Page 98 of Terragnata and the Heir of the Earth

I labored to breathe; a wall of gleaming steel barreled towards us.Think, think, think.

“You are anEarthDaughter,” Xinlan’s words sliced through the midnight air. “If you cannot survive, what hope do the rest of us have?”

“Think of your warrior,” Cobal added softly.

Something inside me broke, and the cool separation of instinct washed over me. I walked out of the circle, letting my sword drag in the dirt while I twirled Ezren’s knife in the other hand. The contact of my sword with the Earth sent atingle through my body and left goosebumps on my still mud-shrouded skin.

One man parted from his group, matching my pace, signaling the running warriors to pause. They obeyed. “Daughter of the Earth! We have come for you,” he called out, his hood still shading his face. “Your existence represents a grave wrong and has disrupted the balance. Come willingly and we will not hurt your friends or your loved ones. Fight us, and you will regret it.”

I tuned out the confusion his words caused. “This is not your land,” I called back. “Leave this place, and leave it unharmed, oryouwill be the one to regret it.”

The only thing I could see from beneath his hood was a toothy smile. He raised his fist. Then he opened his fingers, and the warriors behind him rushed on.

I waited, unmoving, as they charged toward us. The Talpa cried out behind me, and Leiya shouted at me to spell. But I let them draw nearer and nearer, allowing my anger to build. I was sick of being threatened, manipulated, lied to, subjugated.

When close to fifty of them neared, I raised Ezren’s knife, letting the Dragon egg gleam in the moonlight. The image of the blade raising itself in defense against Tey flashed in my mind. The Dragon egg had responded to me with pulses of power a few times before. Instinct took over, and I whispered a quick prayer to the gods before plunging the dagger into the Earth, sinking to one knee, and sending my magic through it. The Dragon egg illuminated, glowing even more brightly than it had ever before, and the ground broke in front of me. Dirt erupted in a wave, undulating towards the running warriors. It was too fast for them to react. They were either flung into the air or crushed in the undertow of Earth that ran their way.

The remaining soldiers, furious at the immediate loss of nearly two-thirds of their men, charged on, the toothy-smiled man at the front. He smiled no longer. He portaled and landedin front of me, just as I drew my knife from the Earth. The others had run to join me, and they protected my flanks as I locked my broadsword with the Witch leader.

His hood was back now, revealing thick eyebrows over dark eyes set in deeply tanned skin. I let myself get lost in the coldness of the combat that ensued. He was a good fighter, not as quick as Tey, but fast for a male, with strength to pack behind it. When I had fought last, against Tey, I had been spelling simultaneously. Not to mention I’d been fighting my nature, denying the call of the Earth. But now, I’d just unleashed a wave of magic, and it reverberated off me like an aura, powering each turn and blow I made.

To my left, Leiya cut through Drakkarians like they were butter to her spreading knife. Blood pooled in my opponent’s eyes, and I sent a feather of my magic down the dagger. Enough to slice through his metal, like I had broken Fayzien’s whip in the Nameless Valley. My broadsword slashed across his chest, and he stumbled. I sent the heel of my foot straight into his abdomen, and he fell back. And then I was atop him, raising my knife, the Dragon egg still glowing at its hilt. The Witch’s eyes jumped between fear and wonder, and I faltered for a moment.

Cobal shrieked my name. My head snapped left to where the creature stood, unharmed, but pointing to the trees. And by the time I understood his warning, the arrow had pierced my skin, sinking into the base of my neck.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

BOUND FATE

Igagged, choking on the blood that gathered in my airway. I fell to the right, my hand clutching my throat. The Witch beneath me yelled out in protest, a resounding “No!” I did not have the mental strength or clarity to process. He moved quickly, dragging me to my feet, making to portal me away. But as he did, the Talpa appeared at my side, standing proud at almost half the Drakkarian’s height. Which worked just as well, for the Talpa sent a little fist right into the crotch of my would-be captor.

The Drakkarian released me at the last second, grunting with fury and portaling away. My legs buckled, but Leiya was at my side, draping my free arm around her neck.

My eyes sagged, and I felt life slipping from my body. I noted the soldiers’ numbers had dwindled—only a few scurried away in retreat, departing along with their commander. Fayzien must have recovered enough strength to send a final blast of power.

“Leiya,” I croaked, blood mixing with mud on my skin.

Leiya sat me down, resting my back on her legs, keeping me upright with a hand on my shoulder. “Fayzien, can ye heal her?”

He shook his head and I let my eyes close. But then Cobal spoke.

“Where is her blood mate?” the creature asked. “Her Salanti?”

Leiya shook her head. “Naye, she doesna have one. She hasna done a blood sharin’.”

“No, but she is bound to him,” Cobal replied, and their words floated around me, drifting more and more like I did.

“What?” Leiya hissed. “Te whom?”

“The warrior called Ezren,” Cobal answered on my behalf. “He is also likely weak right now, for he feels the effects of her wound, though he may not bleed as she does. Their life forces can be shared, given they are bound. It may be enough to heal her. Is he near?”

Leiya shook her head, but Ezren’s name sparked something inside me. Perhaps he was already on his way, having felt the pain I endured. But a small truth cracked inside me. He was a proud male, and I’d told him to stay away under all circumstances.

“Break my left small toe,” I whispered, blood gurgling.Now. Now that I’ve asked, he will come.

Leiya and Cobal looked at me as if I had several heads, but Xinlan must have understood that I was serious and did not hesitate. She removed my boot and slammed the hilt of her blade into my left small toe without hesitation, and a soft cracking noise rang out.

I startedto slip from consciousness, despite Cobal’s best efforts to keep me awake. Time passed in a swirl of eternity and split seconds.

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