by K T Munson
“Go!” Elisabeth yelled.
Arawn thrust his axe toward her, and she deflected. “No!” Ethandirill yelled, rushing toward Arawn, unwilling to abandon her.
His blade narrowly missed Elisabeth as she threw another sweep of power. Arawn blocked it with his own shield, but he had to physically parry Ethandirill’s attack.
“Go and save her!” Elisabeth yelled as she struck Arawn with another attack. Her hair was wild around her face. She was slower than before, but she could still hold her own. Though he didn’t want to abandon Elisabeth, his heart wasn’t in this fight. It was with Nanette.
“I’ll be back!” He turned and ran in the direction in which he felt Nanette. Two guards ran around the corner as he rushed down the hall. He growled in frustration. They were directly in his way.
“Sleep!” he called as they rushed toward him. They collapsed in a heap.
He had to find Nanette! He saw the creature at the end of a long hallway as it chased something—he knew in his bones it was Nanette. The creature was a time parasite. He recognized it almost immediately as it turned a corner. When Ethandirill arrived at the end of the hall he saw the creature slithered into a room. He barreled ahead, weapons drawn, hoping he would not be too late.
Chapter 44: The Divine Court
As Elisabeth and Arawn circled each other like predators fighting over prey or territory, Elisabeth’s hands shook. He was the thing of her nightmares—the monster that had devoured her very soul. Without Ethandirill beside her, she felt exposed. Sweat gathered between her breasts and her fingers were clammy. She felt sick to her stomach, but she did her best to steel herself against the coming fight.
“Just you and me now, little reaper,” Arawn said.
Memories of the dead eyes of those she loved flashed through her mind, and for a moment she was there again, lying on the temple floor moments before another possible timeline began. She could feel that same exhaustion, and for a moment she wondered if this was another one. Was she still in the temple? Was this even real?
She pushed the thought away. She was back in the room with Arawn, who was watching her closely. Elisabeth swallowed as she clenched her hands. “You can still surrender,” she insisted.
“Life without Aryan is not worth living,” Arawn replied, his deep voice rattling her ribcage. “He was my child, my only child. I want him back.”
“Please,” Elisabeth asked desperately, tears threatening to spill. “Aryan was beyond help. Whatever the orcs of Croatoan did to him, it changed him into a monster.”
“Monster?” Arawn said, his upper lip curling back at his distaste of the word. “King Nauberon is a monster, and yet you want him back. Do you want to know what he did to Aryan’s followers?”
She knew this story thanks to Ki. “He killed them all.”
“No, worse,” Arawn said with a sneer. “He sent me. I killed them. He was only there at the end, after hundreds died by my blade and the blades of those who rode the Wild Hunt with me. When Nauberon massacred the last village with me, I saw him as the monster he is. Only willing to join in when the job was nearly done. And not just men, no, women and children were slaughtered to their last. He wanted to ensure there was no possibly of anyone reviving their teachings.” To that Arawn laughed.
“The Shadow Clan was evil,” Elisabeth said, but she knew it wasn’t that simple. Nothing was ever that black and white. Ki was technically part of the clan, it was in his blood, and he wasn’t evil.
Arawn laughed. “Why? Because they followed my son? Even the women and children?”
“Do not discount women or children,” Elisabeth replied. “I was a child once and was thrice as dangerous as any man. If the Black Council was any indication of what the Shadow Clan was, King Nauberon was right to end their reign in Lyreane.”
“You’re a little fool.” Arawn’s voice was full of scorn.
He punched the air and sent a wave of power hurtling toward her. Elisabeth’s shield was still in place, but it rippled under the pressure. Her feet slid across the floor as she reinforced the barrier. He didn’t give her a moment to recover before he brought the full weight of his sword down. Sidestepping, Elisabeth brought a hand up and returned his offensive attack with one of her own.
