Page 107 of Unseen Eye
“What is it?” I ask, though I already fear the answer.
“Ardu is under attack.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
It takes mere seconds for me to lace my boots and secure my daggers. Any sense of the quiet moment with Cal vanished in a heartbeat. With a quick nod, Cal grabs my hand, and in the blink of an eye, we’re back in Ardu. The familiar forest encircling the city now feels ominous as we arrive at the same spot as before.
Hellhounds circle the city walls like predators closing in on prey. Their handlers march behind them, whips cracking, while the nightmares loom in the background. The army is smaller than the one that attacked Astermiri, but that doesn’t mean we’re any less screwed.
We’re vastly outnumbered.
“The shields are still up,” Cal mutters, scanning the horde.
“Should we get reinforcements?”
“I’m betting they’ve already signaled for it when the army showed up. The alarm is like the stones we used in Astermiri—Theo has the other half.”
“How the hell did they even find Ardu?” I whisper, the unease creeping deeper into me.
Cal’s face hardens. “No fucking clue. But we’ll worry about that later.”
Before I can press him further, movement catches my eye. A massive figure steps forward from the horde—a shadow warden, his size dwarfing those around him. He approaches the glowing shield, his giant axe crackling with dark energy as he lifts it.
“How many of these bastards are there?” I mutter, watching as the warden raises the weapon.
“Too many.” Cal’s voice is low and tense as he pulls his sword free. I’ve never been so grateful for his habit of never leaving home without a weapon.
The warden’s axe crashes into the shield, sending a spray of sparks into the air. He strikes it again, and again, the force of each blow reverberating through the trees.
“How much can the shield take?” I glance over at Cal, trying to gauge how worried I should be.
He doesn’t take his eyes off the warden. “As long as I’m alive, it holds. Or it should. I tied the shield to my life force—it was the only thing I could think of that might work.”
That sends a cold spike of dread through me. “Do they know that?”
“No. Only you, Theo, and Izzy know.”
The shadow warden is a fearsome sight. His axe is massive, its blade glowing with a dark energy that seems to absorb the light around it.
The army cheers him on from the sidelines. Hellhounds snarl, their handlers barely able to restrain them. Nightmares stomp their feet, each movement vibrating across the field.
The warden bangs his axe against the shield once more, the sound like thunder cracking in the forest. The whole scene is a nightmare come to life, and every part of me screams to run.
“Couldn’t the villagers just stay inside the city until they leave?” I ask, more out of desperation than hope.
“They could... but I’m guessing they’re also worried about how the shield will hold up. And if the Shadow King shows up, I don’t want to test it.” Cal’s eyes stay locked on the warden, his grip on his sword tightening.
Before either of us can say anything more, a low whistle sounds from the direction of the city. It’s faint but distinct, cutting through the growing chaos.
“They’re coming out,” Cal mutters as he draws his sword fully.
Sure enough, figures emerge from the shadows near the city gates. Theo, Izzy, and several guards from the barracks rush forward, weapons gleaming in the firelight. Among them, I spotAxel with his huge axe, and Troy with his bow. The battle erupts in seconds—hellhounds charging, villagers meeting them head-on.
Theo is a force. His blade flashing with deadly precision as he cuts down a hellhound mid-leap. Izzy moves like a shadow herself. Her twin blades a blur as she slices through two handlers. Axel crushes a nightmare’s skull with a single swing, while Troy’s arrow skewer hellhounds from a distance. Even Dacia, dual-wielding her swords, takes on a pack of hellhounds without hesitation.
Then, from the side, a group of elemental fighters join the fray, their abilities lighting up the battlefield in bursts of red, blue, and white. Fireballs and jets of water flash through the air, crashing into enemy ranks. Lightning strikes from one fighter, hitting a hellhound with deadly precision, while steam rises from the ground where fire and water collide.
“Hell of a light show,” Cal says, impressed despite the dire situation. He turns to me, giving me a quick kiss before charging into the chaos. “Stay close.”
