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“It’s all a ruse.” The gruff, stumbling voice comes from the staircase above us as Lasta appears in the threshold.
“Whatever,” Lorelai says, walking forward without us. “You’re just mad that I got the kill.”
Zalith and I stare at each other, both of us shrugging, before we make pace to catch up with her, Lasta following closely behind us. I kick the dead soldier’s sword upward, catching it by the hilt.
The stone-floored halls open up into the grassy courtyard. A fountain that once stood as beautiful background noise is now dismantled and broken on the grounds of the castle gardens. The head and arm of the statue that once adorned the fountain have fallen off and shattered, the water flow disrupted by an unknown source.
Flaming arrows fly through the air, crashing into walls and igniting bushes in the courtyard. The equu of Kriseri’s soldiers charge forward and whinny, as their riders swing frantically with tridents, knocking over our guards and soldiers with their mounts and weapons.
We stride forward carefully, trying to watch ahead of ourselves and behind us simultaneously. Zalith stills his sword, ready to attack but not charging in. Lasta strings arrows from behind us, firing into the crowd ahead. And Lorelai easily dispatches enemies with her fireballs.
“I’m glad she’s on our side,” Lasta says, chuckling. I think back to moments ago when he threatened to kill her if it came to it, and my fists clench.
He was just upholding his duty,I think to myself.
But my momentary mental frustration creates temporary blindness.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see sudden movement advancing toward Lorelai. One of Kriseri’s men charges forward toward her, sword drawn and ready to swipe her down. I parry before overpowering him and knocking his sword out of his hand.
I can feel myself trembling, my teeth gritting together as I drive my sword into his shoulder and cleave with all of my force. Then I bludgeon him with my blade, with my hilt, and with every bit of energy left in me, screaming.
I guess now I have an inkling of what she felt.
My breathing is heavy, my heart beating fast.
“I could have gotten that, you know,” Lorelai says, glancing down at the butchered mess on the ground.
I recognize her attempt to add levity to the situation, but I shake my head. “Don’t,” I say, before moving in to embrace her.
Lasta charges forward, dispatching enemies ahead of him, firing left and right. He’s a force of nature, shooting arrows into the chests of mounted combatants and knocking them onto the ground.
“After all that,” I whisper to her as I bring her in. “I can’t lose you.”
She nods. “I understand that,” she says, whirling around nervously. “But we’re kind of in a tense situation right now.”
I shake my head, then move in to kiss her, gripping her tightly.
I want to close my eyes and hold her forever. I wish that this was all a dream and that we weren’t on a battlefield fighting for our lives. The sounds of swords swinging into tridents, of arrows swooshing in the wind, of small roaring fires that need to be put out, and of equu neighing and grunting, all fill my ears.
I open my eyes, and I’m drawn immediately back into life, taking in the devastation before me and the beauty and innocence of Lorelai’s delicate gaze and puckered lips.
Immediately, I hear the screaming of a charging soldier. Even before I can react, Lasta fires an arrow, which collides with a naga behind me. I turn around in time to see the soldier fall to the ground, an arrow lodged in his chest.
“Don’t get too careless now,” Lasta says. “We need to all get out of this invasion alive.”
He’s stolen one of Kriseri’s equu and perches atop it, bow at the ready.
I find Zalith far to my right, clinging tightly to one of the courtyard walls. But he’s not alone.
An extremely pregnant Aurora stands firmly erect, arms folded in front of him. I can piece together the conversation from their body language, though it’s impossible to hear them over the soundtrack of a raging war.
“I want to fight,” I think I hear her say. “This is my home, too.”
He shakes his head. “I can’t lose both of you,” he probably says. “I can’t explain right now, but I’ve been through enough today. And you mean more than anything.”
But she doesn’t give, and eventually, he buckles, his shoulders falling while her feet trod forward into the conflict.
I realize that my feet have been moving on their own, as I’ve been following Lorelai toward the castle walls. She is observing the couple, also, and I wonder if the same thoughts are running through her mind… whether we should be having the same conversation.
