I turned back towards the battlefield and to my relief, the creature was shying back from the Gods and retreating towards the shore.
Theo’s chanting grew louder and more powerful, a purple light surrounding him now. Ignara and the rest of the Fraction were obviously well-prepared, because they launched their attack on the Gods encircling Theo now.
One by one they took them out, until no one remained but Auretheos. Why didn’t he get up? He had to defend himself!
The sea monster roared in pain, its scales turning nearly white.
The remaining Gods rode on towards the Leviathan, attacking it with their magic and their various weapons.
Finally, the Dreadshade army rushed towards Ignara, but she quickly stopped them with a wall of fire.
The Fraction was now right beside Theo, who still knelt on the ground, chanting the Song of Creation to weaken the monster.
The first blade that hit him went through his shoulder and Inearly screamed out. I could see Lythandra turning her horse around and racing towards Theo, but I knew she’d never get there in time. The second blade penetrated his outstretched arm, momentarily halting him in the recitation of the spell. Another God from the Fraction stepped forward and kicked Theo in the back, the force behind it sending Theo crashing to the ground.
This was it, the moment I had been waiting for. I could feel the Luminaris key in my hand and willed it to open a portal.
Turning towards the Abbot, I hardened my features.
“I am sorry.”
And with that, I stepped out into the light, ready to become the villain they feared me to be, because only a villain could save them.
Let them call it treason.
I called it salvation.
Chapter 36
Theo
“Thank you for joining us, wordsmith.” Ignara’s shrill voice cut through the haze in my head.
I blinked.
The sky above me was gray. Smoke drifted in patches. The smell of scorched earth and seawater hung heavy.
My magic was gone, burned out. My ribs screamed every time I breathed.
Did she say “Wordsmith”?I forced my eyes open.
Maelis stood beside Ignara. Unharmed. Steady. Too close.
My pulse quickened. The panic wasn’t sharp, it was heavy, sickening. My body couldn’t move fast enough to keep up with what my heart was telling me.
“It seemed like you had everything under control,” she said, her tone flat. “There was no need to intervene.”What was she talking about?
Lythandra’s voice cut through the air, she was calling to Maelis, telling her to hide. Good, at least she was still fighting.
Maelis turned.
Lifted her hand.
Light flared.
Magic.
Lythandra flew from her horse, hit the ground hard. Shouts broke out, Malek’s men, startled, confused. They were staring at Maelis. Staring like they didn’t understand what they were seeing.
