Page 61 of Winter Queen
Two shapes are lying on the ground.
"Only the left one is alive," Arc mutters, his hands pressed over his mouth and nose to avoid breathing in the stench.
I summon a ball of light, making sure it only shines on the person on the left. I've seen my share of dead bodies, but I try not to if I can avoid it. Especially if the corpse is who I think it is.
I kneel by his side, rolling the man over to look at his face. Despite his shaggy beard, I recognise him. Wyn's father. There's a whole lot of dried blood on his temples and hairline, maybe that's why he's unconscious. I gently shake him, but he doesn't move at all.
"We need to carry him," I tell the others. "Frost, get him to the door and wait there for us. Arc and I will explore the upper floors. If we're not back in the next fifteen minutes, take him and pass through the Gate." My brother nods sharply. I expected him to argue, but in this moment, we're all professionals, not squabbling brothers.
Frost gently lifts up the man into his arms and we all leave the cells, glad to be away from the stench and the dead.
It'san absolute waste of time. There is nothing in the rooms we explore that would give us an advantage. No documents, no plans, no maps. The fortress seems empty, almost unused, as if it's only one of many places the Morrigan occupies. She probably has her personal domicile further into the Demon Realm, where it's safer. She can teleport, so it doesn't matter how far away from the Gate she lives. Maybe this place is only used for keeping prisoners and as an oversized watchtower.
Disappointed, we make our way back to the door through which we entered the fortress.
"Stop," Arc says suddenly when we're only two corridors away. "Someone's there, with Frost."
Ignoring the fear slowly spreading in my chest, I send out my wind magic, exploring what's happening in the distance. Arc is right, there are several people by the door. Ten, at least.
"Ready?" I ask Arc and he nods grimly. "Let's take them down."
The demons waiting for us don't know what hit them as they crumple to the ground, crushed by the wind I conjured. Arc is sprinting ahead, letting me deal with the demons that are suddenly coming from all sides. There's definitely more than ten. It's like they've waited for us in the shadows, setting a trap we walked right into. Well, we didn't have a choice.
I can hear my brother scream at the other end of the corridor and I increase my pace, slashing into demons with my sword while killing others with my magic. It's slow progress, but I'm hoping that Arc has reached Frost by now.
Suddenly, a cackle fills the room, overpowering all the noise of fighting and demon wails.
I know that voice.
The Morrigan is here.
Fuck.
I create two whirlwinds, anchoring them to the walls, not letting anyone pass as I run towards her laughter. She's with Frost.
While I'm running, I conjure more wind, keeping the magic close to my chest, ready to throw it at my target.
The Morrigan is bent over my brother who's curled up on the floor. He's moving though, but he's too weak to escape her as her fingers trail over his shoulder.
"Get away from him!" I shout, flinging all the pent-up wind at her. She's thrown against one wall, her pretty face contorting in pain. Using more wind, I throw her down the corridor, away from us. I know I have no chance beating her, so keeping her off our backs is the only way we'll get out of here.
I let myself fall on my knees by my brother's side, gently touching his arm.
“Can you stand?” I ask him but he weakly shakes his head. I look down at his body and cringe at the unusual angle his legs are spread out. It must be fucking painful, I’m surprised he’s not screaming.
Next to him lies the prone body of Wyn’s dad, still unconscious.
“Arc!” I shout. “You carry the father, I carry Frost!”
I reach around Frost’s shoulders, trying not to touch his legs too much. He groans when I lift him up, pain contorting his face.
“It’ll be alright,” I tell him, not quite believing it myself. “We’ll get you to a healer as soon as we’re out of here.”
“Not so fast,” the Morrigan cackles, suddenly back in front of us, appearing out of thin air. Why did Beira give that Goddess so many powers? It’s making it very hard to fight her, let alone flee from her.
She stretches out her arms, fire circling around her wrists. Usually, Frost would be the one to protect us from fire, but he doesn’t look like he’s well enough to even notice what’s going on.
I prepare some wind to throw at her in defence, but without warning, something strange happens. The magic inside of mevibrates, as if it’s resonating to a sound from far, far away. I gasp as a warm feeling spreads through my body. It’s a feeling of hope and love, something that reminds me of Wyn.
