Page 38 of A Blightress of Wrath
Evenmore so than before,Iunderstood while crossing through the grove of people that theBlightresswas unmatched.KarusandItogether could never defeat her as she was now, siphoning the power of hundreds, here at the top of a nameless hill at the base of theAttatokMountains.
Ialso understood that she had led us here because she wanted us to see.Herreasoning frightened me most, andIgrippedKarus’scold hand tighter in my own.
“Stop,”Figuerahwhispered harshly at the end ofKarus’sline.Hereyes danced toTalon, who lowered his head, brows furrowed.
Henodded to her and she spoke. “Thereare creatures ahead.Somekind of animal that feels like,”—her eyes darted toKarus—“they feel like lumens.”
Asif they’d heard, a howl pierced the air, flying through the grove, eerie and vicious.
“Weneed to hurry,”Karusurged. “Figuerah,Talon, up front.”
Theydid as she commanded, moving swiftly to the front of the lines, shields out, and hands before them.
“Compaynen,”Figuerahcalled through the sea of trees.Hergolden power flowed from the tips of her fingers, winding through what we still had yet to face in a spell of calming.
Wetrudged faster, caring less about the crunch of ice as the howls continued in a beckoning for what we would face next.Aclearing loomed ahead as we passed tree after tree, body after body, pulsing in that dim glow.
Webroke through to a clearing, findingPhiliusunconscious in the snow, his puffs of white breath the only indication that he was still alive.Threemassive lumen-like beasts circled his body.Theirheads were shaped from elongated vines, their limbs no more than branches of black trees.Thoughthese creatures were akin to the wolves ofFelgren, nothing protective or sweet lay in the aggression of their movements.Behindthem, a pulsing black portal loomed.Itsinky surface rippled like water in the light snowfall.
“Concess,”Figuerahcommanded in a spell to cease the beasts’ movement.Theyignored her spell and continued circlingPhiliusas if in wait for a command from someone else.
Talonstepped closer, easing slowly towardPhilius, low to the ground, his eyes on the beasts.Hewhistled low in a sound of ease, approaching the beasts withFiguerahbeside him.
Ikept my eyes on the portal, knowing exactly where the true threat lie.
Talonreached forPhilius’scloak, pulling his hand back just in time as one of the creatures snapped at his fingers in a vicious snarl.
“Wedon’t have time for this,”Karuswarned, striding forward fearlessly and giving orders. “Figuerah, keep their mouths shut.Talon,Mychael, grabPhiliuson my mark.”
Shelooked my way andInodded, shaping a viridescent portal to sendPhiliusback toFelgrenthe moment we had him.
“Youmustteach me that,” she insisted, building her power into a green ball of light and bringing it back to her chest, readying her magic to fly forward.
“Weget out of this,I’llteach you anything you want,”Ipromised, sending my own power low to the ground to wrap aroundPhiliusand help get him to the portal.
Renn,Rell,Ilyenna, andNyeimahcircled the clearing, shields intact, spells ready.
“Onmy mark,”Karusstarted, “Three, two?—”
Theblack portal shimmered and its maker stepped onto the snow in a graceful sweep of black robes. “Ido appreciate you bringing such powerful magic wielders to me,Kar?—”
Iopened a second portal in front of her, leading to the depths of the sea, and in an instant, she was gone.Theshimmery green of my portal did not close as usual, however, and beforeIcould investigate why,Karusbrought me back to focus, saying, “Nowyoumustteach me how to do that.”
Thebeasts lifted their heads to howl, butFiguerahkept them clamped shut in a spell of golden vines just asKarussent her ball of light forward.
Itsplit into three arrows, deftly aimed right for the heads of each creature.Thesharp points hit their marks swiftly, soundlessly, all three of the massive beasts falling to a thud in the ice.
“Now!”Karusshouted.
Ather command,Mychaeldropped his sword in the snow, pulling with both hands onPhilius,Talondoing the same.Iwrapped my magic around his middle, pulling the unconscious prince to the second waiting portal.Inan instant, we shoved him through, sending him back to theFortress.Theportal closed upon itself just as long, frozen fingers wrapped around my throat behind me, black nails cutting into my skin.
Abeautiful voice whispered, “Haveyou forgotten,BaronRevich?Yourportals allow only one beating heart through.”Shepaused, scraping her nails down my neck. “Andmy chest carries none.”
Chapter19
Karus
Icaughtthe flash of black atRevich’sback, asIheard theBlightress’svoice. “ItseemsI’veunderestimated your cunning,BaronRevich.You’vealready stolen away my prize.Pity.”TheBlightresssqueezedRev’sthroat tighter, one hand wrapped around his windpipe, her nails sending thin trails of blood down his skin.Sheheld his back to her chest and her iridescent eyes shifted to me. “Ido hopeSaelyninherits the trait.”
