. It has been blessed from the heavens with the ability to drive out evil—a power that, according to legend, not even the witch can withstand.”
She talked about the potion with such conviction that I wanted to believe right along with everyone else that she held the means to destroy Addie in her hand. Could it really be that easy? I prayed it was true.
After tucking the vial back in her pocket, Vee said, “Thirdly, Kenna and Duncan”—she shot me a grin before continuing—“have been training an army of Destined who have gathered from all over the modern world. These Called individuals have specialized skills in combat, weaponry, and battle strategy.”
In theory, I amended as the crowd murmured among themselves in reaction to the news. A large majority of them were gamers like Cheska. Yes, there were some Destined with actual combat and/or weapons experience as well as a few survivalists—but I was still at a loss to figure out what the Protector needed with a rodeo champ, or a wildly popular Internet magician.
“They will cross the bridge and join our ranks when the time is right.” She stepped to the edge of the rock and braced her hands on her hips. “We are not alone in this fight! The Protector has given us everything we need to win back our kingdom! Now who’s with me?”
