Commander Nelis, once again, was the one to find her voice. “Commanders, go to your men. We are under attack.”
36
Though Nelis made the order, none of the commanders moved until Arthur barked, “Do as she says. Get your men. Take up positions at the four borders of the camp. With any luck, the warning came with enough time for us to hold the intruders back.”
All five commanders rushed out of the tent, leaving behind my siblings, three draekon, and my parents. I looked at them. “What do we do?”
“You will stay here.” Lassandra finally stood from her chair and walked around the table towards the tent’s opening. White power flickered across her skin as she called on her elven power. My father followed in her footsteps, pulling a glowing sword from his scabbard. My mother must have infused it with her power. Glowing swords weren’t a common weapon among Draekon.
A sharp shout sounded just before a crash reached our ears.
“Lin, keep your sisters here.” Arthur commanded. “Leith, you are responsible for the prince and his man,” he referenced Min. “Keep them here.” Then, without another word, my parents disappeared to face the intrusion.
“Who do you think it is?” Lorie asked. She tried to sound brave, but she couldn’t hide the slight tremble in her voice.
Leith didn’t answer. Instead, he took her arm and began leading her away from the opening, placing her behind a heavy-looking trunk. “Take cover here.” I was surprised when my sister listened. I shouldn’t have been. She wasn’t the stubborn teenager from Caldiri.
“Could it be Draekon?” I whispered to Brion.
His lips pursed. “I don’t think so. Draekon don’t attack in broad daylight. Our beasts would be easy targets.”
Then who could it be?
Another crash resounded through the air. Shouts followed, along with battle cries.
“Min,” Brion barked with authority. The draekon was at his side in seconds.
“Your Highness?”
“Stay here and guard Lissa. Don’t shift unless absolutely necessary. I’m going to figure out what’s going on.”
Alarm raced through me. “No. You can’t.” I grabbed Brion’s arm.
Leith appeared in front of us. “I’m sorry, Your Highness, but Amelissa’s right. You can’t leave.”
“Who plans to stop me?”
Leith held up his hands and shook his head. “None of us can force you to remain, but please think of the consequences. Lassandra and Arthur instructed us to stay here. You are an ally, but a tentative one at the moment. Trust me, Lassandra doesn’t take too kindly to her orders being disobeyed.” Once again, I got the impression my mother was the strength behind the rebel operation.
Brion growled, clearly displeased with the turn of events. “How can we expect to defend ourselves if we don’t know what threatens us?”
“Trust in the rebel forces,” Leith replied. “That’s all we can do.”
Another growl passed the prince’s lips. Brion wasn’t used to sitting on the side lines, and it showed.
I heard the sound of fabric tearing. Looking up, saw the sun beaming through the new opening. I studied the burn marks and gasped. “Elves.” I met Brion’s gaze. “Elves are attacking.”
“Impossible,” Leith shook his head. “All the elves on Draekon are on our side. They wouldn’t attack us.”
“Unless it’s not those elves,” Min stated wisely. He looked between me and Leith. “We could’ve been followed.”
“But Erwin concealed us with his power,” I pointed out.
“There’s one elf who’s impervious to all other elven magic,” Lin spoke up from the corner.
Crap.
“King Aquin,” I murmured, then spun around to Brion. “If he saw us leave, then he could’ve followed us here.”
“Our grandfather?” Lorie left her hiding place. She walked until she stood beside our brother. “The elven king?”
I could only nod. Too many thoughts ran through my mind, distracting me with fear and unease.
“He might think you were kidnapped,” Min told me, enlightening the rest of the room to what transpired on Avelin. “His people saw Leith crash land in the gardens. You rushed out, and then you disappeared.”
I chewed my bottom lip. “We left Erwin and Finn behind. My cousin said he would speak with the king… what if something happened to them?”
No one answered. My anxiety spiked as worry for Erwin and Finn threatened to consume me. There was no telling what happened to them since we left. It’d been days. What if King Aquin has been hurting them? Guilt choked me, and hot moisture gathered behind my eyes.
