Wings of Arian (46 page)

Emane’s suspicion grew, “What did you do?” he pushed.

“All that I could do to right a wrong.” She smiled at both them “In your words Kiora: Do what needs to be done, and follow your hearts.”

Chapter Twenty-six

BATTLE FOR MEROS

THE PEOPLE, INCLUDING ALERIC, were safely hidden away in the forest. Emane agreed that Aleric and half of the guardians should stay with the people. They needed some protection, in case the worst were to happen. The other half of the Guardians were with Drustan, dispersing themselves around the tree line of the village. Kiora now waited with Emane within the castle’s grand entry. Although they had made all the plans they could, she felt woefully unprepared.

The Rockmen were plodding on towards the village, the rising sun shining behind them, turning them into large black shadows. With each one of their steps, the castle windows shuddered. Emane had suggested sending the Shifters out to stop them, but Drustan worried that separating the few forces they had so early would not be a wise decision.

While she paced, Emane peered out one of the stained glass windows that flanked the main doorway. In order to see, his face was pressed hard against it, squinting. Kiora had already called the weapons the Guardians had made him. His sword was belted around his waist, quiver on his back, his bow and shield leaned against the door. He had also chosen to wear a piece of shoulder armor they had found hidden in the castle, used in battles long past, to camouflage his armband as best he could. Kiora wore nothing but a plain tunic and riding pants, as the only shield or weapons she would need were the ones she could produce herself.

“They are coming out now,” Emane announced.

It wasn’t but a few seconds later that the first scream pierced the air. The Rockmen had been spotted by one of the villagers. More and more screams came as door after door opened, and one family after another stumbled into the square to see the monstrosities pressing in upon them.

One man ran, pulling his horse out from the stall, he threw himself onto its back without bothering to saddle it. A clatter of hoof beats echoed out as he tore out of the village. The man shouted something over his back that calmed the crowd.

“Where is he going?” Emane mumbled aloud.

“They are going for Layla.”

He looked at her over his shoulder. “What makes you so sure?”

“They are looking for a leader. They will look to her,” she said with resignation.

Emane turned back, frowning.

Kiora moved over to a velvet tufted chair. She needed to regain as much strength as she could, last night had been long, and she had used a lot of magic and still had not slept. The magic was pouring in, attempting to fill the empty reserves. She wished it would move a little faster. She had refused to let Emane use magic of any kind last night, fearing that he was going to need more than he had.

A few minutes later Emane sighed, “Well, you were right. Here comes Layla, at least I think it’s her.” He shrugged. “I don’t know who else they would be bringing back, And she is with,” he pushed his face closer to the window, “…Ciera?”

“Layla must have taken her in.”

Emane shook his head, “Un-believable.”

“I hope she was the only one staying there,” Kiora said scowling, “I didn’t bother to check my house for threads.”

“It doesn’t matter. Anyone that was staying there would surely...” he was cut off by a familiar voice screeching at the front of the castle.

“KIORA!”

Kiora dropped her head, wincing at the tone. She didn’t know why it still bothered her, it wasn’t new.

“She apparently wants to speak with you,” Emane said finally swinging around.

“Kiora! I know you’re in there!”

“No she doesn’t,” Kiora said with a groan pushing herself to her feet. “She just hopes I am.”

“It’s time then?” Emane asked, his eyes searching her. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”

“Yes.”

Emane went to grab his shield but there was something she still needed to tell him and unfortunately couldn’t put it off any longer. “Wait,” she said hurriedly grabbing his hand. “Emane, I need you to work with Drustan on this.”

Emane jerked back like she had bit him. “What!”

“This battle will be in the air,” she scrambled to explain. “Drustan already pointed that out. If we can keep the dragons and the Fallen Ones fighting in the sky, then we can maybe prevent them from destroying the village. Arturo won’t be able to maneuver with two on his back, especially not with you being so weighed down by armor and weapons.”

“He has flown with two before,” Emane objected. “Three once!”

“Emane— flying, not fighting. Trying to maneuver in a battle is entirely different, you
know
that. Drustan will be fighting as a dragon and I need you to ride with him.” She said it with a forced finality, her eyes however looked nervously to the floor.

