Page 5 of Battle of Evyndral

As the midday sun darkened behind a cloud, Oberon sidestepped, shaking his mane. His horse wasn’t easily spooked, and Thran turned to warn Rhoan when a deluge of arrows rained down from the sky. The tall trees offered a semblance of a barrier, but it wasn’t enough. Two guards were struck, falling off their horses. Before Thran could tell Rhoan to take cover, the prince climbed down from his horse’s back, ran back the way they’d come, and shifted. There wasn’t enough room for his massive wings, so Rhoan’s dragon tore through tree branches in his quest to take to the sky. Thran kicked Oberon’s flanks, urging the horse to run. He pulled his sword as he met the first dark fae head-on. The other guards joined him, but it didn’t take long to see they were vastly outnumbered. Where had they all come from? There shouldn’t be Und?nthú anywhere in this area. Oh, goddess, no. If the dark fae had found the prince, they could have encountered Yari and the princess.

An angry roar sounded from above, distracting the Und?nthú. Thran took advantage, slicing the tip of his sword through the neck of his opponent. Several more dark fae fell, but those who didn’t cursed the winged beast and retreated into the trees. “Guardians, with me,” Thran instructed. Those who were on foot remounted their horses and followed Thran away from where the Und?nthú had gone. As soon as they were far enough away, Rhoan dove from the sky and let loose his flame. Screams rent the air as bodies caught fire. Trees burned along with them. Thran understood Rhoan’s desire to keep the Und?nthú from getting to the castle, but the threat of fire spreading was now as strong as that of the dark fae.

The air stirred as a portal opened, and Queen Zarina strode through atop her winged horse, followed by the guards who were supposed to be with Yari. The portal closed behind them, andThran and his group dismounted, dropping to their knee out of respect.

“Rise, my guardians. We must get to the castle at once.” Zarina turned her zamphyr toward the burning trees, raised her hands, and pushed them toward the fire. The flames dissipated, leaving scorched remnants. When she returned her focus to their group, she noticed the downed guards. Zarina dismounted gracefully and approached those who’d been struck by arrows.

“Where are Yari and the Princess?” Thran asked as the queen removed the arrows with her blue energy and healed their wounds.

“I sent them to another realm where they’ll be safe.” Turning her gaze to the sky, she said, “Prince Rhoan, I would like to do the same for you.”

Thran already knew what the prince’s response would be. He confirmed it with a roar that could be heard back in Evyndral.

“Young Prince, think about your sister. I have sent more D?nthúlú to assist your parents, but no matter the outcome of this battle, they would want you to protect Princess Cassiopa. Would you leave her alone to rule should something happen to you?”

Rhoan huffed, smoke billowing from his nostrils. He returned to the ground and shifted into his bipedal form. “How can I protect Cassi when I don’t know where she is?”

The queen opened a portal. “She and Yaricelan are through there. It is a realm Melisandra knows nothing of. I have given Yari a talisman that will bring them back when I call for them.” Zarina removed a leather throng from her wrist and tossed it to Thran. “That serves the same purpose. The crystal will remain dull until it is safe for your return. When it glows brightly, call my name, and I will bring you back to our realm.”

As Thran wrapped the leather around his wrist, Rhoan asked, “What about our horses? Should we leave them here?” Thran hated to leave Oberon, but he didn’t know if taking him to a strange realm was wise.

“As I said, it’s a—” An arrow struck Dornak, barely missing the queen. Zarina turned her head, looking back into the woods. “You dare aim my direction?” she yelled, striding toward danger. The portal closed as another arrow flew, this one straight toward the queen. She knocked it aside with the flick of a wrist. Then Zarina twirled her hands, building a ball of blue energy, and shoved it forward. Several dark fae screamed as they were encased in the deathly grips of the queen’s power. When no more arrows were released, the queen returned to the guard who had been struck. She held one hand over the entry, energy flowing into the guard’s body as she pulled the arrow free with her other hand. Thran cringed as the arrowhead reversed its course. That had to be even more excruciating, but the queen healed his chest with her power.

“Gratitude,” he whispered when she was finished.

Rhoan approached the queen. “I will go through the portal, but it is my wish that Thrandyr accompany you, Queen Zarina.”

“My Prince—”

“No, Thran. There are more Und?nthú than the king is prepared for. I will find Yaricelan and Cassi, and we will await the Queen’s summons to return, but I insist you aid in protecting Evyndral.”

