Chapter 67 Battle Strategy
Elara's POV
"THEY'RE TARGETING THE CHILDREN!" I screamed at Thorne. "We have to warn Drakon! Now!"
Thorne grabbed my shoulders. "Are you certain? If you're wrong..."
"I'm not wrong! That signal, it's the one Queen Morgana uses when she's about to deploy her personal guard. The deadliest magic users. They're heading for the tower right now!"
"Why would she target children? That's..."
"Because she's evil! Because she wants to break Drakon's spirit! Because killing innocents is how she destroys hope!" I pulled away from him. "We're wasting time! Lily is up there! All those children are up there!"
Thorne pulled out a signal flare. Shot it into the sky. Red and gold. The emergency code.
Drakon saw it immediately. Flew toward us in dragon form.
He transformed mid-landing. "What's wrong?"
"Queen Morgana is sending her elite magic users to the children's tower," I said rapidly. "They'll be there in minutes. Maybe less."
"How do you know?"
"The signal. The formation. The way her personal guard is moving." I pointed at the enemy lines. "See those figures in black? Those are her deadliest mages. They're breaking away from the main force. Heading east. Toward the tower."
Drakon looked. Saw what I was describing. His face went pale.
"Lily," he whispered.
"And fifty other children," Thorne added. "We evacuated them there because it was supposed to be the safest place."
"It was safe from soldiers," I said. "But not from magic users who can teleport or fly or walk through walls."
"Can we get there in time?" Drakon asked.
I studied the enemy movements. Calculated distances. "If you fly at top speed, maybe. But they have a head start. And they're using magic to move faster."
"Then I'll fly faster." Drakon started to transform.
"Wait!" I grabbed his arm. "You can't go alone. Queen Morgana's elite mages are too powerful. They'll kill you before you can save anyone."
"Then what do you suggest?"
"A distraction. Something to slow them down. Make them think the tower is already protected." My mind raced. "If they believe you've set a trap there, they'll approach cautiously. That buys you time."
"How do we make them believe that?"
"I go to the tower. Openly. Loudly. Make them see me heading there." I looked at Drakon. "Queen Morgana wants me captured alive. If her mages see me at the tower, they'll try to take me first. That gives you time to evacuate the children."
"No," Drakon said flatly. "I'm not using you as bait."
"You're not using me. I'm volunteering."
"You'll die."
"Maybe. But Lily will live. The children will live. That's what matters."
"Elara..."
"This is my fault!" The words burst out. "These are my people attacking! The maps I drew! The information I gave! This entire invasion is happening because of me! Let me fix it! Let me save at least some of the people I've condemned!"
Drakon stared at me. The golden thread between us pulsed painfully.
"She's right," Thorne said quietly. "It's our best chance. Our only chance."
"I hate this plan," Drakon growled.
"So do I," I admitted. "But it'll work. I know Queen Morgana. She'll take the bait."
"How will you survive until we evacuate the children?"
"I'll figure something out. I always do."
"That's not reassuring."
"It's all I've got."
Drakon grabbed my face in both hands. Forced me to look at him. "Don't die. That's an order."
"I'll try my best."
"Not good enough. Promise me."
"I promise I'll do everything possible to survive." It was the most honest promise I could make.
He kissed my forehead. Quick. Desperate. "If you die, I'll never forgive you."
"Then I'd better live."
He released me. Transformed. Flew toward the tower with Thorne and five other dragons.
I ran the opposite direction. Toward the enemy mages. Toward danger.
"HEY!" I screamed at them. "I'M THE IMPOSTER! I'M THE ONE QUEEN MORGANA WANTS! COME GET ME!"
The black-robed mages stopped advancing toward the tower. Turned toward me.
Perfect. I had their attention.
Now I just had to keep it long enough for Drakon to save everyone.
Easy. Right?
The mages advanced. Dark magic swirled around their hands.
I ran toward the tower. Led them away from the main battle. Made myself an obvious, easy target.
One mage threw a spell at me. Dark energy that sizzled through the air.
I dodged. Barely. It hit the ground where I'd been standing. The stone melted.
"MISSED!" I taunted. Keep their attention. Keep them focused on me.
Another spell. This one faster.
I couldn't dodge this time. It hit my shoulder. Burned like acid. I screamed but kept running.
Almost to the tower. Almost there.
The mages were gaining. Getting closer.
I reached the tower door. Yanked it open. Slammed it behind me.
Inside, children huddled in fear. Lily among them. Guards protected them with drawn swords.
"EVACUATE!" I screamed. "NOW! Enemy mages are seconds behind me!"
The guards didn't question. Started herding children toward the back stairs. Toward the secret passages Drakon had told me about.
The tower door exploded. Dark magic blasted it to splinters.
Five black-robed mages entered. Slowly. Confidently.
"Hello, imposter," one said. "The queen has been looking for you."
I positioned myself between them and the fleeing children. "You'll have to go through me first."
"That won't be difficult."
They raised their hands. Magic built. Prepared to kill me.
I closed my eyes. Waited for death.
Then something impossible happened.
Golden light burst from my chest. Not from the bond. From me. From inside me.
The magic exploded outward. Hit the dark mages. Knocked them backward.
"What..." I stared at my hands. They glowed with soft golden energy.
"ELARA HAS MAGIC!" Lily screamed from the stairs. "I knew it! I knew you were special!"
"I don't have magic! I'm just a seamstress!"
"Your grandmother was of royal blood," one mage said, standing up. "Dormant magic sometimes manifests in descendants during extreme stress. How inconvenient."
He threw another spell. Stronger this time.
My golden light formed a shield automatically. Blocked the attack.
I didn't know how. Didn't know what I was doing. Just knew I had to protect the children.
Had to keep the mages busy until Drakon arrived.
"Is that all you've got?" I taunted, channeling every ounce of false bravery I could muster.
The lead mage smiled coldly. "Not even close."
All five mages attacked at once.
And I realized my new magic might not be enough to save me after all.