by Owen Crane
She looked again at the pursuing Raiders. Their swords reflected the
sunlight as they ran, their heavy boots thudding across the turf. Closer and
closer they came. Forty yards, thirty yards.
The ground started to rise again and Ariella looked up.
Three hundred yards, we’re nearly there. We’re going to make it, we’re going to be okay, we’re going to…
“Aarrgghhh!”
Eleazar let out a cry of pain as Ariella saw his foot stick in a hole and his
knee twist horribly. He stumbled to the floor in front of her, a look of anguish in
his face.
Indio glanced over his shoulder at his fallen friend and then at the oncoming
Raiders. He tucked his head down and accelerated forward leaving Eleazar
sprawled on the grass clutching his wrecked knee.
Ariella pulled up next to Eleazar and drew her sword.
“What are you doing?” He screamed. “Run you idiot, run!”
Jaron notched an arrow and spun, releasing the arrow in one movement.
The point of the arrow struck the angled armour plate on one of the Raider’s
shoulders and flew harmlessly into the air.
Eleazar struggled to his knees and drew his dagger, flipping it over and
catching it by its point.
The Raiders were almost on them, swords raised. The one in the centre, a
massive thuggish looking man with a blood red moon etched across his cheek
snarled as he approached.
“You"re children,” he spat.
“We"re Guardians,” replied Jaron aiming an arrow at the Raider’s throat.
The Raider anticipated the move and spinning sideways, dodging the arrow, he
leaped forward driving his sword towards Jaron"s head. In a moment of
desperation Jaron raised his bow to deflect the oncoming sword. The bow
splintered in two and he was knocked to the floor, dazed by the impact.
The Raider laughed as he advanced for the killing blow, Jaron lying helpless
at his feet. Before the blow could land Eleazar flung his dagger. End over end it
flashed in front of Ariella and struck the Raider’s sword arm. He howled in pain,
dropping the sword and lashing out with his boot, catching Jaron on the side of
his head. There was sickening crunch and Ariella saw Jaron"s eyes roll
backwards as he lay deathly still.
The Raider laughed at Jaron"s broken body. Rage filled her mind as she leapt
towards the unarmed Raider, her sword point driving towards his heart. But the
other Raiders were quicker. One of them intercepted her blade, knocking it
downwards; the second pummelled her jaw with his fist and she span to the
floor.
The pain was intense. It felt like her head was going to explode. She saw
bright flashes in front of her eyes as she tried to recover. She heard the laughter
of the Ghost Raiders as they drew closer. She kept blinking, trying to clear her
vision but all she could focus on was Jaron"s ashen face.
She felt a strong hand grip her hair and snap her head back.
Come on Ari, you can do this.
She opened her palm and a flash of light exploded out, blasting back the
Raider holding her. Then she felt a fist hit her stomach and the air was driven
from her lungs.
“This one"s learned to use her Light.”
“We don"t like the Light,” one of them snarled and kicked her hard in the
side causing her to cry in pain.
“How much time do we have?” she heard one of the Raiders say. “Kill them
quickly or slowly?”
“Quickly,” came the harsh answer. “There’s still one left. We can"t have any
witnesses.”
Indio, at least Indio got away.
“Quickly it is then.” She felt her head pulled up, the fullness of her neck
exposed for the killing blow.
But it never came
She felt a rush of powerful wind fly past her head and the grip was gone.
She heard the thud as the Ghost Raider fell to the ground beside her.
There was another rush, another thud.
What’s happening?
She managed to focus her eyes as she heard Thrace"s cry. The last Raider
screamed in terror as he was impaled on the griffin"s razor sharp claws.
Chapter 22
As she lay on the grass Ariella felt the griffins landing softly around her. She
heard one of them approach and then the hardness of Lavina"s beak nudging her,
trying to get some response. The griffin let out a cry as Ariella stirred.
“Hello you wonderful creature,” she mumbled through her pain.
She pushed herself to her feet and looked around. Next to her were the
broken bodies of two of the Ghost Raiders. The third raider had been flung back
and was lying a way off, his chest torn open by Thrace.
Eleazar was leaning against one of the griffins, standing on one leg.
“You okay?” he asked
She nodded
“I thought we were dead. Indio sure has a knack for timing. That Raider
was half a second away from slitting your throat.”
Ariella felt her neck and shivered. “Where is Indio?”
“I think he"s with Jaron, on the other side of Thrace.”
Ariella turned and saw Thrace lying on the ground, facing away from her.
She walked over to him, wincing with each step. The pain in her side was
intense. As she moved past Thrace she stopped. Indio was on his knees beside
Jaron. Jaron"s face was still white and he wasn"t moving.
Indio was sobbing as he made flashes of light erupt from his hand. He
looked up as Ariella approached.
“It"s not working Ari, it"s not working,” he said as another flash of red light
sparked from his hand. The light rippled across Jaron’s chest then faded away.
“I was too late. They’ve killed him. I was too late.”
