The Final Battle
The Final Battle
The image of Ayris’ body heaving with agony as his torturer applied the salve to his shredded back is so horrific that I feel I may vomit. I could almost feel his agony as the skin began to knit back together as they looked on – a knowing smile curving his lips as he knew they could begin again once he was sufficiently healed.
A sonorous scream erupts from my throat as I startle awake. My body heaves with exertion as strangled sobs racked my frame, the image so horrific that I had to clutch my chest as a retched.
Our party looks on, and Kel, Renys and even Nicolai come to my aid, trying their best to comfort me as I silently sob by the side of my bedroll. I cannot bear it. I know what I see when I close my eyes is the truth of Ayris’ condition, and no attempts of the others to suggest they may just be nightmares will dissuade me. It only feeds my anger.
I’m unsure what’s changed, aside from the passage of time, but my connection to Ayris grows stronger with each passing hour. The sinking feeling in the pit of my belly soon became nightmares – so vivid and harrowing I can barely catch my breath. But I now know beyond reasonable doubt that this was a vision – some new ability I’ve unlocked due to my continued magickal training with Renys, perhaps. He has been working tirelessly with me to help grow my fae abilities. Or maybe a symptom of mine and Ayris’ bond becoming stronger – or maybe both. Either way, I know what I’m seeing is real.
“I WASN’T EVEN ASLEEP!” I roar, as the others try to reassure me. But their attempts feel almost like gaslighting – do they really think I’d be so affected by a simple nightmare?
“I know I was awake!” I continue “I heard both of you arguing over there!” I gesture to where Renys and Kel had been standing moments before, and their expressions inform me that I’m right. Big fat tears roll down my face as the image of Ayris is burned in my brain.
“They’re torturing him, Kel” I whisper as I heave “His back is in ruins. And they keep applying something to knit it back together”.
A knowing look passes between Kel and Nicolai, the latter taking a sharp intake of breath.
“It’s true, isn’t it? You know what they’re doing to him, don’t you?” I cry, my cheeks sodden with tears.
“Moonroot” Kel whispers. The mere name like posion on his tongue. “It heals rapidly in shifters, but the knitting together of the flesh is agony. Most men are already unconscious and on the edge of death before moonroot would even be considered. It is scarce and known to be hell to endure. We would not use it unless the consequences were worse than the side effects...”
This revelation makes my stomach turn. Even whilst healing him they make him endure unspeakable torture, and for what? Me? Anger burns through my veins as I stand and walk beyond the clearing. I hear the others calling me back, but I can’t stop, I need a moment to think. I lean against a withered tree stump, tears streaming down my face and my hands trembling with fury. A screaming howl forces itself from my throat as I throw back my head and release every ounce of hurt, anger and fear coursing through me.
I barely notice the enormous glanwurm as it pauses mid slither to assess me. I’m so fueled by anger that the fear I once heard at the mere mention of it is no longer there. It raises its head, like a cobra assessing its prey. But I’m too infuriated to be intimidated right now.
“Oh go away!” I shout.
Its mouth hangs open, and I watch as its black eyes bore into me for a beat or two before it lowers its head and slinks away, It’s enormous body crushing the bracken that dares to mar its path.
Renys places a hand on my shoulder, and I notice the stunned expression on his face as he sees the tail of the glanwurm slithering away through the trees.
“Never in all twelve dynasties have I ever heard of anyone being able to compel the glanwurm...” His voice trails off as he quickly gathers himself.
I look up at him as he continues to watch the direction in which it went.
“You said the fae have the affinity for compulsion, didn’t you? ”.
Renys nods dumly. “I did, but never have I seen it done so adeptly by someone so young in their abilities, Laurel-
\-And to my certain knowledge nobody has ever been able to control the creatures of the Gloom. A rare few have the ability at crude communication, but...”
Some monsters require a master
The memory of the sea hag’s words play in my mind.
“We’re getting him back, Renys”
“We will, Laurel, we just need a little more time. The fae court should have received word from my messengers by now, we just need a little more time for our reinforcements to arrive-”
“No”. I hiss, anger still flowing through me.
“I’m getting him back tonight, either with your help or without it. I’m not waiting anymore”.
Renys sighs in pity. “I know this must be unimaginable for you, Laurel, but if we could just wait – we can continue your magickal training while we wait for fae reinforcements-”
“I’m getting him back tonight. If we wait any longer he might not make it out”.
