The dragons circling flew into a group and hovered. Anders nodded to Maija and Hannah who awaited his signal. Zahara and Raffa took to the skies and the Northland riders mirrored Anders and Maija as they came to a halt. Anders sat tall on Zahara facing the evil in front of them. He wasn’t afraid. He had imagined this moment differently, that the allies would be prepared and ready for whatever forces came their way, and that he and Maija would be facing these enemy riders alone.
Anders linked into Maija’s mind, Maija, no matter what happens, I love you.
Maija looked at him and he held her gaze. I love you, too, she replied.
He looked back at Merglan and Killdoor. Merglan held up his arm, sword in hand. It hung above him for a moment, then fell forward. The three dragonriders and the fifty wild dragons flew out toward them. Anders also saw the army’s frontline break into a run as fairnheir and other monsters charged the elves and Rolloans below. Anders drew Lazuran, adjusted his grip on the blade Nadir had gifted him and urged Zahara forward. She streaked ahead, leading the dragonriders’ charge directly at the oncoming dragons. Anders released a hellish bellow as he forced energy into his blade and met the enemies head on.
Chapter 95
Among Monsters and Beasts
Max stood among the ranks of Rollo Island warriors and elves thinly spread along Aquina’s eastern edge. For as far as he could see, enemy forces created a massive wall moving directly toward them. Fairnheir and other beasts paced back and forth in front of the nearly twenty-thousand orc, kurr and humans making up Merglan’s army. Dragons circled the sky overhead and three dragonriders hovered over the ranks.
“That’s more dragons, orcs, and whatever else than I care to see,” Max said.
“At least they came back,” Britt said, pointing to Anders and Maija. “And they brought the rest of the crystal bearers.”
“I hope those other riders can keep the dragons off of us. Even with Evans, Kirsten and the others, I know it would take all I have.”
“We just need to focus on what’s on the ground; they’ll take care of the rest,” Britt said.
“I hope the rest of our army shows up soon,” Max said, looking behind him at the empty streets.
“We can hold them off until then. Anders saw them on their way in. We need to last long enough for them to arrive.”
Max looked at the sun. He knew the army wouldn’t make it there until dusk. If they were lucky, an hour or two before then. Judging by its position in the sky, the sun was an hour from high noon. If the dark cloud that appeared behind the enemy army continued to spread, it would be difficult for them to tell what time of day it was.
The steady sound of unified marching suddenly stopped and the fearful noises of Merglan’s army ceased. For the moment, silence hung between the two opposing forces. Max knew this was the silence before the storm. Whatever happens, protect yourself and your future first, he told himself, glancing to his right. Britt’s dark face shone in the light of the remaining sunlight. Stay close to her, he thought. We’re in this together, to the end.
Beyond Britt and extending in a line to their right, Max took in the awesome sight of the entire Rollo Island band of warriors. Their shield wall extended into the distance. He wondered if they had ever come together as a whole to fight one battle before. Red’s black beard stood out among the others as he spoke to the men and women around him in their native language. Despite his flawed intentions as the Rolloans’ leader, Max admired Red’s skill as a warrior. They were going to need Red’s axe, soon.
Startling them with his sudden approach, Nadir appeared in front of Britt and Max. “Max,” he said, ignoring their flinches. “Be ready to use the crystals. The riders are our first line of defense, but they’re counting on our skills as a backup.”
“Where are the others?” Max asked.
“Evans and Kirsten are with our elves,” Nadir said, pointing down the stretch of elves to their left. “Inama and Sanka are a third of the way to your right.”
“And you?” Max asked.
“Natalia and I are positioned with the Rolloans. We’ll be at the south end of our defenses. With five evenly spread out among the warriors and two with the elves, we’ll be best defended.”
“Watch your back down there. Red can’t be pleased with you being among his ranks,” Britt warned.
Nadir nodded, “When the fighting starts, I will wager that all the Rolloans will thank us for being there.”
“I wouldn’t hold my breath,” Max said.
“It’s better that Natalia and I are there instead of you two. You’re the two best to bridge the gap between our forces,” Nadir said. Max nodded as Nadir continued, “Remember your training and only use the magic you can manage.”
Max straightened and replied, “I’m ready.” He felt Britt’s hand take his in a comforting grip. As she did, Max felt a surge of hope and inspiration overcome his fear.
“Good,” Nadir said, looking down the line of warriors to their right. “And when the fighting begins, do not break rank. We are here to defend.” Nadir’s gaze shifted to Max and Britt again as he spoke, “I know you followed Kirsten out into the last battle, but you two must keep your impulses under control. We're stronger together. The dragonriders can only take on so much and we can’t count on them to protect the ground forces.
