Happy Memorial Day!
I do not own.
Roy and Nachum followed Senarius into the thick of the forest. When he stopped, they stopped. They waited expectantly. After what seemed like an eternity, Roy was about to say something until a strange wind blew through the trees. Then with several flashes the Master and his remaining acolytes appeared.
"It's a shame." Master shook his head sadly. "He had so much promise."
"That nit." Quinque snapped. "He wouldn't know how to conjure a rabbit."
Duo growled, "Nonetheless with his powers he is dangerous and if he is working for Baratrum, we must be on guard since he knows our secret."
"We can take care of him." Tribus said as he cracked his knuckles with a grin.
"Master, will you now join us in our battle against Baratrum?" Senarius asked.
"Of course." Master nodded. "We are ready."
"Princess Reselda has set off already. We will need to meet up with them soon." He
said.
"Then let's go." He turned to his remaining men. He nodded to them.
Roy watched as each one warp into a ball of light. The master himself also became a ball of light and sped off joined by the other lights.
Senarius placed two fingers in his mouth and whistled. A horse came galloping from between the trees. It stopped in front of Senarius who jumped on. He motioned for Rex and Nachum to follow them. Roy formed his centaur and Nachum jumped on. They galloped away as the first light of the dawn appeared in the horizon.
"We're never going to reach them before they get to Provdencia at this rate." Roy complained as he rode next to Senarius.
A ball of light pulled back from the pack in front and moved next to them.
"Too slow you say? We can fix that." The master's voice came from the light.
Roy felt his legs get lighter. Looking down he found that he was now floating in the air. Senarius' horse was as well.
"Hang on!" Quinque's voice told them.
"What does that mean?" Nachum asked nervously before he clutched Roy's shoulders.
Suddenly, they were moved through the forest at great speed.
"Next time, keep your mouth shut!" Nachum yelled at Roy as the world whisked past them.
0o0
As Reselda exited the cart, she felt a chill run through her spine. Her hand went to her pouch instinctively.
"I told the troops to proceed as plan." Bofer surprised her when he suddenly appeared at her elbow.
"Oh, Bofer." She gasped. "You startled me. Do you feel something strange in the air?"
"What do you mean?" He lazily scratched under his arm.
"I don't know. I just felt a chill." She said nervously looking around.
"Maybe it's just a breeze?" He answered.
"Hmmm." She said noncommittally.
Reselda moved to go back to the front of the cart, her uneasiness unwaning.
Bofer took the reins of the horse and they continued along the path to reach the designated location.
Suddenly, Reselda straightened up. Grabbing Bofer she pushed them both off the cart.
"Have you gone…" Bofer never finished his thought when where they were sitting exploded.
Where they had been sitting, stood the scout with glowing red eyes.
"I knew there was something wrong." Reselda said.
"Give me the orb and I will make your demise quick." An unearthly voice came from the scout's mouth. He took a step out of the ruined cart.
"Come and get it." Reselda challenged.
The scout grinned evilly as he placed his hands together a red glow started forming between them. "I was hoping you'd say that!" He released a ball of energy.
Reselda jumped out of the way. Before he could get in another shot, Bofer, who had gotten behind him while he was distracted, leapt on his back.
"Get out of here!" He yelled at her as he struggled to hold down the possessed scout.
Reselda hesitated a second before running.
Meanwhile the soldiers surrounding the cart charged the scout. Reselda ran through the crowd of soldiers who were running toward the commotion. Behind her she could hear the ruckus of clanking armor. Before she could get too far, a force knocked her to the ground. Stunned by the blow, she tried to get up when suddenly she found herself hanging in the air. The possessed scout was lifting her by the scruff of her dress.
"The orbs, princess!" The scout hissed. He saw her hand fly to her pouch. Grinning he snatched the pouch first before tossing her aside. As he opened it, his grin turned to a scowl. He turned the pouch upside down. Ordinary rocks dropped from it.
"What deviltry is this?" He snarled looking at Reselda.
"Ironic you of all people should mention the devil." Reselda said except it was no longer Reselda's voice.
In front of his eyes, Reselda morphed into Siren.
"You'll find it harder fight a full faye." Siren grinned before blasting him with her voice. The scout was knocked onto his back. A stream of red energy seeped from his body forming into a tracker wraith.
The wraith howled in rage before attacking Siren. Siren sidestepped before blasting it again with her voice.
The wraith was pushed back but recovered quickly. In her head, Siren heard the wraith's voice. "Your attacks are pitiful, witch. I am stronger than you!" His clawed hand swiped at her.
Siren jumped back. "That's what you think." She opened her mouth. The wraith braced itself for an attack, but nothing seemed to happen. The wraith moved in for another strike. Before it could commence, a muffled buzzing sound came from the forest. From the woods hundreds of thousands of flying bugs emerged. Each one glowed a yellowish light. One by itself was no threat but as they gathered it became a blinding light. Siren ordered her army to swarm the wraith. The wraith frantically waved its talons trying to destroy the infestation. But because of the small size of the fireflies, they easily avoided the clumsy assaults. The light was starting to weaken the wraith. Siren took a deep breath and let out a final scream. The fireflies parted as the blast hit the wraith square in the chest. The wraith screeched before dissipating into the air. The fireflies fluttered back into the woods.
Siren's shoulders slumped. With her bravado spent, her knees felt rubbery and weak.
"Siren! Are you well?" Bofer limped over.
Siren nodded not trusting her voice not to waver.
"The ruse worked." He observed the dark spot where the wraith had been. "You played the princess well. Perhaps one day you can be one yourself." He lightly teased trying to lighten the mood.
"Very funny. How are the soldiers?" She asked.