The force of her will glanced off of his arm and threw him off balance. He reacted before she could blink and swiped his blade at her shield. It crackled as the blade glanced off of it, but it held. Elisabeth felt her skin prickle with power, the last of the energy she had taken from the guards behind her. Despite saving Ethandirill she could critically wound Arawn with what remained but she would only have one shot. All she needed was an opening.
She leaped out of the way when Arawn attacked her with his will again, his power rushing by her and rattling the room. She glanced back at the cracked stone wall, where shavings fell to the ground. Elisabeth returned his strike with one of her own, the blue of her attack smacking his shield again. They exchanged countless blows, some missing and rattling the room, others pushing each other back.
As they vied for the upper hand, Elisabeth gathered her power. It sat in her belly waiting to be used in one massive finishing blow. One of his attacks knocked her off balance, but she recovered before he could strike again. Were it not for the strength of her shield, Elisabeth knew this fight would have ended long ago. The Lord of the Hunt was twice the fighter she was, but he had limited strength, while she could replenish herself.
“You are weakening,” Elisabeth taunted him, trying to make him misstep.
Arawn heard her jibe but didn’t respond. Instead he backed up and created more space between them. In one smooth motion he replaced his great axe on his hip and lifted the bow from his back. A black arrow appeared in the bow. He loosed an arrow and its black energy glanced off her protection. She felt its ugly power.
Off balance but not undone, Elisabeth lashed out. Arawn sidestepped and let loose another arrow. Elisabeth moved out of its path, and it snarled as it hit the stone wall, the sound reminding her of lightning.
“Aryan died because you let him become a monster,” Elisabeth said again, trying to make him angry so he would make a mistake.
With a growl he put the bow back across his back and charged at her. Startled, Elisabeth took a step back in surprise. He rammed against her shield and it threw her backward. His attacks became frenzied as he slammed against her barrier. Elisabeth took the sword from her sheath and dropped her shield. Arawn fell forward toward her, and Elisabeth released her power through her sword as she shoved it toward his chest.
She watched in horror as Arawn brought his right hand up and all the power she channeled through her body met his gloves. The ensuing explosion threw them backward. Elisabeth landed hard and she was vaguely aware that the hilt of her sword was skittering away across the floor. All of the air left her body as she landed. Elisabeth struggled for breath, tears pricking her eyes as the cold stone dulled her sense. She had failed—she had failed them all.
Chapter 45: The Divine Court
Nanette’s heart clenched and her stomach was in her throat as she fled down the hallway, pleading with her legs to move faster. The monster was dogged on her heels. She’d been running for what seemed like hours. She rushed right past a guard. Looking over her shoulder to see if he was following her, she saw the lizard-creature jump onto him. It tore into the guard, gore splattering. She didn’t stop—it was hunting her.
She needed somewhere, anywhere, to hide. When two more guards appeared at the end of the hall with drawn jagged swords, she turned right at the next junction. She found an open door and slipped into the room. Lungs burning from exertion, Nanette hid in a wardrobe. The creature was coming for her. She tried to slow her breathing, tried to do anything to keep quiet but the memory of the rock and dirt and Weaver came back. She was right back in the rubble with a cut leg and death at her door.
Throwing both hands over her mouth, she moved back further into the towering wardrobe. Fabric pressed against her as she he
ard the hiss of the creature outside. It had followed her into the room. Every hair on her body stood at end as she tried to keep the terrified sobbing at bay. Tears streamed down her cheeks as it rusted around the room. It was searching for her. Her mind screamed out for Ethan.
Suddenly, there was a loud crashing sound followed by a loud hiss. Just as she was about to move forward, the wardrobe rocked to the side. The doors swung open, and Nanette and the contents of the wardrobe tumbled out. She scrambled to her feet.
Her mouth dropped open when she saw Ethan fighting with the lizard-like monstrosity. Her first thought was how happy she was to see him. The second was that if he was here, who was fighting with Elisabeth? They couldn’t leave her alone with Arawn!
Nanette frantically searched for a weapon—anything to help. She picked up a strange decoration that reminded her of a vase. It wasn’t much, but maybe it would help. Ethan landed a kick on the creature’s underside, which sent it scrambling away. It turned to bite him, but he threw up an arm, and it latched onto his thick leather arm guards instead. Whipping its head back and forth, it tried to tear his arm off.
