Page 75 of Her Royal Blood

“So we have guards on the gates and I’ve gotten word that the troops King Helix and Prince Dimitri were sending are almost here. The battle in Navarrah City is going well, but Cheyenne reports that he hasn’t seen Polonius, according to the messenger that arrived this morning. Which means he may be on his way here. You and Halo protected the kingdom with a spell, but I want to make sure we have all of our guards at the ready. As soon as we eat, Derringer and I are going to the front lines.” Bindi offered her morning report.

“We did spell the kingdom,” Halo confirmed, “But we used our own wording. We were hoping to have more time to test the spell.” Halo suddenly looked worried.

“I think we did a good job of wording it for people, but it occurred to me this morning as I was getting dressed that we didn’t ward it against inanimate objects. We should go back to the pit after breakfast,” and just as I was about to suggest we revise the spell a cannon ball blasted through the wall and on instinct I ducked to the floor as the ball was aimed at the chair where I was seated.

Lex was immediately at my side hoisting me up off the floor and pulling me away from the table. No one was injured but a cannonball had been launched into the kingdom.

“Okay, definitely doesn't stop inanimate objects,” Bindi said, she wasn’t angered, but energized. “It’s war. Let’s get this fucker!” She was ready with Derringer by her side.

He smiled and touched her back. “Let’s get this fucker,” he repeated and they ran off.

I felt a cold chill run through my body. It was different than a premonition. It was a feeling as if I was being hunted but not by sight, but by spirit.

“Polonius is here,” I said quietly. “And he knows exactly where we are.”

“Then we’ll face him head on.” Lex took my hand and together we walked to the gates of the palace.

Chapter 25

Lex

We walked to the city gates and discovered over one hundred Crypt Claw soldiers standing before us. They had one large canon which they were loading again and three enormous tanks. Overhead an airship hovered in our airspace. The show of force was daunting and without the troops from Navarrah City and Sobrook, Aria and I were left to fight on the ground with our thirty or so soldiers.

“They have us outnumbered,” Bindi said as we stood beside her. “And they’re armed with cannons.” She didn’t sound discouraged, but I could tell her mind was working through it.

“The soldiers cannot breach the gates, but their cannons and any gunfire can,” Aria said with a note of defeat in her voice.

“I’m here,” Halo ran up to us dressed in battle fatigues, though she wasn’t able to fight. I appreciated her willingness to dive in, but we wouldn’t put her in harm’s way. “What can I do?”

“We have to teleport onto that ship,” Aria said, “Polonius is there. He is our one and only target. The rest follow his orders. Even his second in command, Boris, will not act without his orders.”

“I can do that. And I’m coming with you. Together our magic is strong, Aria. You and I both have been using magic a lot, butwe can go out in a blaze of glory together if we have to so don’t say no. You don’t have enough control over your magic to fight him alone. You could set the whole airship on fire. Let me do this with you,” Halo pleaded. “I can’t just sit here and wait to die.”

“Okay,” Aria said. “Bindi you and Derringer stay on the ground and fight the troops if they aren’t able to get through the spell, their bullets and cannons can, just not their bodies. Stay clear of gun fire. The worst they can do is destroy our city and if they do we will rebuild.”

Just then another cannon shot and we all ducked to the ground taking my advice Bindi and Derringer and our troops retreated to places where they were protected by trees and buildings. The cannon that was set off hit the palace again. We could only sustain a few more cannon blasts before the whole thing came down. I had to watch all that Aria had just built be destroyed. I couldn't allow myself to worry about it, I had one mission and one alone which was to end Polonius's tyranny.

“Take my hand,” Halo instructed and Aria held her hand and mine. “Teleporting is as easy as just imagining where you want to be, so think of us in that airship.”

Aria closed her eyes and suddenly we were on the airship. I had been on Polonius’ airship before but this was something I wasn’t expecting to see. There was no one on board.

“He’s on the ship,” Aria whispered to me and Halo as soon as we were deck.

I wasn’t sure how she could know that, but I learned to never doubt her.

“Okay, weapons out.” I drew my sword as did Aria and Halo had her hands at the ready.

There was no time to teach her how to use a weapon, though she had started to learn before Polonius abducted her, however, her magic was her best defense, by far. Inside the ship were several seats surrounding small windows heavily armed fromthe floor to the ceiling. In the middle was a navigation board and more seats. There was a small hallway that led to the cockpit. Outside of that there were no places to hide. While I couldn't see the cockpit, there must have been someone driving but no soldiers were waiting for us.

“When I was being held prisoner by Polonius, I would tell the Crypt Claw warriors to clean the ships. For some reason Polonius didn’t have enough people to convey messages so he used me. I would never tell the soldiers to clean the ships and instead, came in here and practiced magic. That’s why I was bound in Pitaya silk and forced to stay by Polonius’ side so that I couldn’t access my magic. So I know these ships,” Halo said suspiciously. “They can’t fly unless they are driven by someone or if Sire is magically powering the plane he’d have to be close.” Halo looked around cautiously. “They must be onboard.”

“They’re here,” Aria said.

Amadeus had put a protection spell on her before the wedding she told me. The spell made anyone who was cloaked in invisibility appear if they were within ten feet of her. Now I wished Amadeus had made the distance greater. But ten feet would be all she’d needed to stab her sword into someone who thought she couldn’t see them, so I made a point to stay within ten feet of my wife.

“Do you have a sense of where he is?” I asked her, holding my sword steady just to the right of her.

“In front of me,” Aria swallowed and then, as if summoned by magic, Polonius appeared right before her, as did Sire.

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