Defending the King

The situation went from bad to worse quickly.  Jason cursed to himself, he hated being right.  The royal guard of the King drew back as soon as the king went down and the dead bodies began to rise, the elfin guard did likewise.  It was just now a few of them that stood to defend the public.  Fiona and he advanced, yelling for the crowd to move out of the way, as fast as possible.

Jason knew his target, Stalker, for he, Shae or Yassir, would be the only ones who had a chance to stop him.  He hated the fact that he had to attack his old friend, but was this truly Stalker anymore?  Ayrial had always warned him about these knights of death.  Powerful, free willed, and damn near invincible.  He knew of two prior, but according to Nalin and Laurel, both were slain a few days ago.  This little young witch's power must rival her mothers.  Ayrial told him that creating these soldiers was a gift granted to only those most faithful to the dark goddess.

Fiona and Jason did not make it near Stalker; the dead were standing quickly, swarming around them.  He brought Hunter down on a burned woman; her dead eyes gleamed at him as he removed her head.  Fiona struck at another, but her non-enchanted blade only slowed him.  Yet, it was enough to allow Dajmal to advance and destroy the undead man before it regained its posture.

*  * *

Laurel could not believe that her son was actually defending this girl.  He looked frightened as the battle began.  He swung the heavy sword clumsily and enemies that were nowhere close to him.  Pushing her way through the panicking crowd, she just kicked and punched at the risen dead, most weaponless, as they came near.  She had only one goal, save Kaynan.  Right now, the rampaging dead did not concern her.

She quickly dodged and spun around a dead soldier, swinging his weapon slowly.  Tumbling, she stood behind him, she was in the process of turning to trip him when a spear tip thrust through his back.  Erinwolfe stood on the other side of the animated guard, piercing him with his new dwarven spear.  Pushing him aside, he stepped next to her.

"Allow me," he said as he moved past her.  "I'll clear you a path."

"Thanks," she responded, bending down and picking up the long sword.  She held it awkwardly; it was not her weapon of choice, preferring smaller blades.  With the sword in hand, she followed behind her large champion.

* * *

Shae, holding her elfin blade, looked through the frantic crowd.  She hopped up to see where Jason was heading.  Seeing him move toward Stalker, she began pushing her way through the chaos.  Shae knew Stalker, she knew how he fought.  Jason was a good swordsman, but she realized that Stalker was better.

Once she arrived to where the dead were abundant, she slashed vigorously through, not worried about them.  Connacht leapt in front, seemingly dancing through the fight. His elfin blade easily dispatching those that stood in his way.  Soon, she found her way next to her uncle.  Jason only smiled at her as he advanced.

Looking ahead, Stalker still advanced, but Constance moved slowly back, forcing Kaynan near the wall that ran along the cliff.  She felt that the witch had something else planned.  If she were anything like her mother, then there will be a grand exit.  Shae feared what that might be, and if they could survive it.  Typical Baelathkai, arrogant and extravagant, she was no different than her mother, her aunt, or her uncle.  It was either a family trait, or an elfish behavior.  Shae was thankful she had at least some human blood; she supposed it grounded her, made her a bit less haughty.

Metal ringing against metal caused her to change her focus from Constance to Jason.  He had engaged Stalker.  The first blow he must have parried, but it knocked him to his knees.  He lifted Hunter; his arm was quivering, not yet fully healed, despite her aunt's elfin healing.  Stalker was reading for another strike, his massive sword lifted high. She began to run as the sword started the arc downward.

Timed slowed as she raced toward Jason, lifting her own blade to block the attack.  As Shae got closer, she knew there was no way she was going to make it.  She was about ready to leap, hoping to knock Jason out of the way when a blue flash struck Stalker's heavy armor.  The magical blast did not really hurt him, just pushed him slightly, causing him to turn, swinging wide, allowing Jason time to duck to the ground and roll away.

Stalker now moved in Connacht's direction, seeing Jason as no threat.  She was not worried about her lover; he could easily stay out of the lumbering man's way.  With his attention preoccupied with Connacht, she dropped low, swinging her blade at the back of Stalker's knees.  The hit did not seem to affect him, but it did alter his course.  As she was standing he spun around with unnatural agility, using his left hand he caught her by the throat.

His grip was tight around her neck; she dropped her sword as he lifted her off her feet.  He pulled her close, looking into her eyes.  She saw a hint of the man she once knew staring back at her.  It was there only for a moment, then his eyes became an eerie red and he squeezed tighter.  Using both hands, she grabbed his arm and kicked at him with her feet.  Nothing seemed to faze him.

Connacht struck him in the back; he spun around, using her as a shield and weapon, striking Connacht with her legs.  She barely felt it, her legs throbbed, but her head was going numb, her arms weak.  Soon her vision began to fade; the world narrowed on Stalker's face, then went black.

* * *

Jason saw that Shae was in trouble, he also watched Yassir charge toward Stalker.  The elfin prince held a powerful blade, a blade with a history.  That was all the prince would tell him when he asked about it again yesterday.  History or not, it was an enchanted dwarven blade, and it would most definitely hurt the undead Stalker.  Between the two of them, they could save Shae.

He sliced at another animated corpse as he crossed the gap between Stalker and himself.  He saw that Yassir was going high, for Stalker's back, so he decided to attack low, at the knee caps.  His plan worked, at least temporarily.  Stalker went down from both simultaneous blows.  Neither hit mortally wounded the large man, but he tumbled to the ground, releasing Shae.

He put his sword in his left hand and used his now throbbing right arm to help Connacht drag her away from the now rising brute.  Yassir stood ready, the honorable priest waited until Stalker was standing before he struck.  Jason just shook his head.  Yes, he was a knight once and now again, but there was never room for honor in combat, just survival.

