Page 80 of Across the Sapphire Sea
“What are they doing?” asked Isla, alarm threaded through her tone.
“Wait!” cried Gauss from the door. “Sachi’s maid has found a note!”
“Now, now!” cried Sachi.
Remy’s opalescent arc began to form around them.
Finley jumped up from their seat. “What’s happening? What note? Sachi?”
“The maid says Sachi has pledged to go back with them,” said Gauss. “That she is leaving us through a portal their witch can summon.”
Aella’s soft chanting beat like a metronome in the background. With each repetition Elias’s fear ticked up a notch.
Finley lifted a hand, and a wave of magic slammed Remy’s shield.
Remy staggered, but Laurence held firm behind him.
“Grab hold of Sachi.” Finley shouted the order to Gauss as Remy’s barrier blocked them from reaching her themselves. “We can’t let her leave!”
Isla joined Finley in the onslaught on the protective arc. Together they directed a swirling rainbow of energy against it. The opal sheen faded, flickering ominously, but the shield held.
Bannos and the other man only watched, frustration evident on their faces. Apparently they had no magic of their own.
Gauss circled, took a running dive, and slid under the backside of the pulsing magical dome before it could close completely, leaving the eight of them crowded beneath.
Ash tackled him, grabbing him around the middle and halting his effort to claim Sachi.
Gauss growled as he struggled to his feet despite Ash’s hold. The two of them began to brawl. Ash spun them, taking hit after hit as he placed himself between Gauss and Sachi.
Feeling helpless as Aella went through the motions to open a portal, Elias clung to Valeri and locked gazes with Sachi. “Are you sure?”
Tears had formed in her eyes, but she nodded. “I’m sure. Hurry! Isla and Finley are very powerful when they work together.”
Gauss managed a swipe at Laurence, but Laurence’s concentration never broke. He focused completely on Remy, ignoring the chaos erupting around them.
Ash tumbled Gauss to the stone floor with a loud grunt, though the fight was far from even. Gauss had the advantage, his strength already overpowering their leader.
Elias panicked. “Valeri, we must help Ash.”
“I’ll do it. You stay close.”
Letting go of Valeri’s arm was one of the hardest things Elias had ever done.
Valeri joined the fray, attacking Gauss from behind to give Ash a break.
Sachi took Elias’s hand. “Can I help?”
“I don’t know.” Elias searched her eyes. “Can you?”
“I have some magic. Not as strong as Fin or Isla, but I want to help.”
“Come.” Laurence reached out to her with his free hand. “Lend us your strength.”
Sachi and Elias drew close.
Laurence beckoned. “Touch my skin. Allow me to draw from you.”
Without releasing Elias, she took Laurence’s hand. A shiver raced up Elias’s spine and morphed into tingles that ignited along his skin. Elias had never touched magic; it felt like air gathering before a storm, wind currents swirling and energy sparking, so much he expected his hair to ruffle, but nothing actually moved.
