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The Oasis needed all of us.
“Azalea,” I said. “I’ve never fought something like this.”
She glanced over. “Stay close.”
Suddenly, the wind rushed past and the keening that had sounded far away before increased in volume. Winged beasts swarming with shadows, and indistinguishable features, descended from everywhere. The horse reared up, almost tossing us. Lark yanked on the reins, attempting to control the horse from retreating, but the creatures speeding toward us were making the horses neigh and pull against the reins.
“Leave the horses,” Acaden said, jumping off his mount.
Lark dismounted first, then grabbed me, keeping me by his side. Azalea walked in front as if she was going to shield us from those creatures. She shifted her right foot back and held up her arms.
“When they get close, release all of your power,” she said to me.
I positioned myself the same as she did, raising my arms, which still burned and throbbed. If only light magic could actually heal . . .
It was im possible to count how many darkthings swirled in that mass. It looked like smoke going through a storm, in and out like a school of fish, the size impossible to detect due to all the movement. Were there a bunch of large ones or thousands of little ones? I really hoped for the latter because fighting ten creatures was a lot easier than fighting hundreds.
Azalea blasted a beam of light forward, slashing into the oncoming swarm and parting the black mass. The creatures broke off in two different directions. Black shapes fell to the ground and the keening sound increased. I aimed for the swarm heading on our right, trying to shoot at anything moving. They almost looked like bats, but bigger and with no faces, just wide-open mouths, no eyes, no nose, just a black shadow.
Lark raised his sword and swung at the three that slammed into him. He viciously sliced into the creatures and ichor sprayed across the grass and then ten more came.
Then twenty.
Then thirty.
I called my power to my hands, trying to mimic Azalea’s movements, shooting rays of light out in different directions. Something slammed into my right side, and I flew back. I hit my head on the ground hard, my vision swaying for a moment. Before I could react or defend myself, a darkthing landed on top of me. Sharp talons scraped down my arms. Another shadow at my neck.
Focusing, I imagined the light everywhere on my body, hoping it could shield me. The creatures swarming, dodged off for a second, but more came. Empty mouths snapped at me. Talons broke through the light shield, scratching and ripping my dress. Screaming, I sent my light into their darkness, disintegrating the few my magic touched.
Wings, claws, and shadows blocked my sight. I kept my mouth closed as something cold and suffocating tried to force its way into my nose. It slipped through and I gagged, my breath leaving my lungs.
Rays of light shot at the darkthings on me, and they screeched off, some bursting into wisps of ash.
“Take her out of here!” Azalea screamed. “She’s not ready for this.”
I started to protest to say that I was doing my best and I would try harder, but the strange smoke in my throat stifled my words.
Darts of light broke through the creatures who frenzied near me. I coughed, grabbing my chest, the odd feeling gone.
“Get her out of here! I will not be responsible for the princess’ death,” Azalea said.
“I’m not leaving you,” Lark growled.
Azalea looked back, one hand forward, cradling a sword of light as she slashed through the swarm again. “Do as I say. That’s an order.”
He scowled at me, clearly angry he was being forced to leave. “Let’s go.”
I grabbed his hand as he helped me stand and then he took one of my arms, bent down, lifted me, and draped me over his shoulders. “As soon as I get her to safety, I’m coming back.”
Acaden nodded. “Be safe, brother.”
“I can fight. I’m not helpless. You need me,” I yelled as Lark began running.
Azalea didn’t turn back, but she screamed, “Sorry, Princess. Right now you’re a liability. Lark will keep you safe and maybe even entertained.”
She laughed as if any sane person could joke in this situation. With a sword of light in her hands, she swung that magical beam in an arc, destroying the monsters, but with each fallen darkthing, another replaced it. Acaden danced around her, his blade moving so fast, I couldn’t follow the movements.
Lark ran, faster than it seemed possible with me over his shoulders. The two fae fighting disappeared from my sight as Lark headed up the hill and into the heart of the island. The jostling made my head spin and if I bounced around anymore . . .
