~ Chapter 26 ~
Tris felt Keli suddenly vanish from his senses. She had found the mage. He knew she was not far ahead now, but he could only pray they reached her and Fyn in time. He forced himself not to consider them dying before they arrived.
"She found him." He called to the others and urged Caewen on.
Elspeth and Darkwind didn't answer but he didn't need one.
They were going to be too late.
~*~
Hegrith found the female in the great hall, her horse at her side and a grey cat sitting beside her. Obviously a Familiar.
He kept the girl in front of him as a shield.
Her cold blue eyes never left his face as she watched him.
The girl stilled her struggled. "Keli! He's going to hurt you."
"I know." The woman answered.
"Ah, so your name is Keli." Hegrith said pleasantly. "For a while I thought we had met but obviously we haven't. I am curious as to how you knew of me."
Keli caressed the blade at her hip. "If you wanted to talk you could have just sent an invitation."
"But that would have been so mundane." Hegrith said lightly, confidant she wouldn't attack.
"I assume there is a reason you have gone to such lengths to catch my attention." She said with silky malice.
"You have become something of a pest I am afraid. It is a pity to destroy such beauty." He gave her a cold smile.
"Very well, let's get on with it." Keli gestured to the horse and cat and they moved to the side. She then unsheathed her blade and tossed it to the side. "Your turn."
"A challenge?" Hegrith tossed the girl off to the side. She screamed in pain when she landed. "I accept."
~*~
Solaris ran across the floor to Fyn as soon as she was released. Placing a paw on her leg she Jumped her to Kenyon's saddle.
:Hold on Fyn.: She ordered.
Fyn tucked her injured arm against her abdomen and grabbed Kenyon's saddlebow.
With a flash Kenyon spun and charged out the door and to safety.
~*~
The keep was in sight finally. Kenyon suddenly charged out the doors and barrelled towards them. It was obvious from the short stature and bright red hair that the rider was Fyn.
Tris was filled with dread. Caewen and Kenyon each slid to a stop, just feet from each other. Gwena stopped next to Caewen.
"Keli's in there and the bastard is going to kill her!" Fyn said frantically. "You got to help her!"
Darkwind was the first to dismount and pulled Fyn from Kenyon's saddle.
A loud boom, almost like thunder and a flash of light told them a mage battle was being waged inside the Keep.
"I'll take her." Darkwind moved off to the side toe let the Heralds decide what to do.
~*~
Keli diverted the lightening easily and watched her own attack of power blades be diverted equally as easy.
She had no experience in mage battles and only had read of the ritual in the books in the library a few weeks before.
Her entire world narrowed to her and Hegrith. He had killed her people for Power. He had kidnapped Fyn with the intent to lure Keli then kill them both. He would kill many of her people and many of her friends if she let him continue.
Inside her rage was replaced with a calm knowing. It was worth her life to make certain he never survive.
~*~
Tris left the others to run to the keep, even leaving Caewen. Keli's white shield melded with Hegrith's reddish brown on in a dome. He saw Keli dodge Hegrith's attack and launch one of her own.
It was obvious she wasn't experienced enough to last long.
Solaris watched from farther in the room, so intent on the duel that she didn't even see him.
~*~
Fyn struggled against Elspeth and Darkwind. "I have to back! She's going to die!"
"Easy little one." Darkwind soothed. "There is nothing you can do."
Kenyon and Caewen watched worry in their bright blue eyes, both knew there was nothing they could do for their Chosen. But if Hegrith did manage to escape they were both ready to do whatever it took to make certain he met death today.
:Keli is losing.: Kenyon said sadly to everyone.
Fyn started to sob brokenly.
Elspeth and Darkwind readied strong shields to protect them.
~*~
Keli felt the lightening bolt puncture her shield and dove to avoid it but it still singed her side.
His next attack came quick on the heels of the lightening bolt and sent her flying through the air to land unconscious on the hard stone floor.
~*~
Tris cried out as Keli fell just feet from where he stood. The shields dissipated and Hegrith advanced on Keli's prone body. Tris saw Solaris run to intercept the dark mage. Praying she could delay him Tris ran to Keli and shook her shoulder. He cast a shield around them both.
~*~
Solaris sank her claws into the tender flesh of Hegrith's abdomen. She saw the blow coming but didn't dodge it. Instead she focused on causing as much damage as possible to him.
The reddish brown power struck her on the side of her head. She felt herself fly through the air and strike the wall with a sickening crack.
As her vision faded and prayed the others could stop him, with her last breath she sent the last of her Power to Keli.
It was with both joy and pain she entered the Light.
~*~
Keli's eyes opened and she quickly sat up in time to see Solaris blasted by the Blood Adept. The fur on most of her face and down her side was singed off leaving her skin blackened.
When Solaris hit the wall Keli felt the surge of the flame tasting power.
Tris watched in horror next to her. "Sola…" He whispered.
Keli gripped his hand tightly.
"Darkwind and Elspeth have Fyn." Tristen told her quickly.
Hegrith sent a streak of blood coloured lightening. Keli quickly merged her shields with Tris' but the attack weakened the shield.
With ease she opened a link between them, the deepest and strongest she had ever attempted.
She could feel his concern for her and see in his mind tht he shared the knowledge that stopping Hegrith was worth the price of death. :I love you.:
Tris knew her intent the instant it formed in her mind. :I love you too.:
~*~
:Move!: Kenyon mind screamed and grabbed Fyn by the collar and started dragging her farther from the keep.
Darkwind and Elspeth heard his urgency. Darkwind grabbed Fyn and swung onto his back. Elspeth swung onto Gwena's back. Together they ran as fast as possible away from the stone keep.
~*~
Hegrith had been surprised to see the man next to Keli but it didn't matter, He could kill both of them. When the cat had attacked it had given them time to get a shield up.
Fortunately nothing brought down shields quite like blood magic and he had plenty of Power at his disposal.
The white clad pair were now holding hands. A touching gesture.
What did disturbed him was the way their auras had merged. Not just meshing but now one aura. It was something he had never witnessed before.
Suddenly the air was filled with incandescent energy. He had less than a heart beat before the Power enveloped him and he felt his flesh burn away.
~*~
Elspeth was tossed from Gwena's saddle as the wave of Power struck. Darkwind twisted in the air to land underneath Fyn. The Companions were also tossed through the air. Kenyon struck a young tree and released an equine scream of pain as the stump speared his side. Gwena landed on the path and her foreleg snapped like twig. Caewen was behind them and Elspeth didn't see what happened to her. She assumed Caewen was dead from the shock of a finalstrike initiated by her Chosen.