Ethan brought the butt of his sword down on the creature’s head. It stumbled back, startled, as he drove a dagger down. It narrowly dodged the direct blow, but the dagger glanced off its head and became buried in its shoulder. It hissed loudly. The spikes on its tail thrashed around, trying to stick itself in Ethandirill. He ducked out of the way and rolled to safety.
“Run, Nanette!” he cried, meaning for her to get out of the way.
The lizard creature saw its chance to attack him again. Despite Ethandirill’s call, Nanette didn’t hesitate to dash toward it and throw the vase at it as hard as she could. It shattered across the creature’s head, and its legs locked up. It skidded the short distance to door and didn’t move again.
Nanette looked toward Ethandirill. After a moment, he smiled. Nanette laughed in surprise. She’d done it! She took a step forward when a blurred movement caught her eye. Something punched her in the stomach, which made her stumble backward with a gasp. Ethandirill ran toward the creature and buried the dagger in the back of its skull. When it stopped moving again, he turned back to her.
Nanette pressed her hands to her abdomen and tried to comprehend what was happening. Blood immediately welled around her fingers, flowing down the front of her dress. Her knees wobbled and gave out, and she felt Ethandirill’s arms go around her. He helped her to the ground as she tried to get her mind to understand.
“No, no, no,” she heard Ethan say though he sounded so far away.
“Ethan?” she muttered with effort.
His hand went to her wound. “It’s going to be fine. You’re going to be fine.”
“I don’t…” Nanette felt tears form as she struggled to understand, panic rising in her throat.
Ethan’s movements were frantic. Nanette felt him moving away from her as dread wrapped itself around her at the thought of his leaving. “Elisabeth, we need Elisabeth,” he said. He sounded so lost and desperate. When he separated from her she stopped him by putting a bloody hand against his shirt and holding on, forcing him to look at her.
“I won’t,” Nanette choked out before closing her eyes, tears trailing down her cheeks. She forced them open with great effort to see his face. “I won’t make it. Please don’t leave me.”
Ethandirill went still as she struggled to hold on to his shirt. She was getting colder, and her fingers felt so far away. Finally, they slipped, slick with her own blood, and dropped onto her lap. Nanette blinked, trying to focus and stay conscious. She reached for his hand, forcing her own to curl around his.
“I can’t,” he said, shaking his head. “I can’t let you die.”
“Shush now,” she said, forcing her other hand to rise and touch his cheek. “I regret nothing. I have loved and been loved.” The words came in staggered gasps. She licked her lips and fought the urge to let her head fall back. “Protect Elisabeth.”
With that, Nanette felt darkness wrap around her. It enfolded her in comfort as Ethandirill shook her, trying to keep her awake. His name slipped from her lips, wishing to comfort him and tell him how much he meant to her. She saw his mouth moving and the tears on his cheeks, but she was floating away. It was too cold and hurt too much for her to come back. She let herself be swept into oblivion, content with the fact that she had died doing the right thing.
Chapter 46: The Divine Court
Ki kicked at the creature’s severed head. The cut parts of the neck and head sizzled from the heat of Malthael’s blade. The room filled with a noxious burning odor that was unlike anything Ki had ever smelled. Malthael held the blade ready at his side as he stood at the door, making sure nothing else was going to catch them by surprise.
King Nauberon breathed heavily, still not fully recovered from the antidote that Nanette had given him. “We have to get to my grandmother’s room.”
“What’s there?” Ki asked as he bent down to help him up.
“Something to give me the strength I lack,” King Nauberon responded, letting himself be helped to his feet. “To defeat Arawn.”
“Elisabeth and Ethandirill are seeing to that,” Ki said as he brought the king to the door. “All clear?”
Malthael nodded before leading them out into the hallway. King Nauberon pointed the way to Babayaga’s room. He was weak but gaining strength. Soon his breath steadied and he walked more quickly, though he needed to lean on Ki for support.