“If elves are attacking us, it could very well be on Aquin’s orders,” Leith stated the obvious. “He will be here to rescue Amelissa.”
A plan formed in my head. “I’ll make myself seen.” I already found myself moving towards the door. “Plenty of elves know what I look like. News will spread, and hopefully they will call off the attack.”
It was Brion’s turn to place a staying hand on my arm.
I prepared to argue with him, but he silenced me with a gentle kiss. When he pulled back, he let his forehead rest against mine. He stared into my eyes. “Can you create a barrier to protect yourself?”
“Yes.” It wouldn’t be as good as Erwin’s, but I could do it. My power had never felt stronger.
He sighed, resigned. “Go out there. Avoid conflict. Make yourself visible, then get back to this tent as soon as you can.”
“I’ll go with her,” Lin spoke up. “Our parents charged me with her safety.”
“No,” Brion said. “She needs to be alone. A blonde female wandering the camp on her own will gather attention, but it won’t be threatening. Your presence at her side might make her look like a prisoner. Aquin’s men are known to attack first and ask questions later.”
Brion’s last statement made me wonder how many times he’d faced my grandfather’s army. I’d thought the rebels were the only enemies the Draekon faced nowadays.
A beast’s roar assaulted my ears. I covered them to shield myself from hearing loss. My siblings did the same, but the three draekon in the tent didn’t. Each of them wore masks of horror, but Brion’s was far worse.
Disbelief warred with terror as Brion’s head snapped up toward the source of the sound. “Finn.”
37
One moment, Brion’s hand was wrapped around my arm. The next, I was free as the prince barreled out of the tent with a mighty roar. I saw his clothes tear away as he shifted to his beast just before the tent’s opening closed, blocking my view.
I stood there, stunned. Several seconds passed before I found my voice. “Was that Prince…” I couldn’t even say it. The pained roar we’d all heard was stomach churning. It that had been Finn… he was in trouble.
“It was.” Min closed the distance between us, but he didn’t touch me. His eyes had shifted, and they stared straight ahead. I figured he was listening to the attack. I held my breath, but I refrained from tapping into my enhanced draekon hearing. I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear the sounds of battle.
“What’s going on?” Lorie asked, stepping up to Leith’s shoulder. He glanced down at her with concern. I could tell he wanted to whisk her away to safety, but he wouldn’t disobey another order from my parents. He’d done enough by letting Brion leave the tent… not that he really had any choice in the matter.
“Prince Finn of Draekon is injured,” Min told her.
“Both princes are here?” Lin’s eyes widened with surprise and, if I’m not mistaken, victory.
I crossed the tent so fast; I think I must’ve tapped into enhanced speed to do it. I shoved my brother in the chest. Hard.
Lin stumbled back, and his face filled with indignant confusion. “What in the gods… Lissa? What was that for?”
I jabbed a furious finger in his face. I didn’t care that he was bigger than me. I meant business. “Don’t you dare think about doing anything to either of the princes. Brion
’s agreed to work with the rebellion once his father is off the throne, but he will not hesitate to burn this place to the ground if any harm comes to his brother.” And I wouldn’t be able to stop him.
“I didn’t say anything!”
“But you were thinking it,” I snapped back. “I know you, Arlin Allaway.”
Some of the anger faded from my brother’s expression and he gave a small chuckle. “You’re right. Sorry. Until a few days ago, the princes were my enemies.”
I dropped my finger. “I understand. Just… don’t do anything stupid or I will never forgive you.”
“He won’t,” Lorie said, positioning herself between us. “You promise. Right, Lin?”
As always, my sister managed to wrap me and Lin around her finger. The fight left both of us. “Yes,” Lin said. “I promise.”
“Good.” Lorie nodded. “Now, are you going to go out there, Lissy, or what?”
I hesitated. I’d planned on showing myself when I knew Brion would be standing in the shadows, ready to help if something should go wrong. Without him, I felt alone. And unprotected. I didn’t know if it would be wise to step out into the fray.
