The sounds of battle that I had been dimly aware of ceased completely, and all five ghouls began to retreat.
Have we won?
The creatures gathered together, back where they had been ensnared by the boundaries. Their eyes were full of malice—taunting, waiting. I risked a glance at Memenion and our eyes met for the briefest second, his as confused and wary as mine. All five of us readied our weapons. For a few moments all I could hear was the collective panting of us all and my own, erratic heartbeat.
They’re regrouping.
The second the realization hit me, the group of ghouls all shrieked, flocking toward King Thraxus. He had been as poised and ready as the rest of us, but I could see instantly that the attack had caught him off guard. He had expected one ghoul, not all five of them. He cried out in surprise. I ran toward him.
It was too late.
The ghouls fell upon his body, knocking him backward. I heard the heavy, wet tear of flesh, and then looked away briefly as the claws dug into the contents of King Thraxus’s stomach.
The next moment, mayhem ensured. The remaining contenders leapt toward the feasting ghouls. My sword came into contact with another limb, and as it reeled back in agony, Queen Trina plunged her dagger into its neck, slicing cleanly through the flesh. It rolled off, and she went to work dismembering the rest of its parts. No sooner was one dispatched than another groped at my leg, its claws catching in the leather of my boots. I kicked it, plunging my sword downward, but it was too quick, zooming away from the blade.
There were only four left, but they seemed to be everywhere at once. Another came toward me from the side. It was unexpected—I was watching the advance of another, and swung around just in time to see the creature sliced in half. Memenion smiled grimly at me.
I took the opportunity to glance over at the Impartial Ministers. They looked terrified. Clearly something had gone very, very wrong here. They were focused on the ghouls, clearly trying to control the creatures with their minds—but it wasn’t working.
Two of the ghouls were focused entirely on Queen Trina and Memenion. I plunged my sword in the back of the ghoul whose claws were in the king. It shrieked, falling back onto the ground. Together we finished the job, dismembering the body parts.
“Give us back our powers!” Memenion roared at the trembling ministers.
“You had no right!” Queen Trina screamed as she fought one of the ghouls. “End this now—give us back our powers!”
The Impartial Ministers responded with silence.
I lopped off another part of the ghoul’s limb, and Memenion did the same.
No sooner had we finished I heard the bellow of King Hadalix. I spun around to see one of the ghouls right in front of me. Before I could react, its claws ripped across my chest, carving deep lacerations in my flesh.
The sensation was agonizing. Any power or energy I had left seemed to be sucked out at the ghoul’s touch. My vision blurred, and I stumbled forward, sinking my sword into the ghoul and then releasing the hilt. As I came crashing toward the ground, I saw Hadalix finishing off the job I’d started.
Hazel.
Her clear eyes flickered in my vision before the grey swirls consumed me completely.
“King Tejus, King Tejus…he’s not responding.”
I heard the voice of a sentry, as if from a distance. My head felt like it was a million miles from my body, my mouth dry and arid. Slowly I came to. It was still dark, and the mists enveloped the Impartial Minister who was peering down at me, his eyes full of concern.
Too late for your concern, I thought bitterly as the memories of the battle with the ghouls came flooding back.
“Irresponsible! Foolhardy! Never in my life have I been at the mercy of a group of such inept…” I could hear King Memenion ranting and raving, and smiled in a wry amusement. At least he was saving me the bother—I hardly had the effort to stand, let alone unleash the anger I felt toward the ministers and their actions.
“Get out of the way!”
The Impartial Minister was knocked sideways, and Memenion’s furious face appeared in my line of vision.
“Tejus, can you stand?” he asked.
I nodded.
“How many dead?” I muttered.
“Just Thraxus. Hadalix is wounded—he’s already been carted off to the other side of the ridge. We need to get you out of here too.”
I nodded, groaning as shards of ice seemed to penetrate my skull. Memenion offered me his arm, and I took hold of it, allowing the king’s weight to ground me as I raised myself off the floor.
“Our powers?” I asked.
“Back—though yours won’t be much good for a while. You need to rest,” Memenion ordered.
I looked down at my chest. My shirt had been removed, and the wounds bound with its torn fabric. Blood had already soaked through them. I felt light-headed and weak, a position I couldn’t afford to be in right now—not when my kingdom and the rest of Nevertide was in danger.