Chapter 18
Beth Harding was not a fighter; she was, however, an excellent sneak. As a child, she could scale the wilbrourgh tree in town that crossed over to Mr. Hunt's blueberry patch and have half the row gone before even his blood hound figured something was amiss. The skill had served her well as she made a more than proficient scout, able to blend with her surroundings and move almost silently in all environments.
But now as she ran towards the shouting and screams of her comrades, she wished she had paid a bit more attention during the self-defense lessons. She met up with Finch, another scout, as they raced over the snow.
"Jacob! What is it?" she shouted, waving to get his attention.
"Those bloody rock goblins! Looks like they were just waiting for the last of the Royals to show up. "
"Rest of the royals? Princess Dorthea? She's here?"
"And Azkadellia. Arrived last night apparently."
"Shit. Are we sure she's on our side?"
Jacob shrugged, "We'll find out soon enough I suppose."
As they crested the top of a hill shielding them from most of the fighting, Harding could feel the hair on her arms stand up; a charge was in the air and it practically crackled at her ears. Though she didn't slow her pace, she felt suddenly ill. The last time she felt such a sensation was the last time she saw her older brother just after he screamed at her to run away and not look back.
Magic. Shit.
"Watch it!" she heard Jacob shout as a boulder went flying just to their left, the edge of it just barely clipping her shoulder. The strike was enough to throw her off balance and she tumbled down the hill, landing hard on her stomach. Breath knocked out of her, Harding lifted her face out of the snow, trying to breathe.
Totally fine. Didn't need that rib. Shit. Or that one.
She forced herself to her knees and took in the field while she caught her breath. She felt a hand clasp her upper arm, pulling her to her feet. She sucked in a deep breath as her broken ribs pulled apart with the action.
"You okay?" asked Jacob, helping her plant her feet. Harding nodded and slapped him on the back to get him moving. They ran towards the thickest fighting, ready to aid their friends. As they entered the fray, she felt this heavy thud at her feet and looked to see a gnome's hand pressed flat underneath her, as if smushed against glass.
"It's a shield!" she heard a voice she recognized as Commander Bowen's say, "The princesses's work so they can't drag us below."
So that's why they asked for all of the boots last night. They're all enchanted.
The Commander was just pulling his sword out of the belly of a gnome, using his foot to send it falling to the ground.
"Use you knife, shove it right in between the plates, and up."
He clasped her shoulder before heading further towards the front lines. She managed to fell two gnomes before another tackled her, sending her sprawled onto her back, her knife flying away from her hand. The foul creature slashed at her face before wrapping its hands around her throat and squeezing. She could feel the points of its fingers cutting into her flesh and she swung and bucked wildly, trying to throw it off. The edges of her vision were starting to black when the gnome was suddenly sent flying and skidded across the snow where it laid, unmoving and lifeless.
Harding gasped and choked, filling her lungs with air and trying to ignore the excruciating pain in her side. When her vision cleared, she saw a well-manicured hand reach down to help her up. She followed the arm and couldn't help the terrified shriek she let out when she recognized the face of Princess Azkadellia. She looked so different from the last time Beth had seen her... her hair was lighter, make up less severe, and clothes much more demure... but she could never forget that face.
"On your feet now, come on!" the princess said encouragingly, clasping her hand and pulling her upright. Azkadellia gave her a once over.
"Take a minute then back to it." she said then headed back towards the fighting. Harding was still too stunned to move, and watched as the crown princess slashed her arm violently through the air and sent three enemies bouncing forcefully off a rock face. Captain Bowen intercepted a gnome charging at her back, sword throwing sparks as it connected with the stone on the creature's chest. Azkadellia jumped at the nearness of the action before sending the would be assassin skidding across the snow. Something flickered in Harding's peripheral vision and she felt like laughing hysterically.
We're being attacked by rocks and I was just saved by the Sorceress, evil incarnate. And was that a mobat biting that gnome's head?
She spotted Princess Dorthea at the very front of the line, General Cain at her side, both practically swarmed with enemies. The princess was intercepting the multiple boulders being tossed their way, using the momentum to swing them round back at the enemy. The General moved around her, his shooter firing head shots and knife flashing, an ever spreading dark blue stain arching around them. A gnome had yet to lay a finger on her.
A sudden violent shaking of the ground sent Harding sprawling again and she clutched at her broken ribs. The remaining gnomes disappeared into the ground, leaving their combatants bewildered. The sound of snapping tree trunks could be heard in the distance along with an ever rising rumble.
"DG!" Princess Azkadellia shouted, pointing up towards the mountains, "It's an avalanche! They're trying to bury us!"
She held out her hand towards her sister who sprinted to her side. Commander Bowen tried to pull Azkadellia back but she yanked her arm free and ran even further to meet the now near deafening roar of approaching snow. He tried to pursue them but Cain placed a firm hand on his shoulder, shaking his head. The massive avalanche breached the rocks and came barreling towards the encampment just as the sisters met and clasped their hands. Harding scrambled backwards on her hands and feet, every instinct telling her to run. The snow broke in front of them, a blindingly white wave against a golden barrier, shooting high over their heads before parting to flow around them. After what seemed like an eternity, the deluge calmed to a trickle.
Harding watched as the youngest princess pumped her fist in air and shouted "Who's the igneous now, huh?"
She turned to her sister who just shook her head, unimpressed.
"Igneous… Az, it's a rock joke. Oh come on, that's funny."
"DG, that doesn't even make any sense..."
"Igneous... kinda like ignoramus..."
"That's not even close to the.."
Harding jumped as a soft weight landed on her knees and Kong stared at her, eyes curious. She sucked in a deep breath to scream, jarring her ribs once more, and sent her side into excruciating spasms.
And this time, she gave herself permission to pass out.