Anon began to sit up, but Rawn rammed his elbow into the prince’s face, and he dropped unconscious.
They ran to him. Raiden reached him first and cut through the enchanted bindings at his wrists.
Rawn stared up at him in confusion and concern. “Son…”
Raiden fleetingly met his gaze. “We must make haste.”
He and Lucenna helped his father stand, bringing Rawn’s arm over his shoulder.
Then Rawn looked at her, and Lucenna gave him a watery smile. “At last we found you, Lord Norrlen.”
He smiled tiredly. “It is good to see you, my lady.”
“Talk later,” Raiden said. “Let’s move!”
She caught sight of Keena’s tiny form flying in front of them with her quarterstaff. Every elf she hit was thrown out of their way with a burst of gold dust.
“Where are we taking him?” Lucenna asked as they stumbled down the steps with Rawn.
“The Elder Tree. It’s the only way to escape here quickly.”
“Do you have the Tanzanite stones?” she asked.
“Eldred must have them.”
The old elf was battling back the red elves and protecting his king from any rogue spells. They seemed to be making their way toward the tree, too.
Klyde and Keena caught up to her. “Zev and Von haven’t left the tunnels yet,” he told her, striking down another elf.
Lucenna searched the chaos for a black wolf among the swarming bodies, or for a man in an auburn coat. All she saw were elves fighting elves.
“They must be caught down there,” Keena said in alarm.
Eldred appeared with Princess Garaea at his side. “Head for the tree.”
“What is she doing here?” Lucenna demanded.
“The king is granting her immunity, and she also has the stones we need.”
Klyde grunted, “That means she’s coming with us, lass.”
They fought their way through the courtyard as scorched feathers rained down. The Celestials battled each other overhead. Eldred led the way, clearing their path with earth shaking spells. Klyde’s blade of smoke cut down spells raining down, staying by her side as she cast out spears of electricity. Garaea conjured two yellow blades of magic and covered Raiden’s back as he dragged Rawn with him.
They were swarmed as they fought to stay alive.
Lucenna’s heart hammered as she followed the others. But smoke veiled her vision as spells flashed across the battlefield. Cries and clashes of steel rang all around her. She nearly tripped into Lieutenant Handuril as he cut down a red elf, making her lose sight of her group. Searching for them wildly, Lucenna crashed into a red elf, and they fell into the sand. Snarling, he chanted a spell and struck her chest with his glowing palm. She screamed at the pain shocking her veins. She called on her Essence to defend herself, but only a weak sputter of purple light sparked in her fingertips.
Whatever he did, it snuffed her Essence.
The elf snatched her throat and squeezed. Lucenna gasped for air, kicking and flailing. Twitching, she grabbed the dagger strapped to her waist and slashed him across the eyes. He dropped her with a shout. It cut off at the black sword swiping through his neck. The elf dropped, revealing Klyde standing behind him.
“On your feet, lass!” He grabbed her arm and hauled her up.
They ran through the chaos together. She cast spells on her right as he cut down enemies on their left. But the enemy had them surrounded. They slowly began backing away and the green elves retreated with them toward the Elder Tree. Regardless of their efforts, the red elves outnumbered them.
And losing.
A blast of blue fire tore through the atmosphere, throwing the Nazarian army across the sky. The Legion of Valkyrie hit them next. The air turned into fire as both Celestial forces clashed into each other.
