Ignoring the order, Zeeran extended his arm and sent the spell forward. Eramus created a blue dome to protect himself, but the strength of Zeeran's magic immediately overwhelmed him. He closed his eyes. He could feel his defense failing, and soon Zeeran's daggers would rip across his flesh again.
But they never came.
The pressure against his shield vanished. Eramus's eyes flew open. Morzaun had tackled Zeeran to the ground, and their limbs flailed wildly over the grassy meadow. Eramus took the moment to catch his breath. Using magic drained his stamina, but he willed himself to stand.
Zeeran landed a punch to Morzaun's jaw, sending him staggering nearly into the grass. Morzaun responded by barreling into his nephew, and the assault sent Zeeran over Morzaun's shoulder and down to the ground.
Morzaun and Zeeran both found their footing. Morzaun reached inside his cloak, but before he could remove what Eramus assumed was the jagged dagger, Zeeran's incantation sent blue light to encompass his body. His father groaned, frozen in place.
"Stay out of this, old man," said Zeeran between gasps.
The opportunity slipping away, Eramus zipped his hands through the air and fired a spell. Still focused on Morzaun, Zeeran did not turn to see the wave of light until just before it crashed against him. His body flung across the meadow, and he landed with a hard thud before rolling several yards.
He had to make a move while Zeeran was temporarily subdued. Eramus gathered his remaining strength and sent a beam of magic towards his father. Morzaun, freed from Zeeran's spell, lunged to the ground, dodging the attack. Eramus gasped to catch his breath. He needed to attack again before Zeeran returned, but the exertion left him breathless and dizzy.
His hands weaved through the air, but before he could complete the spell, Morzaun's arms wrapped around Eramus's waist and they both tumbled to the ground. Eramus struggled against his father, but having used up most of his strength, Morzaun pinned him to the ground.
"Stop, Eramus!" Morzaun shouted, his eyes as dark as the storm overhead.
Eramus attempted to jerk from his grasp, to no avail. "Take your hands off of me!"
"Listen to me"—Morzaun's hold tightened as Eramus ignored his command, twisting his body in an effort to escape—"listen to me, Eramus!"
Morzaun gripped Eramus's wrists so tightly they throbbed. He had enough strength to conjure his aura, but it would do him no good when he couldn't move his hands. His father, seemingly aware of that fact, kept his body positioned out of any possible line of fire of Eramus's spells.
"I am not your enemy," Morzaun continued. "Your anger is misplaced."
"You hired someone to kill Evree! That alone is enough to make you my enemy, not to mention your insane plan of domination."
"Then bring the girl if you must. It's your destiny to stand at my side."
"Never!"
Zeeran's face came into Eramus's view. He hovered over them, his chest heaving with heavy breaths. "You got one lucky shot."
"Enough, Zeeran!" Morzaun growled. "Use thesoporia; he's coming with us whether he wants to or not."
Soporia? Another unfamiliar spell. Eramus had no idea what that particular incantation would do to him, but he refused to go down without a fight. He jerked, but Morzaun leaned over him and used his entire upper body to keep him in place.
"What are you waiting for?" Morzaun shouted to Zeeran over his shoulder.
Blue light surrounded Zeeran's hands, but his gaze had moved to the other side of the meadow where two figures ran towards them. "We've got company," he muttered.
Morzaun followed Zeeran's gaze. "I'd prefer you came without having to be knocked out, Eramus. Get rid of them and come with us, or I'll end their lives here and now."
He released his hold, and Eramus rolled onto his side. His entire body ached, but he looked up to see who had stopped Zeeran's spell. The clouded sky left shadows over their bodies, but there was no mistaking the familiar resemblance of the two brothers.
Arnan and Kieran had come to the meadow.
