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“Gold and magic from other domains. Erishkigal had rattled the balance, and we are glad to take advantage of that.”
“The changes in the atmosphere? You had felt them, have you not? The Ninurta rises because of Erishkigal’s fall.”
Of course! There were two factions. One faction was brainwashed into believing they were helping the people against the fire stealers and the Ninurta. The other faction uses the Ninurta, a mindless, starving god. The second group had the god enthralled. It would have gobbled up everything if it was working on its own, but someone had been using it like a puppet on a string. Someone should defeat the second faction without releasing the Ninurta.
But how?
Could Rowan have been playing a crucial role in controlling the Ninurta? Was his power the one that burned her?
I was glad that I was dealing with an arrogant witch who was proud to reveal her secrets. It was too much. Samara thought it was too much, as well. She leaped from where she was and shoved a dagger right into the air witch’s throat. She pushed it deeper in and twisted it as the witch’s mouth gurgled out blood. Her men lunged forward to mine, and a chaotic fight ensued.
We trained to expect a fight at any time. So, my men were ready with their swords, clashing with the Touch. The Touch needed to hold on to each other to be strong. Therefore, some of them had to press together for warmth. Then, they started releasing little balls of fire aimed at my men. I shook my head in amusement. So, everything was about fire nowadays.
Leevar was wise enough to run outside the palace. His men followed him. The men of the Touch also followed, laughing at the retreat. I knew what Leevar was thinking. He would not stay there and burn the whole palace down.
I was left inside with Samara and the air witch. I went to the Seer and grabbed her by her shoulders.
“She is dead. Let her go!”
“That witch is a shame to my family’s birth continent,” she grounded.
I looked down on the dead witch. Blood pooled under her neck and past her head. Her eyes were still eerily open, and her mouth formed a surprised O. I bent to close both her eyelids and mouth. I was surprised that she was down too quickly. She was talking too damn much.
“Let us help the others,” I beckoned to Samara. Then, I sprinted outside. She followed, running right behind me.
I took out my sword from its sheath, ready to fight anyone who came my way. One Touch warlock ran towards me with his sword on the ready. He slashed it, aiming for my neck, but I was able to step backward. I worked my sword, going for his side. He hopped to one side. For a while, we matched each other’s slices with a parry. He became impatient and took a stab at my chest, but I slid to one side. Then, I dropped to my knees and took a slice at his shin, tearing the sword’s tip past his thick trousers. He howled in agony. As he was hopping about, I gave him some time to recuperate when I could have already finished him. He was already weak, though. So, it did not take long for me to slice at his head.
There were cheers from my men. It was a victory. After the Seers’ Village massacre, it only served to even things out. However, we knew that something worse could come. With the Ninurta controlled by the members of the Touch, it was almost uncertain what defeating our enemies could do.
While fire blazed in the courtyard, I spied the dark clouds that suddenly appeared over Arrowspear. It must have gathered while we were fighting. Towards the north, I could see that the sea was angry. Would the Ninurta attack soon after some of the Touch had been defeated? Over the angry sea was a ship. It looked like it was being swayed from side to side. The sail had a red crown over blue background – fire over water.
No.
“Do you see that?” I shouted at Emir, who jogged towards me. There was still blood splatter on his face and all over his tunic.
“Yes. I see a ship, Your Majesty.”
She could not possibly be coming home at a time like this.
Luella.
Then, I thought of my little sister. Arrowspear was the last place the two of them should be, but I knew in my heart that both of them were there in the ship headed straight for us.
Rain poured, heavy and angry, over us, cleansing some of the blood spilled over the courtyard. The flames still swallowed the palm trees. I guessed we needed to redecorate. Otherwise, all was well. We had defeated the first surge of the Touch. The air witch, however, was nothing more than an arrogant messenger. Something or someone bigger was still hidden from us.
“Your Majesty,” Samara called, her hair plastered on her face, but she did not care. “I read the witch’s thoughts.”
“Do you still need to read her thoughts? She had betrayed the Touch with her mouth alone,” I commented drily.
“True enough. However, the Touch is in league with some royal humans. They plan to get magic and gold from the – from the -,” Samara’s eyes looked pleading.
“Go on. I believe you. I will believe whatever it is you will say.”
“From fairies,” she croaked weakly.
“Fairies? Little things with wings?” I chuckled. She was right to hesitate. What she said amused me. The fact that we were discussing these things in the pouring rain was even more amusing. Seeing my men watching us and getting drenched also triggered something in me.
“I knew you would find it funny, but they are real. These cruel witches and men will be using the Ninurta to control everyone else’s powers while they mine fairy powers.”
I sighed heavily. At that point, I was willing to believe anything. I only wanted to end the Touch without releasing the Ninurta. Again, it was all about balance. I snapped myself out of my inexcusable behavior.
“Apologies, Samara. I am a mere farmer. The thought of fairies being the core of something so large tickles me,” I said. Then I turned to the sea. “Where is the ship now?”
“It should have reached the shore,” Leevar grunted. He was wounded. His hand held his arm. I saw Samara go to him to tend to his wound, and I smiled. At least, some good things were coming out of all this, I thought. The rain took out most of the flames. Then, I took in the heat with one hand extended to the palm trees. When I closed my fist, the fire was extinguished.
“Metheus! Thank the gods and goddesses, and you are alright!”
I turned.
Luella. She stood there, drenched in the rain and dragging a piece of small luggage, and yet she was still the loveliest woman I had ever seen
