Page 65 of Knight's End
I blasted peace at the nearest bear and his rider—bloodlust surging through me as I saw the pair drop like stones. I turned to blast another.
Declan’s face screwed up in concentration beside me and I watched one of the bear-riding soldiers deliberately nosedive his bear into the trees below. A sickeningthunkmade its way back up to our ears moments later.
Ryan blasted the air again, but I think he was disoriented by the two bears swooping with claws aimed for his head. His yellow blast of power soaked us all with water but did little more than make the battle become filled with shivers as we sought to destroy one another.
To my right, I saw a twist of navy smoke appear and Sultan Raj appeared in midair, behind several bears.
Blue saw him too.
Ryan lifted his arms and shot out another jet of yellow light—just as Blue let out a war cry and dove at his father.
His father disappeared in a puff of navy smoke just as double the number of bears and riders appeared.
Sarding wish magic!I thought-yelled.
One of the new bears had a clear shot at Ryan’s side, the spot Blue had abandoned now open.
It swiped at him, raking his side and leg.
My giant cried out in pain.
Terror filled me. I trembled where I sat. The world turned slow as my hand reached out. I blasted everyone and everything around me with peace magic. My arms shredded. Two bears flying at me were slit down the middle, their blood hovered in midair a moment, a sacrifice for my magic, before bear and rider tumbled to the earth below.
Everyone within twenty feet of me appeared dazed. Everyone but Connor, who was used to dealing with emotions that weren’t his own. Used to fighting them off. Connor shook off the lethargy of my power and made his gargoyle dive toward Ryan. He extended his hands and pink healing light erupted from them.
Ryan moaned, “Slower.”
Connor tried, but the bears and Raslen soldiers were shaking off their daze. The rest of our force moved to protect them, and as they did, I saw an odd-looking soldier in the back.
He was a non-descript, bland-faced soldier. I might never have noticed him, except for the fact that the rest of them seemed so practiced. This rider’s bear just moved slightly to the side, in a way that seemed unpracticed and unintentional.
I shot a jet of peace in that direction, and immediately, two soldiers sprang up in front of the bland soldier, blocking my magic.
“It’s Isla!” I cried. “In a disguise spell!”
My eyes flew to Ryan’s but he shouted, “After her!” and waved his arm.
I didn’t second-guess him. I shot forward, urging Pony to bowl over the bears in front of us.
The bland-faced soldier turned his mount and shot off through the sky.
Fighting erupted behind us, but I ignored it. I urged Pony to go faster and faster. We gained slowly on the bear, which had more training. I heard shouts behind me but didn’t turn to see what was happening. Every piece of me was focused on the queen in front of me.
The chase seemed endless. There was no way to trap her in the sky. There were no barriers. No roadblocks.
But I had one thing in my favor that she didn’t. Gargoyles didn’t tire.
Eventually, her bear started to huff. I saw its wings drag as it struggled to stay airborne. Isla kicked at the beast, but there was nothing she could do.
I could taste victory on my tongue. It had a raw, metallic taste, like blood. A harsh smile curved my lips.
I raised my arms, ready to blast Isla and her bear. It wasn’t the death I wanted to give her, but it would have to do.
But then, an entire legion of soldiers on flying bears rose out of the trees.
And I realized we’d flown right to Isla’s castle.
Shite!I screamed in my head, as the bitch turned to smirk at me. She knew I wanted her. My fingers flexed on Pony. I started to shake, not out of fear for my own situation—which was dire—but out of pure fury.