“No!” he said emphatically, jerking his hand away and gripping her shoulders. “I am your Protector! How can I protect you if I am nowhere near you?”

“It is the only way to protect the village.”

“I agree with you on keeping the battle to the skies, but surely there is another way! We can both ride Drustan.”

“No,” she shook her head. “We are already outnumbered, Emane. Staying together puts us at a disadvantage and makes us an easy target. You know I am right.” She reached out gently cupping his jaw in her hand. “The only reason you haven’t suggested it yourself is because you didn’t like what it would mean.”

Layla screamed again, “KIORA!”

“Kiora, I...” Emane bit his lip, turning his head away.

“Trust me, please, Emane,” she pleaded. Emane dropped his head in defeat, his arms falling limply to his sides. She nodded in relief and squeezed his arm reassuringly. Closing her eyes she called Arturo.
I am ready. Meet me by the front gate.

Growling, Emane snatched his shield, shoving his bow over his shoulder before throwing open the door, letting it slam into the wall with a bang. Arturo landed just in front of them, looking annoyed at Emane’s little outburst. Emane looked annoyed right back.

Kiora took in the scene. Layla and Ciera sat on horseback with the villagers cowering behind them, as if the two silly girls would somehow know what to do. Ciera took her role nicely, looking smug atop her horse. Layla was next to her, staring at Arturo, aghast.

She is wondering how there could be two of us,
Arturo informed Kiora.

“Yes, Layla, there are two of them. One fights for Dralazar, and the other fights with us.”

Layla’s head turned towards Kiora, equally shocked that Kiora knew what she was thinking. And in a flash, it was clear why Dralazar chose Layla. Kiora had thought it was because she was her sister. But that wasn’t it all.

“Pegasus’s are telepathic,” Kiora announced in both explanation and exasperation that she had not thought of this earlier. “They can hear your thoughts. Which means Raynor could hear yours.” It explained everything! She was chosen for her thoughts. Raynor heard all the anger, all the bitterness, and then ran and told his master.

Ciera nudged Layla, looking at her expectantly.

Coming back to herself, Layla snapped, “I don’t care what they can do. What have you done?” she demanded, pointing to the Rockmen who were no longer just shadows, but clearly defined with the sun shining just above their heads.

Kiora had usually felt shame, guilt… sadness when her sister had spoken to her like that. The blame always made her question if, perhaps, the blame really did reside with her. But today that new anger jolted inside her. “Those are not mine, Layla,” she said jutting her chin out, “They belong to you, in a way.”

“Liar!” Ciera shouted.

Before she could explain, another scream went up from the crowd. Dralazar had sent his first round of cavalry. “Dragons!” came the cry from the villagers.

Not good. They had hoped that Dralazar would lead the attack. Honestly Kiora should have known better. There were six dragons. One broke off from the others, landing on the far side of the villagers. His wing clipped the side of one home, sending the entirety of it clattering to the ground like a mere bundle of twigs. It was Soolan of course. His eyes locked onto Emane. Kiora was surprised at first, but she saw something in his eyes, and felt a wave of intention— revenge. Emane had killed Jarland, Soolan was not going to let that go.

Everything happened too fast. Soolan puffed and Kiora screamed.
The people are all going to die, right now!
They all were in the path between Soolan and his intended target, Emane. Releasing all the magic she had access to, she threw up a shield, willing it to cover them all. Soolan released too, his fire sheeting up and around the protective barrier Kiora had just produced.

The villagers scrambled backwards with screams, getting as far away as they could from the source of destruction. All except one. Gwen stood right next to the barrier, unmoving. She turned slowly, her brown eyes taking in Kiora. The two stared at each other for moment, Kiora remembering all the time she had spent with her. A tear trickled down Gwen’s face and in that moment Kiora felt her thread drastically alter, it was no longer dark. Gwen knew. Kiora’s heart leapt with a joy unsurpassed, she knew!

Layla dismounted from her horse in the chaos and ran straight at Kiora, “I won’t let you hurt them!” she screamed. Emane bolted to stop her, but was not fast enough.