Ariella knelt down beside Jaron and felt for a pulse in his wrist. Nothing.
She moved her fingers and pressed harder. Nothing.
No, no, no.
She reached up to his neck, her fingers searching for a pulse. Nothing.
Come on, please.
She closed her eyes, willing the pulse to come.
Beat, will you, beat, just beat.
Then, ever so faintly, she felt the tiniest movement under her fingers.
Come on, come on.
The pulse grew stronger and she felt Jaron stir. She opened her eyes and
turned to Indio. His eyes were wide and his mouth was hanging open.
“Ari, look at your hand.”
For the first time Ariella was aware of a warmth around her hand as it felt
Jaron’s pulse grow strong. She looked down and gasped. Her hand was covered
in a shimmering red light.
“How are you doing that?”
“I have no idea,” she replied.
“Urgh,” groaned Jaron opening his eyes. “My head hurts.”
Ariella closed her hand, lifting it away as the light faded.
“Hurts? Hurts? You should be dead you idiot,” said Indio. “I thought that Raider had caved your head in. I guess it’s tougher than it looks. Must be all
those rocks you have for brains.”
“Ha ha, you"re hilarious.” He propped himself up on his elbow and took in
the scene around him. “Where are the Ghost Raiders? What happened?”
“Indio rescued us,” said Ariella. “I thought it was all over and then the griffins tore into the Raiders. They didn’t know what hit them.”
“Griffins.” S
miled Eleazar, limping over “I’ve always liked griffins.”
“Yeah right,” she laughed, “you and Lavina are the best of friends.”
“Thanks Indio,” said Jaron “I owe you one.”
“Yep, you do,” he replied wiping away his tears. “You all do. And you can repay me in chocolate. Chocolate and a daily appreciation of my awesomeness.”
“Yeah right,” said Eleazar “your awesomeness. That’s exactly what’s going to happen.” He winced in pain as he tried to rest on his damaged knee.
“Reckon you can use the light on his knee Ari?” Indio asked. “I don’t want to be stuck carrying him around.”
Ariella shrugged. “I don’t know how I used it on Jaron, it sort of just
happened.”
“That was you?” Jaron asked, “I saw the red light and I thought it was Indio.”
Indio shook his head “No way. I was trying but couldn’t get it working.”
“Come on then Princess,” said Eleazar. “Give it a shot. I don’t want Indio dragging me around the rest of the day.”
Ariella knelt down by Eleazar. She stretched out her fingers and lightly
touched his knee. He flinched and clenched his jaw, stifling a scream. She closed
her eyes and let her fingers move across the joint, feeling the swelling.
All right Ari, let’s get this sorted. Come on Light do something. Er, you’re talking to the light Ari. Not sure that’s how it worked. What did you do with Jaron? Nothing, I did nothing except sort of, wanting him to be well. Suppose I could try that?
She took a deep breath, clearing her head. She could feel where the knee had
swollen. She could see where the ligaments had been wrenched and the muscle
torn. She felt the sharpness of the pain that Eleazar was feeling.
This knee must be agony. That’s not right. That needs to change.
Just then she felt the knee straighten and swelling reduce. She opened her
eyes and saw her hand covered by a beautiful green light.
“Wow,” whispered Indio.
“How’s your knee?” Jaron asked.
Eleazar had a shocked look on his face. “It’s, it’s perfect.” He said, putting his full weight on his damaged leg. “It’s as good as new.”
“Good skills Ari,” said Indio. “Red and green, two colours of Light. Never heard of that.”
“I’m sure it’s common,” she replied, suddenly nervous. “Maybe my light is just figuring itself out.”
“Yeah,” said Jaron, trying to reassure her “that’s probably it.”
Ariella watched Jaron’s face. He was trying to be kind but there were
questions and confusion in his look and she felt decidedly uncomfortable.
“We need to get going,” she said, looking to divert the conversation. “There are still two Ghost Raiders out there and whoever the blonde witch is. We need
to find them and get the Blood Curse stopped or reversed or whatever we can
do.”
“You good to fly?” Eleazar asked Jaron
“Yeah, I can hang on to Indio.”
“Great. You want to ride with me or you think you can handle one of these
now?” she asked Eleazar.
“I got this. No problems, always loved griffins, remember?”
He walked to a sleek, silver feathered griffin who gave him a friendly peck
with its beak.
“I think it likes me,” he said, jumping up on to it’s back.
Ariella shook her head and climbed on Lavina, stroking her bronze feathers.
“Ready for another hunt?” she asked
Lavina gave a loud cry, echoed by Thrace and then by the other seven.
“I almost pity those Ghost Raiders,” said Indio. “Almost.” He gave Thrace a
nudge and the griffin leapt into the sky.
The nine griffins fanned out in a wide „V" formation with Thrace leading.
They raced across the hillside searching for their enemies. After less than a
minute they spotted a figure, sprawled on the grass.
Indio looked over at the others and made a circular motion with his hand.