“Yes, My Prince.” Thran had no option other than to agree. He removed the leather strap and handed it over.

As Rhoan wrapped it around his wrist, he looked to the guards. “Go now. Go with the queen, and if the goddess is merciful, I will see you all once the battle is over.” Rhoan clasped Thran’s forearm. “Soon, my brother.”

Thran inclined his head, then the prince released his arm and stepped through the newly opened portal without looking back. Rhoan’s horse, Malyce, took a step to follow his master, but the portal closed, leaving him behind. Malyce snorted and pawed the ground. Queen Zarina approached the animal and whispered too low for Thran to hear. Malyce snorted once more, but he stepped beside Oberon, waiting. The queen gracefully climbed upon her zamphyr, leading the charge toward Evyndral. As they traveled, she engaged a protective barrier around their group. Thran had never encountered such power, but she was the daughter of the goddess.

“My sister has always been unhinged, but this goes beyond what is tolerable. To break the treaty again between the fae and the dragons is a death sentence. Her powers rival my own, so if any of you encounter her during battle, call my name, but try not to engage with her.”

“My apologies if I am out of line, My Queen, but can the goddess not intervene?” Dornak asked. “If lore is truth, she sided with King Mórdrake against your father.”

“Lore is truth, young Dornak, but that was a battle between the gods. My mother could intervene, but this is a battle within our realm, and that is not the way of the elder ones. I do not agree, but who am I to question the goddess?”

Thran couldn’t imagine being the daughter of a goddess. Would he have the nerve to question her? Or would he be like his queen and accept things as they were? Probably the latter considering he had only questioned his father one time, when Elle was declared the daughter of Grevolus, acquiescing to his authority in all other matters. No one else bothered the queen until they were halfway back to Evyndral. Thran petitioned on behalf of the horses to stop so they could water them. As the animals drank their fill, the guardians scarfed down theirmidday meal. Queen Zarina declined an offered package as she kept watch.

They continued toward the royal city, and Thran’s mind wandered to his twin and the royal siblings. Had Rhoan found the females? What kind of realm had the queen sent them to? Were they fighting their own battles, or were they hunkered down somewhere safe? Did that realm have fae and dragons? Or were there creatures unheard of?

Malyce whinnied, shaking his dark mane, and Oberon sidestepped. The other horses were agitated as well, and the queen held up her hand, halting their procession.

“Swords at the ready. I do not detect any Und?nthú, but Melisandra may have them cloaked. I’m going to fly above and take a look.” The zamphyr flapped his wings and took flight. They circled the sky in a wide loop. When they landed, Queen Zarina’s face was a mask of fury. “On my honor, I will gut that evil chínt.” Her lavender eyes sparkled with hatred. “The Und?nthú have managed to add poison to their arrows. The dragons no longer stand a chance in their winged form unless they fly farther away, and they aren’t going to leave the king and queen to fend for themselves, even with the royal guardians on duty.”

“What can we do?” Thran asked.

Queen Zarina raised her hands, blue sparks shooting from her fingertips and hitting each guard in the chest. Thran and his fellow fae groaned and cried out as the magic entered their bodies. “I have given you my power to thwart the dark weapons. Head directly to the castle. Only stop if you encounter more of your brethren fighting. Help as many as you can.” She directed her zamphyr closer and held out an obsidian dagger. “Give me your hand.” Thran stuck his hand out, palm up, and his queen cut into his skin. He didn’t dare move until she was finished. “Brand every D?nthúlú you encounter with my sigil. Place yourpalm to their neck and invoke the goddess’s name. Ride hard and fast. If you do not see me again, know you have served me well and with honor.” With that, Queen Zarina urged her zamphyr into the sky once more.

“It’s like she has no faith in us,” Javarion muttered.

“No,” Thran countered. “She said if we do not see her again, not the other way around. She trusts us to do our job, so let’s get to it.” Thran waved his hand in the air, signaling the troops to move out. The horses had been bred for battle, and that included running full out for long periods of time. With their speed, they overran several groups of D?nthúlú the queen had sent to Evyndral, but these light fae were not those chosen for the dragon guard. They were either ones who had competed in the games and weren’t chosen, or younger fae who, like he and Yari, had trained their whole lives for the competition. Thran welcomed each one and branded them with Zarina’s sigil, informing them of its importance.

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