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The shade stone necklace is concealed beneath Brovyn’s tunic but the Wraiths must be able to sense its powerful magic because they all gather at the front lines, a swarming mass of evil practically foaming at the mouth to reach him.
Three of the Mages aim their staffs at them. The stone at the top glowing brightly as they use their powers. This is good. Only the control of the Mages holds them back. With them, they will be feral mindless beings, easier to pick off.
“Is this the one you were looking for?” King Davin asks. “The Princess Freyja of Ruhaen?”
“Give her to us,” one of the Mages hisses. “Now.”
“I will, but you must meet me halfway and no tricks, you understand? Each of you must make and abide by this agreement,” he says, making sure to cast a wary glance at them. “Once you have her, you leave my kingdom and you do not come back. Do we have a deal?”
The Mages turn to each other. I’m sure they will say anything he wants to hear just so he’ll hand me over. And once it’s done, they’ll unleash Ruhaen’s army and the Wraiths to attack.
Aurdyn was not sure it would work, but King Davin said he was certain they’d fall for this trick. He said everyone underestimates Dwarves, much to their detriment.
His words repeat in my mind.
“They believe we are slow,” he’d said, casting an irritated glance at Aurdyn. “But we are good fighters, and we are cleverer than most.”
“Deal,” one of them answers. They look between each other once more and then steer their horses toward the middle of the clearing as King Davin drags Brovyn toward them.
Brovyn fights against his bindings, shouting at the Dwarves and cursing them to the seven hells for their betrayal. I just pray the magic of the shade stone holds long enough for this to work. If it doesn’t, he’ll have little time to get King Davin out of there so they can escape.
The Mages are nearly at the halfway mark when the false image of me flickers.
“What is this treachery?” one of the Mages cries out, raising his staff to attack.
In one swift motion, Brovyn explodes into his Dragon form and grabs King Davin. He releases a stream of flame at the Mages, beating his wings furiously as he lifts off from the ice.
They repel his attack easily and I watch in horror as one waves his staff at the Wraith and they rush toward Brovyn.
Lightning fast, Aurdyn’s tail grips my waist, setting me on his back, and we dive toward the clearing below, coming up behind the Mages, along with the rest of our warriors.
Aurdyn releases a stream of flame between the Mages and Ruhaen’s army, cutting them off from each other.
But that does little to stop the Wraiths as they fly amongst the Dwarves, ripping into them with fangs and claws. I watch in horror as their axes and swords bounce harmlessly off the Wraiths, and I realize the Mages have shielded them with magic.
Three of the Mages focus their powers on the Dragons flying overhead, sending lightning bolts of devastating magic to our warriors.
One of them falls, slamming hard on the snow and ice. Three others go to his aid, gathering him up and flying him behind the Dwarf lines where one of our Healers awaits.
Aurdyn and several of our warriors concentrate their fire on the Mages, but they surround themselves with powerful shields that deflect the flames before sending out more destructive power and hitting a dozen more Dragons.
The Dragons make several low passes over the ice, trying to melt it, but the Mages realize their plan and cast a shield to repel the fire.
It’s chaos beneath us as the Dwarves fight like demons against the Wraiths and the Dragons roar in anger as they focus on attacking the Mages and the Wraiths.
Arrows whistle through the air, as Ruhaen’s archers try to weaken our defenses.
These arrows do nothing against Dragons, but as they fly toward the Dwarves, I realize they are completely vulnerable, most of them unaware of what is coming as they struggle to fight off the Wraiths.
Lightning fast, I call upon my magic, sending a shield of fire above the dwarven army. It arcs across the sky in a brilliant display of flame, incinerating the arrows before they can land.
Several of the Dwarves turn, along with the Mages toward me and Aurdyn. And I watch in horror as three of the Mages aim their staffs at us, sending bolts of red magic flying toward us so fast, I’m barely able to raise my shield in time to protect us.
The devastating power bounces harmlessly off the fire shield, and I struggle to hold it in place as they attack again.
Trian’s warning echoes in my mind.If I use too much power, I will die.
Aurdyn releases a battle cry in the language of his people and several of them break off and head for the Mages, raining down streams of heavy fire that forces them to shield themselves and halt their attacks on me.