Eleazar gave Ariella a confused look and she called over to him. “I think he
wants us to circle and keep watch.”
Eleazar nodded and turned his griffin into a high, wide circle. Ariella
banked Lavina underneath him into a tighter circle, eyes scanning the hills
looking for any signs of the other Ghost Raiders.
Indio swooped low on Thrace, the griffin’s hind legs parting the tips of the
grass. The figure didn"t flinch. Indio banked hard and settled Thrace next to
him.
It was the Raider Jaron had felled, the arrow he had fired was sticking
upright from his thigh.
“He"s had his throat cut,” said Jaron.
“By who?” Asked Indio looking around in case the attacker was still nearby.
“I guess by the other Raiders. They don"t allow themselves to be taken
prisoner and that arrow would"ve slowed them down. They"re running.”
“Then let’s get after them.” Indio launched Thrace back into the sky and
rejoined the others.
When they were in earshot he called across, “there"s only two left and our
guess is they"re running.”
“Any ideas which way?” called Eleazar.
Indio shook his head.
“Then we split up,” said Ariella. “Three griffins each. We fly high and in
wide arcs. These griffins have incredible eyesight; they"ll pick them up. Once
you"ve spotted them, send one of your griffins back to the others. And Indio.”
“Yeah?”
“Do not attack them until we are all together. I"ve had enough healing for
one day.”
“Okay,” he muttered.
“I mean it Indio.” she called.
“Don"t worry Ari,” said Jaron “If he tries it I"ll chuck him off when he"s not
concentrating. Then we"ll get to see if Thrace can catch.” Jaron smirked.
“Not funny, Jay, not funny.” said Indio
“Alright, you two fly down the Willowbank and see if they"ve kept to the
stream. Ele, you go west and check in case they"ve gone inland to throw us off.
I"ll go east. See you soon.” Ariella pulled up on Lavina"s reins drawing the two
nearest griffins with her. She looked over her shoulder as the others parted.
Let’s get going Ari; these two are not going to escape.
Lavina opened her wings wide and caught the thermals rising off the hills.
High up in the sky they swung back and forth looking for any signs of the
escaping Raiders. The wind whipped through Ariella"s hair as she studied the
ground, looking for a trail. After half an hour of searching she was ready to call
it quits and head back to the others.
There’s no way they could’ve travelled this far, this fast.
She looked back west and south, searching for any signal the boys had found
them.
Not a thing. Where have they gone?
She turned Lavina and began following a long deep valley carved out of the
hills by some ancient river. The valley wound its way back towards the
Willowbank but then turned sharply north as if something had blocked the flow,
years ago.
On instinct Ariella pushed Lavina down into a dive. They flew down the
valley, its steep sides casting long shadows across Ariella"s face. As the river
turned sharply Lavina dipped her wing tips and banked hard, causing Ariella to
cling tightly to her feathers. They flew around the corner and Lavina let out a
sharp screech and tucked in her wings. The hiding Ghost Raider leapt from a
crack in the valley wall and swung his curved sword. The blade caught Lavina
on her wing joint sending her tumbling from the sky in an explosion of blood.
The great griffin crashed into the rocky valley floor throwing dust, rocks and
Ariella up into the air. She span twice and thudded to the ground. Her head
swam and she saw stars for the second time that day.
Not again. Get up; he’s coming, get up!
She heard the Ghost Raider moving across the rocks and she struggled to her
knees, reaching for her sword. Lavina was whimpering from the pain in her
wing then she let out a terrifying shriek that caused Ariella to wince. She
jumped up and tried to focus. The Ghost Raider had stamped down on Lavina"s
wing, pinning her to the ground. He grinned viciously and raised his sword
above the griffin"s head.
As the blade fell Ariella screamed stretching out her hand.
“No!”
A burst of blue light flew from her and smashed into the rushing blade
shattering it in a shower of sparks. The Ghost Raider fell backwards with the
force of the impact and looked at Ariella in horror.
She drew her sword and advanced on her fallen enemy, a look of
determination etched on her face.
He killed your father. He took him from you.
She started to move quicker, fury rising with every step, her blade poised to
attack.
The Ghost Raider was still holding the shattered hilt of his sword and he
flung it at Ariella as she rushed towards him. It caught her on the side of her
head causing her to stumble. She put out her hand to steady herself then
instinctively reached up to her head. She felt her warm blood ooze down from
the cut above her ear.
The Ghost Raider grabbed his opportunity as she faltered. Jumping to his
feet he sprinted down the valley, sending dust up behind him. Ariella set off
after him but he was quicker, easily outdistancing her.
She screamed in frustration at his escape. As if in answer she heard the
screech of a griffin just over her head. She ducked as the two powerful beasts
that had followed her and Lavina streaked past her, down the valley. The Ghost
Raider glanced over his shoulder, a look of terror on his face. He caught his foot
on a rock and began to tumble to the ground. Before he could recover the griffin
was on him with a shriek and the valley fell silent.
