Page 78 of The Stolen Kingdom

“I will use it as I see fit,” Maris snapped, holding the trident with one hand while stretching the other towards Valda.

Pulling the waterskin from the band at her waist, Valda handed it to Maris. All the while, the group of Vulcanians continued getting closer.

Maris bit the cork of the waterskin, then spat it to the side before pouring the content into the dry sand at their feet. Valda’s disapproval was evident, but as her mate moved her hand over the water, she felt her words die in her mouth as Maris formed spikes out of the wet sand, before shaping them like small spears. Maris’s focus moved from the sand spears to the Vulcanians.

A dozen of them, all on horses, riding in flawless formation as they pointed fresh arrows at them while pulling the strings to their chest. Maris slammed the butt of the trident to the ground and clenched her open palm into a tight fist. The arrows shot their way and were welcomed by the sand spikes. The spikes pierced through the wood and into the chests of several Vulcanians, throwing them off the horses and onto the sand.

Valda huffed in surprise and smiled, her chest swelling with pride. Placing the sword back in the scabbard, Valda planted her feet on the ground, squatted, and drifted her hands, creating a whirlwind between them and the remaining Vulcanians heading their way. The whirlwind grew into a ravaging small tornado.

She noticed Maris gripping the trident, holding her ground as she watched the spectacle. The Vulcanians were in trouble. The remaining soldiers’ horses slammed against each other until all but two remained, staggering but heading their way.

Maris waved the sand away as the tornado dissipated. She pulled the trident from the ground and threw it like a spear, watching it pierce through a leather breastplate. The barbarian fell to the ground dead, the trident sticking from his thorax, while the remaining warrior pulled the string of her arrow and pointed at Valda.

Valda unsheathed her sword and moved her arms to the side, readying herself for the assault. As the Vulcanian released the string, the arrow came flying towards Valda, who simply tilted her head to the side as the arrow grazed her left cheek. Valda imitated her lover with an angered snarl and threw the Heaven Sword, hitting the Vulcanian’s horse’s neck. The animal let out a guttural wet sound before falling on its side along with the rider.

Maris was beside the woman within seconds, kicking the bow away from her reach as Valda walked towards them, wiping the streak of blood from her face. Her expression was dark enough to make the Vulcanian shudder.

“M-mercy! Mer—” A boot to the Vulcanian’s mouth shut her up.

“If your queen saw you begging for mercy, she would kill you herself. You will find I am a forgiving queen.” Valda grabbed the woman by the leather straps at her shoulders and lifted her from the ground. “I won’t kill you yet.”

The woman grabbed Valda’s hands as she clutched her clothing. Just as she was about to ask for mercy again, Valda tightened her hold enough to make her whimper.

“We are too far out in Umbriel for the likes of you to be out and about. Where are you all coming from? How are you getting here?”

The Vulcanian didn’t answer, instead, she looked at Maris as if she was going to help her get away from Valda’s grip. “Please.”

“Answer and I will let you go,” Valda bartered.

The woman shook her head. “If I tell you, they will hunt me and they will kill me!”

“You are dead either way. If you tell me, I will take you with us and make sure you survive this senseless war. No harm will come to you whatsoever.”

A whimper was Valda’s answer.

“Where are you all coming from?!”

The woman closed her dark eyes tightly, her black hair falling on her face as she struggled with her indecision. Valda tightened her grip again and pulled her closer to her face.

“Prospero,” the Vulcanian finally whimpered.

Maris turned to Valda. “That’s to the north of Cressida.”

Valda nodded and released the Vulcanian, who fell to the ground with a gasp. “The smallest city in the kingdom.”

“Valda, they are close to our people! We must leave!”

Valda moved towards Maris and rubbed the anxiousness away from her arms. “We will get there soon. We will not stop until we get there.”

“I can’t go to Cressida. I need to go to Titania! Melvian is due any day now.”

Valda nodded, pressing her forehead to Maris, wanting to calm her. “We’ll think of something on our way to Titania.”

Suddenly, a high-pitched snarl sounded behind them, followed by a pained yell. The Vulcanian woman’s scream gargled in her throat, as a ball of black mass attacked her neck ferociously. Her blade fell to the sand as she grasped the animal attacking her.

“Cerberus!” Valda barked, just as her pet released the woman, licking the blood from her muzzle. Her pupils dilated enough to make Valda nervous, but as she got closer to the fallen woman, the cat’s eyes turned back to her beautiful yellow.

“By the gods…” Maris whispered, taking in the sight before searching for her trident and Valda’s sword.

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