“I will not leave my companion’s side,” Max said, giving Britt’s hand a squeeze.
Nadir nodded, “We must hold them off until the end of the day. Reinforcements will come to relieve those fighting on the frontlines, but we will need to remain. Use your energy wisely, Max.”
Before Max or Britt could respond, he was gone. Max stared into Britt’s brown eyes, “No matter what happens today, just know that all the ale in the heaven you told me about the night we first met will taste much better when we go there together.”
Britt smiled, “The ales here in Kartania will taste that much better when we see this battle come to a successful end.”
Max’s attention diverted to Anders and Maija as they took to the sky. Beyond the line of dragonriders, Max spied a large black dragon and rider flying high over the enemy army. The dark rider hovered for a moment, then the enemy dragons flew at the remaining Norfolk riders. Anders and Maija spurred their dragons into flight, leading the allied riders’ charge in rocketing out at the enemies. Reaching the open sky between the two opposing ground forces, the dragons broke the short-lived silence. Roars erupted and the sky became a swarm of fire and magical energy passing between them. Moments later, the black cloud blocked out the sun, plunging the fields in front of the elves and Rolloans on the ground into darkness.
Below the ensuing chaos in the sky, Max noticed the fairnheir had stopped pacing and were grouping into packs. Here we go, Max thought. He let go of Britt’s hand and pulled a crystal from his pouch. Max studied the opposing army and realized the thick blocks of orcs and kurr were parting in several places. What are they doing? he wondered.
From out of the shadowy gloom that had enveloped them, Max saw figures moving up to the front lines. Black humanlike shapes with wings, ghostly wisping shapes and other monsters filed out through the gaps. They poured out onto the field in front of the fairnheir. These were the monsters Merglan had unleased from the elven prison. All of the most dangerous creatures in Kartania stood before them outside Aquina.
All at once and without organized rank, the eclectic group of creatures charged toward the ground troops. Instantly some outpaced others. Noting the disorganization of their charge, Max understood that these expendable monsters were meant to test the allied forces’ strength. The sound of swords coming unsheathed reminded Max to do the same. As he held his crystal in one hand and his broadsword in the other, he heard the shield wall to his right knock together. Glancing to his sides before the wave hit, Max saw warriors bracing behind their shields and elves crouching with blades in hand. This is it, he thought. Our last stand.
In front of Max, a demon trailed quickly behind a massive fur-bearing creature three times larger than any bull. The wooly creature peered down its short snout and snarled, exposing bear-like teeth. The muscular giant on four legs snorted as it lumbered at an incredible speed toward the elves to Max’s left. Using his training, Max aimed the crystal at the brindle-colored creature and black demon running up from behind.
Out of the corner of his eye, Max saw the bright lights of the other crystals flashing as their magic sped out into the disorganized charge. Kirsten or Evans hit the leading beast before it collided with the elves. In the trailing glow of the bright light, Max fixed his sights on the demon. The black-winged giant had turned its attention on him as he held the crystal up in front of him. As the demon spread its wings to leap onto him, Max sent out a blast of magical energy. The demon quickly collapsed its wings, letting the energy pass a fraction of an inch over its head. Not hesitating, Max stepped forward and thrust his crystal at the demon again, sending a stream of energy directly at its chest.
Expecting the demon to be flung backward, Max’s fear doubled when he saw the demon catch the stream of energy and stumble somewhat from its oncoming thrust. The dark demon held the magic in its hands. He could hear its flesh crackling as the energy burned. Max's eyes grew wide when the demon looked directly at him and threw the mass of magic back. Instinctively, he held the crystal out and closed his eyes hoping that he would either absorb the energy into the crystal or deflect it.
Max felt an immense strain on his arm. He screamed. Opening his eyes and half expecting his arm to be missing, his eyes were momentarily blinded with the light of the hurled energy shattering into tiny shards just feet in front of those around him. Without any time to think, another brindle giant bounded in past the demon. Max reacted. A pulse of magic left his crystal and hit the creature in the flank causing it to spin sideways and fall to the ground.
The demon launched in over the beast, landing just feet away. Max and Britt struck out together with their swords. As they did, two elves on Max’s left caught the demon’s ankles and pulled it down. Britt’s blade scratched the demon’s chest and Max missed, his sword running through open air. As the elves piled onto the downed demon, Max saw their next attacker. The brindle furry beast he’d hit earlier had nearly reached the Rollo Islanders’ shield wall to his right. He missed with a poorly placed shot. His energy passed over the creature’s back and exploded into other creatures trailing behind it.
