Page 53 of Within the Flames
LIES.
"Fine. Two."
LIES.
"Truth," she countered, putting as much conviction in her voice as she possibly could. He wasn't beating her this way.
THAT'S NOT HOW THE WARDENS WORK.
"It is as far as I'm aware." She stepped further forward, almost gasping in shock when a face behind the Mahoun was revealed to her.
Luc held a finger to his lips. She didn't know why he was here, or even if he was a friend in this situation, but she obeyed. If he really was here to help her, then she'd take it. She'd need every little bit of help she could possibly get.
The Mahoun laughed in her head. It was disconcerting being able to see him but the hooded figure wasn’t moving when he spoke or cackled. She had to wonder if this was really him or if it was just another ruse.
Something deep within her was convinced that wasn't the case though. She was in the presence of pure evil and her body and soul knew it.
HOW ARE YOUR FIGHTING SKILLS?
"What?" she blurted before she had time to think.
The Mahoun moved sharply, a duelling cane leaping into his hands. He twirled it around, looking every inch the deadly foe he was.
Macey gulped loudly, she didn't have anything she could use to combat that.
Luc caught her eye and threw her a cane of her own. Trusting in her reflexes and her magic, she opened up her hand and caught the staff. It was perfectly weighted, as if it had been made for her.
DAIMON!
The Voice sounded enraged, but the Mahoun still moved towards Macey, evil intent in every movement.
Luc moved into the light so he was standing next to Macey, a staff of his own in his hands. Confidence flooded through her. With both of them there, maybe they stood a chance. Though with their opponent being an evil being of immense power, that might have been a stretch still.
"Do you know what you're doing with that?" Luc whispered to her.
Macey shook her head. "My plan was to trust in my magic."
"Good. You're learning then."
"Do you?" She nodded towards his cane.
He didn't answer out loud, instead he spun it around in much the same way the Mahoun had. Good. That meant they really might stand a chance.
The Voice cackled more in her head, probably already confident of victory. No matter what she did or how hard he fought, Macey was determined not to let him have that.
She steeled her heart, pulling on the strength of her bonds with the other Wardens. They wouldn't feel anything on their end but it gave her the extra protection and skills she would need.
It was time to see if they were Wardens in more than just name. In a way that had nothing at all to do with magic.