“Are you certain the attack comes from the elves?” Leith asked me.
I pointed to the top of the tent. “Those are burn marks. They aren’t big enough to be caused by draekon, and their pattern resembles elven bolts.”
After observing the mark, both Leith and Min agreed with my assessment.
“Well, if they’re truly elven, then none of us can be hurt,” Lorie pointed out. Her latest studies hadn’t just included draekon information.
“She’s right,” Lin confirmed. “We can all go out there.”
“No. The elves have never seen you before,” I reminded him. “I’m the only one they might recognize.”
Lin crossed his arms, flexing new muscle. “I can’t let you go out there alone.”
“Watch from the tents,” I compromised. “Follow me as I walk through the battle but stay out of sight. You’re blonde, but you’re brawny like a draekon.”
My brother wanted to disagree. I could see it in the set of his mouth.
Min stepped forward, breaking up the impending argument. “I hate to push you, Lissa, but now would be as good a time as any to try and stop this fight.” Whatever he heard from the battle, it’d made his face pale.
I took a deep breath and jerked my head. “Right. Wish me luck.”
Without another word, I ducked out of the tent. Smoke filled the air, creating a hazy cloud over the camp. My vision was impaired, but I didn’t shift. I didn’t want an elf to see my draekon eyes and attack. It didn’t matter if their power couldn’t kill me, the brunt force behind their attacks would hurt on impact and slow me down.
Holding my hands out in front of me, I began to wind through the sea of tents and trees. Abandoned campfires smoldered. Plates and cups were scattered along the path. The battle wasn’t taking place in that area. The bolt that hit the tent must’ve been deflected. I followed the sound of shouting men and crashing trees toward the edge of camp. The commanders had managed to keep the attack to the borders.
The sounds grew louder. I slowed my pace and crept close to the ground. I used the trees for protection when I peered around corners, looking to see if there was imminent danger ahead. At last, I reached the fight.
Humans were spread out in front of me, holding bows and swords as they faced a line of elven soldiers. Fear struck me.
Where were the other rebels? Where were the half-draekon fighters? Humans didn’t stand a chance against elves and their powerful abilities. They needed help.
My point was proven when an elf on the end of the line called forth his elven power and shot it into the stomach of the human soldier trying to notch an arrow into his bow. The man cried out and fell to the dirt. He rolled from impact until his back was to the enemy and he faced me.
My stomach dropped out of my stomach. “JEM!”
My shout was drowned out by the crash of swords and snapping trees up ahead. The human soldiers charged forward, commanding the elven line’s attention. I took advantage of their distraction.
Running forward, I slid across the leaf-covered ground, crawling the rest of the way to Jem’s side. The fight was only a few feet away. I constructed a protective barrier around us. I’d forgotten to do it when I ran out of the tent.
Mud and scratches covered Jem’s face, but there was very little bleeding there. I moved my attention to where he clutched his stomach. Blood seeped out of the edges of his grip.
“Jem, can you hear me?”
My best friend groaned as he opened his eyes. He blinked several times as he struggled to focus on me. “Lissa?”
“It’s me.” I touched his hands. “I need to see your wound. I can heal it.”
A stray bolt whizzed overhead. I stiffened, but I did not look away from Jem’s eyes. I prayed for my barrier to hold.
Sweat beaded on my friend’s upper lip. He gave a slight nod, wincing with pain as he moved his hands. “Okay.” Crimson blood immediately began pouring out of the wound.
“Is that the princess?” I heard someone yell. I didn’t turn around to see if he talked about me. There were a couple princesses running around the rebel camp.
My hands illuminated. “This is going to hurt,” I warned my best friend right before I pressed my palms firmly against the open wound. Blood continued to leak past my fingers. I bit my cheek and squeezed my eyes shut. The light from my hands warmed my face. I continued to draw my healing power forward, pressing it into my friend. His moans dulled, and the blood stopped flowing freely. My eyelids parted, and I withdrew my hands. Jem’s skin had knitted itself back together. The only evidence of the injury was a pink scar.
