Page 94 of Kiss of Magic

A solitary bird chirped from the burned carcass of a tree. Otherwise it was eerily quiet. In the distance, the wreckage of the palace dominated the skyline. Only one tower remained, pointing upwards like an admonishing finger. He searched for any sign of demonic forces, but saw none.

Tala touched his arm.

“Maybe this is a good thing. They never expected the fight we’ve given them. Perhaps they’re just taking a break too.”

“Or perhaps they’re up to something.”

“Up to something?” Tala laughed. “I think you’re giving them too much credit. They’re little more than animals. All they’ve done so far is attack indiscriminately.”

“Have they?” Darian kept examining the battlefield, apprehension rising in his chest. “Or have they been testing our defences?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, if I were up against a new enemy, I’d be trying to find out where they were weakest. And then I’d concentrate my firepower there.” His eyes met Tala’s and the shock of realisation hit them both at the same time. Darian raised the crystal to his mouth.

“Ruth! Get the shield back up! Ruth!”

A shriek of terror erupted from the crystal.

“Ruth!”

There was no answer, just an overwhelming clamour of panic and chaos. Screams. Growling. Then silence.

Darian turned a bleak gaze on Tala.

“We underestimated them,” he said.

Kam and Shade stood by Raya’s bedside.

“It’s been nearly forty eight hours,” Shade growled at the healer. “Why is she still unconscious?”

The dwarven pulled at his beard nervously. He’d never been in the presence of such nobility before.

“Not unconscious, my Lord. Resting. I induced sleep to aid her recovery. She should wake soon.”

“But she will be all right?”

The healer swallowed.

“Y… yes, my Lord. That is, I… I think so.”

“Which is it?” snapped Kam. “Yes, she’ll be all right or youthinkshe’ll be all right?”

“I… I mean to say… her energy reserves are low, your Majesty. Her Vulcani power is depleted. My magic has healed the wound but recovery depends on her fortitude, your Majesty.”

“Then she’ll be fine,” Kam said with more bravado than he felt. “You’ll see, my friend. She’s resilient. She has to be, married to a grouch like you.”

Shade didn’t respond. He bent over his wife’s form and whispered into her ear.

“Wake up, halfling.”

She didn’t respond. Shade felt a wave of despair roll over him. Without her, nothing mattered. Nothing.

“What about you, old man?” Kam tried to distract him. “How areyoufeeling?”

“I am whole,” Shade said shortly. “Your healers did an adequate job. For you too, I see.”

“Arjhan has the best healers in Nush’aldaam.” Kam looked down at the dwarven. “Don’t make me a liar on this.”

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