Page 54 of The Dark Rises
She opens her mouth, but I interject before she can say a word. “This is Theron, Lord of Winter. Do you think the dark Fae won’t avenge this attack?”
Her eyes dart from me to him, and for a second, she wavers, but the man next to her murmurs something to her that solidifies her resolve, and she brings her fist down.
“Now!” I shout to Theron, pulling my sword to fight the Phoenix landing in front of me. In a flash, I nick several of them with the tip of my sword, and they slide to the ground, immobile from Aamon’s toxic saliva.
A portal opens to our right, bringing our back-up into the fight. Valerian immediately takes to the sky in dragon form, flying toward the approaching Phoenix. Several scatter, panicking at the sight of one of the few creatures who can render them an eternal death. Dragon fire is lethal to our kind.
Aeris spins around in astonishment, yelling orders at the soldiers around her in an almost chaotic manner. It’s clear she isn’t versed in battle, nor did she expect us to bring our own reinforcements.
It’s been two minutes since I took down the first few Phoenix. Cormal shouts at us and points to the portal he’s opened to Gora Mountain. Arden immediately sends their weapons through the opening.
I spare a moment to view the battle. Cormal’s magic whips through the men, blinding them, before he nicks them with his xiphos. Madoc’s a blur by his side, the black blade making a brief appearance against his enemies, dropping them one afteranother. The rest of the cadre and Theron’s soldiers are working just as quickly to take them all down.
Turning back to Aeris, I leap forward and attack the soldiers nearest to her. Under a time crunch, I slice through them quickly, but when I stop and face the last soldier, I realize the gold eyes and black hair are familiar. Tiernan.
In a fast maneuver, he steps to the side and brings up his sword, only to find Meri’s dagger meeting it.
“Kill her!” Aeris shouts at Tiernan.
I tense, but he immediately takes a step backward. “I can’t. I swore an oath.”
Meri smiles at him, then slices his arm with her dagger. He drops to the ground.
Furious, Aeris screams and comes running toward Meri with her sword drawn. I stop her advance with my own. The two swords collide in a loud clang that rings across the near silent land, but she doesn’t stop. Going on the attack, she parries and thrusts, her intent clear.
I flash a taunting smile at her. “You’re good.”
It’s clear she learned everything she knows about sword fighting from our father. With a flick of my wrist, I use a move Theron taught me a few days ago. Her sword goes flying out of her hand and into the portal.
“But I’m better.”
Chest heaving, I lay the point of my sword on her neck and look around at the clearing. Phoenix and other Fire Fae litter the ground.
Her eyes widen as she stares at her fallen comrades. “You’ll pay for their deaths. The Fire Fae will hunt you for the rest of your life.”
I laugh. “I doubt it. Not once they find out you killed Brixton.” My aim hits its target, and she glances around in panic. “Why?”
Her chin lifts. “He’s been working with Denir and the dark Fae. All he wanted was more power. We want our freedom from both the light and dark Fae. It’s all we’ve ever wanted.”
I sigh, understanding her reasoning. “They’re not dead, only temporarily paralyzed,” I assure her. “Despite what you think of me, I don’t wish to harm the Fire Fae, especially not the Phoenix.”
She snorts in disbelief. “Right. That’s why you’re with her.” Her head tilts toward Meri. “Are you going to stand with the light Fae this time?”
Meri laughs. “I willingly gave up my light Fae crown. We represent the dark Fae, but we do count the Water Fae as our friends and allies.” Her point is clear, and my sister stares at her in confusion.
Cormal, Madoc, and the rest of them start tossing the immobile Fire Fae through the portal, and I wince as their bodies thud against each other.
“Go home to your daughter,” I urge Aeris. “Think about her future. We’ve been caught up in the past, never stopping to think about what we truly want. Personally, I’m tired of letting what others think define my path.”
I turn to stare at the beautiful soul who led me out of the dark and into the light. “The path I choose going forward will include Meri. She’s my future, not the Phoenix.”
Meri’s breath catches in her throat.
My eyes return to my sister, and I kiss her cheek. “Goodbye.” Digging the point of my sword into her neck, I send her to sleep, then sheath my sword and carry her into the portal. When I return, Cormal immediately closes it.
I return to Meri and wrap my arms tightly around her. “I choose us.” Holding her, I turn to the side to include Cormal and Madoc. “And whatever future we carve for ourselves.” Madocsheaths his dagger, and they both silently move closer, enclosing Meri and me between them.
It suddenly hits me where I’ve seen Madoc’s curved blade. In a painting in the dark Fae palace. In the hand of the first Fae king, Konnyr.
