She sent her arms reaching, trying to grab hold of anything before she fell to her death. Her back hit Killdoor's wing catching her for a moment. He flapped, trying to shake her free and Maija was tossed. She flipped backward and saw Killdoor’s wing within reach. She grabbed and found a hold on the frontside of his wing. Focused on hanging on for dear life, Maija felt a sudden stabbing prod pierce through her mental barriers.  

 You’re as good as dead, girl. Let go and die painlessly, Merglan’s voice said wickedly and abruptly retracted from her thoughts.  

Light sparked and flashed around her as she fortified her mind again. On the downward thrust of Killdoor’s wing, Maija pulled herself up. The momentum launched her over his wing and when he lifted it again, she landed in the leathery expanse. Not wasting time, she ran at Merglan. Without realizing she’d dropped her sword until that moment, Maija did the only thing she could and leveled her shoulder into Merglan’s side. She tackled him with all her speed and felt him lift out of his saddle. Expecting to drop into the open air, Maija’s breath released when she felt them land on Killdoor’s other wing.  

 Maija looked for Merglan as she slid in toward Killdoor’s back again. She saw him slide off the backside of the wing and grab hold of Killdoor’s scales. Landing against Killdoor’s back directly above where Merglan clung, Maija kicked at his hands while trying to hold onto the soaring dragon.  

She saw Anders and Zahara try to break through. Anders released a shot of energy at Merglan, also trying to knock him free. The energy deflected against his energy shield. Maija heard Merglan grunt and witnessed him suddenly launching himself back up onto Killdoor’s back. This time he landed right in front of her, punching her hard and sending her falling. She slid on Killdoor’s back past the front of his wing and slipped to one side. Maija found herself in Merglan’s position now, clinging to Killdoor’s scales for dear life.  

Energy flashed around them as Anders and Zahara tried to gain an opening on Merglan. Maija traversed near Killdoor’s wing. If she could grab hold of it again, she could use it to get her feet under her. As she grabbed onto the front of Killdoor’s wing, Maija glanced up. Merglan’s hand glowed hot with magic. He glared at her with a hateful expression ready to fire it at her. Her eyes darted to a flash of red moving across the sky from behind him. Taking a chance, Maija let go just as Merglan released his magic at her. Killdoor’s wing blocked him from view and she saw the light cut through his own dragon’s wing and pass less than a foot from her face.  

She fell down as they continued away at a downward angle. Merglan’s dragon’s screams filled the sky around them. Maija felt Raffa’s touch on her mind and she rolled herself over in the air. He came under her and she landed on his neck, grabbing hold of the spines and quickly returning to her saddle. She searched the sky and saw Anders and Hannah rocketing together, following the trail of blood from Killdoor’s wing.  

Raffa chased after them. Merglan buffered the two riders’ attacks while trying to heal his dragon’s wing. They spiraled toward a space in the plains clear of fighting. Maija looked around in search of the last elf rider. She found him fighting to escape the only remaining Northland rider.  

Now Raffa, she told him. Now is our chance to take Merglan. Maija joined in with Anders and Hannah, sending attacking blasts of energy flying at the solo rider. Raffa and Zahara  circled with the purple dragon as they teamed up to break through Merglan’s defenses. Maija allowed the sapphire’s energy to flow though her, carrying more power through her attacks than ever before. 

With Merglan defending himself against three powerful sorcerers and trying to heal Killdoor at the same time, Maija could sense that he was giving up on his dragon’s wing. Anders and Hannah pressed the sorcerer’s mind. Soon Killdoor joined the attack, lashing out at them with his claws, swatting and breathing fire at them. Maija felt his mind trying to break through her barriers, but she had opened her access to the wealth of sapphires she carried.  

Maija saw Merglan fall to one knee under the pressure as they collectively bore down on him. He’s going to break, she thought.  

Anders acted, seizing the opportunity to confront Merglan directly. Zahara scorched him with fire and Anders hammered his energy blade down on him with deadly force. The sword’s energy hit its mark and the sky exploded with orange and white light. The resulting blast hit Raffa, spinning him out of control. He collided into the ground, sending Maija tumbling. When she scrambled to her feet, she saw an orb of light wrapped around Anders and Merglan, not knowing who created it or how.  

Zahara swatted and clawed at the sphere of energy. Merglan was standing, walking now, directly toward Anders. Instead of moving to defend himself with his sword, Anders dropped it. Merglan stood in front of Anders with his sword in hand.

“No!” she cried aloud and rushed toward the orb encasing them.  

Merglan raised his hand at Anders.

Maija’s heart raced with fear. She could see that Anders held a block in his hand. Blue light emanated from Anders’ body. At first it was like a vapor. The cloud of vapor grew as it released into the space between Anders and Merglan’s outstretched hand.  

Maija directed a spell of magic at the orb. It hit the globe of light enclosing Anders and Merglan and was absorbed.  

 Anders dropped to his knees in front of Merglan, who continued to stand with his arm outstretched toward Anders. Light poured out of Anders, swirling and changing between the form of a dragon and a replica of himself.  

“Anders!” Maija shouted. 

He turned his head to look at her and smiled. The last of the light came from Anders’ body and he fell limp to the ground.

Zahara roared, her howl echoing across the plains. She dropped to the ground and didn’t move. Merglan stood over Anders. The light from Anders’ body transferred into Merglan’s hand, disappearing inside the powerful sorcerer. 