Jem stared at me with wide eyes. “That’s a new trick.”
I coughed out a weak laugh. “Come on. We’ve got to get you out of here.” I climbed to my feet, careful to hunch over to stay out of the line of fire, and held out a hand to help Jem up.
Without warning, a lean muscular arm wrapped around my waist, breaking through my barrier. I shouted as I was yanked away from my friend.
“Shh,” a voice urged in my ear. “You’re safe, Your Highness. Come. I will get you out of here.”
“I’m not in danger!” My cry landed on deaf ears. The elven soldier continued to drag me away from Jem. One look around confirmed the human soldiers were nowhere in sight, neither was the elven line. The fight had moved back, and there was no one there to help me.
“Stop! Please. It’s not what you think. I’m not a prisoner here.”
I began flailing and kicking my legs. My captor didn’t release me. He just kept saying, “it’s fine” and “you’re safe”. He wouldn’t listen to me. He was intent on taking me out of the camp. I couldn’t let that happen. I needed the others to see me and stop their attack. With me out of the camp, there was no reason for the elven soldiers to stop attacking.
Suddenly, I was shoved to the ground. Rather, the elf was shoved to the ground. But as the unlucky person in his arms, I, too, fell. The elf landed on top of me, knocking the wind out of me.
The elf’s weight threatened to crush me, but he was promptly lifted off and tossed to the side. I rolled onto my back and gasped to catch my breath, staring up at the sky. A broad shadow blocked out the sun. For a moment, I thought Brion had come to my rescue. But as my eyes focused on the newcomer, I realized it was my father, not Brion, who’d saved me.
“Amelissa?” Arthur leaned down. Concern etched over every line in his youthful face. Strands of brown hair stuck to the sweat on his forehead. “Are you injured?”
“Y—” I tried to speak, but it came out as a cough. I hadn’t caught my breath yet.
“Don’t speak. Just breathe.” My father scooped me up in his arms in one quick motion. He tapped into his speed and rushed us away from the open area, lowering me against the trunk of a tree once we were away from danger.
Arthur kneeled in front of me.
His dark eyes roamed over my body, looking for any sign of damage. “Where are you hurt?”
“Nowhere,” I wheezed. “Just… out of breath.”
He nodded. “Good. That’s good.” Still, he didn’t stop his examination until he was absolutely certain I wasn’t injured.
“What are you doing out of the tent? You were supposed to stay there.” He had a way of making the questions sound calm despite the tension around the corner of his eyes.
“Brion left,” I panted. My breath was more even now, but I still struggled to say long sentences. “He heard Finn… He’s here… He’s in pain.”
“Gods,” he cursed under his breath.
“My friend Jem… he’s hurt.”
“I came across him. He’s healed,” my father told me. “He’s the one who told me you’d been taken.”
There were so many more important things to wonder about, but I couldn’t stop myself from asking, “You know Jem?”
Duh, Lissa. I chastised myself. Jem’s in the rebellion. Of course, my father would know him.
“Yes,” Arthur’s reply shocked me. “He looks just like his father. You two were always thick as thieves.”
I could only stare at him. He was around long enough to know Jem was my friend? Maybe my father hadn’t abandoned us in Caldiri as early as I thought.
“Come on.” Arthur grabbed my arms and pulled me to my feet. “We need to get you back to the center of camp. Our men are pushing the elves back. It’ll be over soon.”
I was too weak from loss of oxygen to protest. I shuffled alongside my father, following his direction as he led us through camp.
Suddenly, a large beast crash-landed in front of us. Arthur threw me behind him and took a protective stance. I didn’t understand why. Draekon and half-draekon were on the rebel side, right?
Then, three flying contraptions holding elven soldiers appeared. They swoop down over the draekon, and they begin firing.
“NO!” I shouted. The draekon lied helplessly on the ground. I couldn’t stand by and let the elves attack him without trying to stop them. The creature roared as bolt after bolt struck his thick hide. I couldn’t take it. I wouldn’t take it.
Freed Page 25
