Page 27 of Legends of Sorcery
Anger continued to boil within him until he felt as though he were going to explode.
“Arion,” Valaria called out weakly on the verge of blacking out.
The man carefully set her down to reach for his own weapon being sure to keep her behind him.
Clarity washed over Arion replacing the fear. The world around him appeared in sharper shades, clearer than he’d ever noticed before. His movements were graceful as he parried each attack with ease. The sword felt like an extension of his own body as warmth flowed through him.
When the blade sliced the bicep of the man, he cried out in pain, dropping his sword to the ground. Arion moved in for the kill, but a hand on his shoulder stalled him.
“I’ve got it from here, Arion,” Taneth said. “Valaria needs your help. Get her back to the castle as quickly as possible. I’ll handle these thugs.”
Arion shook violently as the world seemed to return to its usual colors. He nodded, sheathed his sword, and ran to the princess’s side. Once certain she was going to be okay, he picked her up, cradling her close to his chest and started walking.
“She’ll be safe, Taneth, I promise.”
As he watched Arion carry her away, he looked down and noticed the cut on the man’s arm had left a burn as if he’d been struck by hot iron.
Chapter 10
As promised, Arion got Valaria safely back to the castle. He had carried her much of the way, but as she woke, she was able to walk the last few miles. When they approached the town limits, a guard quickly took notice and assisted with the remainder of the trek. Still, Arion refused to leave her side until she was safely inside the castle walls.
Exhausted he made his way back to the Hall of Magic and collapsed into his bed where he slept for the next eighteen hours.
With a pounding head he slowly opened his eyes.
“About time you decided to rejoin the land of the living,” Zallon said hovering over him and lightly tapping his forehead sending pain worsening his headache. “Rise and shine. We still have work to do.”
Arion groaned. All he wanted to do was curl up and sleep off the migraine surfacing.
“Here, drink this,” Zallon said thrusting a cup of a strange green liquid into his hands. “It’ll cure that headache quickly.”
“How long have I been out?” he moaned.
“The better part of a day. I sent three teams out to search for any remaining unicorns. I’m expecting reports back at any moment.”
Arion slowly sat up. He drank the thick tar-like substance while trying not to gag. If Zallon said it would help, he trusted it would.
“What can I do to help?” Arion asked.
“Wake up and wash up for starters. Oh, and the knight Taneth stopped by. He wanted me to tell you that the princess is going to be just fine. He says we have you to thank for that.”
Arion shook his head. “No, it was my fault she was in danger to begin with. If I had just stayed put and listened, she wouldn’t have been in that situation.” He could feel his blood boiling again just thinking about it.
“Well that’s not the story Taneth told. He says you fought bravely to protect the princess. And that if you wish to see her later today, that could certainly be arranged. Though I suspect his idea of later today has probably passed as you slept.”
“If there is nothing to do around here, I’d like to go and visit Callia,” Arion said.
“Nothing to do?” Zallon asked. He threw his hands up in the air and huffed. “There’s always something to do. Have I taught you nothing? I suppose you’ve already wasted the day away in bed, so go on. Check on your friend, then it’s back to work tomorrow with you,” he chastised.
Arion grinned knowing Zallon wasn’t really upset with him. “Thank you.”
He leapt from bed and changed quickly surprised at how fast his headache was ebbing. Soon he was off on the much too familiar path to the royal stables. This time the guards there just nodded, and no one stopped him or even batted an eye in his direction probably used to seeing him hang around by now.
“Hello, my beautiful girl,” he cooed when he saw Callia.
The horse quickly rose to her feet and walked to him on shaky legs.
“Look at you up and about,” he said, throwing his arms around her neck as she nuzzled against him. “You had me worried, girl.”