Kiora was racking her brain trying to figure out how to get Gwen out of danger, when she was shoved to the side by Layla. Falling off Arturo with a scream, the shield faltered as Kiora hit the ground. The domed shield dropped. Kiora scrambled to her feet, and although Soolan had already begun to pull back the fire in defeat, the last of it exploded through with a roar of heat. The world seemed to move in slow motion as a ball of fire licked in and swallowed Gwen whole. Kiora reached her hand out, but Gwen’s thread had already fallen silent. She was gone.

“No!” Kiora screamed, bending over, her hands fisted in her stomach. “NO!”

San ran through the crowd, pushing his way to where his wife had fallen. His thread turning darker with every step.

Emane had thrown Layla onto the ground where she was screaming at Kiora, “How could you! How could you call that dragon?”

“Are you insane?” Emane yelled down at her “She just saved you all!”

Kiora searched for the threat, surely another molten attack would be on its way. But Soolan glared, and took off with grunt.

“Why is he leaving?” Emane asked without taking his eyes off Layla.

“Dralazar,” she had felt him before he dropped out of the clouds on Raynor.

Emane pushed himself up off Layla, looking around.

Kiora, get on. Now.

The people stood like confused sheep not knowing where to go. They looked to Layla as their leader, who scrambled back to her feet, looking very much relieved at the mention of her master’s name.

Kiora pulled herself back onto Arturo and hissed to Emane. “Go, find Drustan.”

Looking fiercely at her Emane whispered. “You had better be safe, Kiora. If anything,
anything
happens to you while I am not there to protect you, I will never forgive you!”

She smiled weakly. “That is good to know.”

“Or myself for listening to you!” he finished.

Just kiss him and send him on his way before Dralazar lands,
Arturo grumped.

Kiora bent over to give a final kiss, “Now GO!” she said pushing Emane’s shoulder.

Emane growled under his breath but went. Sprinting off to the side he disappeared through the trees.

Dralazar landed a second later, grinning. “Your Protector running away already, Kiora?”

The dragons were circling the village waiting for orders. She couldn’t see the Fallen Ones but she could feel them, circling as well. The Rockmen had come into position, and stopped. Dralazar’s smile faltered and faded as he felt the threads of those villagers around him. “What have you done?”

“I have left those that follow you, and that is all.” She paused trying to bolster courage. The people noticed for the first time as well that many that should have been there were not. Kiora could hear them calling out names, searching through each other for those that were gone. Dralazar’s eyes sparked with fury.

“They are yours now, Dralazar,” Kiora said, motioning to the people.

Dralazar’s eyes narrowed and he sat straighter, calmly calling her bluff. “Come now Kiora, you don’t mean that. You can’t intend to leave them here at the mercy of the creatures we find ourselves surrounded by.”

“Dralazar,” Layla asked taking a step forward, her face pinched together in confusion. “What are you doing?”

Smiling at Layla, that same disarming smile he had tried to use on Kiora, he said, “This is proof that she is not the Solus. The Solus would have cared what happens to this people, no matter whose side they are on.”

Layla was satisfied. The people stood oddly quiet, with the exception of San, who knelt alone, sobbing loudly over his wife’s dead blackened body.

“I guess there is only one question, then,” Kiora said. She feigned bravado, hoping that her instincts were right, hoping that his anger over losing her would override his need for this people. Arturo tensed underneath her in anticipation. “If these are your people, what is more important to you? Will you stay to protect them,” she motioned to the circling dragons. “Or chase me?” Arturo spun on his hind feet taking to the sky. “Now Drustan!” she yelled, looking over her shoulder.

Dralazar sat unmoving on Raynor, his eyes following Kiora. With no emotion he raised his hand, motioning to one of the Rockmen. The giant raised the club above its head, slowing reaching the peak of its ark before slamming down into four or five of the homes on the furthest edge of the village. The wooden roof and walls were no match for the force. The other two Rockmen followed suit, each raising a club. The crowd fled in different directions trying to stay clear.

It wasn’t going to work. Kiora panicked. What was she thinking? Playing a battle of wits with Dralazar? He would let her fly away, while he destroyed the helpless village. “Go back!” Kiora screamed to Arturo, “Go back!”