Chapter 8: A Fight for the Light at the End of the Tunnel, part II

"As they declared a battle, they have first choice of advance. We must defend, and defend strongly. If they surrender their advantage, we will advance quickly, and advance strongly. Dom, Kel, Raoul, Jerren, Thalor, Waslis, Harailt, and I form the first line of attack/defense. In the second, we have Daine, Turner…" Alanna went on, naming who was where. Daine got placed in the second row for her marksmanship. She would be riding a war horse (Cloud wasn't large enough nor strong enough) and would shoot over the first row's heads. Most everyone in her row was marked for their archery skills. As Alanna called out more posts, Numair inched closer to Daine.

"Be careful, Magelet." He couldn't say anything else; his throat had closed tight. Daine could only nod and grab his hand. It was sweaty, a match for hers. She stole one last kiss.

"Numair, we need you to ride in the fourth row, third column. If things get rough, do what you have to. We're outnumbered by count, but we best at skills. Remember these are only homeless Scanrans, they would kill you in a breath if they could. No sympathy out there, we need to focus. I don't care what kind of sappy story they give you, fight for Tortall!" Alanna received cheers for this. She continued her pep talk. "Fight for justice! (Cheers) Fight for your home! (More cheers) And fight for KING JOHNATHAN!" Uproar: whistles, huzzahs, pandemonium split the air. Now everyone reported to their assigned post, called in ready, and shouldered, hefted, and drew weapons. This was it. The battle.

The Scanrans did attack first. At once, though, the Tortallans could see how disorganized they were. Their attack line wasn't a line; it was more a zigzag. They all ran on foot, as their horses had run days ago. However, they advanced determinedly. Little did they know that the Tortallan's had a few tricks up their sleeves.

Alanna radiated with amethyst brilliance; a cyclone twisted from the sky and wiped out the first handful of rows.

Sweat ran down Alanna's face.

The Scanrans drew back in fear.

Alanna's lungs drew huge, rattling breaths.

The Scanrans screamed and ran as the twister bore down on them.

Alanna cried out.

The Scanrans were now scuttling back to their camp.

"Alanna, stop! You'll kill yourself!" Numair's voice was strangely audible above the howling winds.

Alanna's brilliance faded.

The twister disappeared. Alanna swayed in her saddle. Dom rushed to her side and took her hand. A green fire glowed around them, and Alanna snapped up as though she had been doused with ice water.

"Thanks, Dom," she whispered. He nodded and Daine shot a questioning look at Turner.

"He gave her some of his energy. The Lioness would have been useless but for that."

Alanna took a swig from her water flask. "All right, this is it! We advance on my cue!" She waited as everyone took their places. Suddenly Alanna spoke a word to Moonlight. "Tortall!" She yelled a battle cry. The rest followed, some with battle cries of their own. By then, backup forces of Scanrans had gathered and were running hard. The two parties clashed, swords swinging and axes shopping. Daine wasted no time. She saved her arrows for later and took up her sword. She had never done anything so frightening in her life; but at the moment, adrenaline controlled her body.

With shaky hands Daine lifted her flask to her dry lips. She was afraid to close her eyes, something she was fighting fiercely. She was afraid that closed eyelids would make her relive seeing Turner, Jerren, and Waslis go down, covered in blood. At the moment, both sides were taking a break. The Tortallans had been driven back, but the Scanrans had left after Numair started throwing fire. Daine had only received a few minor cuts and scrapes. Her newly healed ribs ached terribly, but she forced it out of her mind. Now was not the time to be feeling sorry for herself.

"Prepare for defense!" Raoul's voice commanded now; Alanna was tired. "First line down, second and third lines fire on my command!" Knights scrambled everywhere, gathering weapons and mounting horses. Daine was ready.

The Scanrans who had been approaching suddenly stopped, around three hundred yards from the Tortallan defense. Daine saw two men on either end throw back cloaks to reveal yellow robes. The men then started to wave arms and chant. Dust swirled up in front of them, a cloud of particles flying towards the Tortallans. Daine closed her eyes and waited to be swallowed by this magical cloud. It was near now, very near. She threw her hands in front of her face –

Gasps and cheers. Daine opened her eyes to a sparkling black wall enveloping the dust cloud! The Scanrans were visible now, thirty men pushing on. The mages looked worn out, but still ran with the rest of the men, who didn't seem to notice their surprise was ruined. One hundred yards away – they were almost within range. Ninety, Eighty, "Targets!" Daine focused on one of the mages. "Ready, LOOSE!" Raoul's demand was drowned out by the whistle of arrows shredding the air. Men went down, seventy yards away. "Reload! Targets! LOOSE!" Daine's last arrow had flown straight and true; the mage moved none. This time she had aimed for the second mage, but cursed when he threw up a shield. They were fifty yards away now. The mage stopped, muttering something. The men on either sides of Daine dropped, following them several others she didn't know. Holding her tears, she ignored her comrades and brandished her sword.

"TORTALL!" She cried, following Alanna into the rush. She struck down many before she saw the yellow robe again. The man moved his lips and a wave of rock grew and started to move for Numair. He was so close and not paying any attention to her; she could pick him off easily with her bow. In one swift movement she had her crossbow on her shoulder, an arrow in the notch. Daine was so focused on the yellow robe, though, that she didn't see a bandit come up from below her horse.

She loosed the arrow just as the bandit pushed his blunt blade through her middle…

Daine drew a surprised breath, suddenly feeling as if a million knives were stabbing at her stomach. The whole battle seemed to stand still for a moment as she saw the yellow robe go down, never to breathe again. The rock wave collapsed into the ground in slow motion. A weird numbness swept over her.

"Daine!" Alanna screamed, fighting her way towards the Wildmage. She saw her friends waste only a breath before anger possessed them and they attacked savagely. Daine blinked. She looked down at the man who had stuck her. She saw the terrible victorious look on his face and cut him down. But this was in vain, as a dagger had already lodged itself in his neck. Barely one bandit still stood. She blinked again, eyelids heavy, chest choking for air. Her lungs ached and wouldn't work properly. She felt herself sliding off her horse; saw the blue sky just before the little air was knocked from her when her back hit the ground.