"Considering that half of them are just enchanted suits conjured for the illusion, I would say they are fine. No casualties except perhaps that poor schlub." Bofer jerked his head toward the scout.
"Good. How about you?" She asked.
"I'll live." He answered succinctly,
It was then that she noticed for the first time the blood seeping from his hand.
"You're hurt!" She examined his hand immediately. "We must get to the cart… or what's left of it to take care of this."
"Eh, I'm fine." Bofer said nonchalantly but willingly let himself be led to back to the cart.
"Lady Siren, what is your order?" A soldier intercepted them.
Siren paused. As much as she was annoyed by the interruption, she knew that they were waiting for her decision. She glanced over at the scout's body and shuddered.
"Give that man a proper burial first. We will have to change our direction. Our enemies know where we are." She said. "After I tend to my friend's injuries, we will decide our new route."
"As you say." The soldier bowed and left.
"Where are we going?" Bofer asked as they continued their trek to the damaged cart.
"I don't know but they obviously know our route as the scout's report wanted us to continue in our current direction." Siren said thoughtfully.
"Which means we shouldn't." Bofer added.
"Exactly. But how do we let them know our plans without alerting the enemy?" She wondered.
"Leave that to Bofer." Bofer said smugly.
Siren nodded grimly as the reached the cart. "But first let's get you bandaged."
0o0
Another larger regiment of soldiers traveling towards Provdencia moved silently along a different path from Siren and Bofer's group.
Reselda's head nodded as the rocking motion of the horse was lulling her to sleep.
"You need to stay awake, Princess." Conrad said.
"I know." Reselda said tersely, embarrassed at being caught.
"I understand you are tired. Perhaps we can pass the time talking about how we got into magic." Conrad suggested.
Reselda agreed. "So how did you get into magic?"
"You first." He offered.
"There's nothing much to tell. My father did not approve of me learning any sorcery but there was an old lady who lived in the outer courts who knew about medicinal herbs and some healing magic." She shrugged.
"But you also know some defensive magic." He pointed out.
"What? No, I don't know any." She said.
"You knew about levitation exercises for stamina." Conrad reminded her.
"Oh that. Well, those are good for building any type of magic." She said.
"Perhaps." Conrad answered.
"What are you getting at?" She asked giving him a sideways glance.
"You seem convinced that you can use the orbs against the Baratrum. Unless you have training in anything other than healing arts, I highly doubt you will be able to use the orbs in any meaningful way." He said matter-of-factly.
Reselda's hand went to her pouch to make sure the orbs were still there. "You're very observant, aren't you? You are right, of course. I did learn other arts but I had to do it secretly. It was difficult to find a place to practice so I'm not very good."
"And you think you can take on the leader of Baratrum by yourself?" He asked.
"I don't know. But I can't stand by and let them destroy my home." She said fiercely.
"As it seems my brother has offered our services, I think it's my turn to teach you some offensive magic." Conrad said.
Reselda looked at him in surprise. "Teach me? I thought you couldn't do much magic."
"I have studied several years to be a sorcerer but had to take care of my brother when our parents passed. I spent many moonlit nights reading my spell books while watching the sheep. I didn't have much time to practice." He said without bitterness.
"What can you teach me?" She asked.
"Elemental spells like fire." He suggested.
"That could be useful." She said thoughtfully.
"Does that mean you want to learn? We can practice together." He said.
"Yes." Reselda sat up straighter, wide awake now.
"First concentrate on the warmth of your hand." He instructed.
They passed the time trying to help her conjure fire. The most she could manage was a little smoke.
"I guess I'm going to have to practice more." She sighed.
"Don't give up. It was difficult for me at first." Conrad encouraged her.
A commotion in the front of the regiment made Reselda and Conrad stiffen.
"What's going on?" Reselda asked nervously.
"Stay here. I'll go check." Conrad galloped to the front.
Reselda waited, her hand clutching her pouch and a knot forming in her stomach.
Conrad rode back a few minutes later. "It was nothing. Just some branches in our way."
Reselda relaxed. "I suppose this has made us very on edge."
"And we have every right to be." Conrad said. "We have been attacked at every turn."
Reselda silently agreed. In the distant she could see the faint glow of the day beginning.
"We're almost there." She noted. "We will be in Provdencia before the sun is mid sky."
"Don't worry. The cloaking spell given by Siren should keep us invisible to the naked eye." Conrad reassured her.
"But not for long. The tracking wraiths will be attracted to the magic of the orbs. I hope Senarius and Roy gets here soon." She fretted.
Just as she finished, a sudden gust of blew around them. There was a faint sound of yelling. A minute later a blur stopped in the midst.
"Senarius?" Reselda gasped.
"Roy?" Conrad frowned.
"Hey what about me?" Nachum grumbled falling and clutching the floor. "Thank the stars, solid ground!"
Roy changed back and fell to the floor as well. "That was a wild ride."
Senarius calmly dismounted as Reselda met him.
"I bought help." He said motioning to the lights that changed to the wizard forms.
"At your service." The master bowed.
"Then we're ready." She said.
"Yes, once we meet up with Siren and Bofer." Senarius said. "And hopefully the scouts will have news."
He looked at the sky. "Attacking at the first light is no longer an option. We have to modify our plans."
"Again?" Roy groaned. "I say we run in and show them who's boss."
"I like that plan. " Tribus grinned.
"And we're all likely going to get killed." Duo scoffed.
"Meanwhile, let's keep moving." Senarius ordered his troops.
Reselda was still nervous but with so many allies, she felt better about their chances. She clenched her fists in determination. They will beat back the forces of Baratrum or die trying.
Happy Memorial Day! I'm trying to finish this honest. I have a destination but it's hard to find time to write. Things have gotten considerably worse and better at the same time. Don't worry it'll get done. Pinky promise.