Maija stood in shock. She couldn’t believe what she’d just seen. She screamed and charged the orb. Merglan remained in his position over Anders. They were blocked from view as Killdoor lumbered in between Maija and where Anders lay. She didn’t slow down and saw Raffa speeding in beside her. They met the dragon with all the magic they could summon. 

*** 

Natalia braced under her sword as the kurr hammered against her blade. Using the energy from her sapphire, she blocked each swing. For fear of her blade shattering under the immense strength of the large kurr, Natalia moved. Going on the defensive, she dodged and ducked its next attacks. The blood of three of her fellow elves dripped from the blade she now dodged. Natalia wouldn’t let hers be next.  

Seeing an opening, she sidestepped a swing and rammed her shoulder into the kurr’s side. She sent a pulse of energy down through her legs and pushed. The kurr toppled to the ground mid-swing and Natalia fell with it.  

Rolling away from the beast, she was able to get to her feet before it could. With one of its knees pressed down on the ground, she dug her blade deep into the kurr’s neck. The massive creature reached up and grabbed hold of her blade. Natalia tried to pull it free from the beast's thick neck, but it ripped it from her hands, pushing it deeper inside itself. The kurr fell backward away from her and she was instantly charged by a group of orcs. She needed a weapon. Dodging the orcs’ wild swings and hacks, Natalia maneuvered her way through them to reach her sword. Rolling through a gap and grabbing her blade, she wrenched it free from the kurr’s dead body and bolted to her feet. A flurry of spins and thrusts cut down the orcs around her. Natalia stood looking at Inama in confusion. “What are you doing over here? We’re supposed to be spread out among the front,” she said, stabbing her sword into the chest of an orc.  

Inama thrust her spear through another’s head and said, “I used all of my crystals. The dwarfs need a crystal bearer. The fighting is thickest there.”  

Natalia jumped in an effort to see down the tangled mass of fighting at the front. She caught a glimpse of their army being driven back. If the orcs and kurr made it through, they would cut their army in half. Natalia jumped again and looked south. She saw some of the enemy moving out and around them. “Shoot, they’re trying to flank us,” she said.  

Natalia melded her mind into Nadir’s. I’m going to the center. The orcs are driving a wedge through our ranks. Kirsten and Max are the only ones left who still have sapphires. 

Natalia felt Nadir curse in his mind. She jumped once more to see if she could locate Kirsten or Max. Light snapped and she spotted them on the north half of the wedge, starting to support the dwarfs, who were suffering the brunt of the fighting.

They’re trying to push them back but need help. We can’t let the army be divided or we’re through, Natalia said.  

I’ll come with you. The warriors can hold here for a while, Nadir answered. 

Natalia grabbed Inama, telling her that she and Nadir were going to support the center of their forces. “You take some of your people and make sure the enemy doesn’t flank us,” she said, pointing toward the group of orcs that were sneaking around to the south.  

Inama nodded and darted away, continuing to fight her way south.  

Natalia ran through the crowd to where the fighting was thickest.  

*** 

Inama called to her father. When she caught his attention, she signaled for him to gather people and join come her. Without question, Puconathini barked the order for a dozen Lumbapi to break rank and follow him. Inama led them away from the front.

“What is it?”  he asked.

She pointed to the orcs flanking toward the medical tent, “We must not let them get around us.” 

Puco looked south where he saw the group of orcs, “Twelve of us will be enough.”  

If these soldiers were Westlanders, Inama would want three times as many, but her people were hardened, experienced fighters. She led her father and the other Lumbapi to the south end of the city and moved through the riverbank. Climbing out on their hands and knees, Inama quietly led them through the grass and behind the medic area where Rune and the others worked. Staying low, she could hear the orcs grunting as they snuck closer. Inama and her people waited silently, crouching in the tall grass, ready to ambush the orcs. When one of the orcs was nearly on them, she gave the signal. The Lumbapi sprang up from the grass and engaged the orcs. They moved so quickly that the orcs never had a chance to form a defense.  

In the wake of the killing, Inama caught sight of something moving out from around the enemy army. She saw a red dragon’s body running across the grass toward the medical tent. Its wings were torn away from its body, but it moved with speed.  She shouted for the others to attack and ran toward the creature.  

The dragon reached the area and moments later fire erupted where the wounded were being healed. Sprinting full speed, Inama jumped onto the dragon and scrambled to where a dragonrider would sit. Taking her spear, she spun it in her grip aiming to drive it into the back of its neck. The dragon spun, sending her flying off of its back. She landed in the grass and rolled to the side with her spear still in hand. She saw the dragon train its eyes on her and the glow of fire building in its throat. Inama had nowhere to hide.   

Chapter 99

Becoming Magic

Thomas held the poudrettite crystal over an elven woman’s legs. Blood that had been slowly but steadily oozing out stopped. The wounded continued to arrive at the tent faster than Rune and Ophelia could handle. With no medical training, Thomas set out to do the only thing he knew would help, put the special sapphire to work.  

“Thomas,” Rune called from several cots away. “When that elf has stopped bleeding, take over for Ophelia.” 

“Sure,” Thomas replied and quickly moved to Ophelia’s side. He looked down at the Rollo Island warrior lying on the operating table. Ophelia leaned over, pressing down on the man’s abdomen with a blood-soaked cloth. “What does he need?” he asked. 

“Hurry, Ophelia, I need you,” Rune said from behind them.   

She lifted the rag and pointed at the man’s abdomen, “We need all of this to go back in there. After that call me over and I’ll stitch it closed.”