Page 145 of Cast By Flames (Dragon's Breath)
We hurried through the keep and followed the wall to the nearest stairs. Everyone rushed up them and then carefully crossed the ramparts toward the southwest tower. Much of it had been burned away except the pockmarked floor. Once we stood atop it, Kade handed each of us parchment paper.
My heart beat rapidly in my chest. It was the moment we’d waited for since six years ago when we made our oaths. It really began millennia ago, if one counted the brave souls who captured the orb in Europe and transported it to America at a time when ocean travel was especially perilous. The phrase “Here be dragons” on a map over bodies of water had actually been accurate at one time.
The ancient group had taken the artifact to save the world in their darkest hour against true evil. Like them, we would do the same. Except this would be the last use of the dark object before it would be destroyed forever. I still didn’t quite know how that would come about, but I supposed we’d find out soon enough.
“That is the spell you’ll need to recite together.” My gaze narrowed on the scrawled words that used the English alphabet but made no sense. “I’m not even sure how to pronounce this, much less understand what it says.”
Aidan’s uncle gave me an irritated look. “It is basically a purification spell, but a far more powerful one than I’ve ever seen before. As for the words, they’re simpler than you realize, but they must be spoken precisely.”
Everyone frowned at their copy of the paper.
“Maybe recite them for us,” Danae suggested, lifted a brow.
“Yes, yes, of course.” Kade cleared his throat. “The first line isHamisha jismu bilus wa tahdur salmat. It is pronounced asha-mish-a jis-mu be-lus wah tah-der sal-mat.”
The “J” in the second word was pronounced the French way. He had us say the line several times until everyone got it.
“The second line isDarbu kul sharir lilabad.It is pronounced asdar-boo cool shar-eer lil-a-bad.”
We practiced all the lines until they were familiar. The fighting grew closer as we did so, heightening our nerves. Everyone out there was relying on us to get this right, and some would die before we finished. It was a lot of pressure.
I swallowed. “Okay, what’s next?”
“Conrad will take out the orb,” Xanath directed, the elderly sorcerer taking over for Kade and shuffling toward us. “One at a time, you’ll each press two fingertips from your right hand to the glass until you’re all connected. It will be uncomfortable, but do not let go under any circumstances. That will break the spell within three seconds. It will also cause the orb to explode, so there will be no way to restart the process.”
“Explode?” Conrad asked, with a squeak in his voice. “Like a grenade?”
“Yes, I suppose.” Xanath frowned. “There is a clear warning about that in Kade’s book, so please do keep it in mind. The orb will release all the dark energy it has gathered in one concentrated burst.”
I was feeling better and better about this plan already.
Phoebe wiped her face, nervousness written all over her expression. “How long will this take?”
“We have no idea,” Kade replied.
Xanath cleared his throat. “I would suggest not stopping until all our enemies are dead.”
Conrad gave him a sour look. “Ya think?”
I grabbed my canteen, slugged down some water, and noted others following my example. After that, we formed a circle, anxious yet aware of the battle raging around us and precious minutes slipping away. Conrad removed the cloth bag from the orb, hitting us with its insidious power. My stomach twisted, and by the looks on the other’s faces, they felt it, too.
“One last thing,” Kade said. He’d taken a few steps back and stopped near the stair entrance. “It will take time for the chant to power the orb, so it won’t do anything right away. Be patient. The spell will work after you’ve fed it enough magic.”
“And don’t let go even if you’re in pain,” Xanath added, wagging a gnarled finger at us. He’d also moved back to the tower's edge, where a small section of the original wall remained from the Kandoran green fire that nearly hit Phoebe the night before.
The sorcerers couldn’t leave since they were the last line of defense while we worked the spell, but they didn’t stand any closer than necessary. Rayna appeared, coming up the staircase.Her face scrunched when she reached the top. Even ten feet away, the dark power hit her as well.
“Okay, I’m here to watch your backs,” she said, stationing herself at a point between the two sorcerers.
Falcon and Sabryn followed behind her, grabbing spears from a pile near the stairs and stationing themselves in the open spaces.
All the other elites we’d requested either flew near the tower, guarded the ground below us, or paced the ramparts on either side of us. I noted Verena and Skylar on one end with Morgan and Thatcher on the other. Galadon, Titan, Zoran, Donar, Ruari, and Freya formed a wall of dragons a hundred feet away in the air.
Javier stood at an opposite tower, ready to cast his magic nets once the enemy came close enough. He had the best range out of anyone, which was why he could stand farther away. We were as protected as we could be from danger.
Aidan met each of our gazes. “We will do this for our family, friends, allies, and our future.”
“That’s right.” Conrad nodded. “We don’t stop for nothin’ to include the fat lady.”
