Entwined Realms Volume One(54)

“Let’s get out of here.”

Laire shook her head, looking up to the sky. “Magic barrier, which means they have a mage and there is no flying out of here.”

Fallon turned to the elf. “Ais-”

Before Fallon could finish, Aislynn ran past them toward a large outcropping of rocks, jumping onto the largest of them with a grace and an athleticism no human could ever match. She peered into the dark, the full moon only giving a little help in illuminating their surroundings. Within seconds she called down, “Direwolves, ridden by goblins. We have a battalion of them coming fast. I see bows, so expect to become target practice.”

“Ais, a volley as soon as they’re in range.” Aislynn must have been expecting this order, because even before Fallon stopped talking she threw her cloak off, revealing a bow and a quiver of arrows. She grabbed the bow and an arrow, putting them together and getting into a firing position, all with such speed that Larissa couldn’t tell what was happening as it occurred, only filling in the blanks once Aislynn was still and prepared for battle.

Fallon turned to Laire. “Why didn’t they arrive closer to us? Why that far away?”

Laire twirled a finger around a curl of blue hair. “Don’t know. It would be impossible to teleport that many with pinpoint accuracy, but they should have gotten closer than what they are.”

“Maybe there is something wrong with their mage, or maybe they only have a wizard. Any feel on what we’re dealing with?”

Laire’s eyes…swirled. There was no other word to explain it. Her eyes lost color and iris and became a violent mass of movement. “Defensive magic specialist. And yes, only a wizard. Male. And young. Each of them has a personal shield spell, so Ais’s arrows won’t do jack and damage will be minimal until it’s dispelled.” Her lips tightened, hard anger on her face. “Who do they think I am, sending a pansy-ass like that against me?”

Fallon patted Laire’s shoulder, a there-there motion. “I don’t think they knew we’d be waiting when they prepared this trap. But for you, we’ll send his head back to them with a note to not insult you again. Does that make you feel better?”

Laire gave a long, theatrical sigh. “I don’t know, maybe.”

“Think on it.” Fallon turned, the full weight of her gaze back on Larissa. “We have a battalion of direwolves – and a wizard – running around the exact area you are in. Care to reassess that whole I don’t know what you’re talking about line of crap?”

They deserved something. She wasn’t sure of their exact motives and didn’t fully trust them, but they were about to fight to save her life. “I don’t know why they are after me. If I ever find out I will tell you, but right now I do not know.”

Fallon’s one eyebrow arched, the swift look of surprise crossing her face before it morphed into a speculative cast. She turned to Laire, who shrugged and said, “I believe her.”

“Hell of it is, I believe her too.” Fallon drew a deep breath. “We found the ward that allowed the orcs and zombies to get in. It was set by a powerful wizard who has since disappeared. He was thought to be above reproach, so the standard triple-check wasn’t done. Of course, that doesn’t explain how you’ve gotten into the city,” Fallon finished, giving Terak a pointed glare.

“No, it doesn’t,” he agreed, and said nothing more.

Fallon unsheathed her massive sword, a faint glow coming from under her coat, no doubt that same scrolling that Larissa beheld that first night. “Well Gargoyle, do we fight each other, or do we fight what is coming to meet us?”

“This night I will fight at your side.” Terak turned to Larissa. “Stay near the mage. She will protect you.”

He was a great warrior. She had seen it herself. That didn’t change this hollow ache inside her. It was unnecessary, but she had to say it. She had to know she said it, a charm that would protect him. It had to. “Terak, be careful.”

“I will be.” He gently pushed her toward Laire, holding the mage’s attention with a hard glare. “If she dies, Battle Mage, until my last breath, I will dedicate every moment of my life to the destruction of your world.”

For once, Laire was not the smartass Larissa expected. Giving a perfect bow, she answered, “I will protect her, Clan Leader of the Gargoyles.”

Fallon broke in. “Now that we got the mushy stuff out of the way, let’s go meet us some goblins.” She turned to Laire. “Shield Larissa. Don’t worry about the rest of us. Break the wizard so we can cut through the army.”