Renys sighs and looks down at the ground. I know I sound irrational when we have reinforcements on the way, but I refuse to see Ayris suffer for another minute.
He takes my hand in his and tilts my chin up toward him.
“You are quite set on this path, aren’t you?”
I nod.
“And I suppose nothing I say will change your mind?”
I shake my head.
“Alright, little owl, what do you propose we do?”
“We storm the castle and get Ayris back”.
Renys cocks his head, his silken hair falling about his shoulders.
“With a party of six men and yourself?”
I grit my teeth in annoyance at how stupid he’s making it sound, but I nod again. He is not going to dissuade me.
“Very well, then. Let us head back to camp and you can share the good news”.
Once our party knew I was serious and would leave for the castle with or without their help they swiftly came around to my way of thinking. I know they think I’m not ready for this, but Renys has been training me whilst we waited for his men to return and I know I can do this.
“You said yourself that emotions can fuel my powers” I state, looking beyond the small copse of trees where the path to the castle lies.
“Nothing will give me more fuel than this” I feel tears welling in my eyes but I daren’t let them fall.
Renys says nothing but simply nods. After the vision I’ve just witnessed I think I could take down a thousand castles to get Ayris back.
“Emotions can make you rash” Kel speaks to my right. “Do not let this affect your judgement. You can’t afford to make any stupid mistakes”
“I believe in you, Short round, we all do” He gestures to the men all mounted atop their steeds who nod in agreement “But that doesn’t mean you can’t just as easily be run through by a sword. You have to let us do what we’re trained to do, alright?”
I sigh and nod in agreement. I know he’s right. I can’t risk hurting anyone by running straight into danger, but I know in my heart that we have to act now.
“Are we ready?” Nicolai asks, but one of Renys’ men shakes his head.
“Lenrick said he would signal once he heard any activity. We must wait. Timing will be crucial in order for this to work.
My body stays still atop Bess, even though everything inside me is screaming to plough on.
Just a little longer.
We stay hidden beneath the forest canopy; the gloom now behind us. The natural noises of rustling and movement seem alien to us after the eerie stillness to which we’d all become accustomed
Suddenly we hear the unmistakable sound of a horn blow.
“Now!” Kel shouts as he kicks his steed into gear, and we all take off into the night. Our mounts weave through the trees with agility, gracefully weaving through trees and bracken at our behest.
I dig deep inside myself, finding my little spark of power and tap into it as we run. I remember Renys’ teachings and allow all the anger and hurt to bubble up inside as my power begins to bubble over. The men gaze upwards as the sky rumbles above us, but the canopy of trees is too dense to make out anything clearly.
My power explodes with almighty force as Bess bursts through the tree line; the sky black as pitch as dark grey clouds roll over us. The heavens open as lightening cracks the sky – the brief flash of light is the only thing illuminating our path.
The thick fog and the storm provide the perfect cover as we plough toward the castle gates. I daren’t look behind us for fear that I’ve made a terrible mistake – that my plan hasn't worked as I’d hoped or that we had somehow gotten the timing wrong.
This HAS to work.
My pulse quickens, further fueling the bellowing thunder and lashing rainstorm as the castle gates come into view. I can feel my power simmering behind my eyes as I draw all my focus on the huge oak doors separating us from my mate.
You just have to get everyone beyond the castle walls.
I throw every shred of energy I possess at those gates. Our party gallops forwards, and I sense their tension as we draw closer, and nothing happens. The howling winds whip through us as the rain lashes our faces. But nothing happens.
“Laurel-”
Before Kel can even finish his admonishment, a bolt of lightning cracks the sky, so large and ferocious it looks as though it has split the sky completely in two. The gates implode; the barrier splintering completely in half and bursting into flame.
The shouts and whoops from the men riding beside me only fuels my fire as we burst though the castle gates.
Through the fog and hail, I hear Kel hailing his command.
Kel taps Nicolai on the shoulder, as all the men dismount with alarming speed, their orders unspoken, our orders given before we left.
Nicolai and the others head for the dungeons, whilst I stay between Renys and Kel. We bolt for the narrow stone steps that lead up to the battlements. I cast my eyes at the path we have just taken, but the fog is too thick.
However, it’s not long before the sounds below catch my ears. A hissing, screaming stampede of furious mantis burst through the now defunct castle gates; their pincers clacking wildly as they follow their prey.
Me.