Page 30 of Moonlit Guardians

“’Cause if whatever I just say is the same thing I saw in the archives, then we got a big problem! I’ll sacrifice all of you tall ones to strike my name off the lunch menu of that thing.” Bombri tumbles from my back as I hurry down the passageway without much thought on his demon.

The hobgoblin follows.

Noni points me in the right direction and I see more forces approaching the stronghold in the distance. She squeals and hides in my jacket. I race back down the alley and throw open the door to the Mage’s Sanctuary. So caught up in their studies, none of the mages realize the fortress is under attack. “All of you come with me. We have to stagger the attack so we aren’t overwhelmed.”

The mages follow me to the walls that haven’t been touched by Variant’s magic. We scale to the top and climb over,placing ourselves between the massive forces and the Mercenary Stronghold.

“On my mark, funnel your power into my shield!” I shout above the bang and clang of iron armor that races towards us. The orcs and demons get closer. Beasts with wings and pointed ears swoop down from the sky. I wait until the very last second. “Now!”

With the strength of the guild at my back, the force of the shield knocks the army several meters away from the stronghold. They bash their hammers and axes against the invisible barrier with seething anger. I can feel the powerful shield spreading all the way around the decrepit walls. The archmages step forward to lend me a hand. I use the brief moment of relief to tap into my communication ring. Above me, I see Myerdoth and Dragan fighting the winged demons.

“What the hell is it? Can’t you see I’m busy?!” the former King of Shadows barks at me over the device.

“I see no end to Variant’s forces,” I respond. “He’s using Oronrel’s soldiers and Morrigan’s army. If the angels show up, then we have no hope of surviving. We must act now.”

Dragan sighs over the com. “What do you suggest?”

“We must evacuate any survivors and pray we find refuge elsewhere.”

The others tap into the channel one by one. Baron’s snarls are an equal match for Dragan’s grumbling. “Even if half the people in the stronghold have been killed, that’s still a lot of people to walk through the desert without a portal or a gateway nearby,” the vampire cuts in.

“It’s a risk we’ll have to take if any of us are going to make it,” I respond.

“How do we get all of those people out of here without Variant detecting us?” Dragan asks.

I grit my teeth and push more power into the shield. “We’ll need a distraction. If I get a potion from Baron to rejuvenate my power, I can drop the shield long enough for Theren and me to force the army back while Pyre casts a portal. Even if it won’t take us far, it’ll buy us enough time to get as many people to safety as possible. Once we find a place where we can hunker down, we can send scouts back to search for survivors. But we must act now. I’m getting weaker.”

Zir’s voice rings through the com louder than all the others. “The southern gate has been breached,” she reports.

“I’m nearly drained, but I think I can do it,” Pyre says. “I’ll need Baron’s help.”

***

THEREN

Mercenary Stronghold

The conversation in my head comes to an end. I look up to where Pyre fires an endless stream of arrows. Though I don’t know how my presence will be accepted, I kick a demon back and leap onto the roof of a building near me. Several of the winged creatures drop down beside me. I sprint, jumping from one roof to the next as I use my magic to attack my pursuers.

The tower is there in front of me. I jump, catching the edge of the brick with my fingers. Pyre reaches down and pulls me up. A heartbeat later, the necromancer notches another arrow and fires it at the creatures hunting me. He lowers his mask and stares me in the eyes with an unnatural violet gaze.

“You need to use your magic,” he hisses. His face is ashen. The spirit eyes disappear and he is once again sightless. Pyre replaces the mask and yet his aim is just as accurate.

“Why do you use eyes if you don’t need them?” I ask as I use the end of one of his arrows to slice open my palm.

“My bow is one with my body. It knows all. But... my eyes can’t see Eilish. I needed to be certain she was alright before I redirected my power.” Pyre covers me as I summon the Staff of Scorn. He watches with surprised eyes as the staff responds to me. “I must admit I’m shocked to see you’ve mastered blood magic to the extent that the staff obeys you. It’s a feat not many have accomplished.”

I smile at him. “Did you just compliment me?”

“Your magic, not your personality,” he quips. “There you could still use improvement.” Pyre’s off-beat humor causes me to laugh quietly. He is... unusual, but I feel as if he understands me more than others do. Actually, I’m quite sure he understands everyone.

“I find it inspiring that you broke your vows of chastity for Eilish. Furthermore, you’ve given up half of your guardianship to Baron.”

Pyre leaps over me, where I crouch beside him, and fires three arrows at once. I stand with the Staff of Scorn in my hands, bracing myself for the flood of magic preparing to erupt from my body.

Pyre summons a storm. It brews overhead, washing the desert stronghold in a curtain of rain. It obscures the orcs’ vision as they slam into one another. A clever trick, I must admit.

Pyre looks at me then. “The Sons of Elioth have been given gifts tied directly to your father’s bloodline. If Elioth dies, that power will leave you.”

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