They crept along corridors, sometimes waiting in doorways or behind columns for guards to pass. It was smarter to avoid them than engage with them. When they rounded another corner, they saw two still forms on the ground. Before they could react, Ethandirill ran by. Stunned, Ki felt his chest constrict. Who was fighting with Elisabeth? Malthael must have come to the same conclusion, because he immediately turned to Ki.
“Ethandirill?” Malthael called taking a step forward before pausing. “I have to go to her.”
Ki caught his arm. “You are not the only one who cares for her. I will go.”
Malthael frowned deeply. “You do not know Arawn like I do. I am better equipped to face him.”
A war waged within Ki, but Malthael was already moving away, easily out of his hold. “Go,” Ki said, reluctantly. Malthael was right. He was the better choice to go to Elisabeth’s aid. “I’ll see King Nauberon to safety and then join you.”
When Malthael bolted, Ki fought the urge to abandon King Nauberon and join him. He redoubled his efforts to get King Nauberon to Babayaga’s room. Dragging the weakened king, he turned another corner expecting to see Ethandirill but found an empty hallway. Ki wasn’t sure where they had gone. He looked to the left and the right from where two guards slept but nothing gave away where they had gone. There came a crash and Ki adjusted King Nauberon’s arm as they made their way towards it.
They were nearly there when King Nauberon whispered, “No.”
Shoving Ki away, he rushed toward a room. Torn, Ki glanced back, his heart with Elisabeth, before he quickly followed the King. As the door swung open, Ki could see Ethandirill holding Nanette in his arms. There was blood, too much blood, around her body. Ki rushed past King Nauberon. Although logic told him it was too late, Nanette was his friend and he wanted to help her.
The smell of copper was heavy in the air as Ki knelt by them and reached out. “Let me see her.”
“Ki?” Nanette whispered, sounding confused.
“Oh Nanette!” Ethandirill eased back and kissed her square on the mouth. Ki studied the blood in confusion. There was so much of it. She should have died.
“How could you use your gift in such a blasphemous way?” King Nauberon’s voice was icy. “You are mortal.” Each word was punctuated with anger. “A Det Morian mortal, it has never been borne.”
“I spoke the words, my years for her years. It cannot be undone,” Ethandirill said, but he wasn’t looking at his brother. He was staring into Nanette’s eyes.
Tears roll
ed down Nanette’s cheeks as she sniffled. “You shouldn’t have.”
Ethandirill put a hand on the side of her face. “A life without you isn’t worth living.”
Ki shifted away when they kissed intimately, trying to give them a semblance of privacy. Ki realized Ethandirill had used the Det Morian gift to somehow bring Nanette back from the brink of death. Ki was relieved but they didn’t have time. When they parted, Ki said, “Malthael is fighting with Elisabeth. If you will take your brother to Babayaga’s room, I’ll go to her.”
“Go,” Ethandirill said as he helped Nanette to her feet. “I’ll see to my brother.”
Ki ran from the room. He made it down one hallway and another before an explosion rocked the very foundation of Morhaven. He stumbled and had to use the wall for support to keep from falling.
“El,” he whispered. His teeth tightened as worry flooded his mind.
Chapter 47: The Divine Court
Lying on the cold ground, Elisabeth realized with sudden clarity that she was going to die. Her one attack, her one plan, had failed. Her gaze moved sluggishly over to Arawn’s face as he stood above her, casting her in his shadow. She tried to move away, but she couldn’t catch her breath. It was painful for her to inhale and exhale.
Arawn sneered at her. “I’ll take the shard when you are dead.”
Elisabeth felt his hand around her throat as he picked her up. Her body was limp from the abuse it had endured, but still she fought. Her fingers dug into his hold, and she tried desperately to loosen it to get more air. Her fingers brushed against the gloves, and she could feel the bones of the Det Mor Clan. Her body screamed at her, but she didn’t have any power left, only the weakness of a mortal.