Standing, Jason watched Yassir block a deadly blow, green arcs flew from both weapons as they came in contact.  Yassir staggered back, quickly regaining his balance.  Jason was about to take another shot when a blast of wind blew across the field.  The earth shook violently and a thunderous roar rolled over the battle.  Turning Jason knew what he was going to see.  Damn, he thought, he hated it when he was right.

Rygerri stood valiantly over Constance.

* * *

Watching what was remaining of the Royal Guard swarm around the king, Kyrian knew that she had to act soon or her chance would be over.  Her little trap was not viable; too many dwarves lined the front of the platform, blocking her shot at the glass jug.  She knelt below the parapet; reaching into her pouch she removed a bottle of poison.  If she could not kill all of them, at least she would get the king.  Carefully coating two razor sharp arrow tips, she replaced the vial back into the pouch.

Setting one arrow on the wood floor�"this one was still reserved for Fiona�"she loaded the other into her bow.  Holding the bow steady, she leaned around the parapet, keeping herself concealed in the shadows.  The king was surrounded, yet she could see his head and left shoulder as his men moved him away from the crowd to a secluded entrance near the stage.  It did not have to be a lethal hit, all she needed was to break the skin and the toxic Dyginian poison would do the rest.  Slowly she drew back the string, focusing on his left shoulder.  Kyrian was about to release the sting when a strong wind blew her into the stone parapet and then the tower shook.  She held the string, glancing to her right to see the black dragon land next to the little witch.

Suddenly her goal changed.  She needed to contact the beast.  Clearing her mind she concentrated on him, trying to send her thoughts to him.  His mind was like a steal trap, slamming shut as soon as she reached out.  Then as soon as the trap was sprung, the memories of the last few days, then weeks, followed by years flooded through her thoughts.  She grew dizzy, nearly passing out from the intrusion.  It was him; he was violating her mind, far more than she could do to anyone.

She tried to shut him out, but the harder she attempted throbbing pains would run rampant through her brain.  The pain was excruciating, she slid to the floor, and tears fell down her cheeks.  He was raping her mind, going places she wanted to forget.  She was about to scream when suddenly it stopped.  Then she heard his voice booming in her head.  "The Solace at midnight," he said.  "Bring this traitor with you."

Breathing rapidly, she was glad it was over.  She wiped her eyes; she still had a job to do.  Kyrian slowed her breathing, relaxing herself.  She could not make the shot if she was shaking.  When she was ready, she turned back around the parapet.  What she saw forced her to change her target.  Norrelle was growing wings. 

* * *

Fiona was nearly half way to Jason, who was engaging Stalker.  Yassir had already came to his aid, so she was looking for a route to Constance through the screaming, rampaging crowd, when she realized that Lillian was amongst those people somewhere.  She began to spin around, slowly at first, and then quickly when she could not see through the panic.  Soon she was calling out Lillian's name, hoping to hear her call back, but no answer came.  Just screams from dying and terrified citizens.

Fiona started pushing through the crowd, picking a random direction.  As she went against the flow, she was forced in another direction.  Her panic became anger, pushing her way through.  Still calling out she made her way to the stage.  Fiona was nearly thrown to the wooden floor as a blast of wind pushed her forward and the ground shook as if the island was falling into the sea.

Staggering as she was trying to stand, a small but stout hand steadied her.  Looking back, she nodded at Prince Gimdur, Nalin's brother.  Returning her gaze to the chaos in the yard, she saw that Rygerri had made his entrance, standing proudly over his newest ally.  Though he was a threat, the dragon was not her concern; she began scanning the crowd for her daughter.

Her heart slowed as she saw the king's son's guardian escort both young Tanner and her Lillian to a small door on a tower that lead into the keep.  She started moving toward Elizabeth when the woman stopped after the children were safe inside.  Elizabeth stared past Fiona, behind her.  The guardian lifted her hand, pointing.  Fiona turned, looking in the direction she was pointing.

The assassin was hard to see at first, until Fiona realized what she was seeing.  She could make out the dark dress feminine sharpshooter leaning around a parapet.  It was no doubt in her mind who it was, how she was still alive Fiona did not know, but now was not the time to think about it.  Kyrian was lifting her bow, preparing to take aim, unknowing that she had been spotted.  Fiona quickly looked back at the stage, the king was now within the walls, but he was not her target.

Norrelle was beginning to release her wings, transforming into her true self.  Kyrian must have quickly ascertained Norrelle's importance in the future and has now set her sights on the future queen.  "Assassin," Fiona shouted as she raced toward Norrelle, who was being held back by Mother Friedman.  On route, she stole a long bow from the back of a protecting elfin guard.  Dropping her sword, she snatched an arrow from his quiver and dropped to one knee.  Pulling the bow, she set the arrow.

She was not in time, Kyrian let the arrow loose.  It sailed to the target, as it did, Fiona released her weapon.  Kyrian turned just as the arrow slid into her chest, near her right shoulder.  "Damn," Fiona cursed, knowing the hit was not lethal.  Kyrian looked straight at her then ducked behind the wall.

Standing, Fiona checked on Norrelle.  She was unharmed, Mother and the Elfin Guard were moving her through the same door that the king had previously used to escape.  At first she was surprised that Kyrian missed.  Taking another step she saw that the elfin assassin did not.  Gimdur sat on the ground, breathing heavily; Nalin quickly knelt next to him.

Fiona stopped and dropped down.  Gimdur must have tried to bat the arrow and it went through his hand.  By the time Fiona looked at the wound, Gimdur was dead.  Nalin cried out, holding Gimdur next to him.  Angered, Fiona picked up the dwarf's fallen short sword and leapt off the platform heading for the tower.