Page 109 of Legacy of the Heirs
Soren whistled low and loud, a call she knew would be heard over any roar or clash of metal. Howls sounded in answer, and she grinned when she saw them. Her wolves padded over the dunes, their heads low. If Soren could not get to Elisara and Kazaar, her wolves could. She hoped they understood her intent and would cause confusion amongst the rulers. Soren began pushing through the soldiers.
She would not fail.
Chapter Sixty-One
Nyzaia
“We’re outnumbered!” Nyzaia yelled, wiping the mist from her face. Her back felt warm as the group pressed together: Farid at her left, Kazaar at her right, and Elisara covering her back. The two celestial pairs stood together while the copper armour pushed to reach them, the hundreds of their comrades lying dead on the floor.
“Could be worse!” Elisara shouted. “At least the creatures are not interested in us.”
“She has a point,” Farid agreed, lunging with his sword at the soldier who approached only to create a path for the warriors next in line.
“How are there so many? Larelle’s side took out hundreds,” Kazaar panted.
“The Garridon side has been losing to the creatures,” replied Farid. “Which has left more of the enemy to turn back to us.” Nyzaia nodded and swung her blade at a man’s neck, who fell to the ground, gurgling. Still, they kept coming.
“Maybe we should have hidden you!” Nyzaia shouted to Kazaar over the clash of metal. “They seem intent on reaching you.” The moment they descended the battlefield, it was as though the soldiers recognised Kazaar and instantly followed the four of them.
“What fun would that have been?” Kazaar said, and Nyzaia heard the grin in his voice. Elisara bumped into Nyzaia again, who frowned at her friend. She had been unstable since the fight began.
“Are you okay?” she asked. Elisara nodded, throwing a dagger at a charging soldier.
“I think trying to access other powers has exhausted me,” she said.
“I don’t suppose it might magically work now?” Nyzaia asked.
“I’m struggling to multitask,” Elisara breathed, and suddenly, the lightning and winds stopped.
“Shit!” Kazaar exclaimed, and Nyzaia turned her head. A wall of shadows formed through the middle of the armies.
“Caligh has power,” Nyzaia said. “What if he is affecting your power, Elisara? To weaken you and make it easier to separate you from Kazaar?” Elisara grunted as she kicked a soldier back.
“It would make sense.”
“He did not account for her great sword skill,” Kazaar laughed.
“I learned from the best.”
“Are you really joking in the middle of a fucking battle?” Farid shouted. Nyzaia did not have time to be shocked that he had sworn as a soldier grabbed Nyzaia and yanked her from the group. Farid’s panic shot through her, but it soon eased as a thin dagger dropped from her sleeve and into her hand. She pierced the man’s neck. No soldier waited behind him. Nyzaia spun. They had dodged her and separated the group, heading straight for Elisara and Kazaar. Nyzaia’s eyes widened as she watched a body fall at Kazaar’s hand, disintegrating into ash.
“Has that sword been doing that the entire time?” she yelled, battling through soldiers. She slashed at countless backs of copper armour to reach them.
“Yes!” Kazaar shouted, gutting another. “I did not have time to think about why, seeing as I’m busy avoiding being killed or kidnapped.”
Howls sounded through the desert, and Soren’s wolves charged towards them. Thick green roots shot from the ground, twisting and blocking their path. Nyzaia looked at Sadira, the fear clear on her face at the thought of Soren betraying them. When the wolves leapt over the vines, Nyzaia brandished her knife, but they did not attack her. They leapt for the soldiers’ throats, who circled Elisaraand Kazaar, taking them down one by one. The vines retreated, and Nyzaia nodded towards Sadira. They were okay.
Farid approached Nyzaia and scanned her eyes.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Ready,” she said as they dived back into the fight. More soldiers attempted to reach Elisara and Kazaar, but Nyzaia charged at them and sliced at their exposed flesh, bringing them to their knees. No one would take her brother. Nyzaia screamed as she reached for her power again. Their uniforms resisted fire. Burning the sands did not work either, soaked from Larelle and Elisara’s combined power.
“What is the point of having all this power if it does not work against any of you!” she shrieked, bringing her sword down on a soldier’s head. Nyzaia glanced to where Caligh had been and swallowed. He was closer. Myara was now far behind him, and he stood closer to the dune the rulers had begun on, close enough for Nyzaia to discern his features. She thought of all the odd passages and illustrations inMyths and Lies of Ithyionand the recent revelations. It was not implausible that this man could take power—dampen it.
Fear pierced Nyzaia as she noticed his grin, his wide eyes trained ahead. Nyzaia ducked from a lunging soldier, turning to glance at Elisara and Kazaar. The wolves continued circling and bit at the copper soldiers, diverting and confusing the two sides.
“Elisara!” Kazaar shouted. They were separated. Rows of soldiers fought those from Keres and Vala, blocking the pair from reaching one another. Nyzaia whirled back to Caligh, his path set on Kazaar.No.While her flames may not penetrate the soldiers' armour, it could distract them. Flourishing her hand, a wall of fire ignited either side of her, quick enough for Nyzaia to run a clear path towards Caligh.
